Everything about Skomer Island totally explained
Skomer is a 2.92 km²
island off the coast of south-west
Wales, - one of a chain lying within a kilometre off the
Pembrokeshire coast.
Skomer Island measures approx. 2.4km (1.5 mi) north-south and 3.2km (2 mi) east-west.
It was last permanently inhabited (all year round) in
1958, and is known for its
stone circle,
standing stone and remains of prehistoric houses, as well as for its abundant wildlife. Skomer is a
National Nature Reserve, a
Site of Special Scientific Interest and a
Special Protection Area. Much of Skomer has also been designated an
Ancient Monument. It is surrounded by a
Marine Nature Reserve. It is managed by the
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Wildlife
Skomer is best known for its large breeding
seabird population, including
Manx Shearwaters,
Guillemots,
Razorbills,
Great Cormorants,
Black-legged Kittiwakes,
Atlantic Puffins,
European Storm-petrels,
Common Shags,
Eurasian Oystercatchers and
gulls, as well as
birds of prey including
Short-eared Owls,
Common Kestrels and
Peregrine Falcons. The island is also home to
Grey Seals,
Common Toads,
Slow-worms, a breeding population of
Glow-worms and a variety of
wildflowers.
Harbour Porpoises occur in the surrounding waters.
Atlantic Puffin
There are over 10,000 breeding pairs of Puffins on Skomer and
Skokholm Islands, making them one of the most important Puffin colonies in Britain. They arrive in mid April to nest in burrows, many of which have been dug by the island's large
rabbit population. The last Puffins have left the
island by the second or third week in July. By 2004, there were numerous Puffin burrows on the island and adults flying back with food run across the walkways oblivious to the tourists. They feed mainly on small fish and
Sand Eels; often Puffins can be seen with up to a dozen small eels in their beaks. After a period of declining numbers between the 1950s and 1970s, the
size of the colony is growing again at 1-2% a year (as of 2006).
Manx Shearwater
With an estimated 128,000 breeding pairs, Skomer and 'sister' island Skokholm, are the world's most important breeding site for these birds, the numbers comprising over half the world population of the species. They usually nest in rabbit burrows, a pair reportedly using the same burrow year after year.
Shearwaters are not easy to see as they come and go at dusk, but a
CCTV camera in one of the burrows allows subterranean nesting activity to be seen on the screen in Lockley Lodge on the mainland at Martin's Haven. The remains of Shearwaters killed by the island's population of
Greater Black-backed Gulls can also be seen.
The Manx Shearwater has a remarkable life. After fledging the young birds migrate to the
South Atlantic off the coast of
Brazil. They remain there at sea for five years before returning to breed on their natal island. On their return they navigate back to within a few metres of the burrow in which they were born. As they're ungainly and vulnerable on the land, they leave their burrows at dawn for the fishing grounds some fifty kilometres out to sea, not returning until dusk. Thus they attempt to avoid the gulls to which they'd fall easy prey.
Skomer Vole
Skomer has one unique mammal - the Skomer Vole (
Clethrionomys glareolus skomerensis) - a distinct form of the
Bank Vole. The lack of land-based predators on the island means the that the
bracken habitat is an ideal place for the vole - with the population reaching around 20,000 during the summer months. Then the resident Short-eared Owls may be seen patrolling the areas close to the farmhouse in the centre of the island for voles to feed their young.
Access
Boats sail to Skomer from
Martin's Haven on the mainland, a 15-20 minute trip every day except Monday (Bank Holiday Mondays excepted) from April to October at 10am, 11am and 12 noon. Return is between 3pm and 4pm but the boatman will advise on the day. There are limits on the number of people allowed to visit the island (currently 250 per day), and long queues can develop early each morning. In 2005-06, there was a renovation project of the farm buildings which included the old barn for improved overnight visitor and research accommodation, the volunteers' quarters were rebuilt and the warden's house at North Haven was also rebuilt. Solar power provides hot water and a small amount of electricity for lighting. Self-catering visitor accommodation is now available April to October.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Skomer Island'.
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