SKOMER
Skomer Island lies just off the Marloes Peninsula in south-west Pembrokeshire. It is one of the four main islands of Pembrokeshire, effectively cut off from the mainland by Jack Sound, a narrow stretch of water renowned for its strong tidal currents. The island's isolation (and careful management over the years!) has meant that mammalian ground predators such as rats, cats, dogs and foxes are absent. This is one of the major reasons for the island's importance as a breeding ground for burrow nesting seabirds such as shearwaters and puffins.
The 730 acres (292 hectares) of Skomer offer extremely important breeding grounds for a great variety of seabirds. This fact was recognized when Skomer was made a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area under European Law. The island is managed by the
Wildlife Trust South & West Wales under a lease from the owners, the Countryside Council for Wales.
Skomer is probably the most important breeding site for Manx Shearwaters in the world, with an estimated population of 165,000 pairs. It is difficult to find spots on the island which are not burrowed by them. Puffins breed on Skomer in large numbers as well: approximately 6,000 pairs have been counted. Other birds present in large numbers are Guillemots, Razorbills and of course the ever present gull family: Kittiwakes, the smallest, the Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and the largest of all -- the Great Black-backed Gulls.
Great numbers of migratory birds use Skomer as a stop-over: amongst others Finches, Skylarks, Swallows, Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits, as well as the occasional rare bird such as the Golden Oriole, Tawny Pipit, Black Stork and Frigate Bird. Of great importance for wildlife on the island are the vast numbers of rabbits. They were introduced around 1400 AD as a source of meat and fur. They have burrowed the island extensively, to the advantage of the Shearwaters and Puffins. The larger gulls hunt and feast on the rabbits and the other interesting mammal on the island -- the Skomer Vole, a subspecies of the Bank Vole.
Grey Seals are present throughout the year, and are to be found breeding on the beaches of Skomer every Autumn. They are outnumbered in Wales only by the colony which breeds on Ramsey Island, just off the coast at St. David's. Porpoises and Dolphins can be seen off Skomer almost all year round, and basking sharks are sighted every summer. Look for Gannnets fishing offshore; all of them come from the huge gannet colony on Grassholm, far out in St Bride's Bay.
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