It was a busy year for wildlife and people
AS we get ready to welcome back our coastal wildlife at South Stack we take a look back at 2019 – a year that was very busy for wildlife and people.
SEABIRD SUCCESS
Our breeding pairs of chough (the rarest member of the crow family with approximately 300 individuals on mainland UK) have had 26 chicks that fledged from the reserve! This is great news for the local chough population and is our highest number of chicks in decades. We have also started working with other land owners to create more places for chough to forage.
Our guillemot and razorbill numbers have done well too with our highest ever recorded numbers. Our Warden, Denise counts them on the cliffs in the summer. We had nearly 1,400 razorbills compared to 612 in 1999 and 11,000 guillemots compare to 3,315 in 1999!
Why? There are many influences that keep seabirds breeding, from lots of fish to feed on to other bird colonies moving to the site. One of the big changes in the 1980s was the introduction of restrictions to when people could climb on the cliffs where the seabirds nest. This has led to the birds not being disturbed during breeding time, meaning more chicks fledge. This was the first time a restriction like this was used in the UK.
SEAL PUPS
Around the reserve – 23 fluffy seal pups were spotted in coves. Some of these are only visible from the sea so it does make counting them interesting! Did you know that seal pups leave their mums at just three weeks old and are left to fend for themselves! This is because she doesn’t eat while she is feeding them. Site Manager Laura got a wonderful photo of a seal pup which was just a few hours old with its umbilical cord still visible, see above.
ANGLESEY’S COUNTY FLOWER
We had a bumper number of Spotted Rock Rose, the county flower of Anglesey on the reserve in 2019. At total of 2,576 plants were counted in July up from 1,320 the previous year. To see the spotted rock-rose in full bloom you need to catch it at just the right time. It flowers only once during its lifetime and sheds its vivid petals within hours of doing so.
A BIG THANK YOU
Our Visitor Centre was of course closed for much of 2019.
We would like to thank all those who visited last year for their support and understanding whilst the building work is ongoing. We’re also very grateful to the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s tourism team for the loan of their tourism trailer which gave us shelter and a great outlet to engage with visitors.
We also borrowed a catering van from one of our other reserves so that Eluned and her team could provide visitors with refreshments. For the first time, when the weather permitted us, we kept Ellin’s Tower open over the winter which provided visitors with much-needed shelter and a place to sit in peace and enjoy nature.
We have a new guided walk this year taking in the human history of the reserve and visiting all the scheduled monuments with a picnic included, with other guided walks about the reserve being run by a local volunteer throughout the season. We look forward to working with the lighthouse staff and offering the best possible experience to all that visit South Stack. Dates will be confirmed soon.
Storm Ciara brought a small amount of damage to the reserve. The portaloos were blown over, despite our best efforts to peg them down. As the wind rages on we have left them on their sides for safety. We have lost a couple of signs but nothing that can’t be fixed.
BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE
The building will become water tight in the coming weeks as the windows are fitted, this will allow work to begin inside. You may notice some work on the slope below the visitor centre towards Ellin’s Tower. This is a new reed bed sewage system for the visitor centre. The car park and footpath to Ellin’s Tower will be off limits until the end of February whilst this work occurs.
For weekly updates, look at our blog which is available on the RSPB South Stack website rspb. org.uk/southstack.
EVENTS
The birds are back on May 23, 24, and 25. 10.30am–4pm
A weekend of learning about the seabirds at South stack from Puffins’ amazing journey to Guillemots chicks taking a 100 meter jump from the cliffs when they can’t fly.
With over 10,000 seabirds to see it is an experience not to be missed!
Guided walks and talks will need to be booked, please see social media/website for details.
Meet the sheep, May 16 10am-5pm
Meet South Stack sheep, see them being sheared, learn about what happens to the wool. With spinners and weavers ready to answer any questions.
Free event
South Stack in bloom, August 8 & 9. 10.30am–4pm
South stack is carpeted with purple, pink and yellow it is a natural wonder not to be missed. Learn about why these plants grow here and why people harvested them for thousands of years. With stands selling local produce and children’s activities.
Guided walks - booking required please check website and social media for details. All other activities free.
Get in touch
We would also love to hear direct from you with your own stories, experiences and local knowledge of the site. Visit us at the reserve; give us a call or send us an email.
RSPB South Stack
South Stack, Holyhead, Anglesey LL65 1YH
01407 762100 south.stack@rspb.org.uk rspb.org.uk/southstack