Good news from our seabird colonies – but the coming weeks are critical

Fulmar (Dave Williams)

The seabird breeding season seems to be over so quickly… Many young auks, gulls and terns have already fledged from their nests and are making their way in the world, somewhat unsteadily and demanding food from parents for several weeks. Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins jump from their nesting cliffs before they can fly, the first move in a life of numerous hazards, but just making it to the water is a career win. They are now at their most vulnerable, and watersports enthusiasts are asked to give seacliffs and birds a wide berth until the end of summer. The Northwest Wales Marine Code is backed by North Wales Police, among others.

For dedicated volunteers and staff who manage and monitor our seabird colonies, it’s been an intensive few months, and they will be relieved that bird flu has not hit our coasts again. There is a way to go for Fulmars and Gannets, however; some chicks at Wales’ two gannetries off Anglesey and Pembrokeshire – won’t fly until October.

North Wales Little Tern Group reports that our smallest terns are having a successful season at Gronant beach, managed by Denbighshire Council, and RSPB Point of Ayr with at least 170 young fledged and still more to come. Welcome news after a couple of tough years at both sites. Gordon Graham, volunteer co-ordinator at Point of Ayr was recently honoured by the RSPB for outstanding leadership at its Flintshire reserve. On Anglesey, North Wales Wildlife Trust reports over 1700 Sandwich Tern nests at Cemlyn lagoon, with youngsters starting to leave the site, while it has also been a good season for Britain’s largest Arctic Tern colony on The Skerries, wardened by RSPB Cymru. Two smaller tern colonies on the island have fared less well, illustrating the value of birds having a choice of multiple sites.

At RSPB South Stack, North Wales’ most visited seabird city by humans, surveys found more than 13,000 Guillemots, 1470 Razorbills and almost 300 pairs of Herring Gulls, while counts of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes on Ynys Seiriol/Puffin Island are up on recent years, positive news following efforts to eradicate rats on the island. Bird-ringers report that it’s a productive year for Kittiwakes there.

In other news, Quails continue to sing at Penrhyn Bay, Cemlyn, Aberdaron and Pengroeslon, with new birds at Holt, Rhoshirwaun, Llandegfan and Llanrhydlad.