Island Paradise

North Haven, Skomer

Today I took my annual visit to Skomer and as usual was not disappointed.  This place is getting more popular especially after Iolo Williams live spots on Springwatch.  Good thing too and I was especially pleased to see school children from Oxford getting less bored the more they saw.

The Dale Princess

Starting on the Dale Princess  with the always cheerful greeting from boatmen Kenny and Carl the whole experience begins.  Arriving at the island and after the strenuous climb up the steps and the greeting from warden Chris you can get started.  Up to the middle of July the Puffins are the main attraction both at North Haven and later at the Wick.  They were in top form today posing for the many cameras especially when carrying sand eels.

Puffin with sand eels

There were still plenty of other seabirds about including hordes of Guillemots still on their ledges and Razorbills and Kittiwakes too.  The stiff breeze gave Fulmars the opportunity to demonstrate their amazing flight hanging on the wind.  The main disappointment was not catching a glimpse of the Short-eared Owls which are nesting on the island.

Fulmar hanging on the wind

A visit to this seabird city is generally very predictable but the experience is still stimulating.  To do the place credit you really need to take the trouble to stay overnight.  The experience of standing in the dark with thousands of Manx Shearwaters coming in to their burrows is hard to describe.  With luck you might come across Storm Petrels as well.




The Farm, Skomer


The island is a huge credit to the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales whose staff and volunteers make the whole experience run like clockwork and the greeting is warm and friendly.  If you want to go for the day you need to get up early.  I arrived at 8.20am but the queue for tickets was already long and I did not get on a boat until 10.30am.

If you have not been yet then Go!