Home / Environment / Record Puffin Population Thrives on Skomer Island
Record Puffin Population Thrives on Skomer Island
22 Apr
Summary
- Skomer Island recorded 52,019 puffins, a new population record.
- This year's puffin count surpassed the previous record from 2025.
- Other seabirds like shearwaters, guillemots, and razorbills also inhabit the island.
Skomer Island has achieved a new milestone with a record 52,019 puffins recorded this spring, exceeding the previous high of 43,626 set in 2025. This remarkable increase brings a sense of relief after a challenging period for seabirds across southern Europe.
The annual seabird count, conducted by the WTSWW, meticulously tracks the island's avian residents. The method, consistent since the 1980s, allows for over four decades of population data comparison.
Beyond the thriving puffin numbers, Skomer Island supports a vast array of birdlife, including 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters, along with thousands of guillemots and razorbills. Efforts also extend to monitoring other species like kittiwakes, fulmars, and the endemic Skomer vole, alongside marine mammals and reptiles.
