Skomer Island is one of Wales’ best birding spots. Situated along the Pembrokeshire Coast, it hosts a large seabird colony that is particularly well-known for its Atlantic Puffins. As this has been a dream bird for me since being a child (partly as the species features quite heavily in German children’s books), it was one of my main target birds to see when moving to the UK. With a birder friend from my MSc course, I did a one-hour boat tour around the island. This was probably a better option than doing the landing on the island, which is more expensive and requires you to brave the hot midday sun on the island where there doesn’t seem to be that much more to see than from the boat (although potentially even closer puffin sightings).
Atlantic Puffins are the obvious highlight here. I soaked in these remarkably small birds’ amazingly comical bills and their somewhat sad-looking eyes. I was really pleased to finally see these beauties, and particularly glad about the ability to see them up close from the boat.
Common Guillemots and Razorbills are also common breedings birds at the colony and both bobbed about on the water among the puffins. Razorbills are a particular favourite of mine as their head and bill shape always reminds me of dinosaurs for some reason. I guess this confirms their phylogenetic relationship.
A few Northern Fulmars were also around, although in the commotion they were surprisingly hard to pick up, and I often noticed them only as they were already behind the boat. Still, these were the best views I’ve had of this species. Some Northern Gannets passed overhead as well, reminding me of the large colony of these birds I saw three years ago, on Heligoland.
The hinterland was arguably less exciting, but a few Eurasian Skylarks performed their song flight that is so characteristic of spring, as if the hottest day in May in the UK ever was not enough to remind us of the approaching summer. Meanwhile, a small colony of Western House-Martins entertained us back at the hostel.
I was really happy to have explored a new region in the UK, and simply to have spent some time outdoors. More than that though, I am relieved that I won’t have this yearning feeling anymore now whenever I walk past some poster, drawing, or photo of a puffin.
Puffins are great birds. Makes me want to go to back to Skomer – I haven’t been for many years.
in 2010 I visited non-birding friends in England and they were kind enough to indulge me—their birding friend. We went many places, and one of those places was Wales. I do believe our weekend visit was rewarded with the nicest weather Wales has to offer. Our target location in Wales was Skomer Island. We had all of the arrangements made, got up early to park and arrive at the dock in time. We loaded into relatively smallish boats for the trip across to the island. I sat next to a man who had awakened his young daughter, 6 or 7 y/o maybe, at 2:30 am to depart their home at 3 am to arrive in time for the Skomer boat. It was astonishingly beautiful—the land, the water, the island a short way off the mainland. We arrived at the island only to find that the captain was unable to land the boat because the direction of the wind and the tide made it impossible. The disappointment of everyone on the boat was palpable. The boat captain took us slowly back to the mainland and we were able to see Puffins, Guillemot’s, and Razorbills well as they dove for food. The little girl, in her pink parka, fell asleep against her dad’s arm. The next day we went to Ramsey Island, which was spectacular and also quite birdy. There was a Lttle Owl there, but it did not show itself for our visit. Alas, the Puffins were not on Ramsey Island.
Sounds like a trips with many ups and downs, it can be very frustrating if your hopes don’t materialise on birding trips I think. But very glad you got to see many of the seabirds nonetheless, especially as they were actively feeding!
I agree they’re amazing, and the island is such a nice place!