Skomer Island

Drove down the coast for a Skomer Island excursion.  The roads once again a challenge, but we arrived in due course and got our tickets for the 10 am boat.  

The island is a National Nature Reserve and is one of the most important and accessible seabird breeding sites in Europe.  We actually met a Welsh professor at the dock whose name was Nigel and who gave us great information, especially on the wild flowers growing on the island.  I forgot to get his picture.  The island is basically a windswept rock, but man ages to sustain the breeding birds and other wildlife such as rabbits.  Once we climbed from the boat and up a set of steep stairs and a hill path, we reached the plateau.  Fairly flat, but a few challenging hills and at least 30 mile an hour winds on the cliffs.  There is a path of about 4 miles around the island and two criss crossing it.  The rest is burrows for the birds.

All visitors must stay on the paths to keep from disturbing the nests and burrows which are very fragile.  The wild flowers were beautiful, especially the Bluebells.  Nigel told us bluebells in Welsh means "Welcome to the Summer" .  He said another name is "Boots of the Cuckoo" although he had no idea where that originated.  He was quite a happy fellow.  As I was laboring up a hill huffing and puffing, I heard somebody behind me whistling a merry tune.  I turned to see it was Nigel and he was barely breathing hard and had breath to whistle.  Geez.  I got a few pictures of the birds particulary the "Puffins",

a little "Jackdaw" which came quite close while we were waiting for out return boat. You can see him between us.

and up close 

and I even saw a Canadian Goose. There were also kestrels, kittiwakes, short eared owls peregrines and too many others to name.  Besides the puffins, my favorite part was the magnificent coastline of the island and the fields of bluebells.  One little elderly gentleman with a walking stick said he visited the island 25 years ago and sa the Bluebells.  

He made this return trip just to see the bluebells, and this is why. 

Terry and Ginger walking the path between to large fields of bluebells

and then the coastline.  

Just before our return the wind got colder and we thought we would freeze before the boat came.  Off the boat and our last hill of the day.  We walked 13,850 steps today and 6,500 were aerobic steps. What with the ups and downs and gale force winds, we got plenty of exercise.

But another grand day.  Now where is that pub?  We need fortification.