Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/2014/10/20/puffins-skomer-island/ # Puffins of Skomer Island Published on October 20, 2014 [![Puffin Gathering Nesting Material Photographed On Skomer Island During A Natureslens Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-gathering-nesting-material-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-gathering-nesting-material-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) **Skomer Island** is celebrated for the puffins that reside there over the summer. No matter how much time is spent, something new always beckons & calls us back time & again. Skomer is a distinctive place to visit, a well-suited for wildlife, but it is most well known for its puffins. Situated just off the coast of **Pembrokeshire** this island, with its sister island Skokholm, is surrounded by some of the richest waters for wildlife off the British Isles. The seas are full of fantastic wildlife, from delightfully coloured sea slugs to fine cetaceans. The island itself attracts a huge array of wildlife which shelters in its bays & inlets. [![Puffin Gathering Nesting Material Photographed On Skomer Island During A Natureslens Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-gathering-nesting-material-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-gathering-nesting-material-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) The Puffin is the best known of the British auks, its colourful & slightly clown-like appearance making it immediately recognisable. The Puffin’s short wings are used for ‘flying’ underwater in search of fish; large wings would be a disadvantage but small wings make flying in air rather more difficult & the birds must beat their wings rapidly to stay aloft. The Puffin’s beak is only distinctively coloured in summer; the large red & grey scutes or horny plates together with the fleshy yellow rosette in the corner of the mouth are grown late winter for use in display. After the breeding season they are moulted, the winter bill is relatively small & constricted at the base, & blackish in colour as is the face. [![One Of Skomers Famous Puffins At The Wick Photographed On A Natureslens Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/one-of-skomers-famous-puffins-at-the-wick-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/one-of-skomers-famous-puffins-at-the-wick-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) [![Puffin Amongst The Ground Cover Of The Wick On Skomer Island Photographed On A Natureslens Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/puffin-amongst-the-ground-cover-of-the-wick-on-skomer-island-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/puffin-amongst-the-ground-cover-of-the-wick-on-skomer-island-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) [![Puffin On Skomer Stretches Its Wings Prior In The Soft Evening Light Photographed On A Natureslens Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/puffin-on-skomer-stretches-its-wings-prior-in-the-soft-evening-light-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/puffin-on-skomer-stretches-its-wings-prior-in-the-soft-evening-light-photographed-on-a-natureslens-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) [![Puffin Photographed On Skomer Island During A Natureslens Puffin Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffin-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-photographed-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffin-photography-holiday.jpg) [![Puffin Flies In From The Wick On Skomer Island During A Natureslens Puffin Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-flies-in-from-the-wick-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffin-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/puffin-flies-in-from-the-wick-on-skomer-island-during-a-natureslens-puffin-photography-holiday.jpg) Formerly much more common in southern Britain, there are now few Puffin colonies south of the Scottish border & those of Skokholm & Skomer are two of the most important. Here the colonies were once much larger, but the reduced populations of today seem to be more or less holding their own. An accurate census is difficult, but the best estimates indicate that there may be about 2,000 breeding pairs on Skokholm & 6,000 on Skomer. On Skomer, the largest concentrations are on the Isthmus between North & South Haven & at The Wick, but they occur in small numbers along much of the island’s cliff top. They return to their nesting sites in April, gradually building up in numbers as the egg laying season approaches. They nest underground in burrows, not only battling with each other for these, but also with Manx Shearwaters since both species use the same sort of burrows for nesting. Puffins prefer nest sites close to the cliff. [Puffins](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/puffins/) can be seen on Skomer from April until August, though in early April they may be on the island in large numbers on one day with none the next, until they settle mid-month. Mid-June to mid-July is the time to see really big numbers, as parents are busy toing & froing with food for their chicks. Numbers are also swelled then by birds too young to breed but are prospecting for the future. By the first week in August only a handful remain, & these are soon to depart, leaving the [Puffin](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/puffins/) colonies deserted again until the following spring. - NaturesLens wildlife photography holidays are structured around photographic opportunity — every schedule decision is made around light, behaviour, & access. - Small groups of 4–8 photographers ensure unhurried positions & individual guidance. - Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard across the majority of our trips. ## Share this post - - - - [![A Common Spadefoot Toad Photographed In Bulgaria During The Natureslens Reptiles Amphibians Of Bulgaria Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-common-spadefoot-toad-photographed-in-bulgaria-during-the-natureslens-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/07/reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria/) ### [30 images of the diminutive Reptiles & Amphibians of Bulgaria](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/07/reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria/) September 7, 2019 For 2019, Reptiles & Amphibians of Bulgaria was a brand new trip that covers the western side of Bulgaria heading… - [![Beautifully Reflected In The Waters Of Kerkini A Quartet Of The Pelicans Photographed By Tony Berry During One Of The 2019 Natureslens Dalmatian Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Photography Tours](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/beautifully-reflected-in-the-waters-of-kerkini-a-quartet-of-the-pelicans-photographed-by-tony-berry-during-one-of-the-2019-natureslens-dalmatian-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-photography-tours.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/03/23/mesmerizing-dalmatian-pelicans-of-kerkini/) ### [12 mesmerizing images of the Dalmatian Pelicans of Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/03/23/mesmerizing-dalmatian-pelicans-of-kerkini/) March 23, 2019 Earlier this year, Tony attended our Dalmatian Pelicans of Kerkini photography holiday. 2019 saw the return of snow & ice… - [![A Crouched Hoopoe Photographed During The Spanish Birdlife Of Toledo Photography Holiday 1](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-crouched-hoopoe-photographed-during-the-spanish-birdlife-of-toledo-photography-holiday-1.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/08/18/spanish-birdlife/) ### [12 images of the fabulous Spanish Birdlife & other Wildlife of El Taray](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/08/18/spanish-birdlife/) August 18, 2019 John's images of the Spanish birdlife & wildlife demonstrate that with the widespread of hides across the estate of El Taray,… Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. 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