Puffins - Skomer in May?

[John Kennett]

Do we have any puffin experts on here?

We want to go and see puffins next year and were thinking of a trip to Skomer in the last week of May (half term). Not planning on ribbing or sibbing, so need somewhere with a trip boat service.

Is this a good time? Is Skomer the best place, or would we be better off going north to somewhere like the Farne islands?

[Downhilldai]

Yes, John, the puffins arrive mid-late March and Skomer is where they make their home, so is the best place to see them around here.


There's a regular ferry service from Martin's Haven - around 10 mins crossing.

[tony t]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Do we have any puffin experts on here?

We want to go and see puffins next year and were thinking of a trip to Skomer in the last week of May (half term). Not planning on ribbing or sibbing, so need somewhere with a trip boat service.

Is this a good time? Is Skomer the best place, or would we be better off going north to somewhere like the Farne islands?

Puffin island Anglesey John ? Just don't ask me to take yea ... What with all them rocks and my reputation

[blue rondo]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Do we have any puffin experts on here?

We want to go and see puffins next year and were thinking of a trip to Skomer in the last week of May (half term). Not planning on ribbing or sibbing, so need somewhere with a trip boat service.

Is this a good time? Is Skomer the best place, or would we be better off going north to somewhere like the Farne islands?

John, you can also take a RIB trip from St Justinians near St Davids, they have a booking office near the cathedral. Good value tour with commentary by an expert. We had to laugh though when told that there is a whole flock of painted wooden puffins at the north of the island. Something to do with encouraging others to nest there.

[jambo]

John you've only posted this as your looking for another excuse to come up and see us again, admit it.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by tony t

Puffin island Anglesey John ? Just don't ask me to take yea ... What with all them rocks and my reputation

No puffins on there mate some genius from Bangor university introduced rats on there for an experiment not sure what for but you can guess the rest.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by kerny

No puffins on there mate some genius from Bangor university introduced rats on there for an experiment not sure what for but you can guess the rest.

Need to change the name then to Rodent Isle

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Do we have any puffin experts on here?

We want to go and see puffins next year and were thinking of a trip to Skomer in the last week of May (half term). Not planning on ribbing or sibbing, so need somewhere with a trip boat service.

Is this a good time? Is Skomer the best place, or would we be better off going north to somewhere like the Farne islands?

May would be a perfect time to visit, there's thousands around that time of year, you can land on the Island or take the 1hr round trip, both highly recomended, you could even stay over night, and experience the haunting sound of Manx Sheerwater as they return under the cover of darkness, either way you'll see loads of different seabirds on a visit to Skomer.

There used to be puffins on Ramsey untill rats took over, there all gone now apparently, and dummy Puffins are inplace to attract others, lol.

Here's a little vid I took on a visit to South haven Skomer this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=1zUCn-ZH6JI

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by jambo

John you've only posted this as your looking for another excuse to come up and see us again, admit it.

It's true, but it looks like the boss has decided on Skomer. Now, does anyone have a clever wheeze to avoid the need to queue up at dark o'clock in the morning to buy a ticket?

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

It's true, but it looks like the boss has decided on Skomer. Now, does anyone have a clever wheeze to avoid the need to queue up at dark o'clock in the morning to buy a ticket?

Yes, ask a local if you can borrow a rib for a day or 2.

[Dhf]

There be no early starts for you John, first boat 10am every half hr if busy, landing trips only though untill 12pm or 12.30 if really busy, and it gets very busy that time of year, I've landed upto 350 people a day during peak season when I was at the helm or crewing, so it's definatly worth arriving at Martins Haven around 9am for landing, or you could take the round trip at 13.00 but either way there's no booking neccesary you just pay onboard, max 50 passangers per trip. If I don't sell my boat I may reconsider hiring next year if I thought there'd be enough interest.
Here's a link for the passenger boat.

Skomer Boat Trips - Pembrokeshire Islands - Skomer, Stokholm, and Sheerwater Boat Trips

[John Kennett]

Reading various reviews it seems that when it's busy you need to arrive at 7.30/8.00 to get a place on the 10.00 boat!

I remembered that you were thinking of putting your boat out for charter, and I might be interested in hiring from you another visit, but for this time I just want the landing trip.

[Dhf]

If the weather is really nice then i've seen upto 100+ visitors queing when we arrived at 09.15, in which case we would do a 09.30 crossing every half hr till 12.30, wed and thursdays used to be the busiest with upto 150+ school and college studends usually not arriving till 10.30. If your staying in Pemb's then allow yourself enough time for the drive to Martins haven car park as the roads are very narrow in places. friend of mine runs a nice camp site just up the road from the car park, with a couple of caravans aswell but mainly for tents, with fantastic views over St Brides bay and N Skomer, the Dear park is a short stroll along the Coastal path overlooking Jack sound, Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm, where you can watch Puffins Razobills Guilimots Chuff Perigrine Gannets Seals and possibly Dolphins, or you could stroll down to the local village and enjoy some of Wales finnest Ales and food at The Lobster Pot, Marloes, you can get BB and camping facilities in the village aswell. I can get some booking info numbers if you like.

[John Kennett]

OK, so the queuing doesn't sound too bad - we'll just turn up as early as we can! We'll be staying near Newport, which is an hour or so away so it shouldn't be too bad.

May take a trip on the Venture Jet out of St Davids too while we're in the area

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

We'll be staying near Newport

Now thats my neck of the woods..... Similarly, drop me a line if you've any queries about the area /things to do etc