Surfbirds News

Up to 32,094 northern gannets on Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) were counted during the last survey in 2004, and this has now increased to 39,292 AOS. The survey is aimed to be carried out every six years.

This is the fastest rate of growth ever recorded on this gannetry, and is partially due to improved photographic quality allowing for better counting. A digital (DSLR) camera was used for this survey and gave greater flexibility and ease of handling than film cameras, there was also no requirement to load film and continuous shooting could be done.

Northern Gannet © Jon Lowes, from the surfbirds galleries

The Grassholm gannetry has grown steadily at an annual rate of 2.18% up to 2009, and the 2009 survey indicates that Grassholm remains the third largest gannetry in the UK and Ireland with only St Kilda and the Bass Rock being larger in size. It is the only gannetry in Wales.

Greg Morgan, RSPB Warden on Grassholm Island said: “The survey assessed the current numbers of gannets in the colony and confirmed that this was achieving the Special Protection Area conservation status for the island.”

Stuart Murray an Environmental Consultant said: “Given the importance of the Grassholm gannetry in a Welsh, UK and international context we hope to be able to continue this type of survey every six years to deliver high quality monitoring of the colony.”

Gannets can be seen offshore almost anywhere across Wales, they arrive at their colonies from late January onwards and begin to migrate south during September. Gannets might be seen at any time during these months around the coast.