Our latest survey count, yesterday (1/9) revealed there are now 69 pups on the 9 study beaches (which account for roughly 50% of all pups born on the island). This is very similar to the corresponding date last year when 64 were counted, but both years were well up on 2019.
It's always a pleasure when the first pup arrives in the harbour and sure enough we said hello to pup#1 for this year on Tuesday morning. Born to a regular cow (you can tell from the unique coat markings) she is well used to all our comings and going down there and doesn't bat an eyelid when we pass close by to her precious offspring. In stark contrast most cows are very wary of humans and will bolt or abandon a site if disturbed too often. All the more reason to heed the Pembrokeshire Marine Code and keep a safe distance from any pups you are lucky enough to observe.
Visitors to Ramsey however are treated to close up views of the pups whose mothers have chosen to give birth in the harbour despite daily passenger boats coming and going, quad bikes rumbling past above them and the island crane whirring into life from time to time.
Below are a couple of photos of the pup hours after being born and then again this morning (aged 3 days) when it was looking much happier with life! Will try and post regular updates so you can see the progression it makes over the coming weeks
Looking a bit bedraggled at a few hours old on 31st August
Looking more relaxed by day 3 on 2nd September