RSPB Bempton Cliffs becomes Shorewatch site

RSPB Bempton Cliffs, has become the first official ‘Shorewatch’ site in England.

The partnership between the RSPB and ‘Shorewatch’ founders, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, will see 28 trained volunteers carry out structured ‘watches’ for Minke Whales, dolphins, Grey and Harbour Seals as well as part of a national effort to monitor these marine mammals.

Susanna O’Neill, RSPB Senior Administrator said:

“There’s nothing like seeing your first Bottlenose Dolphin leap clear of the water and hearing the people around you gasp and cheer,” said Susie. “It’s magical and incredibly emotional. People often don’t realise there’s such phenomenal marine life off the Yorkshire coast.”

“This is first and foremost about conservation though. With climate change and human activity continuing to impact our seas, it’s more important than ever to gather reliable data on our marine wildlife. Shorewatch gives us a way to do just that – and as a seabird reserve, it’s a natural step to extend our gaze to the ocean.”

‘Shorewatch’ is a programme created by Whale and Dolphin Conservation that has operated across Scotland and its islands since 2005 and RSPB Bempton Cliffs is the first location in England to join the network. The first cohort of volunteers were trained by WDC in February 2025.