News

Puffins on Skomer and Skokholm on the earliest date since records began

Published

7 years ago

March 20, 2019

IN THE LAST few days over 7,500 Puffins have arrived at Skokholm and over 5,000 on Skomer, the highest number in March since the 1950’s.

It is the earliest landing date for the birds since records began 90 years ago.

The Puffins were joined by other arrivals, including thousands of alcids.

The Skokholm Island Facebook page said: “The Puffins came in with a bang yesterday, so we walked the whole coastline and counted them.

“A mighty 7447 were rafting just below the cliffs; an amazing count and the highest March count ever!

“They also made first landfall-the earliest date they’ve dared to brave our shores in 90 years of recording.”

With Skomer island also confirming the early arrival of the birds on their Facebook page.

A spokesperson for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) who manages the islands have confirmed that at last count yesterday (Tuesday, 19 March) there were “Over 7,500 at Skokholm and over 5,000 at Skomer”.

“This is the earliest they have landed in 90 years. In peak season we expect around 8,000 at a time so these numbers are proving very exciting for this years arrivals. The highest figures we’ve had over the islands is 30,000.”

Skokholm Island also said that it was the highest March count of the seabirds since the 1950s.

Did you know?

Puffin originally meant “fatling.” The name was used to describe the chubby chicks of the Manx Shearwater, with which puffin chicks were confused since they nest on some of the same islands in Europe that the puffins do. In the last half of the 1800’s the puffin was given the scientific name of Fratercula arctica, which means “little brother of the north” in Latin. Little brother may also be interpreted as ‘little friar’ an allusion to the puffin’s black and white plumage which is reminiscent of a friar’s robes. A second connotation of little friar may be drawn from the puffin’s sometime habit of holding it’s feet together when taking off, suggestive of hands clasped together in prayer. Regardless of the scientific name, local names still abound. These include such colorful names as “clown of the ocean” and “sea parrot.” People used to claim that a puffin was actually a cross between a bird and a fish because of its superb ability to swim underwater. This allowed some people to eat puffin meat on lent and Fridays to avoid the prohibition of meat by the Catholic Church on these days.

The scientific name for Puffin is Fratercula – is derived from Latin and means “little brother”, a reference to the black and white plumage, which resembles monastic robes.

News

New First Minister forced into Premier Inn after forgetting flat keys

Published

46 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES’ new First Minister had to book himself into a Premier Inn after forgetting the keys to his Cardiff flat on the night of Plaid Cymru’s historic election victory.

Rhun ap Iorwerth was travelling from an election count in north Wales to Cardiff last Friday when he realised the keys were still at his main home on Anglesey, around 200 miles from the capital.

Fresh from declaring a “new dawn” for Wales, the Plaid Cymru leader found himself unable to get into his Cardiff base late at night and instead checked into the budget hotel chain.

The mishap led to an unexpected family moment the following morning, after his father, Edward Morus Jones, brought the keys down from north Wales.

Mr Jones, a former teacher and Welsh language campaigner, was later pictured embracing his son on the steps of the Senedd as Plaid supporters gathered to celebrate the result.

Speaking to ITV after his son was elected First Minister on Tuesday, Mr Jones said he was “extremely proud and very glad to be alive” to witness the moment.

Last week’s election saw Plaid Cymru win 43 seats, with Reform UK second on 34 and Labour reduced to nine in the expanded 96-member Senedd.

Unlike the UK Prime Minister, who has Downing Street, or Scotland’s First Minister, who has Bute House in Edinburgh, there is no official residence for the First Minister of Wales.

Ap Iorwerth lives on Anglesey with his wife, Llinos, and their three grown-up children, but like many Senedd politicians also keeps accommodation in Cardiff for parliamentary work.

Farming

Pembrokeshire new potato harvest begins as first crop hits shops

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Locally grown early potatoes arrive in stores as farmers begin lifting the first Pembrokeshire crop of 2026

PEMBROKESHIRE’S famous new potato season has officially begun, with the first crop of locally grown potatoes being harvested and delivered to shops across the county.

Farmers at Norton Farm began lifting the first Pembrokeshire new potatoes of the year this week, with the freshly harvested crop expected to reach local stores by Friday morning.

The arrival of Pembrokeshire new potatoes marks the unofficial start of the county’s summer growing season and is eagerly anticipated by shoppers keen to enjoy one of Wales’ best-loved seasonal foods.

Photographs shared by the farm show workers hand-picking potatoes from freshly turned soil as machinery lifted the crop from fields overlooking the Pembrokeshire countryside.

The potatoes, prized for their distinctive flavour and soft skins, benefit from the county’s mild climate and coastal growing conditions.

Brian Llewelyn a’i Ferched shared the news on social media, telling customers: “Arriving with us this afternoon!!!!” as excitement builds around the first deliveries.

Locally grown Pembrokeshire new potatoes are expected to be available in selected shops from around 10:00am on Friday.

For many in Pembrokeshire, the arrival of the first new potatoes is a sign that summer is just around the corner — and that it is finally time to get the butter on.