birdwatch ireland reserves...skellig michael,is well known and the skelligs are protected by a...

BirdWatch Ireland’s Little Skellig NatureReserve is located some eleven kilometresout in the vast Atlantic Ocean off thesouthwest tip of County Kerry. It has been aniconic BirdWatch Ireland nature reserve sinceits establishment in 1969. The jaggedpinnacles of rock rising out of the sea up to134 metres in height make for an impressivesight. Despite its isolated position, thesepinnacles can be seen from the mainland onclear days, alongside its larger partner, SkelligMichael, famous for its monastic settlers fromaround the 6th century onwards, situatedsome one kilometre further out to sea.

Exploring the reserveTo appreciate the Skelligs requires setting outto sea, and it is well worthwhile – thesecathedrals of rocks, home to a vast array ofseabirds, will leave a lasting impression on thememory. But unlike Skellig Michael, there areno landing facilities on Little Skellig andtherefore the awe-inspiring spectacle ofthousands of Gannets crammed onto cliffledges has to be admired from onboard aboat. This offers a wonderful opportunity tosee these majestic seabirds at close quarters.The island supports a massive colony of

some 35,000 pairs of Gannets, the largestbreeding colony in Ireland and among thelargest in the world. There are also smallernumbers of Guillemots, Puffins andKittiwakes present but these often provedifficult to see or hear among the swirlingthrong and deafening noise of the Gannets.Puffins are much easier to see on SkelligMichael where they are often referred to asthe friendliest in the world! Grey Seals oftenhaul themselves out and can be seen on thelower ledges.This impressive ‘seabird city’ only happens

for a few months every summer, when birdsoccupy every available nesting site, from thecliff base to the summit. This is sought-after,high-rise accommodation with a scenic viewand with space at a premium. By midsummer,there can be at least 100,000 Gannets on therock as most pairs will have at least one chickand there will usually be a queue of non-breeding birds waiting their turn to nest!Although the seabirds return to these

islands to breed, they are all highly dependenton the surrounding seas and are thereforepart of the marine ecosystem, and their fateis closely linked to it.

Work we are doing associatedwith Little SkelligThe importance of this island, together withSkellig Michael, is well known and the Skelligsare protected by a Special Protection Area,designated under the European Union BirdsDirective. These islands also form one ofIreland’s Important Bird Areas, as identifiedby BirdWatch Ireland. By monitoring thesuccess of this seabird colony, we aremeasuring the health of the surroundingmarine environment. This reserve and yoursupport are vital in helping us to:

• Protect one of Ireland’s most importantbreeding seabird colonies

• Promote the reserve as a place to learnabout seabirds

• Provide an environment in which to learn

• Encourage amateurs and experts alike toundertake environmental studies.

Visitor informationMany licensed boat operators do daily toursthrough the summer months from Valentia,Portmagee and Ballinskelligs, leaving in themorning and returning in the afternoon. Theseboat trips will circumnavigate the island enroute to or from Skellig Michael.

Don’t miss.....• The sounds, smells, hustle and bustle of amajor ‘seabird city’

• The spectacle of thousands of Gannetsswirling overhead.

•Other seabirds, including Puffins, Kittiwakes,Fulmars and Manx Shearwaters.

• Possible sightings of Grey Seals, BaskingSharks, dolphins, porpoises and whales.

DICK COOMBES

We hope you enjoy your visit!

SkelligMichael

LittleSkellig

Waterville

Portmagee

Valentia

Ballinskelligs

Dave Suddaby describes the attractions of Little Skellig off the coast of Kerry

County Kerry: Little Skellig Nature Reserve

BirdWatch Ireland ReservesGannet. Photograph: Shay Connolly

Visitors are asked to respect the wildlife and habitats of the Skelligs

Little Skellig

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