PEOPLE are being urged to visit the peregrine falcon viewpoint at Malham Cove before it closes at the end of the month.

Hundreds of people have already walked to the cove to see the adult pair and their three young as they perform spectacular aerial displays.

Ian Court, wildlife conservation officer at the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said all three youngsters were still learning the flying and hunting skills they would need once they left the cove.

"The views of the siblings as they chase each other about are nothing short of spectacular,” he said.

“It is a privilege to be in such a stunning location as Malham Cove and watch this happen right above our heads.”

The cove is also home to families of redstarts - a member of the Old World group of birds, and green woodpeckers.

Paul Brady from the RSPB said: “It’s a busy time of year in nature with parents raising their young, so there is plenty to see at Malham. This year’s three peregrine chicks are still mastering their hunting skills, with the adults teaching them what to do. This famous falcon family are already delighting visitors to Malham Cove with their aerial antics. It’s only a few weeks until the viewpoint closes for this season, so we hope many more people will come to see these popular birds in action before the end of July.”

The free viewpoint is open Saturdays to Wednesdays (closed Thursdays and Fridays) until Sunday, July 30.

Information assistants and a team of volunteers are on hand to show people the birds through telescopes.

The viewpoint is part of the Malham Peregrine Project, a partnership between the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and the RSPB.