Kittiwake breeding ground on show

Seaford's kittiwakes appeared on TV in British Isles: A Natural History

Nearly 730 active kittiwake nests on a south coast cliff face are being highlighted by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The colony at Seaford, East Sussex, has seen breeding success for the past decade, according to the society.

On Saturday and Sunday bird enthusiasts can see the colony from the RSPB's Seaford Kittiwake Viewpoint.

The birds are there until September when they will set off on a 3,000km flight to the coast of Canada.

By April 2006 they will be ready to return to the cliffs at Seaford again.

'Very encouraging'

The colony is located on Splash Point at the end of Seaford Head.

The viewpoint offers telescopes for bird watchers to get a good view of the kittiwake nests.

The RSPB's Dan Parkinson said: "Every available ledge on the white chalk cliff seems to have a pair of kittiwakes this year, which is very encouraging.

"We really are very lucky to have this colony here just because it's so accessible.

"We hope it will keep thriving like it is."

Seaford bucks the national trend of colonies failing to build nests, and it supports about a quarter of all kittiwakes breeding between Lincolnshire and Dorset.

Kittiwakes are described as ocean-going gulls which feed on small fish caught out at sea.