Second time lucky – Part 2
Second time lucky – Part 2
The escorted trip to Skomer was confirmed but unfortunately Mrs One couldn’t make it. As it was my brothers 70th birthday on the Friday I took him and OH out to lunch so consequently left home (running solo) about 6pm. Due to the road closures, British grand prix etc., my route took me via Cambridge, Bedford, Milton Keynes and over the Cotswold's before picking up the A40, arriving at the Upper Bushford CL just gone 2am.
As I was up early I decided to make the most of my time, so packed lunch made, car fuelled up and by 8am I’m on the way to Clywedog Reservoir in mid Wales. It’s a long drive but worth it for me as the wildlife is abundant in the area. Main reason was to check on Ospreys. Although the Ospreys were showing well in their nest I didn’t observe any of them fishing. In fact the west end of the reservoir was just about dried up, this is the area where I’ve seen the Osprey fishing in previous years. Other birds spotted were Meadow Pipits, Grey Wagtails, Dippers etc.
After a couple of hours I decided to call in at Gigrin Farm, Rhayder Red kite feeding station. Arriving at 2 pm ready for the 3 pm feeding time (summer) gave me time for a cooling drink and the build up to the feeding frenzy. If you haven’t seen this spectacle of wildlife it is certainly an astonishing sight. Amongst the 300 hundred or so Red Kites were a Buzzard (sat on the ground) and a fairly rare Leucistic (white) Red Kite. Arrived back at CL about 6pm. Cool beer outside waiting for dinner to cook.
Even though I had confirmation that my trip to Skomer was definitely on the weather forecast showed that the wind would pick up from the North during Sunday evening so I decided to book a boat on Sunday. Arriving at the National Trust car park, (we are members so didn’t have to pay). Heading down to the booking office by just gone 7 am there was already a queue of people hoping to get a place on a boat. The office opened at 8.30am and I was fortunate to get a seat on the first boat 10am) Most people after getting their seat disappeared to Marloes to the café for breakfast.
The Dale Princess runs from Martin's Haven between Good Friday or 1st April (whichever is earlier) and 30th September. It runs Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays and leaves from Martin's Haven at 10am, 11am and 12 noon and has return sailings from 3pm onward's. Sailings may be disrupted by the weather - check by calling Lockley Lodge, an information point and gift shop run by the Wildlife Trust, or Dale Sailing. Parking is available in a National Trust car park at Martin's Haven.
http://www.pembrokeshire-islands.co.uk/boat-trips/land-on-skomer/
If you have mobility problems it may be best to ring the folk at Lockley Lodge. I do know that wheelchairs and mobility scooters are a no go. There are no shops and very little shade on the island so you have to carry food and drink and wear plenty of sunscreen.
In the main people come to Skomer to see Puffins and the best place to see them is at The Wick, here you can be very close to them. The Wardens will keep you right, there is a briefing when you arrive and wardens in different parts of the island. There are just over 30,00 puffins on the island and it is thought they will produce 11000 piffling’s, a 22% increase on last year.
I had a lovely day taking lots of Puffin photo’s. Lots of other wildlife around as well. Left the Island at 3pm tired, hot but very satisfied.
Monday arrived and after filling up the car, made my packed lunch I arrived at Lockley Lodge to meet up with David our guide and the other visitors. Apart from a couple of bank holidays the island is usually closed to the public on Mondays so we were really fortunate that 12 off us had the privilege of this visit. David was very knowledgeable about the island and its environs so made the visit very interesting. Due to the wind increasing we had to leave the island an hour earlier than planned.
Back at the van I had a couple of hours sleep, mad dinner, then cleared up in preparation for leaving. Left the CL at about 1830hrs and returned home via, A40, M4, M25 and M11 arriving at daughters to leave the van at about 2am Tuesday morning.
Photo 1 - Boat departure point, Martin's Haven
Photo 2- Meadow Pipit
Photo 3 - Puffin
Photo 4 - Puffin
Photo 5 - Leucistic Red kite
