Puffin Island from Beaumaris

 We set forth from Beaumaris harbour with Seacoast Safaris, on a catamaran. Just under £10 each for two adults (the P&J was probably still in bed). We had a running comentary on the coastline we were passing- the place where seaplanes used in WW2 were housed, Penmon priory and the lighthouse.

There was an abundance of wildlife at sea, and not just your bog-standard gulls- shearwaters, gannets, cormorants and shags- but, unfortunately, no puffins- the last one left last week, their breeding season now over.
 Once upon a time, we were told, puffins were numerous on the island, making their nests in old rabbit holes (the rabbits having been introduced by a religious community that once occupied the island). Things changed one fateful night, with the paddle steamer, The Rothsay Castle in 1831. It got into serious difficulty, sinking with most of the passengers.
 Among the survivors were rats that made their way to Puffin Island, and prospered at the expense of the local wild life.

The rats have now been eradicated and the puffins are making a come back, arriving in the summer to breed. Currently they nest in crevices, but there are plans to re-introduce rabbits to the island, which beside providing burrows for the puffins, should keep the vegetation in check.
 Other wild life on and around the island- and the ones we all hoped to see- are gray seals. Puffin Island now has its own colony, and they kindly deigned to make an appearance for us.

   Then a quick chug back to Beaumaris for the next part of the day's outing- a visit to Penmon Priory and its local lighthouse.

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