Birds
Pembrokeshire’s Island reserves come alive through April until July, seeing the return of thousands of seabirds, joining the resident birds at their islands.
The nature reserves of Ramsey Island, Grassholm island, and Skomer Island in particular are important breeding sites, and welcome Puffins, Gannets, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills amongst others, back to nest each year.
Ramsey Island offers a breeding site for Peregrine Falcon, Buzzards and Chough, with Seabirds such as Razorbills, Guillemots and Fulmars returning each spring.
Skomer Island is home to over 42,000 puffins, a number which increased by 10% in 2023. Skomer also boasts half the world’s population of Manx Shearwaters, 300,000 plus pairs.
Grassholm Island is home to tens of thousands of Gannets, making it one of the UK’s largest Gannet colonies.
Visiting Sea Birds
Puffin – Maybe the most famous member of the Auk family, and a bird which is synonymous with Pembrokeshire, and Skomer Island in particular. These colorful beaked auks, who nest in their burrows underground, raising just a single chick (Puffling) can often been seen diving up to 60 metres under water, in order to provide food for themselves, and their chicks. In 2023, 42,000 Puffins were recorded on Skomer Island, a 10% increase from the number recorded in the previous year.
Gannets – Gannets are a common sight in Pembrokeshire, particularly around Grassholm Island. The Northern Gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic, with a wingspan of up to 6 feet. They are beautiful, streamlined birds with a bright white body, black wing tips, and a yellow head. They nest on Grassholm Island, which supports tens of thousand nesting pairs, around 10% of the world population. Gannets are best known for their impressive hunting techniques. They will spot their prey (mainly small fish) from heights of up to 100ft, before diving vertically at speeds of up to 60mph, piercing the water like an arrow. They penetrate up to 15ft below the surface, and will occasionally swim down to a further 40ft or so, driving their prey deeper into the water then capturing and swallowing it before returning to the surface. During the breeding season, April, Gannets will lay a single egg and incubate it for around 45 days, with chicks beginning to hatch in early June. Once born, the chicks are then fed by both parents for around 12 weeks until they’re strong enough to leave the nest, usually in late August..
Manx Shearwater – Pembrokeshire is home to half the world’s population of Manx Shearwaters, with more than 300,000 pairs breeding on Skomer Island. Spotted mostly at night time, the birds return to their colony to feed their chicks, under the cover of darkness. The Manx shearwater is a small shearwater, with straight slim wings, which are black on the top, and white underneath.
Manx Shearwaters fly with a series of quick, but stiff winged flaps, followed by long smooth glides over the surface of the sea.
Kittiwakes – Kittiwakes are a small sized British gull, which can be found breeding at both Ramsey Island and Skomer island. They can be spotted nesting on cliff faces, which they share with Guillemots and Razorbills, by their small yellow bill and dark eyes. Unlike the Auks, Kittiwakes can raise up to three chicks, as they build nests, which both male and female contribute to, using feathers, mud and seaweed. Eggs are usually laid between May and June, and are incubated for four weeks.
Razorbills – are a member of the Auk family, and are the closest living relative to the extinct ‘Great Auk’. They have a black back, white underside and a large blunt beak. Razorbills are capable of flying, but have small wing spans in comparison to the size of their bodies, which gives them a very inefficient high energy wing beat. They are far superior swimmers and divers than they are fliers, which helps when catching their food, eels and sprats, which can be 120 metres below the surface.
Razorbills can be found breeding on Ramsey and Skomer Island, with some smaller populations at Skokholm and Grassholm. They choose their breeding sites carefully, looking for spots which offer good protection from larger birds like Peregrines. They do not build nests, but lay a single egg directly onto the cliff ledges. Once the chick has hatched, the parents take turns foraging for their young, whilst the other stays at the nest.
Guillemots – Like Razorbills and Puffins, Guillemots are also a member of the Auk family. Larger than Razorbills, they are brown and white in colour with a pointed beak. They are amongst the deepest diving birds in the world, regularly diving beyond 30 metres, but capable of reaching up to 180 metres.Guillemots can be found on the Pembrokeshire Islands of Skomer, Skokholm, Grassholm, and Ramsey Island. They only come to land to breed, spending most of their time out at sea, where they feel more comfortable. Like other members of the Auk family, Guillemots breeding season begins in early may, using narrow ledges, usually on sheer cliffs.
Storm Petrol – Storm Petrels are a small seabird which are part of the Procellariidae family. Found nesting at Ramsey Island and Skomer Island, it is Skokholm which has the largest population in Wales, with 2000 pairs. Known for their distinct flying style, which involves flapping their wings rapidly, they are also nocturnal birds, meaning like Manx Shearwaters, they are often seen at night. Storm Petrels have a distinct call, which sounds like a purring cat. At night they can be heard singing from their burrows around our Pembrokeshire Islands.
Resident Birds
Chough – One of the rarest birds in the UK, with only 400 breeding pairs, 7 of which can be found at Ramsey Island. Known as the fire raven (Pyrrhocorax Pyrrhocorax), Chough have a distinct and striking appearance, with bright red bills and legs, and a glossy blue-black plumage.
The RSPB reserve, Ramsey Island, allows the choughs to thrive, offering them protection, and good feeding conditions, where day visitors can enjoy watching them feed in the short grassland.
Oystercatcher – Don’t be fooled by their name, Oystercatchers actually rarely eat oysters. Known for their long orange-red bill, they are wading birds, and can be found out at Ramsey Island. Swimming is not their primary mode of transportation, and so Oystercatchers will be found feeding predominantly on cockles, muscles, barnacles and limpets. Known in Welsh, as being the ‘Magpies of the sea’, they are incredibly protective of their chicks, breeding with a female from March, until July. During this period, the female will lay 2-5 camouflaged eggs, in a scrap in the ground, made by the male, until they fledge after around 30 days.
Raven – The largest perching birds in the world, these large predators, belong to the crow family, corvidae. Ravens are opportunistic feeders, and will eat almost anything, including insects, small mammals and even garbage. They are highly intelligent, social birds, known for behaviors including play, courtship and breeding.
Often associated with folklore and mythology, Ram(Raven)-sey(Island), was often referred to as Raven-Island.
Shags and Cormorant – Closely related, both Shags and Cormorants are common to the Pembrokeshire Islands. Often confused with each other, these coastal birds breed exclusively around rocky shores during the summer months, where at Ramsey Island they can be seen regularly. Shags are the smaller of the two, having a long then bill, peaked forehead and a small yellow gape. Cormorants are larger than shags, and have a distinct hooked bill. They are more widespread than shags, which are exclusively coastal birds, and are found in both saltwater, and freshwater habitats. Both known for being excellent divers, they feed primarily on fish, but also prey on eels, crustaceans and water snakes. They dive from the surface and propel themselves with their feet, and have been recorded at depths of 40-50m. Shags and cormorant can often be found on the rocks around Ramsey Island, where they can be seen drying out their wings. This is due to their feathers absorbing water, making them heavy, which although is a benefit when diving, can lead to potential drawing.
Peregrine Falcon – One of Ramsey Island’s most famous birds is the Peregrine Falcon. The world’s fastest bird, also known as the ‘Wanderer’, is a bird of prey, which is amongst the rarest birds in the uk. These wanderers can be found across the globe, and can hit speeds of up to 240 mph whilst stooping down for their prey. With only 1,500 pairs of Peregrine in the UK, Ramsey Island homes two breeding pairs. Keep an eye out whilst navigating around the island, on the Ramsey Island Adventure, as you may see these incredible birds overhead.
Buzzard – The Buzzard is both the largest and most common bird of prey in the UK. Resident to Ramsey Island, these birds of prey feast on small mammals, large insects, earthworm and smaller birds.
Buzzards have a plaintive mewing call, which could be mistaken for a cat.
Gull – The Pembrokeshire coast is home to a number of resident species of gull. Herring gull, which are commonly found around the Pembrokeshire Island, feeding normally on smaller birds, are identified by their large size, pale grey upperparts and pink legs. In the summer their heads are white, but by winter they develop a darker streak. The Lesser black-backed gull, are recognised by their bright yellow legs, and have slate-grey upperparts, which contrast with their black wing-tips.
The Greater black-backed gull is distinguished by their huge size, large square head, and heavy bill. These beady eyed gulls are the largest gull in the world, with a five foot wingspan, and predate on eggs, chicks and even adult birds. The Common gull, is a medium sized gull, which is not as common as other gulls in the UK. It has a yellow bill, greenish-yellow legs, and is silver-grey above, with a white head and black wingtips. Spotted breeding around our Coastal Islands, these gulls can also be seen in landfill sites and even sports fields during the winter.