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Thursday, 23 December 2010

RSPB SEABIRD CRUISES BRIDLINGTON

As in previous years there will be two types of cruises on dates to match the seasons. From May to July the cruises concentrate on gannets and puffins then in September and October the emphasis changes to skuas and shearwaters. It should be noted that times vary to suit the tidal conditions and all start in Bridlington Harbour.

The dates for 2011 cruises are as follows:

Gannet and puffin cruise dates:
Saturday 7 May at 4.00pm Sunday 8 May at 9.30am
Saturday 14 May at 11.00am Saturday 28 May at 4.00pm
Saturday 11 June at 9.30am Saturday 18 June at 4.30pm
Saturday 25 June at 9.30am Sunday 26 June at 9.30am
Saturday 2 July at 4.00pm Saturday 9 July at 9.00am
Sunday 10 July at 9.30am Saturday 16 July at 4.30pm

Skua and shearwater cruise dates:
Sunday 4 September at 9.00am Saturday 10 September at 9.00am
Saturday 17 September at 9.00am Sunday 18 September at 9.00am
Sunday 2 October at 9.00am Sunday 9 October at 9.00am
There is also a "Best of Both" cruise (sailing up to Bempton cliffs to see the only UK mainland gannetry and then going out to sea to search for migrating seabirds) on Saturday 27 August at 9.00am.

The Gannet & Puffin cruises sail on the Yorkshire Belle from Bridlington Harbour, around Flamborough Head and up to the spectacular chalk cliffs at Bempton, where passengers can get very close to the hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds there. These include gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, shags, herring gulls, fulmars and razorbills. These trips last for about 3 hours.

The Skua and Shearwater cruises sail out from Bridlington Harbour into the North Sea, searching for migrating seabirds on their long journeys south. The birds we would hope to see include shearwaters, skuas, gannets, fulmars, black-backed gulls, terns etc. These trips last are slightly longer to allow time to go in search of these exciting seabirds, at up to 3.5 hours.

The ticket prices have unfortunately had to be increased for 2011 (due to ever-increasing operating costs) and will be £18.00 per adult, £9.00 per child under 14 and £45.00 per family (2 adults + 2 children).

For further information on any of these cruises, and to make telephone bookings, passengers should contact Kim Smales on 01262 850959 (9.00am to 2.00pm Mondays to Thursdays). Or email kim.smales@rspb.org.uk.