Back on Skomer again

 

It was good to be back on Skomer Island again yesterday, the thick morning mist eventually breaking into a lovely day.

There are record numbers of Puffin on the island this year, coming in for the breeding season before leaving again around August. They are along the edges of most of the island, but the main concentration of them being at `The Wick`, where thousands of seabirds breed.

It was good to hear that Skomer also has record numbers of Short Eared Owl, my main "target" for photography for the day. According to the warden, there are a staggering 22 birds (11 pairs) on the island.

I didn`t see them - well apart from one very faint glimpse for a few second at long distance. That was it. To say that I was disappointed with not catching the owls was an understatement. Never mind.

Back at The Wick the Puffin were on form, and although not yet the maximum sand eel time, there was plenty going on.

I`m back there in July, so hope the Short Eared Owls will still be around.

Visit to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales

 

It was good to visit the National Botanic Gardens again after a gap of a couple of years. Two visits in one week actually, thanks the the generous free readmission within a week policy they have. It`s a wonderful place to drift around this time of year, and going before the schools broke up was a bonus.

The collection of plants and flowers, etc are substantial, and the glass house gives you opportunity to wander around and around out of any Welsh weather (which was chilly, blustery and drizzly on the time I went back).

The landscaped estate, with lakes and excellent paths, is quite stunning, and I had the feeling there was so much more i`ve still yet to see.

It was good to do something a bit different, challenging myself to stick to one lens, my Canon 55-250mm, but I did take a couple of extension tubes which I haven`t used for a number of years. I did this rather than take a separate macro just to challenge myself again, and working totally manual like I normally do.

I ended up taking lots of images this year, but unfortunately my plan of taking a lot of bee shots on the second day was somewhat scuppered by the frustrating strong wind, blowing flowers all over the place (there are surprisingly few insects at all in the glasshouse). But as the Centre is less than 15 miles from home, i`ll be back for more fairly soon before the summer holiday chaos starts! 

A great couple of days though.

Skomer coming soon

 

Having spent quite some time on and off (when i`ve had the time of course) monitoring the Kingfisher at WWT Llanelli, it will be good to set foot on Skomer Island again soon to see Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, and (hopefully) Short eared owls. You never know until the day what you might come across, what the weather will be like, or indeed whether you can actually sail!

Skomer is always a magical place, carpeted in bluebells and pink campion in the spring, and only the sounds of nature around you. Some parts of the island are incredibly quiet, other parts - like The Wick - a cacophony of noise from the thousands of seabirds.

I`m still waiting to bag a SEO flying in just the right light and right angle above the millions of bluebells in North Valley!  You never know, this could be the year? although i`ve said that every year! 

There are meant to be up to five breeding pair this year, so at least there is a chance. 

Fingers crossed, yet again.😶