birding...

Martin's Haven

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Martin's Haven is eight miles West of Milford Haven, along B roads via Sandy Haven, this is the jumping off point [boarding point] for Skokholm, Skomer and Grasholm. All three of these famous bird islands are part of the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve. Boats run daily to Skomer [Mondays excepted], from April to October, until midday [obviously, the earlier the better], weather - of course - permitting. Day trips to Skokholm are only available on Mondays but it is possible to book a week's stay. Grasholm [about ten miles straight out to sea] is quite difficult to land on [Charter boats can be organised from Milford Haven - but they ain't cheap!] but the same firm, Dale Sailing Co. [Tel 01646 601636; email: enquiries@dale-sailing.co.uk] run viewing trips on Monday and Friday mornings and Thursday evenings.

RSPB Ramsay Island

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The RSPB reserve at Ramsay Island is 3 miles West of St. Davids, reached by boat from St Justinian lifeboat slip. They operate a policy of limiting the numbers visiting [max 40 per day?] but it is usually possible to get across [it may be booked in advance, in St Davids]. Breeding birds include Manx Sheerwater [but see below], Guillemots, Razorbills, a few Puffins, various gulls, a few birds of prey, waders [declining sharply], finches, etc. But, as all of the above can be seen in greater numbers at other sites in the area, one of the major reasons for visiting Ramsay is the 7 or 8 breeding pairs of choughs. It also has the UK's largest colony of breeding Atlantic Grey Seals. And, of course, every year sees 1 or 2 [or 3 or 4?] twitchable rarities turn up.

Skokholm, Skomer & Grasholm

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Skokholm was Britain's first bird reserve. Breeding birds include 35,000 Manx Sheerwaters, large numbers of Storm Petrels [and if you don't stay overnight, you're unlikely to get good views of the former - and definitely won't see the latter], many thousands of Auks [inc Puffins], Gulls, Kittewakes, Fulmars, etc., birds of prey, the occasional Chough and so on. Skomer's Manx's, at 150,000, are the biggest colony in Europe. As well as most of the above, it also has breeding SE Owls. Both islands also have a regular run of uncommon short-stay migrants and, a regular trickle of genuine rarities. Grasholm simply has the world's second biggest colony of Northern Gannets [after St Kilda]. A few gulls, cormorants, etc., also breeding [tip: One way of visiting it is to take a pelagic on the Pembroke to Rosslare Ferry - it passes very close to Grasholm!].

Stack Rocks (Elegug Stacks)

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South of Pembroke Town, on the B4319/4320. A DANGER AREA, where the road through Castlemartin Tank Firing Range may be closed [but less often nowadays than formally]. A place for a Spring/early Summer visit. Fairly easy viewing from the cliff's edge, of breeding Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants [a few shag - no puffins], Kittewakes, Fulmar, various gulls, etc. Choughs also breed and are always visible all along this stretch of coast, especially eastwards towards and beyond St Govan's Head. Nearby Bosherton Ponds may also reward a visit, summer or winter.

Strumble Head

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Strumble Head is three miles N W of Fishguard, via Goodwick. Probably Wales' best Seawatch site: Optimum conditions - strong westerlies. Vast numbers of Manx's, Storm Petrels, Gannets, etc. All four Skuas seen annually; Great, Cory's, Sooty and Med. Sheerwaters regular; also, Leach's Petrel [and, of course, one of Britain's only 2 or 3 land-observed Wilson's Petrels was sighted at Strumble].

Number of bird species: 354

Pembrokeshire Bird Group

Website

We have recently set up a website in the form of a blog for the Pembrokeshire Bird Group. It has info about the group, birding sites in Pembrokeshire and links to bird sightings in Pembrokeshire, etc...

The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales

Website

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is one of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK. We are the fourth largest in area, covering from Cardiff and Caerphilly in the east to Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the west, and include 3 of the West Wales islands amongst our 90 or so nature reserves - Nature Centre, Parc Slip, Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF32 0EH...

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Website
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Although many of us associate Pembrokeshire with the puffin, for birdwatchers it is more significant because of its population of rare birds, such as the chough. This page gives you the main facts about this Pembrokeshire speciality and suggests where you can find more information.

RSPB Reserve - Ramsey Island

Information
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The characteristic island birds all nest here- auks, kittiwakes, shearwaters, peregrines, choughs, ravens, lapwings, wheatears and many more. Large numbers of birds, including many unusual species, rest briefly on the island during the spring and autumn migrations.

RSPB Reserve - Ramsey Island

Website
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Choughs and wheatears breed on the island. In the autumn, a colony of breeding grey seals can also be seen...

Skokholm Island

Website
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Skokholm is a small island nature reserve off the south west coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Along with the neighbouring islands of Skomer and Grassholm, it forms one of the most important seabird breeding sites in Europe. The flat top of the island is home to 35,000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, large gull colonies, Wheatears, Oystercatchers, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, while the 150 ft cliffs hold Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Peregrines and Ravens. Britain's most charismatic crow, the Chough, is usually present and occasionally breeds. Grey seals inhabit the rocky coasts, and porpoises and dolphins are regularly seen passing the island. At migration times almost anything can turn up.

Skomer Island

Website
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The 730-or-so acres (292 hectares) of Skomer offer extremely important breeding grounds for a great variety of seabirds. This fact is recognised in Skomer having been made a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area under European Law...

'Windswept', Broad Haven, Near Haverfordwest

Accommodation

For a quality holiday within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park you need look no further. This well-presented, comfortable holiday home offers all the discerning holiday-maker would want in a location which would be hard to beat...

Broadhaven Self-catering

Accommodation

Puffin Way, Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3HP Luxury Self Catering Holiday Accommodation in West Wales

Keens Cottage at Timber Hill

Accommodation

Number 9 Timber Hill is one of a small development of detached cedar-wood cottages on the southern slopes of a peaceful valley, offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. Situated within 130 acres of the national park, the grounds have achieved the David Bellamy Environmental Gold award...

St Brides Bay Cottages

Accommodation

All the cottages are situated within easy reach of the spectacular sweep of St. Bride's Bay, with its beautiful sandy beaches, magnificent coast path and nearby island bird sanctuaries.

Timber Hill Holiday Cottage - Broad Haven

Accommodation

You'll find Timber Hill in a beautiful setting near to the popular resort of Broad Haven on West Wales' Atlantic coast. The detached cedar wood lodges are attractively placed on the southern facing slopes adjoining the farmhouse, with views over the peaceful hills and valley. Set within 130 acres of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Timber Hill has been designed by the family who own and run it to cater for those who wish to enjoy the tranquil surroundings in this, one of the most beautiful counties in Wales. It is an ideal centre for exploring the whole of Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire Birds

Blog

...the only site on the web specifically for recording bird sightings in Pembrokeshire... run by Richard Crossen

DaViv's Website

Website

Bird Box Diary 2002 to 2009 so far...