Pembrokeshire and a Night on Skomer

Another catch up post...
Over the Bank Holiday Weekend we headed down to Pembrokeshire and stayed a few nights before heading onto Skomer to spend the night, so I will start with our days out first. Day 1 we decided to do the circular walk at Stackpole along the coastal path to Bosherston and then inland around the lakes back to the car.
There were plenty of Pipits about:

with both Rock and Meadow, Wheatear and Stonechat on the meadows at the cliff tops. Fulmar were seen patrolling the cliffs as they do, along with Lesser & Great Black Backed Gull and Herring Gull of course. But very few photo opportunities until this Heron posed on the lakes down near Bosherston:

We met Jo & Jimmy at Bosherton before heading back, with just this Buzzard giving one last chance to use the camera:

Next day we went for another coastal walk, this time from Marloe Marshes to Martin Haven and back stopping at the hide at the Marshes on the way back to avoid the rain!
Of note were Wheatears,

 These Swallows surely ready to fledge,

 A Dunnock posed

 and this Kestrel put on a little show

So next day up early and off to Skomer taking all our food and bedding with us. As we boarded the boat the heavens opened and by the time we had crossed, unloaded our stuff, loaded the departing groups stuff, climbed the 85 steps, then trekked to the accommodation we were soaked, despite our waterproofs! After settling in we decide to brave the rain and head out to the hide in the centre of the island, not much to see as the rain was relentless and the wind had got up so it was just sweeping in in sheets, not great for viewing birds or photography, but here are a couple from the hide:

We gave up and headed back to the digs and decided to have a relax until the weather cleared, which it eventually did and lo and behold the sun came out, so off we set for a walk......
The rabbits were now out soaking up the sun whilst it lasted:

Now you may (or may not!) be thinking why go to Skomer and spend a night in late August when all the breeding seabirds have long gone, well was it for the Oystercatchers?

or the Rock Pipits?

or the Whitethroats?

or the Stonechats?

or even the superb Choughs?

or even Porpoises?

No it was what we got up to at night!! Let me explain.......
Skomer holds the largest population of Manx Shearwaters in the world, approximately 600,000, but being poorly designed for a life on land the adults spend all day out at sea and only come back in the dark, to feed their young, when they are safe from the predatory Gulls. The chicks are safe in their burrows so again no sign during the day. So after dinner and in the dark (and rain again!) we set off to meet up with the wardens and researchers. We had a couple of great talks by two PhD students, who are researching the Shearwaters after which we went out, (thankfully the rain had stopped) with our torches covered in red tape so as not to alarm the birds. As regards photography it was pitch black, but we were allowed one flash photograph between us per bird that we found, so here are a couple of mine:

I have to add whilst walking around we have never seen so many toads in one place on our lives, they didn't mind having a photo taken!

Next morning it was up early for the boat back, this is a shot from the boat as we left with the next group making their way up from the jetty:

Finally this part of Pembrokeshire isn't just about the wildlife, the scenery is spectacular too:

Ramsey Island in May

The final post for our quick trip to Wales. As we were so close to Ramsey and being RSPB members it would have been rude not to visit. We were able to book this one in advance which you can't do for the day trips to Skomer, so there was no queuing, although we did underestimate how long it would take us to pick up the tickets (from St Davids) and then get to the St Davids RNLI Boat Station where the RSPB boat went from, but we made it in plenty of time.

The 10 minute crossing was very smooth with a mid point stop for a Porpoise:

We the carried on to Ramsey for another wonderful round island walk in beautiful weather.

The highlight this time apart from the magnificent scenery were the Chough, we had plenty of sightings through out the day, but very difficult to catch on camera. One Gannet did come fairly close though:

There were plenty of Skylarks about:

and Seals could be seen all around the coast of the island:

Wheatear were abundant:

As well as Stonechat:

The Seabirds were more difficult to see on Ramsey than Skomer and despite being only a few miles apart there are no Puffins on Ramsey due to a previous rat infestation, that has now been sorted, so the RSPB are putting out Puffin models to try and tempt them back.

A couple of the great views:

And for all the snaps:
Ramsey Island May 2014