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Wildlife - Animal Magic

For more information call 01437 766888 or email fran@activitywales.com

GANNETS
words & photographs by Pembrokeshire Boat Charters

The most impressive wildlife sight in Pembrokeshire is the Gannets of Grassholm, one of the largest colonies in the world of its type. The Gannet has a wingspan of almost 2 metres, making it the largest North Atlantic seabird. During the breeding season, April to September, up to 35,000 breeding pairs nest on the northern side of the island, protected from the prevailing south westerly winds. Over many years, their bird droppings have stained the rock white. In consequence, when you approach the island by boat, having travelled 10 miles offshore, it looks very much like a bun sitting on the ocean with icing sugar on top!

Stunning photographs of the Gannets can be obtained while anchored off Grassholm. You will see the birds' gracefully circling overhead, busying themselves on the congested rock, finding their nests with pinpoint landings, and feeding their young. The adult birds have gleaming white bodies, long narrow wings with black tips, and a pointed tail; this makes them visible at a great range. Juveniles are dark and fluffy, becoming lighter as they mature at three years of age. At sea, these magnificent birds plunge-dive from heights of up to 100 feet, making an eyecatching splash, emerging sometime later with their fishy meal safely tucked away - an amazing sight to behold.

What's more, Gannets challenge not only the visual senses: there's the smell of Grassholm's guano, which can be overpowering at times; plus, as you can imagine, the mechanical arrah arrah chorus that up to 100,000 Gannets make is comparable to sitting in the middle of a modern wildlife discotheque!

As for "Greedy Gannet", there's only one way to discover where this phrase came from: challenge all of your senses and visit the Gannets of Grassholm to find out for yourself! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

DEXTER CATTLE
words & photographs by Folly Farm

The Rare Breed Survival Trust has recognised Dexter cattle as rare or threatened in the UK. However, owing to increasing interest in the breed, numbers are slowly starting to rise. This is due to the breed's ability to adapt to varying and extreme climatic conditions and to different systems of management. It is also difficult to overlook the charming nature of these small cattle. They have established themselves well in many parts of the world with recent exports to Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, Zimbabwe, and Europe. Truly; the small cow with the big future...

Dexter cattle are the smallest British breed of cattle standing at 92cm - 107cm. The breed comes in three colours predominately black, but also red and dun. The average weight of a cow is around 300 - 350 kg. There are two recognised types, short legged and non-short, both of which have equal merits. Folly Farm's collection has short legged in both black and red.

Dexter cattle originated in the south west of Ireland descended from the predominately black cattle of the early Celts. It is believed that the breed owes its name to a Mr Dexter. In 1750 Mr Dexter produced this curious breed by selection from the best of the hardy mountain cattle of the area. Dexter cattle were first shown on the British mainland at the Royal Show in Norwich in 1886. By 1892, this native Irish breed had become well established throughout England and Wales.

Dexter cows make very good mothers and will milk well. Calving problems are rare and newly born calves are up on their feet very quickly. Heifers mature young and can be put to the bull at 15 - 18 months of age. Dexter's are noted for their longevity and can breed consistently over 14 years. Although not a greatly recognised as a commercial breed, the animals are early maturing. Beef can be produced economically and is of excellent quality and flavour. Milk yields vary but it is possible to achieve a yield of 4080 litres per 305 day lactation.

DOLPHINS
Words and photographs by Mark Deane - www.CelticDiving.co.uk

If you mention Dolphin to most people they immediately think of Flipper or of the captive animals that perform tricks in American Sea-life Parks. Tell them that you are going Whale and Dolphin watching and they assume you have to jet off to some exotic location in a far-flung corner of the globe. Well they would be wrong; Pembrokeshire's coastal waters are home to large numbers of these enigmatic creatures and sightings of several hundred animals at a time have been recorded.

It is possible to observe these marine mammals at any time of year. During the winter months they can be seen off many of our headlands, where the strong tidal currents pull up nutrients from the sea bed providing food for the shoals of fish on which they feed. For closer encounters a boat trip out to deeper waters can produce some breathtaking scenes. Dolphins are a highly intelligent and very social animal and will very often seek out contact with vessels.

Typically, calves are born in early summer. A single calf is produced every 3 years or so after a gestation period of around a year. The calf suckles for 2 or more years, but starts to eat fish within 3 months and during summer months mothers with young calves have been observed in Onursery groups' swimming along with vessels for short periods, as if introducing their calves to the correct etiquette for contact with humans. These calves will stay with their mothers for up to 5 years, learning the complex social skills needed to be part of Dolphin society.

To try to describe the emotions experienced when observing these magnificent creatures in their wild and natural state would exhaust a dictionary. The exhilaration as Dolphin bow ride, play and generally show off to their audience, leaping completely out of the water as they race along side you almost close enough to touch, will leave you breathless.

RAMSEY ISLAND
words by 1,000 Islands
photographs by Janet Baxter

With some of the finest cliff scenery in Wales and a range of coastal and heathland habitats, each of outstanding value for wildlife, the RSPB Nature Reserve of Ramsey Island has a magic that is self-evident to all that step foot on its shores. Four thousand years of history, mythology and religious pilgrimage add a human interest to its physical character. This beautiful island can be admired by cruising around the island on a guided boat trip or taking the ferry to land on the island.

In spring peregrines, choughs and ravens nest on the cliffs. Flowers carpet the sheltered slopes in pink, blue and yellow. From the summit of Carn Llundain you can see displaying lapwings and unusual spring migrant birds passing through.

In summer the colonies are in full swing; guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars are on the ledges. Fledging birds are now about such as peregrines, buzzards, choughs and wheatears.

In autumn it is the breeding season for the seals. The Atlantic grey seal colony on Ramsey is the most significant breeding population in southern Britain. Look and listen for the females and their white fur seal pups on the beaches and the dark-skinned males patrolling just offshore. The resident harbour porpoise can be seen feeding daily in Ramsey Sound.

This magical island is a must for any visitor to west Wales.

SHIRE HORSES
words & photographs by Dyfed Shires & Leisure Farm

Go almost as far west as you can on mainland Britain and you will find in the heart of the Welsh countryside an image from the past. Nothing can be more evocative of a past era than the sight of these gentle giant Shire horses still tilling the land as farmers had done in centuries past.

Standing at 17 hands or more (a hand is 10cm, and the average horse around 15 hands, measured to the shoulder), the Shire is the heaviest of heavy horses and can weigh in at over a tonne. It's large shoulders, long legs and flowing hairs about the feet make it a distinctive and impressive animal. Shires are no longer widely used in agriculture, but can be seen at select farms and centres.

The origin of the Shire breed in the United Kingdom may well be the "Great Horse" of medieval times, bred from the 12th century onwards for size and strength. They were certainly used as war horses - great strength was needed to carry soldiers in full armour - and possibly by knights riding into battle. But off the battlefield these magnificent animals proved their worth in agriculture. During the 18th and 19th centuries they were popular in farming and - with improvements in roads - the pulling of carts and coaches. The working horses were once the tractors of the land but are considered out-of-date by many of today's farmers. Mostly replaced by trucks and tractors, one industry that still maintains a few shire horses - albeit for show rather than practicality - is brewing.

Visiting a modern shire horse centre you may find waggon rides, harnessing demonstrations and other related activities. Harnesses may be decorated with bells and brass symbols - originally believed to discourage evil spirits through noise and celtic or pagan symbols. Show harnesses with colourful ribbons and plumes derive from the heraldic markings of war horses.

KINGFISHERS
words & photographs by Wildlife Trust South & West Wales

Don't they look good in photographs? Proud, confident, a touch arrogant maybe. Definitely big-headed. But you'd need to be, wouldn't you, wearing such brilliant and eye-catching colours. And brandishing that beak!

The Kingfisher has the bearing of a large dominant bird but in reality is quite small, little more than 6 1/2 in (16 cm) long. That is only slightly larger than a House Sparrow. Whilst the House Sparrow makes its presence felt by constant bustle and bickering, the Kingfisher commands attention by its regal uniform. And, sitting on a perch over the river, you can bet that those large black eyes see everything - both above and below the water.

Photos are one thing but reality is even better. Nothing prepares you for the stunning iridescence, the brightness of that chestnut underside, the startling red legs, the intensity of that gaze and the deadly purpose of the dive. The best time to watch Kingfishers is mid-summer. The adults chase their young away from the river to fend for themselves. They want them off their patch so they can raise a second family. The juvenile Kingfishers, sometimes several of them together, with plumage just like their parents, find quiet pools and tributaries where they can practice fishing. The young birds are pretty inept and early attempts often funnily futile. Plenty of practice is essential for their survival. You can visit several such 'nursery' sites at the Welsh Wildlife Centre where the trainees can be watched from the comfort of a hide.

For our selection of exciting holidays and breaks that include these activities call 01437 766888

Nature Wildlife Trust 01239 621600