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Seasonal highlights

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

Spring

Fulmars and herring gulls begin to gather on the cliffs. Early mornings through April and May can be a good time to see black guillemots around Fleswick Bay, which seperates North Head from South Head.

Black guillemot (illustration)Fulmar in flightGuillemot (illustration)Kittiwakes (illustration)
Black guillemotFulmarGuillemotKittiwake

Summer

The viewpoints on North Head reveal thousands of guillemots crammed onto their breeding ledges. Kittiwakes, razorbills, herring gulls and fulmars are all easy to see. Look back from North Head across Fleswick Bay to South Head to view the 100-strong cormorant colony. Linnets, stonechats, whitethroats and rock pipits sing from the heath and gorse along the cliff-top.

Cormorant (illustration)Guillemot (illustration)Herring gull (illustration)Whitethroat (illustration)
CormorantGuillemotHerring gullWhitethroat

Contact us

Where is it?

  • Lat/lng: 54.49083,-3.60864
  • Grid reference: NX959118
  • Nearest town: Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • County: Cumbria
  • Country: England

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Note: Some reserves are not served directly by public transport and, in these cases, a nearby destination (from which you may need to walk or take a taxi or ferry) may be offered.