Skip to main content

SKOMER ISLAND BLOG

Search This Blog

1st April. Log highlights

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

20 Linnets around the farm AM

3 willow warblers

87 grey seals in north haven

1000+ puffin in north haven at dusk

We anticipate a large return of guillemots tomorrow - will this be true?

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Popular Posts

Seals, Steps And Generator Sheds - A July/ Early August Island Update

Seals, Steps And Generator Sheds - A July/ Early August Island Update Wildlife and Monitoring Updates Goodbye to the Auks & Amy In July we said goodbye to the last of the razorbills and guillemots! The final chicks fledged (or became Greater Black Backed lunch) and the last of the adults left the island. Amy, Will and Pete's study plots were completed! We still had one or two puffin stragglers about in early August, but the Wick was looking very empty and quiet compared to just a few weeks previously. With the auks leaving, so did Amy (fortunately fledging, not eaten by a Greater Black Backed Gull) - one of our LTV's from the April-July season. We were all very sad to see her go! Amy has included her goodbye message at the end of this blog. One of the last puffins enjoying a sunset before their departure. Vole Monitoring At the end of July we started monitoring of our endemic vole subspecies - the Skomer Vole ( Myodes glareolus skomerensis ). We were joined by Dr Claire ...

The fascinating migration of the Skomer Puffins

My name is Annette and I’m a researcher at the University of Oxford. I have been doing research on Skomer since 2011, first as a research assistant, then as a PhD student, and now as a fully-fledged postdoctoral researcher. I am lucky enough to come and spend some time on the island each year (for up to 5 months when I’m really lucky), to study the seabirds on the island. Some of you may have met me, when I’m not up in the middle of the night tracking shearwaters, awake at dawn observing puffins, or with my arm down a burrow in the middle of the day, I’m usually working on my computer in the library. Over the last 5 years I have been working with Manx shearwaters, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, but my main study species during my PhD was the Atlantic puffin. Figure 1 – Annette at work. Not a bad job? (photo M. Kavelaars). We are approaching the end of July, when young pufflings fledge from their burrow in the middle of the night and adults gather on the...

Island update - late April and early May

The 2025 season is well and truly underway. Our long-term volunteers, Molly and Amy, have now settled into their duties and projects are well underway. Take a look at what they have been getting up to during late April and early May. Spring has arrived! Watching Skomer Island gradually become a sea of bluebells and red campion has been truly magical. An influx of swallows has also solidified a change in the season and their sweet-chattery calls now fill the air at the farm. Bluebells towards Garland Stone- Molly Ashton. The longer evenings and warmer weather have been a great excuse to get the Kubb out. A game enjoyed throughout the years on the island involving wooden blocks, throwing sticks, defensive lines and great distraction techniques! As long term volunteers, Amy and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the weekly volunteers. We have met some amazing people so far, connecting through our passion for nature and Pembrokeshire islands with long-standing and new volunt...

Powered by Blogger