Puffins of Skomer Island
A Conservation Success
Wales and my love for Puffins
My passion for wildlife developed from a young age, and Wales played a big part in the process. We used to spend our summer holidays near Aberdaron on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. My parents had a kayak and my father regularly took one of us kids to the small Gull Islands. We fished for Mackerels and watched the Seals and Atlantic Puffins.Since then I have been passionate about wildlife, especially birds, and photographing Puffins has been a dream of mine ever since.
Skomer Island, Wales
After some research into where I could best observe Atlantic Puffins in Wales, I discovered Skomer Island and travelled there for the first time in July 2024. Of course I was fascinated by the Atlantic Puffins, but I was also overwhelmed by the island's great biodiversity with so many other species, such as the Manx Shearwaters, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, the Skomer Vole, Grey Seals, and many more.
It quickly became evident how crucial the conservation efforts of scientists, volunteers, and organizations are. In May 2025 a record number of puffins have been counted - more than 43 Thousand! A record high while the worldwide population is in decline.
The Seagull, the biggest enemy of puffins on Skomer
When a Puffin returns to the island with its catch, it often circles in the air to make sure the coast is clear, as seagulls are waiting to snatch the fish from them on the ground.
It is great fun to watch the birds. There is a lot of activity on the island, there is always something observe. Puffins are excellent swimmers and flyers, but on land, they move somewhat clumsily, and their landings can look a bit awkward—they often tumble over after touching ground.
Have you ever seen a puffling?
Puffling start coming out of the burrows more often beginning of July, you have to be lucky to be there in the right moment. They normally only come out for short moments.
