Great Skellig Nature Reserve, Sceilg Mhichil, Kerry

  • Author: ActiveME
  • Created: August 28, 2012 11:32 am
  • Updated: December 12, 2017 11:02 am
Categories:
Location: Kerry
  • Distance Instructions
Label
  • Distance 3 km
  • Time 0 s
  • Speed 0.0 km/h
  • Min altitude 0 m
  • Peak 36 m
  • Climb 86 m
  • Descent 86 m
The Skellig Islands (Irish: Na Scealaga) are two small, steep, and rocky islands lying about 13 km west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. They are famous for their thriving gannet and puffin populations, and for an early Christian monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Great Skellig Nature Reserve doubles up as a World Heritage Site. It is rated as of international importance for certain seabird species - Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and Puffins. It also provides a good example of typical plant communities of a small and remote marine island.
Among the breeding birds are European Storm-Petrels, Northern Gannets, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Guillemots, Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins (with 4,000 or more puffins on Great Skellig alone). Smaller numbers of Choughs and Peregrine Falcons can also be seen.

The surrounding waters teem with life also. Grey Seals are common, and Basking Sharks, Minke Whales, Dolphins, Beaked Whale, and Leatherback Turtles have also been recorded. The islands have many interesting recreational diving sites due to the clear water, an abundance of life, and underwater cliffs down to 60 meters (200 feet).

Boat trips can be booked from various operators in Valentia Island, Portmagee, Ballinskelligs and Waterville but a trip is very weather dependant due the Atlantic seas

Species:
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) [A009]
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) [A013]
Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) [A014]
Gannet (Morus bassanus) [A016]
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) [A188]
Guillemot (Uria aalge) [A199]
Puffin (Fratercula arctica) [A204]

Gallery

The Skellig Islands (Irish: Na Scealaga) are two small, steep, and rocky islands lying about 13 km west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. They are famous for their thriving gannet and puffin populations, and for an early Christian monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Great Skellig Nature Reserve doubles up as a World Heritage Site. It is rated as of international importance for certain seabird species – Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and Puffins. It also provides a good example of typical plant communities of a small and remote marine island.
Among the breeding birds are European Storm-Petrels, Northern Gannets, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Guillemots, Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins (with 4,000 or more puffins on Great Skellig alone). Smaller numbers of Choughs and Peregrine Falcons can also be seen.

The surrounding waters teem with life also. Grey Seals are common, and Basking Sharks, Minke Whales, Dolphins, Beaked Whale, and Leatherback Turtles have also been recorded. The islands have many interesting recreational diving sites due to the clear water, an abundance of life, and underwater cliffs down to 60 meters (200 feet).

Boat trips can be booked from various operators in Valentia Island, Portmagee, Ballinskelligs and Waterville but a trip is very weather dependant due the Atlantic seas

Species:
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) [A009]
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) [A013]
Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) [A014]
Gannet (Morus bassanus) [A016]
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) [A188]
Guillemot (Uria aalge) [A199]
Puffin (Fratercula arctica) [A204]

Gallery

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