Puffins on Skomer Island, late May 2025

Skomer Island, located off the southwestern coast of Wales in Pembrokeshire, has a rich and varied history. Archaeological evidence suggests human activity dating back to the Iron Age, with remnants of ancient field systems, stone walls, and hut circles still visible today. In later centuries, the island was used for farming, particularly during the medieval and post-medieval periods. By the mid-20th century, human habitation ceased, and Skomer was designated a nature reserve in 1959. It is now celebrated for its seabird colonies, especially puffins and Manx shearwaters, and is managed for conservation and scientific research, attracting visitors and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world.

We visited in late May and there an estimated 43,000 Puffins on the island.  Most chicks were not hatched but there was plenty of activity, with birds leaving and arriving back on the island.