Shutting down

After last weeks storm the weather has been amazing, as can be seen by the two photos below, one taken on the 21st during the storm and one taken on the 26th on an almost wind still evening.

North Haven during last weeks storm

Such a contrast to five days earlier, North Pond in evening light

Storm Angus, the first named storm of the 2016/17 winter, was pretty uncomfortable for us in the north facing Warden's house in North Haven. The water was literally being forced through the panels of our back door. But it didn't last and a few days later the weather was calm and fine.

We normally move off in the last week of November so we were looking for a nice calm spell and it came just at the right time. We came off yesterday (28th) in ideal conditions with another fine sunset at our backs.

It is difficult to summarise a season on Skomer in a few words but needless to say it was another eventful one. The wildlife highlights are too numerous to name and a visit in any month is always a pleasure with new things to see and an abundance of life that can't be seen in many other places.

Another couple of photos from this year to illustrate the contrasts and changes that occur during a year on Skomer. 

Skomer in May with fields of Bluebells and thousands of seabirds

A lonely Robin sits in a leafless tree in November

The recent sightings will not be updated now until we move back to the island next March and the home page will only be updated with important news and information.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the running of the island and everyone who visited in 2016.

Nadolig Llawen

Job opportunity: Assistant for Wildlife Documentary

Hans-Peter was filming Grey Seals on Skomer in October and now he is looking for assistants, see below.

German Wildlife Film Production is looking for assistants for a wildlife documentary about Wales.

You should be in good physical condition and should have good knowledge of Welsh/British wildlife.

Your tasks will include supporting the film maker during filming and some research for filming possibilities/locations. The support is needed intermittently from January until July 2017 for approximately one week per assignment and you should be flexible with your time.

Experience in filmmaking is not necessary. Food, accommodation and salary will be paid.

Please send a cover letter (including telephone number) and CV to the following email-address:

Hans-Peter Kuttler
hpkuttler@gmx.de

The colours of autumn

Autumn can have a real feel of decay and deterioration, like twilight, where you know it's only going to get darker and colder until the end of the day. But autumn has a charm and a beauty of its own and is an integral part of the year, the cycle which hopefully brings forth new life in the spring.

Skomer is a wonderful place to watch the turning of the year, with only nature as a force to shape and colour it.

Here is a feel for how Skomer is in autumn when the hustle bustle of summer, with all of it's avian and human visitors, feels a long way away, when solitary Hen Harriers drift over a desolate landscape and Starlings and varied 'northern' thrushes pass over head from places that are even colder and more desolate than Skomer by now.

One of the main shaping forces behind the changing colours of Skomer - the weather

The sunsets change colour

The Bracken turns a golden brown

The colour of Pheasants looks almost made for autumn

Thousands of birds fly over on autumn migration

Wildfowl gather on North Pond

Following the migrants, wintering birds of prey look for any opportunity for a meal

A Peregrine hunts a ball of Starlings

Autumn may feel like the sun is setting but don't worry, the sun will rise again on another Skomer spring in 2017

Sealympics

If you are a regular follower of our social media you will probably remember that we held Skolympics (Skomer Olympics) this year with teams from Dale Sailing, Marloes village, volunteers and Wildlife Trust staff. This event was such a huge success that we thought we should ask our lovely seals whether they would like to host the Paraolympics - and they did.

Let me introduce you to the winners of this year's competition in the different diciplines:


Discipline: Fattest seal pup

Discipline: Smallest seal pup

Discipline:Synchronised swimming (couples)

Discipline: Aqua Aerobics

Discipline: Rock climbing (adults)

Discipline: Rock climbing (youths)

Discipline: Martial Arts

Discipline: Acrobatics

Discipline: Fancy dress

Gold goes to pup 112 in its ghost costume 

Silver goes to pup 162 in its tropical fish costume (this one almost won the Fattest Pup competition as well)

Discipline: Biathlon

 Discipline: Dancing

Bee
(Skomer Warden)