Thrift or Sea Pink

Thrift and Sea Pink are the two names most commonly given to this widespread seaside-growing flower. Its Latin name is  Armeria maritima and means "pink" and  "sea". That is appropriately descriptive. The family name, however, is Plumbaginaceae and references the old belief that the plant can cure lead poisoning. Not to be tried! There is a suggestion that the alternate name Thrift derives from the closely packed nature of its leaves that effectively conserve moisture in the strong coastal winds. This fine specimen was growing on the edge of a cliff, high above the sea at Stackpole Head, Pembrokeshire. The yellow lichen favours a limestone location, and here it was probably fertilised by the droppings of the nearby guillemots, razorbills and gulls.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Razorbills

Looking back through my archives I find that I last photographed guillemots in April 1984. This was at Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire. At that time I also photographed guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes and gannets. I have a memory (though no photographs) of seeing guillemots, black guillemots, razorbills and other sea birds, including fulmars, nesting at St Bee's Head, Cumbria, in 1999. Looking through my shots of razorbills I find that the eye of these birds is so dark that it barely shows up on any of my photographs. When I called up the Google Images photographs of this bird I find that other photographers have the same problem. It makes them look a little odd.

The photographs above were taken at Stackpole Head, Pembrokeshire.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Guillemots at Stackpole Head, Pembrokeshire

At the time of our visit to Stackpole Head in early May the guillemots were gathering ready for the breeding season. This species does not build a nest but lays a single pyriform (pear shaped) egg directly onto the rock ledge. The advantage of an unusually pointed egg is that, if it rolls, it does so in a tight circle and is therefore less likely to fall off the ledge.

In the southern UK the first eggs are laid in mid-May. In the north early June is more typical. Guillemots are communal nesters (and feeders, as the second photograph shows.

Incidentally, the location of the guillemots in the first photograph can just be discerned on the lower right hand edge of the top photograph of the previous post.

photo 1 © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

photo 2 © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Stackpole Head, Pembrokeshire

Stackpole Head is a limestone headland favoured by a number of bird species including guillemot, razorbill, herring gull, chough, raven, jackdaw, peregrine and shag. At the time of our visit the short turf above the cliffs was flecked by the lilac and pink of the sea squill and sea thrift (also called sea pink), and the cliff nesting sea birds were gathering for their breeding season.

 

The headland has stacks, caves and arches and underground collapses were easily recognised by the pits and holes in the cliff-top walk.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5