Grey Seals

The world population of around 280,000 Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus is confined to the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea with a large proportion found within British waters. In general, number are increasing, althougn numbers in the Baltic, primarily in the Gulf of Finland) are in substantial declione. Preferring remote stretches of coastline, the majority of British Grey Seals occur along the western coast, particularly off the west coast of Scotland, but they can also be found on the east coast as far south as Lincolnshire.

Lundy is home to a breeding colony of around 60 Grey Seals, with up to double this number in the summer. They can be seen all around the island, particularly at their 'hauling-out' spots such as Seals's Rock, north of Gannet's Rock, Brazen Ward, Surf Point, Shutter Point and Rat Island. When out of the water they will lie on rocky ledges, ofter in groups, basking in the sunshine. However, they remain alert to danger and will heave themselves into the water if disturbed or threatened in any way. In the water, seals are often seen 'bottling' - staying upright with only their head showing above water. They can probably sleep in this position.

Recognition

Bull Grey Seals are larger than cows with a distinct 'roman nose' profile to the head. Bulls also tend to be darker in colour, although both sexes have blotchy markings from black through shades of grey to brown and are lighter on their undersides. The patterns of blotches, particularly those on the upper body, may be used to identify individuals and studies using this technique have shown the same animals to be present around Lundy year after year. Adult bulls may grow to 3m (10ft) in length and weigh over 270kg (600lbs), but females  typically measure around 1.8m (6ft). Male Grey Seals live for an average of 25 years and females for 35 years.

Breeding

Grey Seal pups are normally born with a white coat of fur in September or October, but are unable to swim immediately after birth so an undisturbed beach is usually chosen by the mother. On Lundy the intertidal sea caves, the far ends or which remain above the high water mark, are also used. At birth the pups are 85cm (3ft) long and weigh about 14kg (30lbs), but are vulnerable being washed off beaches by rough seas and to disturbance by humans. On a diet of high-fat milk they treble their weight over their first three weeks of life, and then moult into their darker coat and start to feed for themselves. First year survival has been estimatyed at around 50% and animals typically do not return to the breeding sites until 4 years of age.

For more information about seals around the coastline of South-west England or to report a seal in distress, please see the Cornwall Seal Group website.

Cetaceans and other seals

Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis can be seen from Lundy, usually between April and October usually in small groups of up to ten and occasionally in large pods of 100 or more. The larger, darker, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatrus is much less common with only two or three records each year. Harbour Porpoises Phocoena phocoena are also seen regularly throughout the year, singly or in small groups.

Less commonly seen from the island or on the crossing are Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus and Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata.

Common (Harbour) Seals Phoca vituilina are very uncommon in the waters around Lundy, but one was reported on four occasions in the summer of 2015.

The most obvious fern on Lundy is Bracken Pteridium aquilinum which thrives on the sheltered east side and on top of the island where there are deeper soils, but it even grows on the exposed western cliffs in a more stunted form. The smallest fern on Lundy is the Small Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum azoricum, and this diminutive plant is probably more common here than in some of its other sites on the mainland. It grows in the short turf on the western slopes, near Rocket Pole Pond and in Middle Park, often associated with the very small flowering plant Allseed Radiola linoides. Hay-scented Buckler Fern Dryopteris aemula is abundant along the east side, especially around the quarries, but this also grows on the exposed western flanks of the island, such as around Jenny’s Cove and this is also easier to find on Lundy than on the mainland.

Other common fern species on the island are Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata, Lady Fern Athyrium foelix-foemina and Male Fern Dryopeteris filix-mas which can all be found in Millcombe and also in the deep rocky crevices of the earthquake. Hart’s-tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium, recognised by its undivided fronds also favours the shelter of Millcombe.

Britain’s largest fern, the Royal Fern Osmunda regalis grows on the east side, and can be found in the quarries, often appearing to grow out of the solid rock, although it is usually more stunted in these situations. Lundy’s stone walls form an important habitat for ferns and other plants and there are fine colonies of Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes , Black Spleenwort Asplenium nigrum and Common Polypody Polypodium vulgaris, some of them easily found in the village area. There are two colonies of Rustyback Fern Ceterach officinalis on Lundy, both growing on walls, and a very small number of plants of Wall Rue Aspelnium ruta-muraria can be found in two locations. This species is common on the mainland but very scarce on Lundy. Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum grows nearer to the sea than other ferns and can be found around the Battery and the wall at the start of the beach road.

Text by Andrew Cleave

The windswept plateau and rocky cliffs of Lundy look rather barren when approaching the island from the sea, but a rich and colourful flora, adapted to life in these exposed conditions, is more obvious once on land. A walk from the Landing Bay, up the beach road, through Millcombe and then to the west side by way of the Old Lighthouse would take in many of the important plant habitats on the island.

A typical sea cliff flora of Thrift Armeria maritima, Sea Campion Silene uniflora and Sheep’s-bit Jasione montana is found on the exposed sidelands of the island, especially around the Battery and towards the north end. At the south end, and on Rat Island Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa are more frequent, and Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus and English Stonecrop Sedum anglicum grow on rocks and very thin soils. Early spring flowers on the east side include Primrose Primula vulgaris and Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta which flower at their best before the bracken reaches full size. These are followed by forests of Foxgloves Digitalis purpurea, some reaching nearly 3 metres in height, and the much smaller Red Campion Silene dioica. Towards the end of the season Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea is one of the last flowering plants to put on a show of colour and it seems to do best along the edges of the old quarries.

Some of Lundy’s special plants, including the endemic Lundy Cabbage Coincya wrightii can easily be seen from the beach road. Balm-leaved Figwort Scrophularia scorodonia is common here and the beautiful Wood Vetch Vicia sylvatica flourishes on the steep slopes near the bottom of the road. The island’s stone walls are host to plants such as Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis and Wall Pennywort Umbilicus rupestris, and Hare’s-foot Clover Trifolium arvense grows on the top of the walls, safe from grazing animals. Fern Grass Catapodium rigidum seems to grow only on walls, along with several species of ferns, described in more detail on the Ferns page.

The grassland on top of the island is typical of acid grassland in exposed areas, dominated by Purple Moor Grass Molinia caerulea in places, but bright with the flowers of Tormentil Potentilla repens in the early summer. In damp flushes the semi-parasitic Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica can be found, often in association with Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella and Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris. A good colony of Heath Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculata grows in the grassland surrounding Pondsbury.
In the wettest bogs, dominated by Sphagnum mosses, Common Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium is very obvious in the summer and the insectivorous Sundew Drosera rotundifolia can sometimes be found. Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum and Marsh St John’s Wort Hypericum elodes grow in the wettest areas and the leaves of Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris form extensive patches in these wet areas, although its tiny flowers are quite hard to find. The grassland at times gives way to a dense cover of Creeping Willow Salix repens which is most obvious in the spring when the bright yellow catkins appear. Later in the season Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix flowers in the wetter areas.

Damp gravelly areas and the margins of seasonal ponds support species like Chaffweed Anagallis minima, the UK’s smallest terrestrial plant. This is now becoming scarce on the mainland but seems to do well on Lundy. Sea Storksbill Erodium maritimum is another species of gravel areas and is abundant on Lundy but much harder to find on the mainland.

On top of the island, especially around Tibbetts (Admiralty Lookout) and towards the north end, there are some fine examples of a habitat type known as maritime, or waved heath. These areas are dominated by Western Dwarf Gorse Ulex gallii which flowers late in the summer, and Ling Calluna vulgaris and Bell Heather Erica cinerea, all providing a spectacular splash of colour.

The more sheltered east side of the island supports the only trees on Lundy which grow in a few small copses in steep coombes. They are mostly hardy species, such as Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and Beech Fagus sylvatica, with a number of Turkey Oaks Quercis cerris scattered amongst them. Other native species include Alder Alnus glutinosa, Grey Willow Salix cinerea and Elder Sambucus nigra, and these all provide sheltered conditions for several species of plants more typical of woodland, including ferns, mosses and liverworts. Plants which favour shaded habitats are more at home here and large umbellifers such as Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris and the invasive Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum grow where the soil is damp. Various species of introduced conifers can be found in Millcombe, including the native Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, but they do not thrive here.

Relics of cultivation and former habitation appear in some areas, and there are large stands of an early Narcissus cultivar Primrose Peerless Narcissus x biflora which survives near Belle Vue Cottages above the quarries.

Many interesting plants have been recorded on Lundy in the last 100 years, but some have not been seen recently. They may just have been overlooked, or possibly have vanished altogether. Any records of Lundy's Lost Plants would be most welcome.

As with other species groups we are always keen to receive records. Details of how to submit botanical records can be found here.

Text by Andrew Cleave