A dolphin at Worms Head

To the dolphin enthusiast they are also very useful birds. Very often gannets will follow porpoises and bigger dolphins to take advantage of these marine mammals' tendency to push fish towards the surface, making them easier to catch.

The bright white feathers of the gannet are easy to spot from a long way away, so when sighted we head towards them scanning the sea surface beneath.

We have seen the bigger, more playful common dolphins as early as May in previous years so we'll be keeping a very keen eye out for them now, and keeping our fingers crossed for early sightings this year too!

A gannet flying close to the sea surface

The gannets are back too. These magnificent white sea birds are spectacular to see flying and diving just off the Gower coast. The nearest gannet colony is Grassholm island off the Pembrokeshire coast, roughly 50 miles away. They will have returned to the island in February time to find their mate and make improvements to their nest, ready to raise a chick.

As gannets can fly several hundred miles in one fishing trip, they're often seen during our boat trips performing their high-speed dive into the water to catch mackerel or other prey.

A young grey seal at Worms Head

Seals at Worms Head, including one of our named seals 'Big 7'

Atlantic grey seals love the north side of Worms Head; it's usually sheltered enough for a nap in the calm waters at high tide, and there are plenty of rocks exposed at low tide to sleep more restfully on top of.

In the late winter and early spring grey seals moult their fur coat. They do this on land and don't feed during the several week process. So now they are enjoying the feel of a new coat, eating and sleeping a lot to build up their fat reserves again. It's a hard life.

We are seeing good numbers of seals at Worms Head now, and often spot some of the seals we see every year that have been named by our passengers.

Sandwich terns

Spring is a great time to see some of the birds that we don't see at other times of the year. Migrating Sandwich terns are passing through at the moment. They're small, pretty birds with a high-pitched chattery call.

They spend the winter in the warmer waters of Africa, and move north again in the spring to their breeding grounds.

We see them feeding by plunge diving for fish near the sea surfce, and gathering on the buoys to rest and preen their feathers.

A harbour porpoise surfacing near Worms Head

Harbour porpoises (small, shy dolphins) are here in our waters all year round, most frequently seen feeding near the stirred-up waters off Gower’s headlands.

Most calves are born in late spring and summer so we will start seeing more and more of them now.

We’ve seen some babies with their mothers already. Young calves stay close to their mothers and often we’ll catch a glimpse of them as their small dorsal fin breaks the surface just behind mum.

Some razorbills among the guillemots at Worms Head

Razorbills are pairing up too, usually in their own little spot on the outskirts of the guillemot colony.

They are very similar in appearance to guillemots but are a darker colour, more black than dark brown, and are a little chunkier. Their bills are thicker and bear a white stripe, giving them their name.

Guillemots congregating on the cliff ledges of Worms Head

The razorbills and guillemots that nest on Worms Head every year have returned to mate and lay their eggs.

The guillemots congregate in their hundreds on the ledges, raft in groups on the water nearby, and fly overhead up to their preferred perch. Many of the birds come back here every year, often returning to the same partner and the same position on the ledge.

Spring in the UK is a great time for wildlife encounters, and the Gower peninsula is no exception. Birds are preparing to raise chicks; mammals are more active, taking advantage of the warmer weather and long days; and as the ocean starts to warm up the sea algae blooms, attracting fish and bigger sea creatures to the area.