Belated post about Skomer Volenteering

A belated post about Skomer.

I was very lucky to have been able to volunteer on the island for the past week (26^th April – 4 May). An amazing experience to have had. Many thanks to the Skomer team and the volunteers who all made it a fantastic time on the island.

There are so many highlights. Note all images shown were taken in my own time before or after the daily responsibilities of volunteering on the island.

I was lucky to see the Golden Oriole that Ceris found on the island. My first very brief glimpse was a thrush like bird with bobbing flight motion heading into a willow bush. I did however get a second chance two days later when I saw it at long distence on top of a bramble bush.

Golden Oriole

 

Was nice to see a few Spotted Flycatchers during the week, often given away when they darted out trying to catch food. 

Spotted Flycatcher

 

One evening I saw a bird of prey very briefly hunting at Garland stone. Though not a good image, it did show it to be a female Merlin.

 

 

The puffins are always a draw however the Ravens stole the show, literally, as they raided the cliffs for the Razorbill and Guillemot eggs. A bird I always enjoy watching due to how clever they are. One even showed its ability to cash an egg hiding it 2-3 times before collecting it to take back to its chicks somewhere further along the coastline.

Raven with Razorbill egg

 

It is not often you get the chance to capture an image that shows how impressive (size wise) the Great Black Back Gulls are.  This was when a passing buzzard got mobbed by the nearby gulls. 

Great Black Back Gull chasing the Buzzard off

 

While having a quiet few moments at bottom of the steps, I did have a pair of Razorbills climb out onto the steps only a metre or two away from me. The image shows the reason!! Amy (Long Term Volunteer) allowed me to shadow her for a couple of her razorbill counts, I had to leave early for shift but it was special to help her locate one of the hundreds of eggs she will have to locate and then monitor the locations of till the chicks fledge.

Razorbills giving me an encounter I was not expecting!

 

The ultimate highlight whenever I go to the island is the Short Eared Owls. There are several birds there this year and it was a real joy to join Ceris and the team to try and do a Curlew and Short Eared Owl watch one evening to help try and work out territories. My evening was ultimately ended up watching the curlew that were not reading the script!!

Short Eared Owl