The survey of the cliffs at Bempton and Flamborough Head during this year's breeding season revealed there were more than 200,000 birds.

The RSPB's Keith Clarkson, who led the colony count, said: "RSPB Bempton Cliffs is home to England's only mainland gannet colony and the growth in numbers of this awesome bird over the past 40 years has been phenomenal.

"There were only 20 pairs here in 1988. Now, just 20 years later, there are a staggering 6,000 pairs – with a further 2,500 youngsters trying to establish nesting sites.

"This success story is mirrored by the guillemots on the reserve. They have increased by 25% since the last full colony count in 2000.

"This year, nearly 60,000 birds were counted on the cliffs, making RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head the third largest colony in the UK.

"The success of the guillemots is even more important when taken against the background of the equally spectacular declines in numbers reported from their traditional strongholds in northern Scotland.

"Perhaps the most worrying statistic to come out of this survey is what's happening to our puffins.

"Everyone loves puffins, whether it's birdwatchers or the thousands of tourists who flock to Bempton every year in the hope catching a glimpse of these brilliant little birds.

"Sadly, they appear to have declined by around two thirds across the whole colony.

"Puffins are notoriously difficult to count because they nest in burrows, cracks and crevices, so this figure can only be a rough guide to what's happening.

"But it does mirror similar declines on the Isle of May and the Farne Islands, in Northumberland, raising serious concerns about the future of these iconic little birds."



THEY think it's all over... but it's not.

Just when the staff at Bempton Cliffs thought the seabird breeding season was over, two baby gannets were found in an area where birds have never been known to nest.

Visitor officer Ken Proud said: "This is quite extraordinary.
"Not only is it a bit late in the season to see chicks so young but, more significantly, the birds are in an area known as a club.
"I have never heard of this happening before."

A gannet takes at least five years to reach maturity.

During this period of adolescence, they live in groups known as clubs – the bird equivalent of a sort of youth club.

Mr Proud said: "We can only speculate as to why the adult birds have chosen to nest among what are effectively teenagers.

"We do know, however, gannet numbers have increased at Bempton in the last few years and there may now be a shortage of favoured nest sites, which has forced these birds to move into a new area."

Even though most of the reserve's famous wildlife, including razorbills, guillemots and puffins, have now left the cliffs, gannets will still be around well into October before heading off to the Mediterranean for the winter.

"It's always a time of mixed emotions as the birds head off to sea for the last time.

"Places like Bempton Cliffs are really well protected by law but, sadly, that isn't the case with our marine environment.

"Unfortunately, when they are out at sea, the birds that have taken on the life-and-death struggle to rear their young on the cliffs are vulnerable to environmental threats, including marine development, pollution and over-fishing," said Mr Proud.