Island update - early April

What a great start to the 2025 season! Take a look at what Skomer had in store for the team during early April, from our new long term volunteers Molly and Amy.

Arriving on Skomer on the 29th of March, the team kept our first few days jam-packed with a hostel and visitor centre revamp. With our first hostel guests arriving on the 3rd April, it was important the island was ready for the exciting season ahead. Painting, painting and more painting, all staff and volunteers were on board. The visitor centre and hostel looked better than ever. There's no better way to get to know the team on Skomer than to spend all day painting together, very bonding! 

Amy (front) and Molly (back) painting the hostel on our first day.

Molly's first time using wall filler captured by Ceris.

With the guests came glorious weather. The island was once again open and ready to welcome boats. This allowed us to get to grips with day visitor welcome talks, in which we explain the main island rules such as staying on the paths, and talk about what amazing wildlife can be spotted around the island. 

Molly and Amy at the sales point ready to welcome guests.

We have been so lucky with the weather at the the start of this month, which enabled us to get started with breeding bird surveys. These featured lots of meadow pipits calling, jackdaws nest building and ravens loyally guarding their nest sites, even mobbing buzzards. 

Amy completing her first breeding bird survey with Ceris.

The beautiful sunshine and warm weather meant that Skomer swims were back on the cards, plunging ourselves from the steps into the surprisingly cold water! We were even joined by some nosy seals.

Our seabird populations, as usual, have been back and forth during April, keeping us and the guests on our toes. As long term volunteers, we have loved watching the auks busy nest-building, displaying courtship behaviour and even mating. Our knowledge of Skomer island's populations have grown and we feel extremely lucky to share this with visitors as they join us each day. Hearing the sounds of seabirds along the cliffs is a sure sign the spring is well and truly on its way. 

Puffins mating at the wick. Photo by Amy Compton.

A puffin nest building in the rain. By Amy Compton.

Easterly winds have blown over some exciting migrants this month. Our highlights have been hoopoe, a purple heron, ring ouzel and the charming common and black redstart, with their fire flick of a tail. The elusive hoopoe had all the staff running around the island to catch a glimpse of a species with such character. 

A male common redstart at the farm - Amy Compton.

A hoopoe foraging at the farm - Amy Compton.

Short-eared owls have been nothing short of a spectacle these last few weeks. We have witnessed plenty of territorial displays with pairs incubating already. A hostel guest, Shanyl, even captured a picture of a short eared owl hunting a Skomer vole. This was a fantastic shot and demonstrates one of the reasons Skomer is such a great location for nesting short eared owls; food in abundance!

Short eared owl hunting Skomer vole- Shanyl Ong. 

To gain better understanding of pair territories and nest sites, as a team we conducted a coordinated short eared owl watch. Alongside shorties, we also looked out for any curlew. With sightings often only being in flight, it can be difficult to pinpoint exact curlew nest and foraging locations. Ceris designated look out locations for all team members and we were off, some wrapped up ready for the cold more than others. We located a curlew nest with an incubating pair, and noted a possible short-eared owl nest as it settled down from flight within the old bracken. 

Molly on the look-out for interesting wildlife.

A short-eared owl perched near the farm - Amy Compton.

Of course the lovely weather couldn't last forever and a wet and windy storm hit Skomer. The island was looking rather dry with bluebells trying their best to grow, so the rain was well and truly needed.

The farm and surrounding fields from north valley, looking very dry.

This weather didn't stop our biosecurity protocols, with a full island check completed. As LTVs we noted no presence of rats from wax blocks and ink pads set out across Skomer. 

Amy during a biosecurity check.

These first few weeks have left us feeling very grateful about what we have already learnt from the team. We cannot wait for the seabird season to truly unfold.

Amy and Molly getting to grips with the gator!

Diolch! Thank you for reading.

- Molly and Amy.

Video Blog: Skomer Stories Ep. 2 - Visitors and Volunteers

We're pleased to announce that Skomer Stories Episode 2 is now live!

A mixed-media series brought to you by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and hosted by Skomer Island Visitor Officer, Rob Knott, we're bringing the sights and sounds of Skomer to your home.

In this podcast episode, Rob gives an idea of what the Skomer team has been up to over winter and a summary of visitor numbers in 2024. He's also joined by our most recent long-term volunteers to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about long-term volunteering on Skomer - if you're on the fence about applying before 31st January, it's a must listen!

You can catch it on YouTube (link below) or on our brand new Spotify page here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZWY1z5GSP65Y3vUJkGjVs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2nDeVZm1gs

Let us know what you'd like to see in future episodes.

Presented as a video blog, this is a new way to keep up with our work on Skomer.

Grab a cuppa and enjoy.

Island update - November

A little late, and now 400 miles from Skomer, it's time to sit and write the last island update for the year. We left the island two weeks ago - to the overwintering ducks, the moaning seals, and the whims of the winter weather.

A haul-out of grey seals on North Haven beach

It’s safe to say the autumn did not go quite to plan. At the end of September, we waved off the last visitors and volunteers and said cheerio to island warden Leighton as he set off for a few days’ well earned break. The day before his planned return, a message: ‘Not going too well for me in mid Wales I'm afraid…’ and a picture of a well strapped ankle. Ah. A break, certainly - just not quite the kind we’d envisaged. 

 

So, Leighton was stuck off island stoically waiting for bones to mend. Unfortunately, we had planned the most intensive autumn work programme in five years: coordinating and supporting the total refitting of hostel bathrooms and kitchen; a new kitchen in the hut; and associated gas, plumbing, electrical works and drainage. This along with the usual business of cleaning and closing up the island. Leighton fielded our calls whilst doing battle with the accumulated to-do lists of an island year, Chris Ward and associated crack squad of builders and carpenters were on the case in the hostel, Will was digging trenches, Rob was packing up the accommodation, and seal student Emma and I were scrubbing ovens. All in hand, we thought.

Work underway

Then we all got Covid. 

Emma left on schedule, missing the lurgy by a whisker. Will kept digging, at a slightly slower rate. Rob managed some admin work. I slept for a week.

 

Eventually, we were no longer Team Covid - but with Rob due to set off to Australia on holiday, it was soon time to say hooroo. We dropped Rob off at Martin’s Haven on the 23rd of October. Next stop the outback. Via Kent. 

All at sea

 

And then we were two. Will kept digging! - trenches for electric cables, a soakaway and drainage for the hut, and a section of bank to allow a base for gas bottles. As the nights drew in, it wasn’t an uncommon sight to find him still digging by headtorch. 

 

I worked my way from room to room brandishing a toothbrush and The Pink Stuff cleaning paste and listening to a range of podcasts - from highly educational to very silly. Mattresses were propped up, bedding vacuum packed, fridges disinfected, spiders threatened with severe consequences if web building resumed. 

Carry on digging... 

It was a busy year for mice, and our mouseproofing efforts were the most zealous yet. The wide eyed, endearing wood mice were an industrious destruction squad intent on transforming everything on the island into confetti. The moment we turned our backs, new tooth marks emerged. 

With the quarantine flag lowered, Chris and his team returned to their work on the island. We appreciated not only their hard graft but their humour, silliness and willingness to help and advise on all matters building and carpentry. Somehow, the weather obliged sufficiently to allow visits from the domestic and gas plumbers and electrician Ian. We’re really pleased with what’s been achieved - a first class job. 

Chris & co

On 8th November we had a flying visit from Leighton, Lisa and Sarah - a chance for a coffee and a natter, for Leighton to do his best pirate impression, and for all to see and consider the work done and yet to do.

 

After their departure, with just a week to go, we set to with the final task list. Time for greasing hinges and locking doors, for turning off gas and water, and for storm proofing - whether stowing things inside or tying them down. 

Winter proofing (storm and mouse)

We also had to eat our way through the food in the freezers. Ice cream for breakfast featured, whilst we also learnt that no amount of curry powder can dilute parsnip soup! Some store cupboard efforts were successful - dried milk in a cheese sauce worked well. The eternal bean casserole was not such a success.

 

With short days and long lists, the seal round was usually our best chance of a leg stretch and a chance to enjoy the island. More and more plump weaners filled the beaches, with only the occasional new yellow pup joining them. 

A sleepy weaner

Highlights of the autumn included a group of eight short-eared owls roosting near the farm, the usual winter visitors of redwing and fieldfare, and several yellow-browed warblers and firecrests. Most exciting however was the arrival of mauve stinger jellyfish, at least a hundred thousand of which filled North Haven. The Latin name Pelagia noctiluca roughly translates to the wandering nightlight - through some hasty research we discovered that they glow in the dark when disturbed! That night we set off back to North Haven in the sheeting rain, hoping to catch a glimpse. It took a while to trust our eyes, but - yes - there, where the water met the rock, little lanterns beneath the water, with the light intensifying and then fading away. I don’t know how long we sat and watched the water, but eventually we squelched our way back to the farm, admiring the frogs that dotted the path, and enjoying the odd call from a Manxie. 

Noctiluca!

We left the island on 16th November. Our departure went pretty smoothly - on the steps with all of our belongings at 2pm, at 2:01pm we saw the familiar shape of Wavedancer emerge from behind Rye Rocks, and soon the friendly faces of Lee and Jez, who helped us load the boat with our belongings, fuel cans, recycling boxes and the miscellany of things which needed to be taken off island. A final glance at North Haven - then into the cabin for a natter about mainland life and winter plans. 

 

After a dry, calm morning, the moment we reached Martin’s Haven, the heavens opened. Shuttling boxes to the jetty, we were soon drenched. Typical.

Farewell to Skomer

It wasn’t long though before we were warm, showered, fed and enjoying a brew at the home of kind island friends Sash and Lucy. After which, I promptly fell asleep. 

 

It’s been an odd autumn, but a good one. Our return to the mainland was followed by a succession of island errands interspersed with cups of teas, catch ups, and even the odd snowball fight. The team - currently scattered across four different countries - will spend winter variously holidaying, report writing, and planning for next year. 

 

To all who’ve supported the island this year, thank you. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. 

 

Hwyl fawr!

 

• Ceris, Assistant Warden 

South Haven in the sunshine

Video Blog: Skomer Stories Ep. 1 - Seal Monitoring

We're very excited to announce a new project we've been working on - introducing Skomer Stories!

Our Visitor Officer, Rob, is filming a series of short videos on the island to give you an insight into the work we carry out and the wildlife we protect - all to give you a taste of Skomer from home.

Look out for plenty more of these in 2025 but for now, please enjoy episode 1, where he'll take you on

a seal round, help you identify males from females and talk about why this work is so vital - the island is closed to the public in autumn, so this is a unique insight into the autumnal sights of Skomer.

Presented as a video blog, this is a new way to keep up with our work on Skomer.

Island update - October

I have just spent six incredible weeks on Skomer Island assisting with their annual grey seal monitoring as part of a collaboration with Swansea University. During those six weeks I watched the lively island bustling with visitors, volunteers and Manx Shearwaters transform into a sleepy refuge for wildlife which I miss terribly.

Sunset seen from North Haven

My main role on the island was to count the seals at the six busiest sites on the island, as well as recording their sex and age category. This role certainly wasn’t glamorous, I spent many hours shuffling on my belly through grass and mud so that I remained hidden from timid groups of seals, but I loved every minute of it! As well as counting the seals, I photographed the distinct scarred seals I spotted and matched them up with photos from the island’s records. This was incredibly interesting work as I was able to identify seals by their scars or markings and see where they had been in previous years.

Top: a cow with distinct scars at Driftwood Bay in 2023. Bottom: The same cow at the Slabs in 2024.

Hard at Work

With no visitors on the island, autumn is the season for repairs and construction. When I wasn’t counting seals, I got stuck into some tasks around the island and with so few people around an extra pair of hands was greatly appreciated. I assisted Visitor Officer Rob and Assistant Warden Ceris to prepare the Wick for the Winter. This involved removing the surprisingly heavy metal fenceposts, rope and benches from the Wick and taking them to the farm. During this task, I did go head-to-head with Rob in a wheelbarrow race, which I unfairly lost!

Ceris slaying as she carries fenceposts away from the Wick

Gull Roost Count

Initially, Bird Log sounded like another language, and I would desperately try to understand the meanings of “chiffchaff at Moorey Mere” and “Dunnock at Captain Kites”. OxNav students Layla and Bridget and long-term volunteers Nick and Pete were all admirably patient with me and helped identify the birds I had seen that day from my puzzling descriptions. It didn’t take long for me to get hooked and I began spending hours wandering around the island searching for birds.

Great Black-backed gull at Driftwood Bay

This newfound passion for birding meant I was excited to assist with the gull roost count on the island. To do this, Ceris, Will, Rob and I counted the number of gulls at known roost sites around the island as they arrived at dusk. It is important to record the number of gulls roosting for datasets are there has been growing concern over the decline in Great Black-backed gull populations in recent years. Great Black-backed gulls are now a red-listed species as their populations have declined by around 28% in Europe and 68% in North America.

My favourite birdwatching experiences on Skomer had to be watching the owls at dusk. After nights of listening to Rob and Ceris discussing the pellets they’d seen and sounds they’d heard; I finally spotted a stunning barn owl flying above North Valley Willows. I was also exceedingly envious of Nick and Amy who watched four short-eared owls as they flew near the farm, but I was eventually lucky enough to see some myself!

A gorgeous short-eared owl photographed on Skomer by Amy Compton

My Last Seal Round

My final seal round was an unforgettable farewell. After almost ten days of dwindling pup numbers at South Haven, I was delighted to see two exceedingly tiny yellow pups laying besides their enormous mothers. The sunny afternoon got even better when I arrived at Castle Bay to see my largest haul out yet, 110 seals on a single beach!

Some of the 110 seals at Castle Bay on the 10^th October

This was the perfect finish to the six extraordinary weeks I spent on Skomer. It was an honour and a privilege to work alongside some of the most devoted, knowledgeable and kind people I’ve ever met. I cannot wait to come back!

- Emma Whatley

Skomer in September - Seabird Spectacular!

Ted and I are once again truly honoured to be asked to write a blog about our most recent visit to the most beautiful place on the planet.

For weeks we had been talking about the weather, hoping for a week of easterlies before we went, then switching to a west or northwest when we arrived as we really wanted to spend lots of time sea-watching. Little did we realise just how much of the latter we would do!

But the weather did exactly what we wanted.

Pretty early in the morning on Sat 7^th September we received a message from the very wonderful Ceris to say that there were no boats for at least five days, except for this afternoon at 3.30. Ted and I had to move so fast, nothing was ready, we hadn’t packed and we hadn’t shopped. We flew around the house (and loft) and an hour and a half later, we were off. We dived into the local supermarket where I’m sure the shoppers thought we were doing ‘Supermarket sweep’. No-one got hurt (we don’t think) as we flew around the aisles filling the trolley, we threw it in the car and drove.

With half an hour to spare we were on the beach at Martins Haven at 3pm having hastily packed the rucksacks at Marloes.

We met one of the young birders and then Beth came over the steps to meet us – amazing ! Soon we were on the Dale Queen with Carl + Co and our stunning destination came into view – emotional? Oh yes!

Onto the island, meeting the rest of the team – Ceris, Pete, Nick, Lisa, Will and more friendly and welcoming faces, it was so good to be back, in paradise with wonderful, warm, human beings 😊

Both Leighton and Rob were off island, with Rob doing the amazing thing of running a marathon for charity – well done Rob. And Leighton was off being Best Man- what a great person to be your best man!

There had apparently been a bit of a ‘fall’ of birds, so very quickly we were up to the Farm and we were birding. Indeed there were lots of birds, the bushes were positively jumping with small birds - warblers and flycatchers in particular.

It didn’t take Ted long to find the Wryneck that Ceris kept on seeing, perched in a bush in North Valley – how we love our Wrynecks.

There were lots and lots of Spotted Flycatchers and a few of the Pied variety too, one at North Valley crossing actually allowed for a pic or two to be taken. 

Pied Flycatcher at North Valley Crossing, by Ted.

 

Spotted Flycatcher at the farm, by Mike

We really didn’t have anywhere near long enough on this day to cover in depth what we wanted, but the Island already had us encapsulated once more 😊

We slept well !

Sunday 8^th was wet, very wet, for much of the day, so we camped out in the hide at North pond for a long while enjoying the 2 Dunlin and some White Wagtails, before helping out with some conservation work in the afternoon. As it dried up the birds popped out once more, with Whinchats being really evident, in fact they were throughout our stay. 

Dunlin at North Pond, by Ted

We headed to South Plateau in the afternoon and spent some time casually looking out to sea, well it was casual until Ted picked up a BIG white bird flying south, Spoonbill and Egret went through his head until the reality set in, it was far rarer!! A Swan! Panic to try and get the scope on it, it was going south and going fast, luckily we got it. Nope, not an early Whooper but a Mute Swan. I’ve been visiting Skomer for many years and never seen a swan of any kind, this was mega!

We were also watching a pod of Common Dolphin around the Mew Stone, hunting and jumping out of the water – what a truly special place Skomer is 😊

Whinchat in Wick Valley, by Mike

Monday 9^th saw us casually walking past Green Pond in the day where we both glanced at a dark bird on the water, we looked a bit harder as we both realized it was a Coot, another great bird, Coots are unusual out here and neither of us had ever seen one here.

There were also 6 Teal on North Pond from dawn which were great to see up close.

Coot on Green Pond, by Ted. 

Teal on North Pond, by Mike

We did some more work and then in the evening went sea watching at the Garland Stone as the wind had really got up, blowing from the northwest.

Things really started to kick off here, and were the start of the next few days of magical sea watching, making memories and brilliant life experiences!

There were terns going past, including Common, Sandwich and Arctic – more unusual birds, Arctic Skua and Scoters. Then a ghostly white tern came along, close in near the Garland Stone, surely not? Surely yes - a Roseate Tern. It even did the decent thing and flew alongside Common Terns, what a beauty.

This spurred us on for the next morning, the wind was increasing and so surely was our chances of decent seabirds.

The wind was due west and seriously strong, we knew we couldn’t sea watch at Skomer Head, way too exposed, so with Pete and Nick we tried at the Garland Stone, it was pretty bad here.

It was obvious pretty quickly that birds were passing to our west and there was little in the bay, so we moved further west between Pigstone Bay and Bull Hole and tried to hide behind some rocks, it was so difficult to get out of the wind. But birds were moving south and soon Ted picked up a lovely pale phase Pomarine Skua. Pete and Nick had to go, but despite being hammered by the wind we knew we had to stick it out.

It wasn’t too long before Ted pulled another rabbit out of the hat, well a Shearwater out of the sea to be more accurate, and one of the Balearic variety at that, a fantastic bird.  

Not long after, I picked up a bird sitting on the sea, initially my brain just couldn’t work it out, then it finally clicked it was a Shearwater, but it looked massive, then a Manxie flew over it, the bird was huge, indeed it was - Boom !!!  – A Great Shearwater, and it was sitting on the sea, not too far out. Total adrenalin rush at this point. Between us we made sure that one of us was always locked on it, as the other tried to get photos. I then somehow managed to ring Ceris whilst keeping my eye in my scope eyepiece, it was a brief conversation! I didn’t hear what happened at Ceris’s end, but Ceris told us later - Ceris was briefing the volunteers when she took my call, then she said something like – CHANGE OF PLAN – Run !

It didn’t take long until the first footsteps were running up behind us and soon nearly everyone on the island was looking at the Great Shearwater. We later found out that this was the first Skomer record for 30 years.

The Great Shearwater, by Ted

The Great Shearwater twitch, by Mike  

The morning of the 11^th was going to be our extended seawatch day, and with Ceris, Will, Beth and Lisa we camped out at Skomer Head – it was exciting. Skuas, ducks, auks, waders, all going past in spectacular seas. Then Ted ………. did it again !!!!!!

Somehow Ted found and then stayed locked onto a juvenile Sabines Gull – Wow, just wow, but none of us could get on it. Then it settled on the sea, we still couldn’t get on it.  I simply can’t describe the pain and frustration as 5 good birders tried and tried and tried - it just shows how difficult sea watching is. But in the end we managed it with Ted's considerable help, and it flew around with it’s Kittiwake chums, somehow Ted even got some photos – I simply don’t know how.

The young birders arrived, they were happy, everyone was happy.

The Sabines Gull, by Ted.

It wasn’t a difficult decision where to be at dawn on the 12^th - Skomer Head of course!

We enjoyed lots more seabird passage including more Skuas, some really close, lots and lots of terns, significant numbers for Skomer. Also divers going south and a Bar-tailed Godwit going north-west.

We watched as a huge passage of Kittiwakes came past us out of Broad Sound, with an estimated 4000 in only 90 minutes.

Other exciting news - Rob returned 😊It was great to see him!

Fri 13^th dawned clear, bright and beautiful, the wind had dropped to virtually nothing, we had less than 2 hours to the boat.

Sunrise, by Mike

We bashed around as quickly as we could, watching a Water Rail run down the length of North Pond and a Grasshopper Warbler pop up in the vegetation there, this was our parting gift.

Water Rail at North Pond, by Ted.

All too soon (it’s always too soon) we were saying our goodbyes with heavy hearts, to our little bit of paradise on Planet Earth, and to the most amazing, wonderful people 😊

It’ll soon be May …………😊😊😊

Mike + Ted Wallen

Sept 2024

A Marsh Harrier, by Ted.