Barn owls are a protected species

They have set up home in an old farmhouse on Skomer Island - the first recorded sighting of barn owls attempting to nest there since 1897.

They were discovered by warden Juan Brown, who is hopeful they will produce chicks in the next few weeks.

Barn owls are protected, as a loss of habitat and intensive farming has led to a dramatic decline in numbers.

They are nesting in a box optimistically installed in a section of the old farmhouse some years ago Juan Brown

In Wales only about 400 pairs of Barn owls remain.

Detailed records of all the birds nesting on Skomer have been kept since the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales took over its management in 1960.

But bird watchers and conservationist were visiting the island and documenting their discoveries long before that.

The last recorded sighting of barn owls nesting there was made by Robert Drane of the Cardiff Naturalists Society in 1897.

Mr Brown said: "The barn owl population in Britain has seen a massive crash due to agricultural intensification.

"They are starting to make a comeback and this is quite an exciting discovery.

"They are nesting in a box optimistically installed in a section of the old farmhouse which was re-roofed to house a workshop some years ago."

Female barn owls lay a clutch of four to seven eggs in late April or early May.

Juan Brown has been warden on the island for the past five years

Mr Brown, who lives on the island, is hopeful he will hear the sound of chicks shortly.

"Obviously not all would survive," he said.

"They live on small mammals so those that do should have plenty to eat.

"Wood mice and the Skomer vole, which is unique to Skomer, thrive on the island."

But the owls were not the only unexpected visitors on the island.

Fieldworkers have also spotted a young grey seal pup on the North Haven beach.