Guided boat tours of the beautiful Gower peninsula and its marine life

Sunset at Oxwich point after a stunning day on the water

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Terms and conditions
Contact Us
Charters
Gift Vouchers
Info
Trips
About Us
Our Wildlife
Gower
Oxwich Bay
Booking
How to find us
FAQ
Terms and conditions
Contact Us
Charters
Gift Vouchers

We are excited to get back on the water and looking forward to a more normal season in 2021

We will open our online booking for the season, as we find out what we can offer when the covid-19 regulations relax !!! .

Vouchers for our boat trips are also available to purchase through our website - they are perfect gifts for christmas or birthdays!*

 

 

Guided, interactive boat trips exploring the beautiful Gower coast - the best way to experience amazing sea life and enjoy unique views of the stunning Gower peninsula.

Here at Gower Coast Adventures we share a love for the Gower coastline, it's wildlife, and it's history.

With 15 years experience of navigating these waters, we know every cave, cove and bay, along with their intriguing stories.
We know where the seals will be snoozing, the porpoises feeding, and the sea birds nesting.

Passengers boarding the boat at Oxwich

Our passion for our local marine species and habitats brings with it a detailed knowledge of Gower's wildlife from where to look for dolphins, to which cliffs to scan for perching peregrines, and also a deep desire to protect it.

On every trip we combine sensitive wildlife observation with the thrill of feeling the sea breeze on your face as we glide across the water, and hope to convey our enthusiasm for our peninsula home with all our passengers.

Come and join us on an unforgettable adventure!

Follow us on Instagram (see photos below), Facebook and Twitter for the latest trip and wildlife news!

© Gower Coast Adventures. All rights reserved. Site built with TLC

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August 2019
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June 2019
August 2018
May 2018
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
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Gower's rich spring wildlife
What's our wildlife up to at this time of year
Tuesday 1st May 2018
guillemots at worms head gower boat trip
dolphin worms head gower boat trip
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!

 

gannet gower sea bird
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.

 

 

 

 

grey seal gower
A young grey seal at Worms Head
seals worms head gower
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.

 

 

 

 

terns on buoy gower sea birds
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.

 

 

harbour porpoise small dolphin worms head
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.

Razorbills sea birds worms head gower
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 worms head gower
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.

© Gower Coast Adventures. All rights reserved. Site built with TLC

Blog
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
August 2018
May 2018
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
Terms and conditions
Contact Us
Charters
Gift Vouchers
Gower's rich spring wildlife
What's our wildlife up to at this time of year
Tuesday 1st May 2018
guillemots at worms head gower boat trip
dolphin worms head gower boat trip
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!

 

gannet gower sea bird
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.

 

 

 

 

grey seal gower
A young grey seal at Worms Head
seals worms head gower
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.

 

 

 

 

terns on buoy gower sea birds
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.

 

 

harbour porpoise small dolphin worms head
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.

Razorbills sea birds worms head gower
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 worms head gower
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.

© Gower Coast Adventures. All rights reserved. Site built with TLC