Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
The coastline is exposed with rugged north-facing cliffs and
has very little shelter other than a few indented bays.
Inland, a deep sheltered valley, which once contained an
estuary, now holds the land-locked Swan Pond, which is
long and shallow with wet grassland where geese
congregate. A sandbar, only a few feet high, separates the
pond from the beach. Vegetation is maritime heath and
typical boggy Whitegrass plains on peat. There is a Tussac
plantation at Rabbit Rincon, which until recently was
protected from grazing and provided a habitat for breeding
Rockhopper Penguins and a haul-out site for Southern Sea
Lions. Offshore, tall rocky stacks dot the coastline. These
are often crowned with Tussac and, due to currents and the
exposure of these north cliffs, are free of predators and
constitute relicts of previous habitats of the mainland.
The area is notable for the small population of Sooty
Shearwaters located close to Wineglass Hill and at Rabbit
Rincon. It is almost certain that a further substantial colony
exists on the offshore Tussac-covered stack nearby, where
other burrowing petrels might also breed. Imperial and Rock
Shags are present but counts are required. Three to four pairs
of Macaroni Penguins, including hybrids with Rockhopper
Penguins do not qualify the site. The first pair of Barn Owls
proved to breed in the Falklands was found nesting in the
old gorse-covered corral close to Seal Bay shepherd’s house
in 1987. Endemic sub-species present include the Whitetufted/
Rolland’s Grebe on Swan Pond, the Upland Goose,
Falkland Grass Wren, Falkland Pipit and the Falkland
Thrush
Non-bird biodiversity:
Southern Sea Lions haul out all along the coast and breed
at MacBride Head, a favourite site, where 64 pups were
counted in 2003. In 1996, 46 species of flowering plants
were found on the coast and inland, including 33 native
(three endemics) and 13 introduced species. There was a
notable population of tall Pale Maiden Olsynium filifolium
on the hilltop of Rabbit Rincon in a paddock that had been
fenced and not grazed for several years.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area is under slight grazing pressure, although
sensitive sites were protected where possible by fencing.
For several years, the site was open to tourists travelling
overland who were always accompanied by experienced
guides. In 2003, the owners restricted access and at the time
of writing (2004) no visitors are allowed. The status of
many species needs investigation. This site was checked
annually as part of the FISMP, but even the monitoring of
key species by Falklands Conservation is now prohibited.
Feral cats are often seen near the Rockhopper Penguin
colonies more than 10 km from the nearest settlement, and
the remains of penguins have frequently been seen around
unoccupied Magellanic Penguin burrows. The chewed
remains of Sooty Shearwaters have also been found by
their burrows on Wineglass Hill, which would again point
to predation by cats. Control measures are needed to
protect these penguins, and the only known shearwater
colonies on East Falkland, from feral cats. All future visitors
should be informed about the dangers of accidentally
introducing alien species to the Falklands. It is very
important that the Falkland Islands Countryside Code is followed, particularly to guard against the risk of fire.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Seal Bay, East Falkland (Falkland Islands (Malvinas)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/seal-bay-east-falkland-iba-falkland-islands-(malvinas) on 22/11/2024.
