Skellig Islands

The remote Skellig Islands stand 12km southwest of Valentia. Skellig Michael, also known as Great Skellig, is much larger than its neighbour Small Skellig, covering a total area of 44 acres.

Skellig Michael is a world renowned archaeological site. The pinnacle of this inhospitable rock-mass is the site of an early Christian monastery, accessed by a 1,000 year old stairway. Monks settled here during the 6^th century to lead a more contemplative life, and remained on the island until the 12^th century. Today, the Skellig Michael is a protected World Heritage Site.

Gannet
Copyright Environment Protection Agency

The Small Skellig is also famous, but for its ornithological value rather than as a heritage site. Thousands of seabirds inhabit the island as the high cliffs make ideal nesting and breeding areas. The Small Skellig boasts the second largest colony of Gannets in the world, providing shelter to over 27,000 pairs of these seabirds. Some of the other species that inhabit the island include Puffins, Storm Petrels, and Manx shearwaters.

Gallery

Puffin

The puffin also called "sea parrot" lives in the Arctic waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Copyright Mike Brown

Puffin - Copyright Mike Brown

Storm Petrel

The European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a small bird, little bigger than a sparrow. It appears all black with a white rump. It flies very close to the water surface, and often feeds in flocks behind trawlers. Petrels breed along the rocky west coast of Ireland in offshore islands from May to September. It winters at sea. It eats fish plankton and crustaceans. It is thought that 67- 75% of the worlds storm petrels breed in the UK and Ireland. They are nocturnal birds, never venturing too far from their nests to feed. This bird is protected under the EU Birds Directive, which means that its is of high conservation importance in EU terms. One of the largest storm petrel colonies in the world is on Inishtooskert comprising of approximately 27,155 nests. It is on the amber list of birds in need of conservation for Ireland.

Storm Petrel -

Manx Shearwater

The Manx Sheerwater (Puffinus puffinus) has dark plumage on its back and head with a pale coloured underside. It has distinctive orange legs and webbed feet. On the wing it has a distinctive flight pattern, flying in a series of rapid flaps followed by long glides over the surface of the sea. An estimated 94% of the worlds Manx Sheerwater population breeds along the Irish and British coast. Like the Storm petrel, the Sheerwater is a nocturnal bird, staying close to the colony when feeding. The majority of Manx and Storm petrels have their colonies in Kerry, The Blaskets, Skelligs and Puffin Island. They feed on fish, in particular herrings, sardines and sprats.

Manx Shearwater -