Our week in Pembrokeshire over the past week was a breath of fresh air packed with sensational wildlife watching experiences. Of course seeing the Puffins on and in the waters around Skomer Island, an exquisite experience that I’ve been lucky to do every few years since I was eleven, was breathtaking getting intimate views of these wondrous and charismatic birds. I said in my post whilst away how nice it was being there soon after hearing Skomer is bucking the trend with Puffin numbers on the up and it's certainly noticeable the last couple of times we've been to Skomer now how many more are around. As I post this on World Oceans Day it is a sharp reminder of what can happen when oceans are protected and exploited less.
Stunning views of Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets, Fulmars and Kittiwakes were wholesome also as Manx Shearwaters effortlessly glided over the sea’s surface. The sumptuous Choughs were a star of the week too, we saw these scarlet billed wonders on every single day in Pembrokeshire and whilst the holiday focused on the Marloes Peninsula and islands we went as far north as Strumble Head and as far south as St Govan’s Head seeing them at both too so we covered much of the county. They are doing well also which is great to see. Their sweet sharp calls a soundtrack of the week. Seeing our first Spotted Flycatchers of the year at Bosherston Lily Ponds was a huge bonus and many excellent views of Wheatears and Swallows were two other big passerine highlights. Other key birds of the week included Skylark, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Rock and Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Short-eared Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Red Kite, Buzzard, Swift and Shag.Â
Being metres away from Grey Seals in the water when sat on a cove beach was one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve ever had. Insects played a key role in the week too with Wall Brown, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Green Hairstreak some of an exuberant array of butterflies observed. Cinnabar, White-spotted Sable and Common Nettle-tap moths, Lackey moth Caterpillars, Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly, Bloody-nosed beetles, Knotweed leaf beetle and fascinating and beautiful Striped Millipedes were other highlights.Â
It was a captivating floral week with many species I don’t see at home observed which I really associate with Wales like wall pennywort, sheep’s-bit and English stonecrop. Biting stonecrop and Portland spurge were new ones for me and coastal delights sea plantain, squill, thrift, ramping fumitory and kidney vetch were also good to see. Pyramidal orchid, heath spotted orchid, marsh orchid, red and sea campion, centaury, restharrow, viper’s-bugloss, bluebells, foxgloves, heath bedstraw and rock-sea spurrey were also good to see. There were some nice mushrooms seen as well like Chicken-of-the-woods.Â
The coast of Pembrokeshire is breathtaking and awe-inspiring, it really was so lovely to spend so much time out in the days mostly in the sun taking in splendid dramatic cliff and golden beach views. Wetland and grassland played their part too with some nice buildings seen along the way like Marloes Clock the village we stayed in and St Govan’s Chapel, a fascinating building used in the filming of some of the last series of the BBC's 'His Dark Materials'. I attained a real sense of peace and calm being out in these landscapes and looking at phenomenal wildlife.Â
On the way back home to Hampshire yesterday we called into WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire where more joy awaited as we saw the brilliant Bluethroat a rare bird and a new one for us and a beautiful bee orchid for the first time this year. Common Cranes, Shelducks with ducklings, Avocets, Cuckoo heard, Meadow Brown butterfly, purple loosestrife and grass vetchling were other highlights on a bonus look this year at a place we normally go in winter. A nice reset at places I know and love, another incredible holiday this year.Â
The photos in this set from the week are of; Common Nettle-tap at Marloes Sands, Common Blue butterfly at Martin's Haven, view along the Pembrokeshire coast path, Mute Swan cygnet and young Coot other key stars of a load of young birds seen at Slimbridge, Puffin on Skomer, view at St Govan's Head and Grey Seal on a walk from Strumble Head.
