Skomer Wales
Separated from the mainland by the narrow Jack Sound, Skomer is the largest, at nearly 300ha, and most accessible of the islands off the Pembroke coast. This flat-topped island is a National Nature Reserve and an important site for breeding Red-billed Chough and seabirds, in particular the Manx Shearwater. Around 100,000 pairs nest here along with European Storm-petrel, Northern Fulmar, Shag and Great Cormorant. There are breeding auks; Atlantic Puffin, Common Guillemot and Razorbill, and gulls; Kittiwake, Herring, Great and Lesser Black-backs. Northern Gannet does not breed but can usually be seen from the island and Common Scoter are present most of the year. Red-billed Chough and Rock Pipit breed on the cliffs. In addition to seabirds there are breeding Mallard, Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Curlew and also Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon and Common Kestrel, and Short-eared and Little Owls. Despite the lack of trees there are Woodpigeons that nest on the ground, Common Magpie and Carrion Crow, and smaller breeding passerines including Meadow and Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtail, Common Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Bunting.
In winter the Mallard on the island are joined by Eurasian Wigeon and Common Teal, occasionally other species of duck and, since the early 1980s, by a small flock of Barnacle Geese. Divers occur on the sea. In autumn small numbers of Blue and Great Tits cross the sound and other common mainland birds such as finches and thrushes are recorded as migrants, but at this time of year there is the chance of a real rarity. Several British "firsts" have been recorded on Skomer including Olive-backed Pipit and Olivaceous Warbler.
Rabbits are abundant and occur alongside Common and Pygmy Shrew, Wood Mouse and the Skomer Vole, a distinct subspecies of the Bank Vole, larger and paler than those on the mainland. Skomer is also an important breeding site for Grey Seal. There is much interest for the botanist with more than 200 flowering plants identified, Bluebells grow in abundance as well as Primrose and Lesser Celandine. Heath Pearlwort, Rock Sea Spurrey and English Stonecrop grow in the grassland areas and Lesser and Marshland Skullcap in the wetter parts. Thrift and other flowers grow on the clifftop turf where Puffins nest.
The island can be visited between the beginning of April and mid-September, every day except Monday although it is sometimes closed for a few days in early June. The earliest boat for Skomer leaves Martins Haven usually at 10.00am and the last return trip in the late afternoon, there is a landing fee. Boats also cruise around the island without landing. Skomer is best visited in spring and early summer for seabirds and late summer-autumn for migrants, an overnight stay guarantees the visitor nocturnal shearwaters and petrels and gives much more time to explore the island fully. There is limited self-catering accommodation on the island.
Birds
Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, European Storm-petrel, Great Cormorant, Shag, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Scoter, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Red-billed Chough, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Common Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting
Content and images originally posted by Steve
