One of the irrefutable signs that the summer is/has ended is that it’s now the right time of year to see the grey seals pupping in the quieter and more remote, pebbly coves on the Pembrokeshire coastline: and what a sight it is too! Another, and much sadder, fact is that the house martins and swallows which have entertained us through Spring and Summer, have now departed for warmer weather in North Africa. Meanwhile the plants which have provided wonderful summer colour are now taking a well earned break and are being, seamlessly, replaced by the full-on glory of autumnal splendour.
It is the Atlantic Grey seals which are pupping at this time of year. (Their cousins the harbour seals pupped in June/July.) The offspring are covered in white fur and I have to say they look like proverbial drowned rats!
Their day seems to consist of laying flat out, un-moving bar the occasion flap of a flipper and occasionally hooking onto their mother to take some nourishment.
And that is pretty much how the first three weeks of their life pans out! Thereafter they stir a little more and head down to the water for a swimming lesson.
Meanwhile their mothers come and go, often swimming just offshore and fishing but always alert to what their pups are up to and to any danger.
Despite their inactivity, there is something totally captivating about them and we spent ages sitting and watching from the cliff top. There is loads to read about seals on the internet so I will not repeat it here save to say that if you are lucky enough to see their pups, please do not be tempted to go near them. If you do and the mother scarpers she might reject the pup and it will not survive.
I have mentioned the house martins and the swallows in several other blogs: they became such a regular sight around the cottages that we regarded them as part of our Tregynon ‘family’.
Well they have now migrated to North Africa for the winter and, daft as it might sound, I am already missing them! Although they went without saying goodbye(!) it is comforting to know that this year’s hatchlings will return to the same nests next year spring so we will see them again. On the plus side, we have been able to remove the tile-covering we put down on the patio to protect the tiles from the guano (see below)!! Good luck to them all.
Only in the last week have we noticed the sycamore leaves starting to fall in the garden and the trees across the Gwaun Valley are starting to put on their spectacular autumn coats. And although we still have plenty of colour remaining amongst the summer bedding and pots, the red campions , which have provided months and months of colour in the hedge-grows are almost all gone: the harbingers of autumn – the Rosebay Willowherbs, are here in their place.
But it is up in the hills that autumn’s arrival is being heralded most loudly – the full majesty of the gorse and the heather (above with Carningli in the background) are putting on a spectacle of bright yellow and deep purple, merged seamlessly across acres of open grazing land. The display is second to none. Meanwhile, back down in the foothills, from along the roadsides, we have now collected the first of, doubtless many, dishes of black currents.
So, far throwing our hands up in despair that summer is leaving us and all we have to look forward to are short days and long cold winter nights, in fact we are simply experiencing the changing of the guard. Pembrokeshire continues to thrive and its beauty and boundless wildlife are leading us into the next wonderful season. Bring it on and let’s see the next spectacular chapter in this exceptional part of the country. Loving it!!