The next location for our trip was Skomer Island. We packed up from Marloes Sands and headed over to the harbor for a short boat trip to the island. While waiting for the boat to arrive, I made this image of Susan.
Susan At Skomer Island
During the 15-minute boat trip, I made this image of Susan and Angela as the boat was being bounced around by a large swell.
Susan And Angela On Boat Trip
After arrival at the island, we were given an introduction to the island before finding our rooms. Skomer Island is a bird sanctuary and a bird research facility that is some 700 acres in size. During the summer months, the island is home to many thousand birds. There is also a large year round population of several hundred rabbits. Soon after arrival, we took a short hike to the northern side of the island, where I made the following image of flowering heather.
Heather On Skomer Island
This is the lodge where we stayed. Solar collectors are installed on the roof, to provide energy that powers all electrical equipment in the buildings.
Lodge On Skomer Island
We were on the island for “Shearwater Week”! The island serves as a breeding ground for over 100,000 breeding pairs of Manx Shearwater birds. Eggs are laid in underground burrows. After the chicks hatch, parents fly several hundred miles to feeding grounds out at sea to gather food that is fed to chicks every second night. During the day, we got to see some chicks. Later that evening, we attended a presentation by some of the staff that were conducting research into Sheawater birds. During the night, adult birds returned to the burrows to feed the chicks. We got to see a few of the adult birds and heard hundreds of birds calling out in the night.