An open day at St Justinians RNLI

August Bank Holiday Sunday is traditionally the day that St David’s RNLI Station opens its doors to everyone and includes a launch of the Lifeboat. There were many spectators including a Juvenile Kestrel ! A really lovely afternoon. There are less than 30 RNLI stations that launch directly from the Station to the sea via a slip as happens in StDavid's, Angle and Tenby - how lucky we are in Pembrokeshire to be able to see this fantastic sight and to have such coverage for our lives in these difficult seas.

A day of two halves

This morning was an outright ‘twitch’ to see a Bairds sandpiper at West Angle, Pembrokeshire. Followed by lunch at the Old Point Hotel, Angle with then an hour or so spent looking around Angle Lifeboat Station.

Thanks to those birders who found the sandpiper, kept us informed and thanks to the RNLI Angle for showing me around the boat they are so justly proud of.

Unfortunately tomorrow’s trip on Celtic Wildcat with the Mid Pembrokeshire section of the wildlife Trust of South and West Wales has been cancelled due to the weather forecast

Thresher Shark - more

Further to my posting re our trip from Newquay on the 8th August – see below I have been sent a fabulous photo of the Thresher Shark taken by Sarah Bebb. I thank Sarah for allowing me to put the pictures on this Blog so we can all share the moment. The photograph is copyright to Sarah. The trip was a joint research trip with Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and Friends of Cardigan Bay.

9th August ~ A day on Celtic Wildcat

Following on from an all day trip from Newquay it was off early for an all day trip on Celtic Wildcat. A circuit around Grassholm revealed lots of fluffy white chicks through to flightless birds having left the Island. Towards the Smalls Lighthouse we had lovely but distant views of shy Risso’s dolphin – counted as at least 10. Add to this Common Dolphin (with young calves), Porpoise, Storm petrels, Bonxie, various terns and brilliant sites of gannets diving by the boat it all added up to a great day out. Thanks to our skipper Nick O’Sullivan and to Robin Taylor (Mid Pembrokeshire Section of the Wildlife Trust) for organising the trip

8th August ~ Thresher Shark and more

A research day organised jointly by Friends of Cardigan Bay and Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre on the 8th of August resulted in some spectacular sights and records and also some much needed information and data. As well as Puffins (unusual for these waters) Storm petrels, Scoter, Sandwich terns and Comic Terns we recorded Seals, Bottle nosed Dolphins with calves, at least 100+ Common Dolphin with calves, Porpoise and amazingly the spot of a life time a breaching Thresher shark. A superb picture confirming identification was taken by ‘Sarah’ a passenger on board. Thanks also to skipper Steve Hartley.
For more information on future trips please go to ‘Boat trips’ at the CBMWLC web site http://www.cbmwc.org/