Pup 61 within seconds of being born in South Haven, 22 September 2012

Pup 61 within seconds of being born in South Haven, 22 September 212

SUMMARY 182 pups were born on Skomer in 212, the highest total ever recorded, 18 in 1993 being the previous best. 31 pups were born in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve as a whole in 212, the highest total ever recorded. 138 pups are known, or assumed to have survived, giving a survival rate of 76%, very slightly below the average for the last 1 years. The busiest week this year was week 43, between 22-28 October, when 22 pups were born. The busiest sites this year were Matthew s Wick (4 pups), South Haven (32 pups) and North Haven (26 pups). The mean age at the onset of moult was 15 days and the mean duration of moult was 6 days. See Section 4.5. Photo-monitoring continued in 212 and is starting to show some really good results. 291 seals were photographed in 212, including 147 (81%) of the pupping cows, and 185 individual seals were positively identified from previous years. See Section 5 The haul-outs were relatively quiet in 212. See Section 7. Twenty-five seals were seen in 212 showing signs of having become entangled in fishing nets at some time in their lives. See section 8.

CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. OBJECTIVES 2 3. CENSUS METHODS 3 4. CENSUS RESULTS 5 4.1 GENERAL 5 4.2 SITE SUMMARIES 14 4.2.1 North Haven 14 4.2.2 Protheroe s Dock 16 4.2.3 The Lantern 16 4.2.4 Robert s Wick 17 4.2.5 Amy s Reach 18 4.2.6 Matthew s Wick 18 4.2.7 Castle Bay 21 4.2.8 South Castle Beach Cave 22 4.2.9 Seal Hole 24 4.2.1 The Slabs 25 4.2.11 Driftwood Bay 27 4.2.12 South Haven 28 4.2.13 South Stream Cave 3 4.2.14 South Stream Boulders 31 4.2.15 High Cliff Boulders 31 4.2.16 The Wick 33 4.2.17 The Basin 34 4.2.18 Tom s House 35 4.2.19 Pigstone Bay 36 4.2.2 Garland Stone 37 4.3 MOVEMENTS 38 4.4 WANDERERS 4 4.5 SEAL PUP MOULT 42 5. IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL SEALS 44 5.1 RETURNING PUPPING COWS IN 212 45 5.1.1 Site fidelity 46 5.1.2 Pupping date 49 5.2 RETURNING BULLS IN 212 5

6. SKOMER SEALS SEEN ELSEWHERE 51 6.1 CORNWALL 51 6.2 MARLOES PENINSULA 51 7. THE HAUL-OUTS IN 212 52 8. POLLUTION 56 8.1 NETTING 56 8.2 OIL/TAR 57 9. DISTURBANCE 58 1. BULL SEAL BEHAVIOUR 59 1.1 DOMINANT BULLS IN 212 59 1.1.1 Dominant Bulls in North Haven in 212 59 1.1.2 Dominant Bulls in Matthew s Wick in 212 6 1.1.3 Dominant Bulls in Castle Bay in 212 6 1.1.4 Dominant Bulls in South Castle Beach Cave in 212 61 1.1.5 Dominant Bulls in Seal Hole in 212 61 1.1.6 Dominant Bulls in Driftwood Bay in 212 62 1.1.7 Dominant Bulls in South Haven in 212 62 1.1.8 Dominant Bulls in The Wick in 212 63 1.2 BULL PLAYING WITH SUNFISH 63 11. COW BEHAVIOUR 64 11.1 MYSTERY SUCKLING COWS 64 12. DISEASE 67 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 68 REFERENCES 69

APPENDIX 1 EA. SMITH S AGE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM 71 APPENDIX 2 INDIVIDUAL SEAL PUP RECORDS IN 212 72 APPENDIX 3 212 SKOMER HAUL-OUT DETAILS 8 LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1 Monthly number and percentage of seal pup births on Skomer Island 1983-212 1 Table 4.2 Weekly figures for seal pup survival on Skomer Island in 212 11 Table 4.3 Survival rates of seal pups on Skomer Island in 212 13 Table 4.4 Causes of seal pup deaths on Skomer Island in 212 13 Table 4.5 Movements of marked pups on Skomer Island in 212 39 Table 4.6 Seal pup moult records on Skomer Island 1995-212 42 Table 5.1 Year of first record of returning seals on Skomer Island in 212 44 Table 5.2 Pupping sites of returning cows on Skomer Island 21-212 47 Table 5.3 Pupping date of returning cows on Skomer Island in 211-212 49 Table 1.1 Dominant Bulls on North Haven Main Beach in 212 59 Table 1.2 Dominant Bulls in Matthew s Wick in 212 6 Table 1.3 Dominant Bulls in Castle Bay in 212 6 Table 1.4 Dominant Bulls in Seal Hole in 212 61 Table 1.5 Dominant Bulls in Driftwood Bay in 212 62 Table 1.6 Dominant Bulls in South Haven in 212 62 Table 1.7 Dominant Bulls in The Wick in 212 63 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1 Skomer Island Grey Seal pupping sites 6 Figure 4.2 Main Concentration of pupping sites on Skomer Island 6 Figure 4.3 Number of seal pups born in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve 1983-212 7 Figure 4.4 Total number of seal pups born/survived on Skomer Island 1983-212 7 Figure 4.5 Total number of seal pups born/survived on the MNR mainland 1988-212 8 Figure 4.6 Percentage of seal pups surviving in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve 1983-212 8 Figure 4.7 Daily totals of pups born on Skomer Island in 212 9 Figure 4.8 Weekly seal pup births and deaths on Skomer Island in 212 11 Figure 4.9 Percentage of seal pups born at each site on Skomer Island in 212 12 Figure 4.1 Number of seal pups born in North Haven 1983-212 14 Figure 4.11 Weekly seal pup births in North Haven in 212 14 Figure 4.12 Number of seal pups born in Protheroe s Dock 1983-212 16 Figure 4.13 Number of seal pups born in The Lantern 1983-212 16 Figure 4.14 Weekly seal pup births in The Lantern in 212 17 Figure 4.15 Number of seal pups born in Amy s Reach 1983-212 18 Figure 4.16 Weekly seal pup births in Amy s Reach in 212 18 Figure 4.17 Number of seal pups born in Matthew s Wick 1983-212 19 Figure 4.18 Weekly seal pup births in Matthew s Wick in 212 2

Figure 4.19 Number of seal pups born in Castle Bay 1983-212 21 Figure 4.2 Weekly seal pup births in Castle Bay in 212 21 Figure 4.21 Number of seal pups born in South Castle Beach Cave 1983-212 22 Figure 4.22 Weekly seal pup births in South Castle Beach Cave in 212 23 Figure 4.23 Number of seal pups born in Seal Hole 1983-212 24 Figure 4.24 Weekly seal pup births in Seal Hole in 212 24 Figure 4.25 Number of seal pups born on The Slabs 1983-212 25 Figure 4.26 Weekly seal pup births on The Slabs in 212 26 Figure 4.27 Number of seal pups born in Driftwood Bay 1983-212 27 Figure 4.28 Weekly seal pup births in Driftwood Bay in 212 27 Figure 4.29 Number of seal pups born in South Haven 1983-212 28 Figure 4.3 Weekly seal pup births in South Haven in 212 29 Figure 4.31 Number of seal pups born in South Stream Cave 1983-212 3 Figure 4.32 Weekly seal pup births in South Stream Cave in 212 3 Figure 4.33 Number of seal pups born at High Cliff Boulders 1983-212 31 Figure 4.34 Weekly seal pup births at High Cliff Boulders in 212 32 Figure 4.35 Number of seal pups born in The Wick 1983-212 33 Figure 4.36 Weekly seal pup births in The Wick in 2122 33 Figure 4.37 Number of seal pups born in The Basin 1983-212 34 Figure 4.38 Weekly seal pup births in The Basin in 212 35 Figure 4.39 Number of seal pups born in Pigstone Bay 1983-212 36 Figure 4.4 Weekly seal pup births in Pigstone Bay in 212 36 Figure 5.1 Percentage of returning and new pupping cows on Skomer 28-212 46 Figure 5.2 Difference in pupping date of returning cows on Skomer 211-212 5 Figure 7.1 Peak haul-out counts on Skomer Island 1983-212 52 Figure 7.2 Castle Bay haul-out in 212 53 Figure 7.3 North Haven haul-out in 212 53 Figure 7.4 Driftwood Bay haul-out in 212 54 Figure 7.5 Matthew s Wick haul-out in 212 54 Figure 7.6 All haul-outs combined in 212 55 LIST OF PLATES Plate 8.1 HD-1 in November 211 56 Plate 8.2 HD-1 in August 212 56 Plate 8.3 NK-24 in October 212 57 Plate 1.1 Bull seal playing with Sunfish, South Haven 2 August 212 63 Plate 11.1 1.C42.CBYfeeding Pups 9 & 1, Matthew s Wick 14 September 212 64 Plate 11.2 Mystery Cow 1 with Pup 76, Matthew s Wick 8 October 212 65 Plate 11.3 BK-48, North Haven Slip, 19 October 212 66 Plate 11.4 Mystery Cow 2 with Wanderer 8, North Haven Slip 27 October 212 66

1. INTRODUCTION Between 18 August and 24 November 212 the breeding activities of Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) on Skomer Island were observed and recorded, using the methods employed in previous years. These are detailed in the Grey Seal Monitoring Handbook, Skomer Island (Poole 1996a), with revisions made regarding access to some sites (Hughes 1999 & 22), and are also mentioned in the individual site sections of this report. 1

2. OBJECTIVES 1. To record the number of Grey Seal pups born at all known pupping sites around Skomer Island throughout the pupping season. 2. To determine the survival rate of seal pups up to their first moult and to record the probable cause of death of any fatalities. 3. To record details of Grey Seal pup moult, especially the age at the onset of moult and duration of moult. 4. To monitor the behaviour of all seals during site visits, in particular that of territorial bulls at Castle Bay. 5. To maintain a daily record of the number of Grey Seals using the main haul-out sites, particularly Castle Bay and North Haven, including details of the age and sex of hauled out animals. 6. To record and document all observed cases of seal disturbance, their cause and outcome, including entanglement with man-made materials (angling line, fishing net, etc). 7. To record and document individual adult and immature Grey Seals with distinctive scars/markings to compare with previous years, supplementing the methods in Poole (1996a) with digital photographs. 8. To make comparisons of objectives 1, 2 and 3 with previous years data. 2

3. CENSUS METHODS Between 18 August and 23 November 212 all the main Grey Seal pupping sites on Skomer Island were checked regularly and individual records were kept of each pup s progress, from birth to completion of moult, as laid out in Poole (1996a) The most important beaches, North Haven, Amy s Reach, Matthew s Wick, Castle Bay, Driftwood Bay and South Haven were checked daily from above. There are a couple of caves running off both North Haven and South Haven beaches which can only be properly checked by entering them. To avoid excessive disturbance these were only visited weekly. The Wick was checked at least every other day, daily when the site was busy. South Stream Cave was checked most days from across South Haven and any activity followed up with a visit to the site. Pigstone Bay was checked every three to four days. Because checking Protheroe s Dock and High Cliff Boulders causes unavoidable disturbance, as the beaches have to be visited and pups searched for among the boulders, visits were reduced to weekly checks. Also because of the unavoidable disturbance all the main cave sites (The Lantern, Seal Hole and South Castle Beach Cave) were only checked once a week. Entry to the caves is dependent on tides, weather conditions and adult seal activity. To avoid causing more disturbance than absolutely necessary no cave was ever entered if a cow remained inside guarding her pup. Most pups are found within 24 hours of being born on Skomer and therefore their date of birth is known very accurately. When pups were born in the less frequently visited sites their date of birth was approximated based on the date of the previous visit, the pup s size and appearance and EA Smith s five-stage age classification system (see Appendix 1). Sites were visited when necessary to mark pups in accordance with Poole (1996a), unless otherwise stated due to recent safety recommendations, Hughes (22). In most instances seal pups were individually marked using coloured aerosol sheep-fleece marker sprays. Pups younger than four days old were not routinely marked because of concerns that marking may interfere with the mother/pup bond. Younger pups were occasionally given a very small mark, usually near the tail, if the beach was being visited anyway. This allowed individual monitoring over the following days before being marked properly when the pup was old enough. During site visits and inspections disturbance was kept to a minimum. 3

An assessment was made of the condition of each pup when last seen, classified on a fivepoint scale: 1. Very small Assumed not to have survived long after moult. 2. Small but healthy In good condition, would have a reasonable chance of survival. 3. Good size Most should survive. 4. Very good size All should survive. 5. Super-moulter An exceptional sized pup. An assessment of the quality of care given by cows was also made, on a three-point scale: 1. Poor 2. Satisfactory 3. Very good Seal pups were considered successful if they survived until the onset of moult, unless they were in poor condition (Hewer, 1974). If a pup disappeared before the onset of moult an individual assessment was made on its likelihood to have survived based on the above criteria. 4

4. CENSUS RESULTS 4.1 GENERAL 182 pups were born on Skomer in 212, the highest total ever recorded, 18 in 1993 being the previous best. The first pup of the season was born in Matthew s Wick on 18 August. Nineteen pups were born in August, 65 in September, 77 in October and 21 in November. This is a bit unusual timing-wise: August and October were busier than normal but September and November were quiet by recent standards. The busiest week this year was week 43, between the 22-28 October, when 22 pups were born. This is three weeks later than 211. The most productive beaches were Matthew s Wick (4 pups), South Haven (32 pups) and North Haven (26 pups). Mortality, at 24%, was slightly higher than the average for the last 1 years. The main pupping sites on Skomer are shown in Figures 4.1 & 4.2 The results are summarised in Tables 4.1-4.4 and Figures 4.3-4.9 5

Figure 4.1 Skomer Island Grey Seal pupping sites Figure 4.2 Main concentration of pupping sites on Skomer Island 6

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Figure 4.3 Number of seal pups born in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve 1983-212 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Total Skomer pups Total Mainland pups Whole MNR pups 31 pups were born in the Marine Nature Reserve as a whole in 212: 182 on Skomer and 128 on the mainland. Both Skomer and the mainland had their highest number of pups ever recorded. On Skomer the increase in pups in 212 was only 1% higher than the previous best year whereas on the mainland there was a 24% increase. This does support the idea that the seal population around Skomer is increasing but the island itself is more or less at capacity. Figure 4.4 Total number of seal pups born/survived on Skomer Island, 1983-212 2 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 No of Pups born No of Pups surviving 182 pups were born on Skomer in 212, the best year ever recorded but only just higher than the previous best year, 1993, when 18 pups were born. 7

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 138 pups are known, or assumed to have survived, giving a survival rate of 76%, very slightly below the average for the last 1 years. Figure 4.5 Total number of seal pups born/survived on the MNR mainland, 1988-212 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 No of Pups born No of Pups surviving 128 pups were born on the mainland within the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve in 212, easily the best year ever. The number of pups born on the mainland seems to have been steadily increasing since 22. 16 pups are known, or assumed to have survived, giving a survival rate of 83%, considerably more than on Skomer. Figure 4.6 Percentage of seal pups surviving in Skomer Marine Nature Reserve 1983-212 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Skomer Island MNR mainland 8

15-Aug 18-Aug 21-Aug 24-Aug 27-Aug 3-Aug 2-Sep 5-Sep 8-Sep 11-Sep 14-Sep 17-Sep 2-Sep 23-Sep 26-Sep 29-Sep 2-Oct 5-Oct 8-Oct 11-Oct 14-Oct 17-Oct 2-Oct 23-Oct 26-Oct 29-Oct 1-Nov 4-Nov 7-Nov 1-Nov 13-Nov 16-Nov 19-Nov 22-Nov No. of pups Figure 4.7 Daily totals of seal pups born on Skomer Island in 212 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 9

Table 4.1 Monthly number & percentage of seal pup births on Skomer Island 1983-212 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 212 19 (1%) 65 (36%) 77 (42%) 21 (12%) 211 11 (7%) 55 (35%) 56 (36%) 35 (22%) 21 11 (7%) 75 (46%) 5 (3%) 28 (17%) 29 13 (8%) 62 (39%) 47 (3%) 36 (23%) 28 11 (8%) 79 (57%) 37 (27%) 11 (8%) 27 1 (8.5%) 63 (53%) 35 (3%) 1 (8.5%) 26 11 (7%) 78 (52%) 47 (31%) 15 (1%) 25 12 (9%) 79 (58.5%) 35 (26%) 9 (6.5%) 24 24 (14%) 98 (59%) 37 (22%) 8 (5%) 23 1 (1%) 17 (11%) 92 (6%) 38 (25%) 6 (4%) 22 21 (16.5%) 62 (48.5%) 42 (33%) 3 (2%) 21 17 (1%) 9 (54.5%) 57 (34.5%) 1 (1%) 2 2 (1%) 14 (9%) 12 (65%) 4 (25%) 1999 6 (4%) 91 (65%) 44 (31%) 1998 7 (4%) 96 (54%) 7 (39%) 5 (3%) 1997 3 (2%) 75 (43%) 85 (49%) 1 (6%) 1996 61 (39%) 75 (48%) 2 (13%) 1995 2 (1%) 49 (3%) 99 (61%) 13 (8%) 1994 2 (1%) 51 (31%) 96 (58%) 16 (1%) 1993 6 (3%) 67 (38%) 87 (49%) 18 (1%) 1992 1 (.5%) 4 (3%) 4 (28%) 73 (5%) 27 (18.5%) 1991 1 (1%) 2 (14%) 75 (54%) 43 (31%) 199 3 (3%) 17 (16%) 69 (64%) 18 (17%) 1989 2 (2%) 18 (19%) 45 (46%) 32 (33%) 1987 11 (13%) 41 (49%) 32 (38%) 1986 22 (25%) 32 (36%) 34 (39%) 1985 18 (31%) 2 (34.5%) 2 (34.5%) 1984 9 (16%) 28 (51%) 18 (33%) 1983 24 (34%) 31 (44%) 15 (22%) This table excludes pups born outside the main observation period. In the early years of seal monitoring on Skomer observations extended until at least mid-december, carrying on throughout the winter in 1984-1985, but since 1988 only 26 had any observations in December. This table also excludes 1988 as it was not possible to extract the data. 212 seems to have been a slightly unusual pupping year. The percentage of pups born in August was the highest since 24, September was the second lowest since 1995, October was the highest since 1997 and November was the lowest since 28. 1

Total pups Table 4.2 Weekly figures for seal pup survival on Skomer Island in 212 Week Dates Pups known/ assumed to survive Pups known/ assumed to have died Total 33 13/8-19/8 1 1 34 2/8-26/8 9 9 35 27/8-2/9 9 1 1 36 3/9-9/9 16 2 18 37 1/9-16/9 13 4 17 38 17/9-23/9 1 4 14 39 24/9-3/9 13 2 15 4 1/1-7/1 8 3 11 41 8/1-14/1 13 8 21 42 15/1-21/1 13 7 2 43 22/1-28/1 16 6 22 44 29/1-4/11 9 2 11 45 5/11-11/11 8 4 12 46 12/11-18/11 47 19/11-25/11 1 1 Total 138 44 182 The busiest week this year was week 43, between 22-28 October, when 22 pups were born. Figure 4.8 Weekly seal pup births and deaths on Skomer Island in 212 25 2 15 1 5 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 4 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Week number Births Deaths 11

Figure 4.9 Percentage of seal pups born at each site on Skomer Island in 212 High Cliff Boulders 1% South Stream Cave 2% The Wick 12% The Basin 1% Pigstone Bay 1% North Haven 18% The Lantern 1% Amy's Reach 4% South Haven 23% Matthew's Wick 19% Driftwood Bay 9% The Slabs 2% Seal Hole 5% South Castle Beach Cave 4% Castle Bay 7% 12

Table 4.3 Survival rates of seal pups on Skomer Island in 212 Site Total Number of pups born Number of pups known/assumed to have survived North Haven 26 19 73% The Lantern 4 1 25% Amy s Reach 5 4 8% Matthew s Wick 4 32 8% Castle Bay 12 7 58% South Castle Beach 8 6 75% Cave Seal Hole 1 9 9% The Slabs 3 2 67% Driftwood Bay 12 8 67% South Haven 32 29 91% South Stream Cave 3 2 67% High Cliff 2 1 5% Boulders The Wick 22 16 73% The Basin 1 1 1% Pigstone Bay 2 1 5% Total 182 138 76% Survival Rate Table 4.4 Causes of seal pup deaths on Skomer Island in 212 Cause of death No. of % of % of total pups deaths pups born Abandoned/separated/starved 18 41% 9% Stillborn/suffocated 11 25% 6% Drowned 4 9% 2% Unknown 5 11.5% 3% Trapped in boulders 1 2%.5% Sick/diseased 5 11.5% 3% Total 44 24% Further details are given in the Site Summaries, Section 4.2 13

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2 SITE SUMMARIES 4.2.1 North Haven Figure 4.1 Number of seal pups born in North Haven 1983 212 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 4.11 Weekly seal pup births in North Haven in 212 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Date 14

Pups on the main North Haven beach can be very difficult to monitor as there are several caves and overhangs at the back of the beach where pups often disappear, especially during rough weather. The beach is a popular haul out site and it becomes impossible to try and see hidden pups without disturbing the haul out. A total of 26 pups were born in North Haven in 212, the lowest total since 28 but still six more than the average for the last 1 years. Nineteen pups are known, or assumed, to have survived to the onset of moult, a survival rate of 73%. Of the 15 pups that stayed to moult in North Haven, ten were a very good size, four were a good size and one was small but healthy at the onset of moult. Three other pups were last seen immediately prior to the onset of moult, all were good and fat stage three pups and should have survived. One pup was only two days old when the island was vacated on 24 November. It was well attended, suckling and progressing well. There is no way of knowing for sure but it is assumed to have survived. Seven pups are known, or assumed to have died: Four pups were either stillborn or died very soon after birth Pup 64 was progressing normally and was a well attended stage 3 pup when last seen on day 12. Next day it was dead on the beach for no obvious reason. Pup 155 also seemed to progress normally and was weaned on day 13. It disappeared up in to the rocks and was not seen again until day 2 but by then it had lost a lot of weight and was only about the size of a new born pup. It was not seen again. Why the pup lost so much weight so quickly is a mystery and something I had not seen before, however the pup s mother was a very small cow and did not seem big enough to have just pupped when I first saw her. One pup moved from The Lantern to North Haven Slip during very stormy weather. See Movements, Section 4.3 Five unknown pups turned up in North Haven in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 15

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.2 Protheroe s Dock Figure 4.12 Number of seal pups born in Protheroe s Dock 1983-212 For the fourth year running no pups were born at Protheroe s Dock in 212. 1-4 pups have been born here in 19 of the 28 years since 1983. 5 4 3 2 1 Two unknown pups turned up in Protheroe s Dock in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 4.2.3 The Lantern Figure 4.13 Number of seal pups born in The Lantern 1983-212 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 16

No. of Pups Figure 4.14 Weekly seal pup births in The Lantern in 212 3 2 1 Date All access routes into the Lantern are hazardous in wet weather or when there is a big swell. Even if access is possible cows often remain high inside the cave making marking pups impossible and accurately assessing their progress very hard. This year access to The Lantern was fairly good and no pups that survived to the onset of moult in the cave should have been missed. Pups that were lost soon after birth, however, could easily have been missed. Four pups were born in The Lantern in 212, one more than the average for the last 1 years. Only one pup is known to have survived (25% survival rate), the other three are all assumed to have died: Pups 113 and 114 were both new born pups found in the cave on 14 th Oct. For over 24 hours on 17 th Oct the island was battered by sustained force 8-9 southerly winds and next day Pup 114 was found, unattended, on North Haven Slip. It was till there 1 week later but had lost a lot of weight and could not have lasted much longer. The Lantern was checked again on 19 th Oct but there was no sign of Pup 113 and it too is assumed to have been lost in the storm. See Movements, Section 4.3 Pup 156 was possibly born on the rocks just east of the northern entrance to the cave on 29 th Oct. It was being guarded by its mother but was never seen anywhere again. Next day it had gone but the tide was too high to check the Lantern to see if it had swam in to the cave. On 31 st Oct the island was again battered by a full day of sustained force 8 south-westerly winds and the pup was never seen again and is assumed to have been lost. 4.2.4 Robert s Wick No pups were born in Robert s Wick in 212. This site was possibly used once, in 21, although it seems more likely this would have been a moved pup, probably from The Lantern 17

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.5 Amy s Reach Figure 4.15 Number of seal pups born in Amy s Reach 1983 212 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Figure 4.16 Weekly seal pup births in Amy s Reach in 212 3 2 1 Date Five pups were born in Amy s Reach in 212, slightly above average for the last 1 years. Four pups are known, or assumed to have survived to the onset of moult, giving a survival rate of 8% Of the three pups known to have survived one was classed as a super-moulter and the other two were a very good size on the onset of moult One pup is assumed to have survived, being a very fat 16 day old stage 3 pup when it was last seen. 18

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 One pup is assumed to have died: Pup 7 got wedged between two rocks on its second day but was still being guarded by its mother. After watching it for a while and making certain it could not get out by itself, and with a rapidly rising tide, I climbed down and pulled it out. Next day, however, it had moved, unattended, to Matthew s Wick. It was still there the next day, still without its mother but was not seen again and is assumed to have been lost. It seems possible that climbing down to release it caused the mother to desert her pup, either because of the disturbance or because of the human scent on the pup, but without intervening it would have drowned anyway. See Movements, Section 4.3. One unknown pup turned up in Amy s Reach in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 4.2.6 Matthew s Wick Table 4.17 Number of seal pups born in Matthew s Wick 1983 212 5 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 19

No. of Pups Figure 4.18 Weekly seal pup births in Matthew s Wick in 212 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Date 4 pups were born in Matthew s Wick in 212, the third best year ever, and considerably more than the average of 29 for the last 1 years 32 pups are known to have survived, giving a survival rate of 8%. Of these two were classed as super-moulters, 16 were a very good size, 1 were a good size and four were small but healthy at the onset of moult. 8 pups are know, or assumed, to have died: Three pups were abandoned at birth, one pup was abandoned after day 1 and another pup was abandoned after day 4. Pup 1 was found dead on day 2 for no obvious reason Pup 99 seemed fine and was well attended and progressing normally until day 5 when it was found dead for no obvious reason Pup 12 disappeared after day 11. Although it was well attended it seemed unhealthy and had never put on much weight. One pup moved from Matthew s Wick to Castle Bay, but returned a couple of days later and another pup moved to Matthew s Wick from Driftwood Bay. See Movements, Section 4.3. One unknown pup turned up in Matthew s Wick in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 2

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.7 Castle Bay Figure 4.19 Number of seal pups born in Castle Bay 1983-212 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 4.2 Weekly seal pup births in Castle Bay in 212 5 4 3 2 1 Date Twelve pups were born in Castle Bay in 212, slightly below the average for the last 1 years. Castle Bay does not seem to be as popular a pupping site as it once was. Seven pups are known to have survived to the onset of moult, giving a survival 58%, the lowest survival rate of any of the main beaches. This site often has a high mortality rate. Pups born at the east end of the beach are regularly abandoned, possibly because their mothers struggle to get through the large haul-outs that can be gathered there. 21

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Of the seven pups known to have survived, four were at a very good size and three were at a good size at the onset of moult. Five pups are known to have died: One pup was either stillborn or died shortly after birth Two pups were abandoned at birth Pup 2 was born in the hidden cave on the west side of the bay but was not seen until it washed up dead on the main beach, having possibly drowned. Pup 14 was well attended and progressing normally until day 9 when it was found wedged among the boulders on the west side of the beach and died four days later. One pup moved to Castle Bay from Matthew s Wick, but returned a couple of days later. See Movements, Section 4.3 4.2.8 South Castle Beach Cave Figure 4.21 Number of seal pups born in South Castle Beach Cave 1983-212 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 22

No. of Pups Figure 4.22 Weekly seal pup births in South Castle Beach Cave in 212 3 2 1 Date South Castle Beach Cave was overlooked as a pupping site prior to 199, and between 1999-21 access was severely limited as the unstable nature of the rock above was deemed unsafe for the rope access recommended in the Handbook (Poole, 1996a), and boat access is virtually impossible due to the almost constant swell. Following a re-assessment in 22 it was considered that a scramble route without rope was a reasonable option in dry conditions (Hughes, 22). The cave is only accessible from land at low tide and because of the long and rocky route from the cave to the water it was decided not to enter the cave when cows were present to avoid excessive disturbance. Access to South Castle Beach Cave was good this year, but proved impossible after 5 November due to the weather and short days not giving the rocks time to dry out. It is possible a pup or two could have been missed but pupping had pretty much stopped by this time. Eight pups are known to have been born in South Castle Beach Cave in 212, the average for the last 1 years. Six pups are known, or assumed, to have survived (75% survival). Of the four pups known to have survived, one was classed as a super-moulter, two were at a very good size and one was a good size at the onset of moult. The two pups assumed to have survived were both stage 3 pups when last seen and should have survived to the onset of moult. Two pups are known, or assumed to have died: One pup was stillborn or died soon after birth Pup 63 was abandoned when it was a few days old, its mother turning up in the haul out in Castle Bay on day 5. 23

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.9 Seal Hole Figure 4.23 Number of seal pups born in Seal Hole 1983-212 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Figure 4.24 Weekly seal pup births in Seal Hole in 212 4 3 2 1 Date Seal Hole is the easiest of the main cave sites to access and weekly visits could be maintained up until 17 November so it is unlikely any pups were missed. Ten pups were known to have been born in Seal Hole in 212, slightly below the average for the last 1 years. Nine pups are known, or assumed, to have survived to the onset of moult, giving an excellent survival rate of 9%. 24

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Of the eight pups known to have survived, one was classed as a super-moulter, five were a very good size, one was a good size and one was small but healthy at the onset of moult. The one pup assumed to have survived was a good and fat stage 3 pup when last seen and should have survived. One pup is known to have died: Pup 159 was abandoned soon after birth Two pups moved from Seal Hole to Driftwood Bay. See Movements, Section 4.3 4.2.1 The Slabs Figure 4.25 Number of seal pups born on The Slabs 1983-212 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 25

No. of Pups Figure 4.26 Weekly seal pup births on The Slabs in 212 3 2 1 Date Three pups were born on The Slabs in 212, slightly above the average for the last 1 years. Two pups are known to have survived (67% survival), and of these one was classed as a super-moulter and the other was a good size at the onset of moult. One pup is known to have died: Pup 95 was either stillborn or died soon after birth One pup moved from The Slabs to Driftwood Bay and one pup moved from South Haven to The Slabs. See Movements, Section 4.3 One unknown pup turned up on The Slabs in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 26

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.11 Driftwood Bay Figure 4.27 Number of seal pups born in Driftwood Bay 1983-212 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 4.28 Weekly seal pup births in Driftwood Bay in 212 5 4 3 2 1 Date Twelve pups were born in Driftwood Bay in 212, a small bit below the average of 15 for the last 1 years. 27

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Eight pups are known to have survived (67% survival) and of these one was classed as a super-moulter, four were a very good size and three were a good size at the onset of moult. Four pups are known, or assumed to have died: Three pups were either stillborn or died soon after birth Pup 177 was abandoned at birth but must have suckled at least once as it moved to Matthew s Wick and was still just about alive when last seen on day 7 One pup moved from Driftwood Bay to South Haven and another moved to Matthew s Wick. Eight pups moved to Driftwood Bay from South Haven, one moved from The Slabs and two moved from Seal Hole. See Movements. Section 4.3 Two unknown pups turned up in Driftwood Bay in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 4.2.12 South Haven Figure 4.29 Number of seal pups born in South Haven 1983-212 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 28

No. of Pups Figure 4.3 Weekly seal pup births in South Haven in 212 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Date Pups born on the main beach Pups born in the caves This site is made up of South Haven main beach and the two caves between the beach and Driftwood Bay. The caves (in which 1 pups were known to have been born this year) are hard to monitor from above and have to be visited weekly to assess the progress of any pups. Thirty-two pups were born in South Haven in 212, well above the average for the last 1 years of 25 and the third best year ever. Twenty-nine pups are known, or assumed to have survived, giving an excellent 91% survival rate, the best for any of the main beaches. Of the 25 pups known to have survived eight were classed as super-moulters, 11 were a very good size, three were a good size and three were small but healthy at the onset of moult. The four pups assumed to have survived were all between 12-17 days old and good sized stage three pups when last seen and should have survived. Three pups are known, or assumed to have died: Two pups were abandoned at birth Pup 13 got separated from its mother on day 4 after a big storm on 17 th Oct. Although it only moved to Driftwood Bay its mother never found it and it was last seen back in south Haven a week later but now very small and could not have survived for much longer. Eight pups moved from South Haven to Driftwood Bay and another one moved to The Slabs. One pup moved from South Stream Cave to South Haven. See Movements, Section 4.3. Two unknown pups turned up in Driftwood Bay in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 29

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.13 South Stream Cave Figure 4.31 Number of seal pups born in South Stream Cave 1983-212 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Figure 4.32 Weekly seal pup births in South Stream Cave in 212 3 2 1 Date South Stream Cave is a hard site to monitor well. Access to the cave is only possible at low tide and is very treachrous in wet weather, pups are usually hidden and the only sign that they are present is when cows are seen swimming offshore. It is best to check the site daily from The Neck and then follow up any activity with a visit to the cave. Three pups were born in South Stream Cave in 212, slightly above the average for the last 1 years. Two pups are known to have survived (67% survival) and both pups were a very good size at the onset of moult. 3

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 One pup is known to have died: Pup 43 moved, with its mother, to High Cliff Boulders after day 3, following strong Northwesterly winds and a big swell It was weaned after day 2 and was a very good size but by day 24 still showed no sign of starting to moult and was found dead the next day. As usual none of the pups managed to remain in South Stream Cave to complete their moult, one moving to High Cliff Boulders, one moving to South Haven, via Driftwood Bay, and the other seen swimming off south just prior to the onset of moult. See Movements, Section 4.3 4.2.14 South Stream Boulders No pups were born at South Stream Boulders in 212. The site has only been used once, in 1998, when a single pup was born. 4.2.15 High Cliff Boulders Figure 4.33 Number of seal pups born at High Cliff Boulders 1983-212 5 4 3 2 1 31

No. of Pups Figure 4.34 Weekly seal pup births at High Cliff Boulders in 212 3 2 1 Date Two pups were born at High Cliff Boulders in 212, above average for the last 1 years and the first year since 1993 with more than one pup. One pup survived (5% survival) and went on to moult at a very good size. One pup is known to have died: Pup 89 was abandoned at birth. One pup moved to High Cliff Boulders from South Stream Cave. See Movements, Section 4.3. 32

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.16. The Wick Figure 4.35 Number of seal pups born in The Wick 1983-212 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 4.36 Weekly seal pup births in The Wick in 212 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Date Twenty-two pups were born in The Wick in 212, the best year ever for the site and almost double the average for the last 1 years. 33

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Sixteen pups are known to have survived (73% survival) and of these 12 were a very good size, three were a good size and one was small but healthy at the onset of moult. Six pups are known, or assumed to have died: Two pups died, presumably drowned, following the big storm on 17 th Oct when the island was battered for 24 hours with force 8-9 southerly winds. Another pup disappeared following another big storm on 19 th Nov after a day of sustained force 8 south-westerly winds Pup 112 was definitely stillborn Pup 128 died for no obvious reason after day 1 when it was a good sized stage 3 pup Pup 131 was abandoned after day 2 Three unknown pups turned up in The Wick in 212. See Wanderers, Section 4.4 4.2.17 The Basin Figure 4.37 Number of seal pups born in The Basin 1983-212 3 2 1 34

No. of Pups Figure 4.38 Weekly seal pup births in The Basin in 212 3 2 1 Date One pup was born at The Basin in 212, it survived to the onset of moult at a very good size (1% survival). 4.2.18 Tom s House No pups were born at Tom s House in 212. The site has only been used once, in 1997, when a single pup was born. 35

No. of Pups 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 4.2.19 Pigstone Bay Figure 4.39 Number of seal pups born in Pigstone Bay 1983-212 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Figure 4.4 Weekly seal pup births in Pigstone Bay in 212 3 2 1 Date Pigstone Bay is the only site on Skomer which is impossible to monitor. There is an easily accessible boulder beach where it is has been thought pups were occasionally born. However there is a sea cave, which is impossible to access, which seems to be the source of pups found on the beach, presumably having been washed out during spring tides/big swells. The cave was entered by boat in 1985 and found to end in a shingle beach which held about a dozen hauled out seals and it was considered the cave could be an important pupping site (Alexander & Alexander, 1987). Any pups that are seen at Pigstone Bay are rarely seen again 36

and are usually assumed to have died, although it is equally possible they could have just swam back to the cave. Two pups were considered to have been born in Pigstone Bay in 212, slightly above average for the last 1 years. One pup is assumed to have survived (5% survival). One pup is known to have died: Pup 49 was a fresh new born pup found floating in the entrance to the sea-cave, possibly a victim of a day of the strong North-westerly winds and big swell a couple of days previously. 4.2.2 The Garland Stone No pups were born at The Garland Stone in 212. The site has only been used twice, in spring 21 and 27, when single pups were born. 37

4.3 MOVEMENTS During 212 2 marked pups were recorded making movements between beaches on Skomer. Movements of pups between beaches usually occur during periods of strong winds and spring tides and are presumably a result of pups running out of dry land on their natal beach and swimming to the nearest available dry site. In 212 one prolonged windy period, from the 15 th -18 th Oct, combined with spring tides, caused eight pups to move beaches The survival rate of the pups that moved, where the cause of death was as a direct result of the move, was 8%. This compares very favourably with the overall survival rate of 76% for all pups in 212. Two pups (7 and 177) seem to have moved as a result of being abandoned shortly after birth and were presumably looking for something to suckle on. Both are assumed to have died. Five pups (13, 5, 53, 65 and 121) moved shortly after they were weaned, just prior to moulting, and all are either known to have survived and completed moult at their new site or are assumed to have survived, being last seen in mid-moult. Three pups (22, 152 and 178) moved for no obvious reason: Pup 22 had a lucky escape, it was watched swimming out of Matthew s Wick, past its mother, on day 2, spent the next day unattended in Castle Bay before returning to Matthew s Wick where it was reunited with its mother and went on to complete its moult. The remaining 1 pups (43, 81, 92, 12, 13, 19, 114, 117, 122 and 167) all moved as a result of the weather: Pup 43 moved, with its mother, from South Stream Cave to High Cliff Boulders after two days of very strong north-westerly winds created a very big swell in South Haven Pups 81-122 were all forced to move following a very windy period from 15 th -18 th Oct, which peaked with a whole day of sustained force 8-9 southerlies on 17 th Oct and created a massive swell that whipped around the whole island. Most movements were just between South Haven and Driftwood Bay but Pup 114 moved from South Stream cave to driftwood Bay and then on to South Haven and Pup 117 moved to North Haven Slip from the Lantern. Two of these pups (13 and 114) were separated from their mothers and are assumed to have died, the others were all fine. Pup 167 moved, with its mother, from South Haven to Driftwood Bay following a day of force 8 South-westerlies 38

TABLE 4.5 Movements of marked pups on Skomer Island in 212 Natal Site Pup No. Destination Age (on arrival at destination) Pup condition when last seen Comments South Haven 13 Driftwood Bay The Slabs 18u 11u Very good size, moult complete Matthew s 22 Castle Bay 3u? Small but healthy, Wick Matthew s Wick 4a stayed to complete moult South Stream 43 High Cliff 5a Died between days Cave 24-25 for no South Haven Cave obvious reason 5 Driftwood Bay 18u Super-moulter, stayed to complete moult Seal Hole 53 Driftwood Bay 24u Very good size, heavily moulted South Haven 65 The Slabs 21u Super-moulter, stayed to complete moult Amy s Reach 7 Matthew s Wick 3u Disappeared after day 3 South Haven 81 Driftwood Bay 17u Very good size, moult complete South Haven 92 Driftwood Bay 12a Very good size, Slot stayed to complete Weaned No obvious reason Strong NW winds & big swell Weaned Weaned Weaned Possibly abandoned after disturbance? Strong S winds & spring tides Strong S winds & spring tides moult South Haven 12 Driftwood Bay 8a Good size, moulting Strong S winds & Cave spring tides South Haven 13 Driftwood Bay 7u Emaciated Strong S winds & South Haven 1u spring tides South Haven 19 Driftwood Bay 6a Small but healthy, Strong S winds & moult complete spring tides The Lantern 114 North Haven Slip 7u Emaciated Strong S winds & spring tides South Stream 117 Driftwood Bay 3a Very good size, Strong S winds & Cave South Haven 5a moult complete spring tides Driftwood Bay 121 South Haven 21u Super-moulter, Weaned moulting heavily Seal Hole 122 The Slabs 3a Very good size, Strong S winds & moult complete spring tides The Slabs 152 Driftwood Bay 6a Good size, heavily No obvious moulted reason South Haven 167 Driftwood Bay 16a Very good size, just Strong SW winds Cave starting to moult & spring tides Driftwood Bay 177 Matthew s Wick 5u Emaciated Abandoned South Haven 178 Driftwood Bay 4a Stage 3, very good No obvious Slot size reason a Pup attended by mother u Pup unattended 39

4.4 WANDERERS Seventeen pups turned up on Skomer in 212 that were not thought to have been born on the island. Most of these pups appeared following spells of windy weather and spring tides and were good, or very good, sized pups that had just started moulting or were just about to. Following the big storm from 15-18 October at least six pups turned up, including three that were only stage 1-2. Two of these died but amazingly one pup (W8) was adopted by an unknown cow that was not known to have pupped on Skomer but had presumably lost her pup from somewhere. See MYSTERY SUCKLING COWS, Section 11.1 W1 was very good sized stage 3 pup that turned up in South Haven on 17 Aug. It had started moulting by two days later and stayed there to complete moult and was last seen on 26 Aug. W2 was a stage 2 sized pup that turned up in Driftwood Bay on 18 Aug, although it was thought to be older than it looked but very under-weight. It was last seen on 23 Aug and was very skinny and would not have survived too much longer. W3 was a very big stage 4 pup, just starting to moult, that turned up in Amy s Reach on 18 Sep but was never seen again W4 was a very big stage 4 pup, just starting to moult, that turned up in The Wick on 19 Sep. It was still there next day and was moulting heavily but was not seen subsequently. W5 was a small stage 4 pup that turned up in The Wick on 7 Oct. It was still there the next day, moulting slowly, but was not seen subsequently W6 was an unhealthy looking stage 1-2 pup that turned up on North Haven Slip on 18 Oct, following three days of very strong winds and spring tides. It was still present the next day but was hardly moving and was not seen subsequently and presumably died. W7 was a very skinny heavily moulted stage 4 pup that also turned up on North Haven slip on 18 Oct following the storm. It was last seen on 23 Oct, by which time it had completed its moult but was completely emaciated and could not have survived long W8 was a small stage 2 pup that turned up in Matthew s Wick on 18 Oct, following the storm. It was still present the next day but moved to North Haven Slip on 2 Oct where, incredibly, it was adopted by an unknown cow and quickly put on weight. It was nursed for 1 days and went on to complete moult at a very good size. W9 was a stage 2 pup that turned up in Driftwood Bay on 18 Oct, following the storm. It remained in Driftwood Bay, gradually losing weight and looking increasingly unhealthy until it was last seen on 3 Nov. W1 was a massive, heavily moulted, stage 4 pup found in Protheroe s Dock on 21 Oct, presumably as a result of the storm a few days earlier. It was not seen again W11 was a good sized stage 4 pup, just starting to moult, also found in Protheroe s Dock on 21 Oct and not seen again 4

W12 was a very good sized stage 3 pup that turned up on The Slabs on 22 Oct. It had started to moult two days later and was last seen on 28 Oct, by which time it had moulted completely. W13 was a very good sized stage 4 pup, just starting to moult, that turned up in South Haven on 23 Oct and was last seen on 26 Oct, still moulting slowly. W14 was a very good sized, heavily moulted, stage 4 pup that turned up in The Wick on 24 Oct. It was not seen again but could have been one of a few fully moulted pups in The Wick on 27 Oct W15 was a good sized, heavily moulted stage 4 pup that turned up on North Haven Slip on 11 Nov but was not seen again W16 was a very good sized stage 4 pup that had just started moulting that turned up on North Haven Slip on 14 Nov and stayed there until 17 Nov W17 was a very good sized stage 4 pup that had just started moulting that turned up on the main North Haven beach on 23 Nov but was not seen again due to us leaving the island. 41

4.5 SEAL PUP MOULT Details of moult were recorded for pups whose progress could be accurately monitored from birth, but only for pups where date of birth and moulting strategy were known to within 24 hours. The age of pups at the start of moult is normally quite easy to record but pups have a nasty habit of vanishing just before they complete moult, or become indistinguishable from other moulting or moulted pups once they lose their individual markings, making accurately recording the age at completion and duration of moult much harder to record. Moulting details for 83 pups are given in Appendix II. The mean age at onset of moult was 15 days (n=74, range 1-21 days). The mean age at completion of moult was 2 days (n=5, range 4-29 days). The mean duration of moult was 6 days (n=43, range 3-12 days). Table 4.6 Seal pup moult records on Skomer Island 1995-212 Year Mean age at onset (days) Mean duration (days) 212 15 6 2 211 15 5 2 21 14 6 19 29 15 6 22 28 14 5 2 27 1 (flippers) 1 (max.) 2 15 (body) 6 (min.) 26 8 (flippers) 12 (max.) 19 13 (body) 6 (min.) 25 1 (flippers) 8 (max.) 19 14 (body) 5 (min.) 24 11 (flippers) 1 (max.) 21 15 (body) 6 (min.) 23 11 (flippers) 1 (max.) 21 14 (body) 6 (min.) 22 12 9 22 21 13 6 2 2 16 4 2 1999 15 5 2 1998 17 6 22 1997 17 5 22 1996 16 5 2 1995 16 5 22 Mean age at completion (days) 42

It is interesting to note that two pups were born in Matthew s Wick on consecutive days that were heavily moulted at birth, one completing moult by day seven and the other by day four. Both of the mothers of these two pups have pupped on Skomer previously. NK-15 has pupped every year since 27 and her previous pups started moulting at 11, 8, 14 and 22 days old a complete mixture of starting to moult early, normal and late. 9.C4.MWK pupped in 29 and 211 and her previous pups have also both started moulting very early, at 6 and 3 days old. At the other end of the scale Pup 43 showed no sign of any moult by day 25. It appeared to be a healthy fat pup but was dead the next day so there was clearly something wrong with it. 43

5. IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL SEALS For the eighth year photographic monitoring of adults continued in 212 and has now completely replaced the old method of drawing sketches. Animals with distinctive marks and scars, and therefore a good chance of being re-identified in the future were photographed, as specified in the Handbook (Poole 1996a), and for the fifth year an attempt was made to photograph all the pupping cows and dominant bulls around the island. This should greatly increase the number of breeding seals that can potentially be re-identified and should increase our understanding of site fidelity, frequency of pupping and longevity. It proved necessary to re-do all the id catalogues this year, especially for the scarred seals, as the old system was becoming too messy a seal with a scar on the right side of its back could be in the shoulder, back, lower back or right side id catalogues so I have tried to simplify things and reduce the number of different codes. This means, unfortunately, all the codes for scarred seals have changed. A few seals with very small, indistinct scars have been dropped, unless they were pupping cows, in which case they have been given a pupping cow code. 185 seals were re-identified from photos from previous years. 16 new seals were photographed and added to the ID. Catalogues. Most of the seals indentified from previous years have only been added to the records since 27, the first year a lot of seals were photographed. There are a few older returning individuals, with the oldest being six cows dating back to 21. Table 5.1 Year of first record of returning seals on Skomer Island in 212 211 21 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 Total 39 39 25 32 17 6 7 6 6 2 6 185 44

5.1 RETURNING PUPPING COWS IN 212 The main reason for expanding the seal identification work was to try and learn more about the pupping cows on Skomer. I had assumed there was going to be a resident Skomer population which could be largely identified in a few years. The truth is proving very different! 182 cows pupped on Skomer in 212 and 147 (81%) of these were seen well and photographed, the other 35 were not identified, either because they pupped in caves or they lost/abandoned their pups too soon after giving birth. Despite 212 being the fifth year the majority of pupping cows have been photographed still only 69 of the identified 147 cows (47%) are known to have pupped on the island in previous years. This is exactly the same percentage as last year. Forty-seven cows that pupped on Skomer in 212 had also pupped in 211 Twenty-three cows pupped on Skomer in the three consecutive years 21-212 Only nine cows pupped on Skomer in the four consecutive years 29-212 Eight cows pupped on Skomer in the five consecutive years 28-212 Four cows are known to have pupped on Skomer in the six consecutive years 27-212 No cows are known to have pupped in the seven consecutive seasons 26-212 Nine cows that pupped on Skomer in 212 are known to have pupped at least once between 21-26. The oldest known cows that pupped on Skomer in 212 were three cows that were first recorded in 21. Thirteen cows pupped on Skomer in 212 that did not pup in 211 but did pup in 21 Two cows pupped on Skomer in 212 that are last known to have pupped in 29 Five cows pupped on Skomer in 212 that are last known to have pupped in 28 One cow pupped on Skomer in 212 that was last known to have pupped in 27 One cow pupped on Skomer in 212 that was last known to have pupped in 26 393 different cows are now known to have pupped on Skomer in the five years 28-212. 45

18 pregnant cows were seen that have previously pupped on Skomer although they were not known to have pupped in 212 Another 18 cows that have previously pupped on Skomer were seen again in 212 but were not pregnant when seen. Figure 5.1 Percentage of returning and new pupping cows on Skomer Island 28-212 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 28 29 21 211 212 % Returning Cows % New Cows 5.1.1 Site fidelity Of the 47 cows that pupped on Skomer in both 211 and 212, 36 (77%) returned to pup at the same site. Of the 23 cows that pupped on Skomer in the three consecutive years 21-212, 15 (65%) used the same site in all three years. Of the nine cows that pupped on Skomer in the four consecutive years 29-212, five (56%) used the same site in all four years. Of the eight cows that pupped in the five consecutive years 28-212, three (38%) used the same site in all five years Of the four cows that pupped in the six consecutive years 27-212, only one (25%) used the same site in all six years It is perhaps significant that only two site, Matthew s Wick and South Haven, have been used by the same cows for more than three seasons 46

Table 5.2 Pupping sites of returning cows on Skomer Island 21-212 SEAL CODE 212 211 21 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 5.C57.SCBC MWK WCK SCBC 7.C25.CBY SHO DWB CBY 7.C114.SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV 8.C16.MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK 8.C25.MWK MWK MWK MWK 8.C46.SHV DWB SHV 8.C74.NHV SHV SHV SHV SHV NHV 8.C8.SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV 8.C87.MWK MWK MWK MWK 8.C91.MWK MWK MWK CBY MWK 8.C117.NHV NHV NHV MWK MWK NHV 8.C124.MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK 8.C128.MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK 9.C4.MWK MWK MWK MWK 9.C5.WCK SHV WCK 9.C68.NHV NHV MWK NHV 9.C77.NHV NHV NHV 9.C79.NHV SHV DWB NHV 9.C11.SHV SHV SHV SHV 9.C12.AMR SCBC NHV AMR 9.C128.MWK DWB MWK MWK 1.C25.WCK WCK WCK WCK 1.C4.MWK NHV MWK 1.C54.SSC NHV SSC 1.C11.AMR AMR AMR 1.C18.AMR MWK MWK AMR 1.C129.DWB MWK DWB 1.C13.SHV NHV SHV 1.C138.SHV WCK SHV SHV 1.C145.SHV SHV SHV SHV 1.C146.MWK AMR MWK 1.C149.MWK MWK MWK MWK 1.C153.NHV MWK MWK NHV 1.C157.SHV SHV SHV 1.C158.NHV NHV NHV NHV 1.C162.WCK WCK WCK WCK 11.C18.AMR AMR AMR 11.C48.BAS BAS BAS 11.C81.WCK WCK WCK 11.C13.DWB DWB DWB 11.C19.SBS SBS SBS 11.C11.CBY CBY CBY 11.C114.MWK SSC MWK 11.C115.DWB MWK DWB 11.C122.SHV SHV SHV 11.C131.SHV SHV SHV 47

SEAL CODE 212 211 21 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 11.C147.WCK MWK WCK 11.C149.DWB NHV DWB 11.C152.NHV NHV NHV 11.C154.SHV SHV SHV BK-2 CBY CBY CBY MWK MWK CBY CBY MWK BK-7 WCK WCK WCK WCK WCK WCK WCK WCK WCK BK-13 WCK WCK MWK BK-14 SCBC MWK MWK HD-1 MWK CBY MWK HD-18 WCK WCK LBK-3 SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV SHV LBK-17 NHV MWK LBK-29 MWK NHV LBK-3 DWB NHV NHV DWB LBK-65 SHV NHV LS-2 NHV SHV MWK NHV SHV LS-5 MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK MWK LS-7 NHV NHV WCK NHV NHV LS-16 NHV NHV NHV LS-2 MWK MWK NK-7 MWK AMR MWK SHV NK-15 MWK MWK AMR DWB SHO MWK RS-22 CBY NHV NHV 48

5.1.2 Pupping date Table 5.3 Pupping date of returning cows on Skomer Island in 211-212 212 211 Difference (Days) 7.C114.SHV 7 Oct 11 Oct -4 8.C16.MWK 28 Aug 3 Sep -6 8.C25.MWK 9 Sep 9 Sep = 8.C74.NHV 12 Sep 19 Sep -7 8.C8.SHV 28 Sep 1 Oct -3 8.C87.MWK 9 Sep 1 Sep -1 8.C117.NHV 21 Oct 24 Oct -3 8.C124.MWK 15 Oct 22 Oct -7 8.C128.MWK 14 Oct 26 Oct -12 9.C4.MWK 6 Sep 21 Aug +16 9.C79.NHV 11 Sep 16 Sep -5 1.C25.WCK 7 Sep 2 Sep +5 1.C18.AMR 6 Oct 6 Oct = 1.C138.SHV 11 Nov 2 Nov +9 1.C145.DWB 3 Oct 4 Nov -5 1.C149.MWK 13 Oct 12 Oct +1 1.C153.NHV 3 Nov 16 Nov -13 1.C158.NHV 7 Nov 15 Nov -8 1.C162.WCK 5 Nov 7 Nov -2 11.C18.AMR 3 Aug 4 Sep -5 11.C81.WCK 21 Sep 5 Oct -14 11.C13.DWB 19 Oct 19 Oct = 11.C11.CBY 21 Oct 24 Oct -3 11.C114.MWK 14 Oct 28 Oct -14 11.C115.DWB 19 Oct 29 Oct -1 11.C122.SHV 24 Oct 1 Nov -8 11.C131.SHV 24 Oct 4 Nov -11 11.C147.WCK 24 Oct 1 Nov -17 11.C149.DWB 26 Oct 1 Nov -15 11.C152.NHV 1 Nov 15 Nov -14 11.C154.SHV 24 Oct 15 Nov -22 BK-7 7 Sep 15 Sep -8 LS-2 23 Aug 25 Aug -2 LS-5 5 Oct 8 Oct -3 LS-7 8 Sep 9 Sep -1 LS-14 17 Oct 18 Oct -1 LS-16 2 Sep 3 Oct -13 LBK-3 29 Aug 8 Sep -1 LBK-3 1 Sep 18 Sep -8 LBK-65 23 Sep 2 Oct -9 NK-7 19 Oct 16 Oct +3 NK-15 3 Sep 23 Aug +11 49

The exact pupping date is known for 42 cows that pupped in both 211 and 212 Three cows pupped on exactly the same date in 211 and 212. Six cows pupped 1-16 days later in 212 (mean 6 days) Thirty-three cows pupped 1-22 days earlier in 212 (mean 8 days) Figure 5.2 Difference in pupping date of returning cows on Skomer Island 211-212 5 4 No. of Pups 3 2 1-22 -2-18 -16-14 -12-1 -8-6 -4-2 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 16 No. of Days 5.2 RETURNING BULLS IN 212 Thirty bulls known from previous years were seen again in 212. Most were returning Beachmasters. See DOMINANT BULLS IN 212, Section 1.1 5

6. SKOMER SEALS SEEN ELSEWHERE 6.1 CORNWALL At the time of writing details of any Skomer seals seen in Cornwall during 212 were not available. Sue Sayer of the Cornwall Seal Group does an amazing amount of work with photo id. of adult seals but it is all in her spare time and does take an incredible amount of time. 6.2 MARLOES PENINSULA Kate Lock has been taking some photos of pupping cows and dominant bulls again this season on the Marloes Peninsula, the mainland portion of the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve. In 212 two cows were photographed with pups that have previously pupped on Skomer. BK-2 was again photographed with a pup on Jeffrey s Haven between 1-24 Sep before being seen hauled out in North Haven and Castle Bay between 16-23 Nov. BK-143 has been seen on Skomer most years since 25 and pupped on the island in 27 and 28 1.C82.AMR was photographed with pup 61 on Renny Slip on 17 Sep. She previously pupped on Skomer in Amy s Reach in 21 and in South Haven in 211 51

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 199 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 7. THE HAUL-OUTS IN 212 The number of seals using the haul-outs on Skomer in 212 was well down compared with last year, with most sites recording their lowest peak numbers since 27 or 28 The highest combined haul-out count for all sites in 212 was 217 on 2 Nov, a little over half the highest count in 211 and the second lowest count since 1996. In 27 the peak count of just 168 was followed by four years of rising numbers to near record levels last year. That, combined with the highest pup count ever suggests there is nothing to worry about and other factors meant Skomer was not so attractive as a haul-out site this year for some reason. There was a large rock fall in North Haven overnight on 25-26 Aug that reduced the area of beach available for seals to haul out at high tide by about a third but this seems unlikely to have affected haul-out numbers. North Haven remained the most popular haul-out for most of the season and the peak count of 133 on 18 Oct is only a little below average for the last 1 years. Numbers of seals hauling out in Castle Bay increased in the second half of the autumn, with a peak count of 1 on 2 Nov, again only slightly below the average for the last 1 years. Driftwood Bay was only used as a haul-out site after mid-oct, with a peak count of 39 on 15 Nov, the third lowest count since regular counting began here in 23. Matthew s Wick was regularly used as a haul-out site in the second half of the season, with highest numbers from late October, and a peak count of 66 on 8 Nov Figure 7.1 Peak haul-out counts on Skomer Island 1983-212 5 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Combined peak count Castle Bay Peak Count North Haven Peak Count Matthew's Wick Peak Count Driftwood Bay Peak Count See APPENDIX 3 for detailed haul out figures. 52

19-Aug 23-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug 4-Sep 8-Sep 12-Sep 16-Sep 2-Sep 24-Sep 28-Sep 2-Oct 6-Oct 1-Oct 14-Oct 18-Oct 22-Oct 26-Oct 3-Oct 3-Nov 7-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov Low Tide (m) No. of Seals 19-Aug 23-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug 4-Sep 8-Sep 12-Sep 16-Sep 2-Sep 24-Sep 28-Sep 2-Oct 6-Oct 1-Oct 14-Oct 18-Oct 22-Oct 26-Oct 3-Oct 3-Nov 7-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov Low Tide (m) No. of Seals Figure 7.2 Castle Bay haul-out in 212 2 3 15 2 1 1 5 Date Tide Number of Seals Full Moon Figure 7.3 North Haven haul-out in 212 2 3 15 2 1 1 5 Tide Date Number of Seals 53

19-Aug 23-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug 4-Sep 8-Sep 12-Sep 16-Sep 2-Sep 24-Sep 28-Sep 2-Oct 6-Oct 1-Oct 14-Oct 18-Oct 22-Oct 26-Oct 3-Oct 3-Nov 7-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov Low Tide (m) No. of Seals 19-Aug 23-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug 4-Sep 8-Sep 12-Sep 16-Sep 2-Sep 24-Sep 28-Sep 2-Oct 6-Oct 1-Oct 14-Oct 18-Oct 22-Oct 26-Oct 3-Oct 3-Nov 7-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov Low Tide (m) No. of Seals Figure 7.4 Driftwood Bay haul-out in 212 2 3 15 2 1 1 5 Tide Date Number of Seals Figure 7.5 Matthew s Wick haul-out in 212 2 3 15 2 1 1 5 Tide Date Number of Seals 54

19-Aug 23-Aug 27-Aug 31-Aug 4-Sep 8-Sep 12-Sep 16-Sep 2-Sep 24-Sep 28-Sep 2-Oct 6-Oct 1-Oct 14-Oct 18-Oct 22-Oct 26-Oct 3-Oct 3-Nov 7-Nov 11-Nov 15-Nov 19-Nov 23-Nov Low Tide (m) No. of Seals Figure 7.6 All haul-outs combined in 212 45 3 4 35 3 2 25 2 1 15 1 5 Date Tide Number of Seals Full Moon 55

8. POLLUTION 8.1 NETTING Once again monofilament line and netting were the obvious pollutants affecting several adult and immature seals. Twenty-five different seals seen around the island in 212 showed obvious signs of being entangled in nets at some time in their lives, most commonly a deep scar around their necks, sometimes with a small amount of netting still embedded. Sixteen of these seals were returning individuals the other nine were previously unknown. The two worse cases are detailed below. HD-1 has been seen on Skomer most years since 21 and pupped on the island in 21, 28 and 212. She was also seen in Cornwall in 29 and 21. It is not that easy to see from the photo, but when she returned this year she had a new deep scar around her middle with a ring of netting still invisible and a big flap of skin hanging off. HD-1 is one of the oldest known Skomer seals and this goes to show that it is not just young inexperienced seals that can get caught in nets. The fact that she is also known to visit Cornwall shows how big an area seals could come in to conflict with fishing activity. Plate 8.1 HD-1in November 211 Plate 8.2 HD-1 in August 212 56

NK-24 is an immature cow with green monofilament netting embedded around her neck. She has been regularly seen around Skomer since 28, and spent large parts of this season hauled out in North Haven. For the second season the wound around her neck was regularly bleeding and it appears that as she grows bigger the monofilament is cutting more into her neck. Plate 8.3 NK-24 in October 212 8.2 OIL/TAR Skomer s beaches remain very clean, with no pups at all being seen with tar spots on their coats again in 212. 57

9. DISTURBANCE There were no serious instances of any disturbance to seals on Skomer in 212. 58

1. BULL SEAL BEHAVIOUR 1.1 DOMINANT BULLS IN 212 Unfortunately there was not the time to repeat the more detailed bull observations of 27, made possible from a generous donation by John and Jenny Talbot. An attempt was made though to keep track of dominant bulls at all the main sites. 1.1.1 Dominant Bulls in North Haven in 212 It proved very hard to keep an accurate track on the dominant bulls in North Haven in 212. With up to 32 adult bulls hauled out on North Haven, up to three different Beach-masters guarding different sections of beach and a very high turnover of bulls it all became a bit confusing. Table 1.1 Dominant Bulls on North Haven Main Beach in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 21 Aug-7 Oct 7.NHV.B2 48 days, west end of beach only 13 Sep-15 Oct 12.NHV.B2 41 days, east end of beach only 21-28 Oct 7-11 Oct 12.NHV.B3 5 days, west end of beach only 12-29 Oct 1.NHV.4 18 days, west end of beach only 16 Oct-8 Nov 7.NHV.B7 5 days, east end of beach only 11 days, west end of beach only 3-8 Nov 12.NHV.B6 6 days, east end of beach only 9-23 Nov 11.NHV.B8 15 days, west end of beach only Seven different bulls were recorded holding territory on the main North Haven beach in 212. Four of these bulls had been Beach-masters in North Haven in the past, the other three were previously unknown. 7.NHV.B2 (Steps Bull) has returned to North Haven every year since 27, apart from 28. This is the first year however that he has been a Beach-master on the main beach and had previously been restricted to blowing off the rocks on the west side of the bay or The Slip. 1.NHV.B4 returned to the main North Haven beach for the third year running 7.NHV.B7/Symmetrical Spots Bull returned to the main North Haven beach for the second year running, having not been seen in the three years since he was first a Beachmaster there in 27 11.NHV.B8 returned to the main North Haven beach for the second year running 59

1.1.2 Dominant Bulls in Matthew s Wick in 212 Five bulls were recorded holding territory in Matthew s Wick in 212. Only one of these bulls is known to have been a Beach-master there in the past and another has previously been a beach-master in Seal Hole and The Slabs. Table 1.2 Dominant Bulls in Matthew s Wick in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 19 Aug-17 Sep 7.SHV.B6 45 days 25 Sep-1 Oct 2-24 Sep 12.MWK.B2 5 days 18-3 Oct 12.MWK.B6 13 days 3 Oct-1 Nov 11.MWK.B4 3 days 5-2 Nov NK-67 16 days 7.SHV.B6/OK was a Beach-master in Seal Hole and The Slabs in 27, 29 and 21 but this was the first year he has been seen in Matthew s Wick. He also managed to simultaneously hold Castle Bay at the start of the season 11.MWK.B4 returned to Matthew s Wick for the second year running. 1.1.3 Dominant Bulls in Castle Bay in 212 Five bulls were recorded holding territory in Castle Bay in 212. Three of these bulls had been Beach-masters in Castle Bay in the past and the other two had previously been Beachmasters in Seal Hole and The Slabs. Table 1.3 Dominant Bulls in Castle Bay in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 1 Aug-12 Sep 7.SHV.B6 34 days 13-2 Sep LBK-1 8 days 21 Sep-14 Oct 11.SHO.B3 24 days 16-21 Oct 11.CBY.B6 6 days 7-23 Nov 1.CBY.B4 17 days 7.SHV.B6/OK was a Beach-master in Seal Hole and The Slabs in 27, 29 and 21 but this was the first year he has been seen in Castle Bay. He also managed to simultaneously hold Matthew s Wick at the start of the season LBK-1/Male Bull returned to Castle Bay for the fifth year running 11.SHO.B3 was a Beach-master in Seal Hole and The Slabs in 211 but this was the first time he has been recorded in Castle Bay. 11.CBY.B6 returned to Castle Bay for his second consecutive year. 1.CBY.B4 returned to Castle Bay for his third consecutive year 6

1.1.4 Dominant Bulls in South Castle Beach Cave in 212 Being a cave it is hard to know exactly what is going on in South Castle Beach Cave, however the dominant bull can normally be eventually identified guarding the entrance to the cave. As the bulls spend a lot of time hidden inside the cave, exact periods of dominance are impossible to know. 7.SCBC.B1 was seen swimming off South Castle Beach Cave on 18-19 Sep only, but no other bull was recorded there and he could easily held the cave for much longer. This is the fourth season since 27 he has been known to hold South castle Beach cave and could easily have been missed in the other years. 1.1.5 Dominant Bulls in Seal Hole in 212 Being a cave it is hard to know exactly what is going on in Seal Hole, however the dominant bull can normally be eventually identified guarding the entrance to the cave. As the bulls spend a lot of time hidden inside the cave, exact periods of dominance are impossible to know. Three bulls were known to have held Seal Hole in 212, two known bulls, although neither has held Seal Hole before, and one previously unknown bull. Table 1.4 Dominant Bulls in Seal Hole in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 19 Aug-19 Sep 7.NHV.B4 At least 32 days 17 Sep-12 Oct 11.SHV.B4 At least 26 days 28 Oct-15 Nov 12.SHO.B3 At least 19 days 7.NHV.B4/Three Spot Bull was a Beach-master in North Haven in 27 and in Matthew s Wick in 21 but this is the first time he has been recorded in Seal Hole. 11.SHV.B4 was a Beach-master on South Haven main beach in 211 but this is the first time he has been recorded in Seal Hole. 61

11.1.6 Dominant Bulls in Driftwood Bay in 212 Two bulls were recorded holding Driftwood Bay in 212. Both of these bulls have been Beach-masters in Driftwood Bay in the past. Table 1.5 Dominant Bulls in Driftwood Bay in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 22 Aug-12 Oct 7.SHV.B1 52 days 13 Oct-21 Nov 9.CBY.B8 4 days 7.SHV.B1/Grey Neck was previously a Beach-master in Driftwood Bay in 28, 21 and 211. He has held somewhere within South haven every year since 27. 9.CBY.B8/Little White Spot Bull returned to Driftwood Bay for his third consecutive year. He also simultaneously held the east end of South Haven main beach 1.1.7 Dominant Bulls in South Haven in 212 Four bulls were recorded holding various bits of the main South Haven beach during 212. Three of these bulls have been beach-maters in South Haven in the past, the other four were previously unknown bulls. Table 1.6 Dominant Bulls in South Haven in 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 3-27 Sep 1.CBY.B2 25 days, west end only 21 Sep-1 Oct 12.SHV.B4 11 days, east end only 2-16 Oct 15 days, whole beach 13 Oct-21 Nov 9.CBY.B8 4 days, east end only 17-3 Oct 1.SHV.B3 14 days, west end only 1.CBY.B2 had been a beach-master in Castle Bay in 21 but this was the first time he had been recorded in South Haven 9.CBY.B8/Little White Spot Bull returned to South Haven for his third consecutive year. He also simultaneously held Driftwood Bay. 1.SHV.B3 returned to the main South Haven beach for the third consecutive year. 62

1.1.8 Dominant Bulls in The Wick in 212 Three bulls were recorded in The Wick in 212. None of these bulls had been a Beach-master in The Wick and only LS-26 had been seen before. Table 1.7 Dominant Bulls in The Wick 212 Dates Bull Code/Name Period of Dominance 2 Aug-7 Oct 12.WCK.B1 48 days 16 Oct-3 Nov LS-26 19 days 5-21 Nov 12.WCK.B3 17 days LS-26 had previously been seen hauled out in North Haven and South Haven in Oct 211 but this was the first time he is known to have been a Beach-master. 1.2 BULL PLAYING WITH SUNFISH Plate 1.1 Bull seal playing with Sunfish, South Haven 2 August 212 On 2 Aug a young bull was watched playing with an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) in South Haven for about half an hour. He would swim around on his back holding the fish on his chest for a few minutes before letting it go. The fish would swim off and dive, only to be followed by the seal a few seconds later, caught again and then he would carry on playing with it. There was no sign that the seal intended on eating the fish. Similar incidents were seen this year off Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Hannah Wilson and Dave McBride pers. comm.) 63

11. COW BEHAVIOUR 11.1 MYSTERY SUCKLING COWS In 212 there were the usual cases of cows suckling pups other than their own and pups suckling on cows that were not their mother, especially in Matthew s Wick. Also, as usual, there seemed to be no obvious detrimental effect to any pup whose mother was feeding other pups and an abandoned pup in Matthew s Wick survived to moult at a very good size only because it was able to suckle on four different cows. A new thing seen in 212 however was three different cows, not known to have pupped on Skomer, adopting and suckling pups. 1.C42.CBY was first seen in Matthew s Wick on 6 Sep and was an obviously pregnant cow that looked ready to pup. She was next seen on 1 Sep when she came ashore and suckled Pup 9. She remained in Matthew s Wick until 22 Sep and was seen to suckle Pup 9 two more times and on 14 Sep suckled both Pups 9 and 1 simultaneously. It seems very likely that she did indeed pup in Matthew s Wick but very quickly lost her pup, although no unaccounted for dead pups were seen at the time. It is not unusual to see mothers of dead pups hanging around visiting the body of their pup for a few days and showing interest in other pups, presumably the mothering instinct is very strong in some cows. Plate 11.1 1.C42.CBY feeding Pups 9 and 1, Matthew s Wick, 14 September 212 64

Mystery Cow 1 appeared in Matthew s Wick on 1 Oct guarding three day old Pup 76 and keeping the pup s mother away. She remained in Matthew s Wick until 9 Oct and was seen daily fighting with the pup s mother, sometimes being seen off by her and sometimes seeing her off and suckling her pup. On the last day both cows were lying peacefully next to the pup. Despite being suckled by two cows for nine days the pup was not especially big when it was weaned. Plate 11.2 Mystery Cow 1 with Pup 76, Matthew s Wick, 8 October 212 BK-48 turned up on North Haven Slip on 18 Oct following the big storm of 15-18 Oct, which caused eight marked pups to move beaches and six unknown wandering pups to turn up on the island. She only stayed until 21 Oct but in that time she suckled Pups 78, 86, 114 and Wanderer 7 and also mated with an unknown bull. Presumably she was separated from her own pup, wherever that might have been, during the storm and was searching for it when she found a group of pups she was happy to suckle for some reason. She did pup in The Wick in 211 but is a very distinctive cow and had not been seen in 212 before she turned up on The Slip. The fact she only stayed a few days and mated suggests her own pup would have been close to weaning and there were no unaccounted for Skomer pups. 65

Plate 11.3 BK-48, North Haven Slip, 19 October 212 Mystery Cow 2 turned up on North Haven Slip on 19 Oct, also following the big storm of 15-18 Oct. From the 2 Oct she adopted the unknown stage 2 Wanderer Pup 8 and suckled it until 27 Oct and the pup went on to complete moult at a very good size. The pup had originally turned up in Matthew s Wick during the storm on 18 Oct and spent two days there, unattended, before moving to The Slip. There has to be a chance that the cow was actually the pup s mother but that would seem to be an incredible coincidence and it seems more likely that she too was separated from her own pup, went looking for it and for whatever reason found a pup she was happy to adopt. Plate 11.4 Mystery Cow 2 with Wanderer 8, North Haven Slip, 27 October 212 66