Monday 16 October 2017

Not too many birds obvious on the Castlemartin coast

There were not many obvious birds about on the Castlemartin peninsula earlier this evening. Choughs flying to roost in a couple of places were keeping very close to the ground to avoid the gusty winds. A few cormorants were also battling against the wind as they too headed off to their Thorn Island roost (probably from Bosherston Lake where they would have been feeding earlier).

However, the boiling sea at St Govan's Head and at Stack Rocks was really quite impressive though. Numerous blow-hole crevices in the limestone were really roaring away today - sounding rather like extremely powerful rockets being launched. One that was not too easy to get very close to (near the appropriately named "Devil's Barn") being particularly energetic - spouting skywards c. 50 foot high or more plumes of spray at times. It and huge amounts of spray from waves crashing up and over c.100 foot high cliffs drenched the coastal grassland and also those of us trying to stand there in the wind as we watched in awe!
A "geyser-like" blow-hole near Devil's Barn - one of many on the edge of the coastal grassland that were active today

Green Bridge of Wales being buffeted by waves. A large chip on the end was probably smashed off earlier in the day 
You have to admire the energy in such storms but we fear for the small breeding seal population along the Castlemartin peninsula - young pups are present in some very exposed bays.  Perhaps something interesting will have been blown up this way but hopefully we'll not see too many wrecked seabirds in the coming days.