Birds & Wildlife
The Skellig Islands are one of Ireland’s most important places for seabirds, with tens of thousands of birds nesting there every summer. There are Atlantic puffins, northern gannets and plenty of other species, and people come from all over the world to see and photograph them.
Our boat tour takes you to within metres of the birds. There are no age restrictions and our guides know the wildlife well, so it’s a good trip for the whole family.
Nesting seabirds
Every spring, thousands of seabirds come back to breed on the rocks and ledges of the Skelligs. The islands are remote and there are no ground predators, which makes them a safe place to nest, and the same species have been coming back for generations.
Most people come to see the Atlantic puffin. They have colourful beaks and a funny waddle, and they’re here from April until about the middle of August. You’ll see them on the rocks and grassy slopes, diving for sand eels and flying fast past the boat.
Little Skellig has Ireland’s largest gannet colony, with over 30,000 breeding pairs, and it’s one of the biggest in the world. The gannets dive into the sea from up to 30 metres high, which is great to watch.
You’ll also see guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and storm petrels nesting on the rock ledges. Our guides will help you tell them apart and explain a bit about how they live and why the islands matter so much for them.
Wildlife you’ll see
Our boat tour goes around both Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, so you get a close look at the wildlife on both islands. These are some of the birds and animals you’re likely to see, especially in the busy season from May to August.
Atlantic Puffins
The Atlantic puffin is the bird most people want to see. They arrive in April and nest in burrows on the island until about the middle of August. You’ll see them coming back from the sea with their beaks full of sand eels, or sitting on the rocks with their orange feet and bright beaks.
Northern Gannets
Little Skellig has over 30,000 pairs of northern gannets, the largest colony in Ireland. Their wings are almost two metres across, and they dive into the sea at up to 100 km/h. From a distance the whole island looks white because there are so many of them.
Seabirds & Marine Life
There’s a lot more than puffins and gannets. Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars nest on the rock ledges, and grey seals lie on the rocks below. Watch the water too, as dolphins, porpoises and sometimes basking sharks are seen on our trips.
Seabirds everywhere
The Skellig Islands are among the most important seabird breeding grounds in Europe
It’s hard to picture until you see it. There are thousands of gannets overhead, puffins flying past the front of the boat and seals watching you from the rocks.
When to See Wildlife
There’s wildlife to see all through the season, but what you see depends on when you come. Here’s a rough guide to the boat tour season.
- April and May. Puffins arrive and start nesting. Gannets settle on Little Skellig, and seals are active around both islands.
- June and July. The busiest time. Puffins are easiest to see, gannets are feeding their chicks, and dolphins are often seen.
- August. Young puffins get ready to leave. You might see basking sharks, and guillemots and razorbills are still on the rocks.
- September and October. The seabirds start to leave. Grey seals are easy to spot, and birds on migration sometimes pass through.
You’ll see plenty whenever you come, and our guides will point everything out. For the best chance of seeing puffins up close, come in June or July.
If you’re a keen birdwatcher or you just like being out in nature, a Skellig Michael boat tour is a great day out on the Wild Atlantic Way.