Little Grebe - Sea Empress oil spill

Tachybaptus ruficollis  

When the oil – spill caused by the grounding of the Sea Empress occurred, 15th – 21st February 1996, the Milford Haven waterway was badly contaminated, most heavily as far upstream as the Cleddau Bridge. Little Grebes quickly left this area, moving to safer places, notably to Westfield Pill where their presence rose from 39 to 52 birds. None were recorded dead or visibly oiled, so their rapid evasive action was evidently effective.

Graham Rees

(Covers records up to and including 2008)

References

HAYCOCK. A. 2008. A review of the status of wetland birds in the Milford Haven Waterway and Daugleddau Estuary, A report to the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group. Unpublished

Red-throated diver - Sea Empress oil spill

Gavia stellata

The tanker “Sea Empress” grounded outside the Heads approaching the Milford Haven waterway on the 15th February 1996. Approximately 72,000 tonnes of crude oil and 360 tonnes of heavy fuel oil spilled into the sea between the 15th and 21st of February. Further fuel oil was spilled when the ship was moved to Belfast.

The waterway within Milford Haven was heavily coated and much of the oil was carried south and east to affect the south Pembrokeshire coast and Carmarthen Bay. The offshore islands were not heavily contaminated nor was St Bride’s Bay, with no oil reported north of St David’s Head.

123 Red – throated Divers were known to be in Pembrokeshire waters in January and February prior to the oil spill, the largest concentrations being 10 at Fishguard Harbour, 17 at Frainslake, 20 off Amroth and 75 in Goultrop Roads. Of these, only the Amroth birds were in the badly oiled area, as were five at Freshwater East.

Ten oiled birds were collected from the south coast of Pembrokeshire but a further 49 from the nearby affected coasts of Carmarthenshire and West Glamorgan (SEEC, 1996). Those at Goultrop Roads disappeared and may well have been involved in the movement of 96 passing Strumble Head, going into Cardigan Bay, on the 25th February.

References

SEA EMPRESS ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION COMMITTEE, Initial Report, 1996.