5.4 - Skokholm Island
Skokholm Island - " Ynys Sgogwm "
( Norse word for Wooded Island ) .
2 miles south of Skomer .
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A Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Nature Reserve , with limited access .
Check Website of www.welshwildlife.org
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Skokholm was used as a rabbit warren in the Middle ages and farmed from the 1700`s till 1912 , with cattle , sheep / thousands of carcasses of wild sea birds being shipped out!!
Britains first Bird Observatory established in 1933 , through the work of Richard Lockley .
Island about 1.25 miles x .5 miles - an area of 240 acres , formed of Old Red Sandstone .
18th century farm buildings .
Lighthouse ( built in 1916 ) , with a range of 15 miles .
Island famous for its Birds - Manx Shearwaters ( 90,000 ) , Storm Petrels ( 6000 ? ) , both active on the islands at Dusk . The Birds Return to there burrows at Night , to avoid predators , after feeding in nearby waters during the day .
Also Puffins ( 4500 ) , Guillemots , Razorbills .
Large numbers of Shearwaters near the Lighthouse . Puffins near South Haven and Crab Bay . Petrils in the Quarry , where stone for the lighthouse was extracted .
A Colony of Seals on the east side of the Island / Porpoise , Dolphins may be seen on the west coast , feeding in the tidal race .