Pembrokeshire Birdwatching

Pembrokeshire is an absolute delight for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. It is spectacularly beautiful and sparsely populated, almost surrounded by the ocean providing a refuge for wildlife. The National Trust protects much of the coastline and there are several island bird sanctuaries.

The Seaview Hotel overlooks the splendid Fishguard Harbour, which is a good place to see Great Northern Divers and some of the less usual gulls. Mediterranean Gulls regularly winter and other species pop up from time to time, like Ring-billed and Glaucous Gulls. Rarities have included Forster’s Tern and Ross’s Gull.

Strumble Head provides an excellent vantage point for seawatching. Best visited in the autumn when spectacular passages of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets and Kittiwakes are seen. It is considered the best place locally to see Tern and Skuas. You can often be assured of seeing speciality birds like Great and Cory’s Shearwaters, Leach’s Petrel, Little and Sabine’s Gulls, or if very fortunate, something even rarer, the Wilson’s and Soft-plumaged Petrels.

Ramsey Island, off St Davids peninsula, is an absolute Haven of bird and marine life and is owned by the RSPB who hold regular monthly meetings in The Seaview’s function room. Boat safaris, landing boats and fast jet-boat trips all leave from St Justinian’s. Thousand Island Expeditions are the only boat operator allowed to land on Ramsey and there is a limit on the number of people permitted on to the island each day, so its best to make a reservation. For information and bookings telephone 01437 721686. Britain’s first Indigo Bunting was seen here, so it is well worth a visit. The island has fine colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes as well as nesting Shags, Lapwings, Peregrines and Choughs.

Skomer Island and Grassholm are also RSPB reserves with thriving seabird colonies. The 60,000 strong Gannet colony on Grassholm is especially impressive. Visit Skomer in June to see puffins. More detailed information on boat trips and places of interest for birdwatching is available at www.visitpembrokeshire.co.uk.

Some of our guests in 2003 have already planned their itineraries and will be meeting with the RSPB here at The Seaview Hotel to learn more about special sightings and good places to see birds depending on the season.