A fresh start

Mark from the MNR helping with the launching and loading of our boat

After days without internet access we can at last update you on our return to the island. Continuing on from Jason's blog on the morning of our move, we loaded our worldly possessions on to the beach and were helped by Mark and Kate from the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) to launch our boat and load it with our stuff. This didn't go without issue, after a few false starts we limped over to the island twice, only to pull our boat back out of the water for further repairs.

 

Heading back towards the island as the sun goes down

 

A weaner on the beach to welcome us. Unfortunately it may not be all that healthy

 

The boat moored up in idyllic conditions 

Our return was greeted by a Grey Seal weaner that refused to move and possibly shows signs of lung worm. We were also shocked to see gaping holes in our boat slip and shed.

 

Damage has been sustained to our boat shed and the concrete area around it

Our very first sight of the main buildings revealed a missing garage door at North Haven which shows the incredible force of the storms that raged during the winter. Incidentally the buildings at the Farm received no damage at all. 

 

A huge solid wood garage door had been ripped off and torn to shreds during the winter storms

 

Great Northern Diver in North Haven

Juvenile Hen Harrier

A few good birds have been spotted over our first few days, mostly winter visitors like three Great Northern Divers, a juvenile Hen Harrier and Glaucous Gull, but also a few summer visitors like Wheatears, Chiffchaffs and a wandering Spoonbill. Bee spotted the first Wheatear on the 14th. A Red Kite was also spotted on the 14th.

Bee spotted the first Wheatear of the year on the 14th

 

Juvenile Glaucous Gull

 

Sub-adult Spoonbill, which looks like a breeding plumaged adult from this photo but small black tips were present on the primaries in flight indicating the age of this individual. This bird had toured the islands and mainland 

 

Male Black Redstart

Migrant Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests (pictured) have been seen on lichen covered rocks around the coast 

More of fresh life on Skomer Island in a few days...

Eddie Stubbings, Skomer warden