Visiting St David’s Peninsula

Cowslip 

It’s become rarer in the countryside, but still does well along the coast. 

English stonecrop 

Look for it in the natural rock gardens around the cliffs of St David's Head and in walls and hedge banks by the coast path. 

Heathland plants  

More than 300 species of heathland plant have been recorded. From bog asphodel to the heathers and western gorse, these are the plants that, for a few months of the year, bring the commons to life. Some of them are scarce, such as the lesser butterfly orchid, wavy leaved St John's wort and pillwort, a tiny, grass-like aquatic fern. 

Seabirds and songbirds to see 

St David’s Head is a flying spectacular for seabirds and songbirds, so bring along your binoculars and enjoy a spot of coastal wildlife watching. 

Ravens 

Huge with diamond-shaped tails and are early nesters. Listen for their deep croaks during your visit. 

Chough  

Another crow, but with red feet and bill. Around 60 pairs nest along the Pembrokeshire coast. 

Peregrine 

Often disputing airspace with ravens, peregrines are the other kings of the Pembrokeshire cliffs. 

Kestrel 

While the peregrine hunts flying prey, the kestrel hovers, hunting for beetles and voles below. 

Gannet  

Around 39,000 pairs of gannets nest on Grassholm. Watch them dive for mackerel just offshore. 

Wheatear  

One of the first spring visitors, wheatears are easy to spot as they flash about flicking their white tails. 

Stonechats 

They perch on gorse bushes and rear up to three noisy families a year. 

Dartford warbler 

A rarity but becoming a more regular breeding bird on coastal heaths – look for them on gorse bushes. 

Linnet 

Twittering flocks of linnets are one of the sounds of summer on the coast. They nest in gorse bushes. 

Whitethroat 

Listen out for their scratchy song from the dense scrubby slopes below Carn Llidi.