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Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Wales Online
Record numbers of unique bird now populating a tiny Welsh island
Record numbers of unique bird now populating a tiny Welsh island Skomer Island's puffin colony has previously been described as 'exceptional' by David Attenborough A record number of puffins have been counted on Skomer Island (Image: Mike Alexander / WTSWW ) A record number of puffins have been recorded on a small Welsh island famous for its wildlife. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) counted 43,626 during its observation on Skomer Island, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, this year. This record high bucks the trend of decline seen globally in puffin populations. A warden said that Skomer Island is an example of a "conservation success story" but warned that the species is still at risk. Puffins are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the global red list. Like many seabird species, they they are facing the pressures of pollution, food shortages and climate change. However, puffin numbers on Skomer Island have been steadily increasing over recent years, with over 40,000 birds now returning to the island from April to July. The last record was set in 2023, when 42,513 puffins were recorded on and around the island. David Attenborough once described Skomer's puffin colony as an 'exception' (Image: Jonathan Myers ) The growth in Skomer Island's population is likely linked to the abundance of food in the wider area, meaning there is plenty of fish for chicks resulting in high breeding success. The absence of rats and other predators on the island thanks to its isolation has also contributed to the success of seabird populations on Skomer. Article continues below The treasured island has long been a pride and joy to the Welsh coastline, tucked away in Pembrokeshire. Skomer attracts visitors from all over the world alongside being a regular touring spot to discover vibrant wildlife in the country. Even David Attenborough called the 40,000-strong puffin colony on the island "exceptional" compared to other parts of the world when he visited Skomer for BBC One series Wild Isles. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Every year WTSWW undertakes their annual seabird counts to monitor the population of Puffins that return to the island every spring to breed. Leighton Newman, Skomer Island warden, said: "Our annual Puffin count is no small undertaking, with 6 members of staff working to count every Puffin on Skomer. The island is broken up into seven sections and we systematically count every bird; on the land, rafting on the sea and we estimate the number in the air during our counts. "This is undertaken in the evening, when there are generally more Puffins around the island and early enough in the season that birds are not already in burrows. Big land falls this year, has led to Puffins being seen further up the cliffs than ever before!" Over 40,000 puffins return to Skomer Island each spring (Image: Getty Images ) Article continues below Lisa Morgan, Head of Islands and Marine Conservation at WTSWW, said: "It was a joy to see the masses of birds using the island during our spring count. However, we remain concerned about the increasing pressures on many seabird species. "Novel threats facing our seabirds include avian influenza and the recent marine heatwave conditions experienced around parts of the UK coastline. The long-term impacts are still largely unknown highlighting the importance of our annual seabird monitoring and research programs on Skomer."
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Skomer Island puffin numbers hit record high despite global fall
A record number of puffins have been recorded on a small island off the Pembrokeshire coast, despite global populations declining to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), 43,626 puffins were counted on Skomer Island this year - a record WTSWW said the increased number of puffins on the nature reserve was a "conservation success story", but warned that the birds were still a species under threat which should continue to be Island, a 2.92km² internationally important seabird island managed by the WTSWW, is located less than a mile from the Pembrokeshire coast. The island's isolation means that it is protected from predators such as rats, cats, dogs and foxes, and also from the human impact on the well as a growing population of puffins, Skomer is also home to 350,000 breeding pairs of manx shearwaters and thousands of guillemots and year, the WTSWW undertakes its annual seabird count on the island to monitor the population of birds that return every spring to puffins are counted during the evening and early in the season by six members of staff. Skomer Island's visitor officer, Rob Knott, said counting the birds was "quite a job"."We split the island into sections and we go round about two hours before sunset when there's the most on the land," he said."We get our clickers out and we count all the ones on the land, then the sea and the ones in the air as well."The last record was set in 2023, when 42,513 puffins were recorded on and around the island. "We think [the counting accuracy] is probably within a few hundred or perhaps a thousand birds," said Rob."Of course, that number is not going to be dead on the right number of puffins that are here, but because we do it in the same way every year and record those birds in the same way, it's always been reported as the final number of that count that we do every year." Although the puffins seem to be thriving in Pembrokeshire, there is a rapid decline many seabird species, puffins are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the global International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, as they face pollution, food shortages and climate to the WTSWW, the growth in Skomer Island's puffin population is "likely linked to the abundance of food in the wider area, meaning there is plenty of fish for chicks resulting in high breeding success".They said the absence of rats and other predators on the island had also contributed to the seabirds' success. 'Cautiously optimistic' Rob said the island's 25,000 visitors each year were often "mind-blown" by the number of warned, however, that there were novel threats facing seabirds - including bird flu and the recent marine heatwave conditions experienced around parts of the UK coastline."I think the monitoring work is absolutely vital, it informs how these seabirds are doing, particularly in this part of Wales but also on a wider scale in terms of how puffin numbers are doing throughout the UK," he said."It helps us look towards policy on how these numbers can increase in the future."They're doing well here, but we can point to this as a good example, there's other places where these numbers are really going down quite rapidly. "We're quite cautiously optimistic about the numbers that we're seeing."They're absolutely iconic birds and the fact that they're on the red list is wrong for so many reasons, not least, because they used to be absolutely thriving, so we're doing what we can to try and improve those numbers."
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Wales Online
Boat trip to Welsh island is like being on a Greek holiday with an amazing surprise at the end
Boat trip to Welsh island is like being on a Greek holiday with an amazing surprise at the end A shingle cove is where you wait for a boat to whisk you on a picturesque journey to a remote island with a wildlife surprise There's nothing like a boat trip in the Welsh summer sun (Image: Kathryn Williams ) A small shingle cove sheltered from whipping winds by cliffs is where you wait for a boat to take you on a picturesque journey to a remote island with a wildlife surprise. Hop aboard the vessel and you'll soon be bouncing over clear, aquamarine waters that look like they have been lifted from a dreamy Greek holiday brochure as you're whisked to your destination, Skomer Island. With the largest puffin colony in southern Britain, and slightly greener than your average Med island, Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire is a wildlife haven that will capture your imagination. Puffin season has kicked off for 2025, and the wildlife-rich island will likely welcome around 20,000 visitors, who come to spot these characterful cuties. Here's what you can expect. Spot Puffins on Skomer Island Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in the UK. (Image: Portia Jones ) Featured in the BBC1 natural history series, Wild Isles, presented by Sir David Attenborough, Skomer is located in Jack Sound, less than a mile off the coast of Pembrokeshire. It's an excellent destination for a daytime adventure with the whole family and is just 20 minutes from the mainland by boat. Because of its special nature, anyone visiting Skomer must either book onto an organised boat trip or contact the island staff who are there to advise, welcome and ensure that visitors travel around the island safely. Article continues below If you book a visit via Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips, you'll be able to see the brilliant puffin colony which inhabits the island between April and July. Between April and August, boats depart Martin's Haven every 30 minutes between 10:00 and 12:00. Return boats run from 15:00 onwards and are allocated according to your outward journey. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Puffins on Skomer and Skokholm islands have recorded rising numbers for decades (Image: Mike Alexander / WTSWW ) Once you reach the craggy island, you'll find a wildflower-covered landscape where you can get up close and photograph a huge population of puffins, razorbills and guillemots. Fortunate visitors may even glimpse dolphins slicing through the surrounding waters, or seal pups being born on the rugged cliffs around the remote island that's less than 3km². Overnight stays are also available, and once the last visitor boat of the day departs and the island empties, families can enjoy Skomer undisturbed. Why are there so many puffins on the island? There are puffins galore on this protected island (Image: Portia Jones ) There are puffins galore on this protected island, and over 41,605 Puffins were recorded in 2024 along with nearly 350,000 pairs of breeding Manx Shearwaters, the largest colony in the world. But why are there so many on this isolated outpost? According to Welsh wildlife, Skomer Island is free from many common mammalian predators, like rats that would otherwise target puffin nests and chicks. This lack of predators allows puffins to thrive and breed successfully on the island, leading to a large population. It also helps that the surrounding Marine Conservation Zone helps protect marine life, including the puffins' food sources, and also contributes to the island's overall ecological health. These factors mean you should see loads of cheeky puffins chilling on the rocky outcrops, swooping for fish and popping out of their burrows. What it's like to visit Skomer The real stars are the adorable puffins, and they will delight you with their clumsy antics (Image: Portia Jones ) For wildlife fans, Skomer is a dream destination, especially if you enjoy photography and the weather is being especially kind (this is Wales after all). Bracken and wind-tolerant maritime grasses dominate large areas of the island, and if you visit at the right time of year, you'll also be treated to spring blooms, including vivid bluebells. You can walk a loop of the island, cut across the middle, and go through blue-flower fields to use the facilities, have a packed lunch, and look at the visitor centre information boards. There's plenty of wildlife to spot here from Storm Petrels, Guillemots and Razorbill colonies to Skomer Voles, Rabbits and Pygmy Shrews. The real stars are the adorable puffins, and they will delight you with their clumsy antics (they are clearly better suited to flying and diving for fish rather than strutting around the island). Puffins begin to arrive on Skomer Island in April and stay until around August. (Image: Portia Jones ) Puffins begin to arrive on Skomer Island in April and stay until around August. They can take time to settle, and the best time to see large numbers is from around mid-June to mid-July It's amazing how close you can get to the puffins without meaning to, as they will meander onto the paths and almost get under your feet, and you carefully traverse the islands. Their curious nature means you can get fabulous shots of the puffins without disturbing them or deliberately going too close to them. You only need a decent camera and patience, and you'll bag the most enviable Instagram shots. With the largest puffin colony in southern Britain, Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire is a wildlife haven that will capture your imagination (Image: Getty ) Booking and need to know In 2025, adult tickets start at £40 and child tickets start at £30. Between April and August, boats depart Martin's Haven every 30 minutes between 10:00 and 12:00. When visiting Skomer, stay on the path at all times and take all rubbish home. Bring binoculars, sturdy shoes, waterproofs, suncream and be aware that drones are prohibited. Click here for more information on the boat trips, and here for more information on the island. Article continues below
