Saturday 10 June 2023

Trip away from SS15 - Essex, Norfolk and Wales (part 5)

On 9th June 2023, I visited the following sites:

Pembrokeshire Coast Path .... Barafundle Bay and Beach and Stackpole Head

Bosherston Lily Ponds

Barafundle Bay and Beach is part of the National Trust Stackpole Estate and accessible only by a half mile walk from the nearest car park at Stackpole Quay. It is a stunning broad stretch of golden sand flanked by woodland, dunes and limestone headlands.

After crossing Barafundle Beach, a path leads up through the woodland before emerging on the cliff-top path to Stackpole Head, a spectacular point where the sea has sculpted stacks, caves, arches, inlets and headlands and where Guillemots, Razorbills, Choughs, Ravens and Peregrines breed.

The undoubted highlight of my visit to Barafundle Bay and Beach  and Stackpole Head was the significant offshore passage of Manx Shearwaters plus 3 more Choughs.

The highlights during my visit were as follows: Manx Shearwater (at least 100 flying east offshore in just a 5 minute period with an ongoing passage thereafter), Gannet (3), Guillemot (+), Razorbill (less than 10), Kittiwake (1), Fulmar (1), Shag (1), Cormorant (1), Herring Gull, Chough (3), Raven (1), Rock Pipit (3), Meadow Pipit (1), Skylark (4)

Here are some photos from my visit ....




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Stackpole Head




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach and Stackpole Head




























Photo: National Trust owned Barafundle Bay and Beach




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach and Stackpole Head




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach 




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach 




























Photo: Barafundle Bay from Stackpole Head




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach 




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach




























Photo: Barafundle Bay and Beach



























Photo: Razorbill



























Photo: Razorbill



























Photo: Guillemots



























Photo: Guillemots



























Photo: Jackdaw



























Photo: Jackdaw



























Photo: Rock Pipit



























Photo: Rock Pipit



























Photo: Skylark



























Photo: Skylark

After returning to Stackpole Quay via Barafundle Beach, I drove the short distance to Bosherston Lily Ponds which is also part of the National Trust Stackpole Estate. The renowned water lilies are best seen in June. The marshy edges and reedbeds provide a good habitat for common breeding water birds. Bosherston Lily Ponds is an incredible landscape and one that I had not experienced before.

The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Blackcap (2 singing males), Chiffchaff (2 singing males), Mute Swan (3 pairs including a pair with 5 cygnets), Moorhen (2), Mallard (1), Blue-tailed Damselfly (c.20), Speckled Wood (6)

Here are some photos from my visit ....















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds

Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds
















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds

Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds
















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds

Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds
















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds















Photo: Bosherton Lily Ponds




























Photo: Mute Swan cygnets




























Photo: Mute Swan




























Photo: Mute Swan




























Photo: Mute Swan




























Photo: Mute Swans




























Photo: Mute Swan




























Photo: Mute Swans




























Photo: Mute Swan




























Photo: Mute Swan











































After filling up with petrol in Pembroke Dock (much cheaper prices than at home!), I drove the 288 miles home. This took well over 6 hours due to traffic congestion on the M4 in Wales and at the M4/M5 intersection after the Severn Crossing plus almost continuous stop-start traffic on most of the northern section of the M25. Back to reality!

#DefendNature .... Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife 

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

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