00:19it's peaceful here just beautiful we are on the south west coast of Wales in Pembrokeshire
00:25and this morning we're embarking on an adventure in the footsteps of David Attenborough a widely
00:30talked about docuseries Wild Isles it's 7 30 in the morning here and we're getting ready to hit
00:39right to Skoma Island I'm most excited about seeing one of the UK's most iconic birds Puffins
00:48I'm here with a photographer who also happens to be my boyfriend Archie and we are going to attempt
00:53the perfect Puffin picture
01:02to get to Skoma the only way on is by a ferry which is in fact a little boat the
01:07most popular
01:08variation of the trip takes you for a return day trip to Skoma where you have five hours to enjoy
01:13the island there's accommodation at the farm in the center of the island which can be booked for stays
01:20of two or three nights as soon as the boat gets closer to the decking points we start to see
01:27masses of birds everywhere around us we didn't have to wait long to spot a unique colorful beak
01:33we are finally here on the Skoma Island the birds are everywhere I've already seen quite a few Puffins
01:42it's late in May so the island is carpeted with blue balls it's magnificent the search for the
01:51perfect Puffin picture began we've got five hours on the island which looking at the map might seem like
01:58almost too much time in reality if you like us stop to take a picture anytime you see a Puffin
02:04you will
02:04soon realize you are in trouble let's talk a bit more about the reason we're here Puffins Puffins
02:13are seabirds that spend most of their lives at sea only to return to the land during the breeding
02:18season Skoma Island provide the perfect nesting habitat for them they excavate barrels or find suitable
02:25crevices in the cliffs to lay their eggs the Puffin is a prevalent seabird in northern Europe while the
02:33largest breeding populations are found in Iceland and Norway the British Isles are home to around 10
02:38percent of the world's Puffin population unfortunately these beautiful birds are currently on the red list
02:45of UK bears of conservation concern a study from the British Trust of Orenthology published in 2021
02:52indicated that the UK's Puffin population could plunge by as much as 90 percent by 2050 because of
02:59changes in the marine environment caused by global warming Skoma hold the utmost significance as a
03:07seabird sanctuary in southern Britain with maritime grassland vibrant inland vegetation streams and even
03:14man-made ponds interesting fact Skoma Island harbors the most extensive colony of monks shewater globally
03:25however most visitors visiting the island don't see one do you know why the birds only come out at
03:33night if you would like to see the island's most noisy resident please book an overnight stay and don't
03:40forget your e-plugs before we know it the time is up and we need to run to get the
03:48ferry back to the
03:49mainland as we found out on our ferry ride back every penny helps in keeping the Puffin population happy
03:56and healthy thanks to the incredible community of volunteers in Skoma Island as well as help from
04:02the sale of ferry tickets and donations the real threat to Puffins of Skoma Island can be kept at bay
04:07rats rats rats can swim and they can swim well if they reach an island they prey on precious Puffin
04:14eggs
04:16thankfully so far the joint efforts have paid off as we've heard the Puffins are happier and healthier
04:22than ever before we can only hope it continues let's take a look at our favorite pictures out of
04:31the hundreds that we have taken on the day so exciting to think we have been on the very island
04:48David Attenborough
04:49praised in his Wild Isle series who knows maybe we have traveled the same ferry and walk the same narrow
04:56Puffin
04:56filled Puffins
Comments