Coastal cliffs are the rocky land edges that face the sea. These are complex and diverse habitats that lie above the water line, where exposure to salty spray, wind, sun and rain all play their part, as does the type of rock. Flowers such as thrift, campion and samphires thrive here and colourful lichens coat the rocks. Clifftops make important nesting places for seabirds and each species has its own requirements: from precarious ledges for guillemots and kittiwakes to grassy slopes that puffins can burrow in. Sheer numbers of birds make a cacophony of noise and their nesting sites can smell pretty potent. Bats, lizards and buzzing insects are also to be found.

See a summer’s seabird ‘city’ spectacular.


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