Having OD'd on Puffins (never!), this post has all the other birds and wildlife we saw on Skomer that day. This area below was particularly good for Puffins, Kittiwakes and Fulmars. It was also incredibly windy!!!
I spent quite a while trying to get some decent photos of the Fulmars as they flew up and down and around this area. Unfortunately the sun was almost directly facing me. I did manage a few shots though.
A Raven overhead with its lovely 'kronking' call.
Back on the ground this Meadow Pipit was busy looking for food.
Striding out!
There were a few Northern Wheatears breeding on the island. I didn't get close to any so these are distant shots, heavily cropped. I've included them as they are such stunning looking birds!
We found a wide part of the path to just sit and watch the Puffins for a while.
One of the numerous rabbits breeding on the island. This one was a bit shy! (-:
Among the more normal rabbits were some completely black ones. This one wasn't so shy! (-:
The nearest we got to seeing a Manx Shearwater on this trip was as a carcass I'm afraid. They spend the day out at sea and come in to their burrows just as it's getting dark to try and avoid getting predated by the gulls. Some still get picked off though. Shame!
After spending 5 hours on the island, it was time to make our way back to the boat. While waiting for the boat to arrive, I managed to get some shots of a Razorbill which was perched on the cliff just below us.
The view looking from Skomer back to the mainland of south west Wales in the distance.
On the boat back there were a couple of photo opportunities as the crossing was a lot calmer! An agile Herring Gull which caught scraps in mid air thrown by the captain. It was too close to get properly full frame!
And finally some Northern Gannets which were diving for fish reasonably close to us.
There'll be more from South Wales in my next post.