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.