5.5 - Skomer Island
Skomer Island ( in welsh - "Ynys Sgomer" )
The name Skomer may derive from the Old Norse "Skalm-ey" - Cloven Island .
The Island is 2 miles x 1.25 miles / 722 acres .
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A Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Nature Reserve.
Check Website of www.welshwildlife.org
The Island is reached by a 15mins boat ride from Martins Haven , weather permitting.
Closed Monday .
Check website of www.dale-sailing.co.uk,
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GEOLOGY :- Volcanic and related rocks of the Silurian Period
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The largest of the Pembrokeshire Islands / Late Iron age - Bronze age settlements with field enclosures - hut circles visible / 8 ft standing stone - "Harold's Stone" from this period / Normans introduced Rabbits / 200 acres of land have been farmed - ( pheasants and partridge exported ) in the past.
Home To 12,000 PUFFINS.
Resident late March to early August. Spending the other time at sea - in the north atlantic , north sea , even the mediterranean sea.
Each spring the birds return and quickly commence the task of preparing the nesting burrow for the new season .
During late April a single egg is laid which takes about 42 days to hatch.
Young Puffins are fed from early June to early August , by adults with beaks full of fish.
North Haven Bay , the water near the landing stage , has a protected Sea Bed , with young sandeels , the Puffins favourite fish.
Also Razorbills (4,5000) , Guillemots (7,000) , Kittewakes (4,000) , Fulmars (1,000) , Choughs , Oystercatchers (70 nests) , Gt Backed Gulls (100 pairs) ,.......
Manx Shearwater (250,000) and Storm Petrel (200) / both have nocturnal habits .
Manx shearwaters return to the colonies during March, occupying burrows in which a single egg will be laid in late April / early May. Incubation period of 51 days with fledging in 72 days. In early September a journey, of several weeks duration to the Atlantic fishing grounds 6,000 miles away off the coasts of Brazil , Uruguay and the Argentine.
Also Skomer Voles 20,000 , by late summer , main prey for the Kestrel , and Short Eared Owl.
Grey Seals , possible sightings of Porpoise , Dolphin.
The main island is connected to its smaller eastern section "The Neck" by a narrow isthmus , with the Wardens House perched near by .
Having to keep to the footpaths makes many of the coastal features out of bounds . The island is after all , honeycombed with the burrows of the Shearwaters . The volcanic rock / ash beds make ideal soil for burrowing .
The name Skomer may derive from the Old Norse "Skalm-ey" - Cloven Island .
The Island is 2 miles x 1.25 miles / 722 acres .
-------------------------------------
A Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Nature Reserve.
Check Website of www.welshwildlife.org
The Island is reached by a 15mins boat ride from Martins Haven , weather permitting.
Closed Monday .
Check website of www.dale-sailing.co.uk,
--------------------------------------
GEOLOGY :- Volcanic and related rocks of the Silurian Period
------------------------------------
The largest of the Pembrokeshire Islands / Late Iron age - Bronze age settlements with field enclosures - hut circles visible / 8 ft standing stone - "Harold's Stone" from this period / Normans introduced Rabbits / 200 acres of land have been farmed - ( pheasants and partridge exported ) in the past.
Home To 12,000 PUFFINS.
Resident late March to early August. Spending the other time at sea - in the north atlantic , north sea , even the mediterranean sea.
Each spring the birds return and quickly commence the task of preparing the nesting burrow for the new season .
During late April a single egg is laid which takes about 42 days to hatch.
Young Puffins are fed from early June to early August , by adults with beaks full of fish.
North Haven Bay , the water near the landing stage , has a protected Sea Bed , with young sandeels , the Puffins favourite fish.
Also Razorbills (4,5000) , Guillemots (7,000) , Kittewakes (4,000) , Fulmars (1,000) , Choughs , Oystercatchers (70 nests) , Gt Backed Gulls (100 pairs) ,.......
Manx Shearwater (250,000) and Storm Petrel (200) / both have nocturnal habits .
Manx shearwaters return to the colonies during March, occupying burrows in which a single egg will be laid in late April / early May. Incubation period of 51 days with fledging in 72 days. In early September a journey, of several weeks duration to the Atlantic fishing grounds 6,000 miles away off the coasts of Brazil , Uruguay and the Argentine.
Also Skomer Voles 20,000 , by late summer , main prey for the Kestrel , and Short Eared Owl.
Grey Seals , possible sightings of Porpoise , Dolphin.
The main island is connected to its smaller eastern section "The Neck" by a narrow isthmus , with the Wardens House perched near by .
Having to keep to the footpaths makes many of the coastal features out of bounds . The island is after all , honeycombed with the burrows of the Shearwaters . The volcanic rock / ash beds make ideal soil for burrowing .