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Nature & Wildlife Photography Holidays & Tours - All Financially Protected

Four Days with the Puffins of Skomer Island

Published on July 8, 2025

An Atlantic Puffin silhouetted by the sunset - photographed whilst spending four days with the Puffins of Skomer Island

Written by David Miles with images contributed by Ian Roberts.

A Photographer’s Paradise – Four Days with the Puffins of Skomer Island

Skomer Island, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, is one of Britain’s most spectacular wildlife havens. Renowned for its puffins, guillemots, razorbills, & other seabirds, it offers photographers unparalleled opportunities to observe & capture these charismatic creatures in their natural habitat. This trip report details a four-day visit in June 2025, which was led by Ian for NaturesLens, & was filled with golden sunrises, puffin antics, & the thrill of spotting elusive short-eared owls.

An Atlantic Puffin Holding A Beak Full Of Fish - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens An Atlantic Puffin Resting In It'S Burrow - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Day 1 – Arrival & First Encounters

After overnight rain, the skies cleared just in time for our rendezvous at Martin’s Haven. As we approached Skomer, rafts of puffins bobbed on the sea, while guillemots, razorbills, & more puffins wheeled overhead – a promising start.

An Atlantic Puffin Flying Over A Green Meadow - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

The crossing was smooth, & we arrived under a fine but cloudy sky with a fresh breeze. After settling into our accommodation & a briefing on the island’s wildlife, we set off on an orientation walk. This took us to prime viewing spots, inevitably ending at The Wick, Skomer’s most famous puffin colony.

An Atlantic Puffin In Flight Near A Series Of Rocky Cliffs - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

That evening, we returned for sunset photography, but thick clouds thwarted our hopes of golden light. Still, it was a valuable session for acclimatising to the puffins’ speed & agility – these little birds are astonishingly quick in flight!

An Atlantic Puffin Flying Near A Coastal Cliff At Sunset - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens An Atlantic Puffin Flying Over A Coastal Cliff Edge - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens An Atlantic Puffin Flying Over A Grassy Hillside - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Day 2 – Sunrise & the Hunt for Short-Eared Owls

A 4:15 am alarm greeted us with clear skies & the promise of a good sunrise at The Landing. However, mist over the Preseli Mountains & lingering cloud on the horizon led us to The Wick instead, where we captured stunning backlit & rim-lit puffins against the morning glow.

An Atlantic Puffin In Flight Over The Grassy Cliff Edge - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens An Atlantic Puffin Just Touching Down With Fish In It'S Beak - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

After breakfast, we ventured out again before day-trippers arrived. A short-eared owl was spotted hunting in North Valley, though frustratingly distant. The afternoon was quiet, with many birds seemingly taking a siesta – perhaps resting after the morning’s activities.

A Meadow Pipit Perched On Green Leafy Plant - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens A Stonechat Perched On Green Ferns - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

As evening approached, the clouds broke, gifting us perfect golden light at The Wick. Puffins preened, squabbled, & posed obligingly, their bright bills glowing in the warm hues of sunset.

Day 3 – Backlit Puffins & Elusive Owls

Another pre-dawn start, this time rewarded with a clear sky & misty horizon. At The Wick, the low sun created magical backlighting for 30 glorious minutes before it rose too high. The puffins were in fine form – flying in with sand-eels, clattering their bills, & shuffling in & out of burrows.

An Atlantic Puffin Beautifully Illuminated By The Evening Light - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Post-breakfast, we searched for the elusive short-eared owl east of the farm, catching just a fleeting glimpse. The afternoon was quiet, allowing time to observe puffins at close quarters as they tended to their burrows.

An Atlantic Puffin Spreading It'S Wings At Sunset - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens  An Atlantic Puffin Spreading Wings At Sunset - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens An Atlantic Puffin With Illuminated Wings At Sunset - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Our final evening brought us to the Garland Stone, where we captured striking silhouettes of seabirds against the sunset – until thick cloud swallowed the sun whole.

An Atlantic Puffin Silhouetted At Sunset On A Coastal Cliff - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Day 4 – Departure

After three intense days of photography, a well-earned lie-in was in order. A cloudy morning made for a relaxed pack-up before our 9:00 am boat back to the mainland – tired but exhilarated by the experience.

Species Photographed on This Trip

  • Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) – The stars of the show, seen flying, carrying fish, & interacting at burrows.
  • Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) – Wheeling over the cliffs & rafting on the sea.
  • Razorbill (Alca torda) – Often seen alongside guillemots, with their distinctive thick bills.
  • Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) – A brief but thrilling sighting as it hunted over North Valley.

A Razorbill Perched On A Coastal Rock - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

Reflections on this Skomer Adventure

What makes Skomer truly special is the accessibility of its wildlife. Few places, other than travelling to Grímsey Island – I am reliably told by Robin – allow such close encounters with puffins, their comical antics & vivid beaks providing endless photographic opportunities. Even the quieter moments, when the birds seemed to pause in the afternoon lull, offered a chance to observe their more subtle behaviours – preening, burrow-tending, & the occasional squabble over territory.

An Atlantic Puffin Flying Over The Ocean - Photographed By Ian Roberts Whilst Spending Four Days With The Puffins Of Skomer Island Guiding For Natureslens

For photographers, patience is key. The light shifts quickly, the birds move even faster, & the best sightings often come when least expected. But that’s the joy of Skomer – it rewards perseverance, & even on a cloudy morning, there’s always something extraordinary to witness.

If you’re planning a visit, embrace the early starts, pack for all weathers, & keep your camera ready. The island’s magic lies in its unpredictability, & every trip brings something new.