Not More Skomer

The Dale Princess getting ready to go over to Skomer. We left at 6am for Martin's Haven to catch the first boat over to Skomer by 10 am. It was raining when we left and when we got there it was light rain. Has we stood in the harbour looking out to sea we picked a couple of Auks going past and had Puffin, Razorbill and Guillemot also half dozen Manx Shearwaters which were the only ones we saw all day. The trip over was very smooth, we were like sardines on the boat with 50 people on board as it was sold out. Has we got close it was brilliant to see loads of Puffins on the sea and flying past. Also saw our first Gannets of the trip. Once we landed it was nice too see Razorbills and Guillemots so close to the Quay also we saw our first Puffins at their nest burrows. Everyone had to stop at the top of the path and listen to a talk by the Warden who told everyone to stay on the paths as the island was full of nest burrows and the island holds the biggest nesting population of Manx Shearwaters in the world. All we saw on the island of Manxies were numerous bird body parts specially wings. Very sad to see them end this way. We took the left path and headed for the Wick when Phil called butterfly, it was a Painted Lady and we saw about a dozen in the five hours we were there, also saw lots of Cinnabar Moths, a couple of Diamond Back Moths and two Yellow Shell. Bird wise we saw lots and here a list of what I can remember, Puffin, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull with young, Kittiwake, Gannet, (it was great too look across at Grassholm in the distance, it looked like it was snowing with all these gannets in the sky the same time), Oystercatcher great to watch displaying, Curlew, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Raven, only one Chough was seen, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, 3 Starling, Linnet, Goldfinch, Wheatear, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Swallow, single Swift, 1 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, Canada Goose, 2 Little Owl, Short Eared Owl,1 Peregrine,Also so Male and female  Pheasant and two birds I am pretty sure I heard were Sedge Warbler in the field by the Visitor Centre and a Whitethroat on the way back to the boat and 1 Feral Pigeon.
One  of the Juv. Rock Pipit in the Harbour.

Sea Pink or Thrift and great to see so much of it .

This shot was took when the Warden was giving the talk and it looked good and was gutted to see not in focus.

At the Wick the birds were so close, these Fulmars were coming really close, the Puffins were flying and landing in front of us. It looked like they were using the people as a screen from the Gulls and walking through the people and down their burrows. Has me and Phil stood  there a Puffin flew towards me and and hit my arm as it passed, I almost had a fish dinner of my own. It was great to get even closer than we had been to a Puffin and it's sand eels, Phil did not see it at all and a couple standing next to me were doubled up with laughter.  

Martin was making noises and this Puffin came over to check him out and just sat there near him, I think he pulled a cracker.

We missed the Bluebells and the Red Campion was a great second and here are the two flower pot men undercover .

What's left of a Manx Shearwater after the gulls had had it. The Ruby Tail Wasp one of two we found when we got back at Martin's Haven.

Martin taking a well earned break and taking shots of a Dor Beetle. It was a great day and all week the weather said no and it was nice it changed when we got there. Also saw this very smart flower and thought Stonecrop and yes it's English Sedum.