Beautiful rare sea slugs found in Pembrokeshire

Powells Holiday Team — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Beautiful rare sea slugs found in Pembrokeshire Powells Holiday Team Wed, 11/19/2014 - 00:00

Beautiful and rare sea slugs have been found off of the Pembrokeshire coast, just another testament to the incredible wildlife which this part of the UK boasts.

The rare "Nudibranchs" were spotted during an annual survey by the Welsh Government sponsored body, Natural Resources Wales (NRW). They were spotted deep in the sea near the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve in Pembrokeshire, the first and only MNR in the whole of Wales and a popular area for a stay in a Pembrokeshire holiday cottage.

“Lucky at Skomer”

Marine Conservation Officer, Kate Lock, from NRW said in this BBC article, “We're lucky at Skomer to have such a huge variety of species, all uniquely spectacular. Around 68% of the total UK species can be found here in just a 13.3 kilometre area.” Skomer Island has been a popular site for visitors to Pembrokeshire staying in nearby Tenby holiday cottages in summer for some time, the boat trips around this famed island offer a wealth of natural beauty to photograph and many once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experiences to be had.

The finding of the rare Nudibranchs is reported to reflect the superior water quality off of the Pembrokeshire coast and around this area with 72 of the 108 recorded species in UK waters said to be found off of the coast of Pembrokeshire.

The article also communicates that it is not just Skomer where visitors can catch a sight of these beautiful slugs, they are also often sighted in rock pools on Pembrokeshire beaches including Manorbier and Freshwater East.

Described as ‘not your average slug’ by the NRW it is hoped that this recording will not only encourage more families to go rock pooling in Pembrokeshire where local authorities continue their hard work to maintain the quality of the surrounding waters, but also raise the profile of the humble sea slug.

Image Credit: Nick Miles (flickr.com)

This content was written by Emily Bray. Please feel free to visit my Google+ profile to read more stories.

Beaches

Superpod of Dolphins visit Pembrokeshire

Powells Holiday Team — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Superpod of Dolphins visit Pembrokeshire Powells Holiday Team Tue, 10/07/2014 - 00:00

A group of Sea Trust volunteers discovered a superpod of dolphins just off the coast of Pembrokeshire recently.

The superpod is believed to have contained over 1,000 dolphins, which is the highest number of dolphins spotted in Welsh waters in the 10 years that the volunteers have conducted their research.

Three other superpods have been spotted off the Pembrokeshire coast before, but this latest sighting could be another welcome boost to the region’s tourism industry as many people rent luxury Pembrokeshire cottages to get a glimpse of the area’s stunning wildlife.

Dolphin babies spotted

The superpod was seen off the coast between Milford Haven and Lundy in the Bristol Channel and the survey boat, the Cartlett Lady, was surrounded by the pod for approximately three hours. The superpod mainly included mothers with their calves and juveniles.

A conservation group spokesperson told the BBC, "Our conservative estimate was 1,000-plus animals but it was probably twice that as it was almost impossible to keep track of them.

"On three occasions we have encountered superpods of common dolphin in Pembrokeshire waters but this was the most spectacular with wall-to-wall dolphins."

One of the reasons why Pembrokeshire and, in particular, self catering Tenby cottages are so popular with holidaymakers is because of the area’s natural beauty and array of wildlife. Dolphins are not the only visitors to the Pembrokeshire coast as Atlantic grey seals, puffins, whales, porpoise and an array of migrant birds also visit the region on a regular basis. This is why Pembrokeshire is a popular destination for bird watchers and other wildlife lovers – it has an abundance of animals within its midst!

Image Credit: lowjumpingfrog (flickr.com)

This content was written by James Dart. Please feel free to visit my Google+ profile to read more stories.

News

Marine life

Beautiful rare sea slugs found in Pembrokeshire

“Lucky at Skomer”

Superpod of Dolphins visit Pembrokeshire

Dolphin babies spotted