SIMON WALKER - OUR WARDEN IN 1990 AND 1991

It is with great sadness that I have to report this Xmas, the death of one of our Wardens, Simon Walker. His wife, Jan, tells me that he was diagnosed back in the early summer with cancer but that chemotherapy was unsuccessful. He died just after Xmas, on the 28 December. He was only 52 years old.

I have tried to contact all the people who I think were around on Council when Simon and Jan were on the island but let me know if you know of someone who would want to know and may wish to write to his wife Jan, or even attend the funeral. (No date yet arranged).

I am sure all our thoughts are with Jan and their young son Angus.

Bevan

Pumpkin Soup

Celebrating Hallowe'en on Bardsey? Yes, just because we are three miles off the coast of Wales, we aren't completely out of touch with the rest of the world - and the Wardens were given (we should have grown them on the island!) several pumpkins by the last visitors of the season. Hence the whole island was treated to Pumpkin Soup - a great way to get together - and the soup was delicious.

Gwyn Tracey took these photos of us all - who the bloke with the camera is I have no idea! Must be the ghost of Cristin!

Newyddion Ynys Enlli

I am going to attempt to bring you some news in Welsh - but hasten to add that I do not write or speak Welsh. However, I will have the help of other Ynys Enlli followers who will hopefully feed me with information and translate a few articles. It was Ann Own Vaughan who suggested we start with an article written by Emyr Roberts, who regular visitors to the island will know, as he is the Trust Warden who lives at Nant at the north end of the island. It is about his job on the island now and his previous travels before coming to the island four years ago. I will try to give a short summary after the article in English for non-Welsh speaking readers. Emyr is pictured above ringing the Chapel bell at Steve and Emma's wedding.

I would welcome other contributions in Welsh about the Island, its residents and its wildlife - together with short English summaries. During the next three months, of course, as the Observatory is not occupied, news direct from the island will be minimal (but hopefully some from Ben Porter), so it would be nice to get a few Welsh contributions. Please comment on the Blog too - in English or Welsh.

Emyr's article first appeared in Llanw Llyn in November

Cefais fy ngeni a’m magu yng Nghwpennaner gerllaw Cerrigydrudion. Cychwynais fy ngyrfa mewn Meithrinfa Tŷ Gwydr ar y Wirral.

Ymunais â Gwasanaeth Gwirfoddol Dramor (VSO) yn 1971 a threulio 2 flynedd fel rheolwr ar Gynllun Peilot Dyfrhau Tir yn Zambia ble ddatblygais ddiddordeb mewn planhigion trofanol a choed.

Treuliais y rhan fwyaf o 25 mlynedd cyn dod i Ynys Enlli yn gweithio ar wahanol gynlluniau tirlun yn Saudi Arabia. Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys dinas ddiwydiannol newydd yn yr anialwch, ac yna ar ysbyty milwrol. Am y 15eg mlynedd olaf gweithiais i’r Awdurdod Awyrlu Gwladol Saudi mewn gofal o gynllunio a chynnal y tirlun a’r cynlluniau dyfrhau oedd a’u pencadlys yn Jeddah.Yn ogystal a’r 25 maes awyr cartref(domestic) ym mhob cwr o’r wlad. Roeddwn yn arfer hedfan ac archwilio y gwahanol feysydd awyr yn wythnosol.

Y tro cyntaf i mi ymweld ac Ynys Enlli oedd ar ddiwrnod sych,tawel ac oer ym mis Ionawr 2005 i gael golwg ar yr ynys cyn derbyn y swydd o fod yn warden gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Ynys Enlli. Er fy mod wedi derbyn y swydd yn syth cymerodd tan fis Ebrill i mi fedru cyrraedd yr Ynys wedyn a dechrau gweithio oherwydd y tywydd garw!

Mae fy amser ar yr ynys yn cael ei rannu’n ddwy ran dymhorol amlwg. Yn ystod tymor y gaeaf (Tachwedd i Ebrill)

Rwyf yn cario ymlaen i drwsio, cynnal ac atgyweirio y saith tŷ sydd yn cael eu gosod gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth fel tai gwyliau, y Capel, Ysgol a’r Abaty ac yn gwneud yn siwr fod y tai i gyd wedi eu paratoi ac yn barod ar gyfer yr ymwelwyr.

Mae’r tymor gwyliau yn cael ei ymestyn o tua ganol Mai yn hwyr i’r Hydref. Fel arfer mae’r Sadyrnau yn brysur dros ben. Dyma’r diwrnod pan fo’r ymwelwyr yn cyrraedd a gadael. Rhaid gofalu fod y bobl iawn (a’u bagiau dillad bwyd a.y.y.b.)yn mynd ar y cwch iawn ar yr amser iawn.Yn ogystal rhaid llnau’r tai ac ail lenwi’r nwyddau e.e nwy, cyn i’r ymwelwyr nesaf gyrraedd.Y rhan fwyaf o’r amser rydym yn ei gael yn iawn ond ambell waith mae pethau yn mynd o chwith!

Mae gweddill fy amser yn ystod y tymor yn cael ei dreulio yn atgyweirio,cynnal a chadw mân bethau, gan ofalu am y gerddi a’r tir oddi amgylch y tai a’r adeiladau, hefyd gofalu fod yr ymwelwyr i gyd yn gyffyrddus ac wedi setlo i mewn. Does dim dau ddiwrnod byth yr un fath.

Roedd y tai (a’r adeiladau fferm) i gyd wedi cael eu adeiladu gan Iarll Newborough ( neu o leiaf ei weithwyr) yn y 1870au. Mae’r tai i gyd erbyn hyn wedi cael eu cofrestru fel adeiladau gradd 2 ac ychydig o iawn sydd wedi cael ei wneud i’w newid. Mae gan bob un doiled compost, dŵr ffynnon ar dap, stôf nwy ac oergell ond nid oes gan yr un ohonynt drydan na theledu.

Mae llawer iawn o’r ymwelwyr yn dod yn rheolaidd blwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn i fwyhau y tawelwch ac yn bell o sŵn ceir a bywyd prysur bob dydd. Mae’n braf cael mynd yn ôl mewn amser i fywyd syml fel roedd yn y gorffennol.

Fel arfer ryw hanner hanner o Gymru a Saeson sydd yn dod i aros. Rydym yn cael cefnogaeth dda iawn gan bobl Sir Fôn ond ychydig iawn o drigilion Pen Llŷn rydym yn ei weld er fod llawer ohonynt gyda chysylltiadau teuluol â’r Ynys.Buasem yn hoffi clywed gennych ac fe fydd croeso yn eich aros yma.

Emyr Roberts

Mae Emyr hefyd yn artist yn tynnu lluniau bendigedig o flodau ac mae yn gwerthu ei gardiau draw ar yr ynys.Maent yn werth eu gweld ac os cewch gyfle ewch i weld ei ardd yn llawn llysiau a blodau

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Summary:

The above article was written by Emyr Roberts, Bardsey Island Trust Warden and describes his background before he came to the island and his work for the Trust.

He was born in a small village near Cerrigydruidion in North Wales. He trained on a nusery on the Wirral and then went out to Zambia working on an irrigation project for VSO. He then spent 25 years out in Saudi Arabia working on grounds and landscaping around a military hospital and a regional airport.

He first visited Ynys Enlli in January 2005 before starting work the following month. He describes his work preparing and maintaining the houses and maintaining the chapel, the schoolroom and the abbey. He talks about his love for the peace and tranquility of the island and of the visitors, many of whom return year on year to the beauty of the island.

A postscript adds information about his love of both vegetable and flower gardening and his skills as an artist drawing flowers.

The photo was taken back in 1978 - 30 years ago.

Yes, it does include my wife, Diane, on the left - and our young son Adam. Denise Healey (our Sales Co-ordinator) is front right in sunglasses. The two ladies are Jean Bellamy and Alicia Normand. So, yes you've guessed it, the pirate is non other than a young, slim Bob Normand - who of course denies he ever looked like that. A party of 13 of us from the Midlands spent two weeks on the island doing Voluntary Conservation Work.

Today we have had a Meeting at Penkridge in Staffordshire of the Observatory Council with members attending from the south coast, south Wales, Anglesey and North Wales, Manchester, London and Birmingham and the Midlands. Steve, our Warden and Emma, and the Chairman, came down from Lancashire. It was a long meeting but we covered a lot of ground, attempting to solve problems and make plans for the future running of the Observatory next year and years to come. You will be pleased to hear that Steve and Richard will be continuing as our Warden and Assistant in 2009.

The Observatory is now empty for the next 3 months but our friends Steve Porter and his family at the farm will be keeping an eye on our property to make sure everything is kept dry and in working order for our return in the spring.

We hope to get news of any birds than their son Ben records on the island as he has volunteered to take on again the task of being our bird recorder for the three winter months. Thank you Ben. I look forward to hearing your news and seeing any photos you take.

Bevan

Steve back on the Mainland

A quick phone call from Steve yesterday to say they were now in England - home for Xmas.

And a quick trip back to the past in the photo above - what year was this picture taken? And do you know anyone on the boat? If no one can name any of them, then I suppose I will have to let the cat out of the bag - well I did take the photo - it was a transparency - and I have just scanned it digitally.

Bevan

Thursday 19th November

Richard Else has now left the island and is back in Bolton. "Still dreaming of Shearwaters Richard?". Richard Brown, our Assistant Warden, is staying with Steve for a little longer when they will be coming off at the end of the month.

On Wednesday 18 November another Yellow-browed Warbler was found. More thrushes were arriving but the weather is rough at the moment and with cold northerly winds and heavy snow falls forecast this coming weekend in England, there could be more birds moving west to try and get away from it. Bardsey could get some hard weather movement in the next few days.

Visitors all gone and weather atrocious

The Warden, Steve, phoned today with the latest news.
On the bird front, there are still some of last week's birds still around such as Bullfinch, Coal Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Long-tailed Tits.

The Engineer managed to get over late last week and check our generator which had been playing up and was only firing on one cylinder. In about three hours he managed to get it repaired and it is now working ok again.

All the staff will be leaving the island by the end of this month for a break over Xmas, leaving just Emyr at Nant looking after the Trust houses and Steve, the farmer, and his wife and two children. Their son Ben, of course, will be taking over as Honorary Warden and Bird Recorder while our Warden, Steve, is on the mainland. What's the betting he gets some really good birds on the island while on his own - and he will no doubt produce photographs to prove he saw them.

Our next Council Meeting is in Penkridge on Saturday 6 December when they will be deciding on the Observatory Fees for next year. Next year's visitor vacancies are now on the website and bookings can be taken now, subject to the new charges when they are announced next month.

6 November 2008

1 Yellow-browed Warbler recorded.

And then there were 10

Steve phoned today (the ten remaining on the island for the time being are Steve, the warden, his wife Emma and their son Connor; Emyr at Nant; the Porter Family at the farm - Steve, Jo, Rachel and Ben; and Richard B, Assistant Warden, and Richard Else, Shearwater Monitor).

Today birds of note recorded are Barn Owl and Firecrest.

A Rough and exciting October week on Bardsey for last visitors of season

Bev, Bev and Neil were due to sail over on Saturday 25 October but weather conditions prevented us going until Monday 27th. It was a rough crossing but as we approached the island the excitement mounted, especially when the engine cut out! No safety problems, however for the President, Vice President and 7 others who were dingyed ashore - some of us a little wet from the breaking seas and rain that lashed us as we sailed from Pwhelli to Bardsey in approx. 2 and a half hours.

However, for the 10 people waiting on the slipway to return to the mainland it was a tense half hour while we ferried people back to the boat, with the tide falling, the seas getting rougher, the anchor dragging and the lifeboat racing out from Pwhelli to tow the boat back to the mainland. In the end, only half the party were able to return that day, five having to stay on the island for a couple of extra days until Ernest could get over to take them off.

One of the people due to return was our Bookings Secretary Alicia Norman and her husband Bob. Unfortunately, Lis had had a fall on the island during her stay and had extreme difficulty walking along the gabions to get on the boat. Although drugged with painkillers her one leg was giving her extreme pain which she said was a very bad sprain. (In fact, when she eventually returned home, she had to go to the hospital and after xrays it was pronounced that she had a fractured leg - she was nearly an additional member of the YHC and in fact, would have been, if she had complained a little more strongly of the pain).

Whilst on the island, a presentation was made to Ben Porter to commemorate his membership of the YHC (an embroidered helicopter on his Hoodie which he proudly wore for the rest of the week).

Now to the Birds of the week:

27th October - 7 Whitefronts, Black Redstart
28th October - Pale-breasted Brent Goose, Little Auk
30th October - Woodlark, Twite and Snow Bunting, 47 Brambling
31st October - Hen Harrier, 6 Coal Tits, 2,200 Chaffinches

There were a couple of small Lighthouse attractions producing 2 Storm Petrels of note.
Passage during the week was mainly of finches (Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bramblings and Bullfinch) plus several Woodcock, Goldcrests, Redwings and Fieldfare. Several Med. Gulls also recorded. On the days when it was calm enough to unfurl the nets, lots of chaffinches were ringed and a record number of Long-tailed Tits, 52 in all.

WEDDING DAY FOR OUR BOATMAN

Today at Uwchmynedd at 2pm, our Boatman Colin Evans married Mair. Ann Vaughan was there and sent this photograph of the happy couple.

Sorry, I forgot - there were 1,000 Chaffinches on the island today. Gale Force winds in the Irish Sea - you picked the right day to get married Colin! We all look forward to seeing you next season. MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE OBSERVATORY AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS TRAVELLED OVER THE SOUND WITH YOU.

A lull before the Storm!

Tomorrow, I was hoping to get over for the last week of the season. However, the forecast is telling us that with winds up to Force 8-9, that we won't be sailing. Monday looks more likely.

Birds this morning - Arctic Skua, Bonxie, a Med. Gull, Arctic Tern and 2 Short-eared Owls.

Our boatman, Colin, is getting married tomorrow and is then on his honeymoon for a week so it will be Dafydd who will be taking us over when the winds drop.

My apologies for being a little behind with the bird news but we have just returned from a week in Scotland (not really birding). I was hoping the hotel would have wireless and I could have taken the laptop and posted news from the island. However, they hadn't yet made wireless available to visitors at the hotel we stayed at so my laptop stayed at home this time. One day, Steve will be able to post the news direct from the island - until then you will have to bear with me.

22nd October - More geese and Whoopers

Today, a further 20 Whitefronts passed over and 2 Whooper Swans

21st October - some good birds

A Grey Phalarope, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Great Northern Divers, 1 Little Gull.

28 White-fronted Geese passed through

19th and 20th October -

15 Mediterranean Gulls on the 19th and 16 counted on the 20th October.

Week commencing 13th QUIET

The boys caught and ringed 11 CHOUGH on the 14th and 15th October.

On the 17th there was 1 Yellow-browed Warbler

On Saturday 18th October, the visitors were able to leave and new ones arrive.

Sunday 12 October - WHAT A DAY!

BIRDS GALORE! Unfortunately, the Paddyfield Warbler didn't stay. It couldn't be found today BUT THE FOLLOWING WAS:

200 Skylarks; a Lesser Whitethroat, c30 Chiffchaff; c.30 Willow Warbler; 2 Ring Ouzels; 1 Black Redstart; c100 Goldfinches; c100 Greenfinches; c100 Chaffinches; 1 TWITE; 6 Garden Warblers; c200 Goldcrests; 7 (yes, seven) GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS; c25 Bullfinches; 4 RICHARD'S PIPITS; 1 BARRED WARBLER; 1 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER; c40 Stonechats; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Coal Tit; 2 Mediterranean Gulls; 1 Pomarine Skua; 2 Golden Plovers.

A LOVELY, WARM, SUNNY DAY. LIGHT WINDS S/SE - AS STEVE PUT IT "T-SHIRT WEATHER".

For the six people staying this week, things couldn't have started off better. Obviously Bob Normand and Brian Thompson have got 'em organised - or is it because Mandy's there from the CCW checking up to see whether Bardsey Island really qualifies as a National Nature Reserve? OF COURSE IT DOES!

NEW BIRD FOR THE ISLAND

Richard Brown, our Assistant Warden, spied a good bird in the Ty Pellaf Withy this morning. Steve joined him and they opened the nets and trapped, ringed and released a first for the island - a PADDYFIELD WARBLER.

New visitors coming to the island today will have an exciting first day. Two that left late on Wednesday last, will be returning as twitchers on the next boat. If the weather keeps fine, Steve can expect a few more birders travelling over today or tomorrow (if the bird stays).

Thursday 9 October 2008

4 Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua and 1 Bonxie. VERY WINDY!

Sabines and Hen Harrier

Visitors still not able to leave or new ones arrive. However, those staying have been rewarded today by an Adult Sabines Gull, 2 Balearic Shearwaters and a Hen Harrier came in off the sea from the west.
Later in the day a Yellow-browed Warbler was found and 2 Choughs were caught and ringed on the beach.
Steve asks that all visitors phone him on the island to check on any food shortages in the shop. We are coming to the end of the season so stocks are being run down anyway. Only 3 weeks left in the season.
Unfortunately, Nick Barlow and his party of 7 hung on until today but the forecast is still not good, so have returned home to the midlands. This is the first time Nick has been unable to get onto the island in 21 years. I know how he must feel - it can be most frustrating not to get over. Simon Hugheston Roberts is one of the visitors who should have come off on Saturday last - Simon organises the food for our shop. "Leave some for me, Simon - I'm due over there later this month".

5 October 2008 -

3 Crossbills and 1 Whinchat. A few Swallows moving through.
Visitors weren't able to leave because of rough seas

Very Windy

Hailstones yesterday and today, it is very very windy. Unlikely our visitors will leave tomorrow or new ones arrive.

Anyone visiting in the near future (which includes me), are requested by Steve (if they have a space in their bag) to bring a few pounds of mixed bird seed or peanuts. If you can donate a bird feeder that would be helpful too.

Med. Gulls, Leach's and a Yellow browed Warbler

2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Leach's Petrels
1 Yellow browed Warbler

Check yesterday's notes as Steve revised the species list and numbers this morning. 46 Skuas of three species in one day isn't bad is it!

1 October 2008 - Seawatch

7 Black Guillemots, 14 Leach's Petrels, 24 Bonxies, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 20 Arctic Skuas, 1 Little Auk, 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Tern, 700 Kittiwakes, 250 Gannets, 50 Manxies.

1 Barn Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Sooty Shearwater and a Mediterranean Gull

A seawatch produced a Sooty Shearwater and a Med. Gull.

Quiet week but lively today

The staff have been working hard to find birds this week without much success. However, today is a little different.

2 Yellow-browed Warblers trapped and ringed.
1 ORTOLAN BUNTING
1 LAPLAND BUNTING
c150 Goldcrests
1 Black Redstart
3 Ring Ouzels
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Red-breasted Merganser

Osprey day!

3 Ospreys visited the island today - birds of the year.
The Melodious Warbler and Nuthatch were still on the island and a NEW Great Spotted Woodpecker was trapped and ringed.
At sea 10 Arctic Skuas, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua and 3 Bonxies.
2 Whinchat, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts.
2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and 2 Teal.

Red-throated Pipit and Barred Warbler and the Observatory dined on Sea Bass

Today, 18 September, a warm, sunny clear day with easterlies, has produced:

1 Red-throated Pipit - flew south.
1 Barred Warbler - at Nant
The Firecrest ringed yesterday is still here, as is the Nuthatch that was ringed a few days ago.
2 Brent Geese
4 Common Sandpipers
7 Black-tailed Godwits
20 Grey Wagtails
2 Yellow Wagtails
70 White Wagtails
3 Pied Flycatchers
1 Redstart
Several Whinchats

SEA BASS? Yes, the Observatory dined well tonight on 10 Sea Bass caught by our fisherman friends who come twice a year to fish the seas around Bardsey. They actually caught 42 but only landed 10 on the island to be consumed by the Staff and visitors. Loverly grub!!!!

Wednesday 17 September

Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Black Redstart and 1 Firecrest (trapped and ringed)

Big fall of Warblers and Melodious trapped and ringed

These easterlies have brought in the following:
Melodious Warbler - trapped and ringed
1 WRYNECK; c.10 Pied Flycatchers; 20 Spotted Flycatchers;
200 Chiffchaff; 75 Willow Warblers; 100 Whitethroat; 10 Sedge Warblers;
6 Grasshopper Warblers; 400 Goldcrests; 6 Blackcaps; 6 Redstarts;
2+ Reed Warblers AND
1 Nuthatch (a ringing tick for Steve, the Warden)
Also 2 Brent Geese and 1 Bonxie.

Osprey and Melodious Warbler Day

Monday 15th - today Steve phoned with news of an Osprey and a Melodious Warbler plus 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Pied Flycatchers.

Three of our regular fisherman friends are staying at the Observatory this week. They have their own boat and go out each day fishing around the island. Steve tells me they caught several big Tope yesterday.

And one of the other visitors is a past Assistant Warden from 1997, Paul Massey. He has returned with his wife. It would be good to hear his comparisons of "then and now". Has it changed Paul? And is it for the better?

Sunday 14 September - a Goose and Heron day

This day brought 11 BRENT GEESE to the island - a record number. Also seen were 12 Grey Herons, 3 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Balearic Shearwater.

Vice President pays a visit and brings two good birds

Saturday 13 September - Tony Bianci, one of our long-serving and generous Vice Presidents, nipped over with Colin for the day.

And amongst the birds found on the island that day was a CORNCRAKE, a RED-BACKED SHRIKE and two Reed Warblers.

Friday 12 September - ALL THE SKUAS!

Weather looks set to be ok for boat crossings tomorrow.

Seawatching today produced - 6 Arctic Skuas, 1 Bonxie, 1 Adult Pomarine Skua and 1 Long-tailed Skua. All the skua species one would expect around the UK in a few hours sea watch off Bardsey. Not bad eh!

And besides, a couple of Risso's Dolphins were seen. Landbirds - very little movement. a Great Spotted Woodpecker (first seen in June) was seen again today.

2nd to 4th good sea passage, then quiet and picking up now

2nd September - Balearic Shearwater, Bonxie and an Arctic Skua.
3rd - 3 Balearics, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Black Tern, Grey Phalarope
4th - a long seawatch produced: 69 Sandwich Terns, 627 Common Terns, 182 Arctic Terns, 204 Comic Terns, 1 Black Tern, 1 ROSEATE TERN, 13 Arctic Skuas, 6 Bonxies, 7,000 Kittiwakes, 6,000 Manxies, 44 Fulmars, 300 Gannets. (wind SW light)

10th September - Whinchat and Black Redstart.
11th September - 96 Common Terns, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Arctic Skuas, 2 Whinchat.

It was Richard Brown, our Assistant Warden's birthday yesterday, 10 September. Haven't yet found out how old he was (is he under or over 21 do you think? :-)) Anyway, a cake was baked for him but not sure how many candles were on the top!

Two of the visitors there at the moment are Mike Archer inputting data to our computer records and Mike Armitage, our Beacon Editor.

Yours sincerely has just returned from a 50th anniversary trip to the north Norfolk coast with 5 friends. 8 of us made the journey in 1958, travelling in a van and camping out on Walsey Hills. One of the party, unfortunately, is no longer with us, but one other (who couldn't get down to join us last week), was George Evans, who of course was one of our early Wardens on Bardsey. A better birdwatcher it would be hard to find. Oh! - we did get the White-rumped Sandpiper at Titchwell and 2 Monty Harriers nearby.

August quiet but September is starting with a Bang!

August is usually a quiet time on the island and this year was no exception. A few skuas moving at sea but little arriving on the island. Its the time when our staff can perhaps escape for a short break - Steve has just returned to the island.

On the 29th August 200 Willow Warblers arrived on the island. On the last day of August (31st), there were 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, a Wood Warbler, Reed Warbler and an Emperor Dragonfly.

Today, 1 September, 2 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Little Gull, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Ruff and a WRYNECK.

Gales forecast - will they bring birds?

For the second Saturday running, the boat will not be returning visitors or bringing on new ones tomorrow. However, for the second Friday running, Colin was able to warn visitors and those that had to leave were taken off today (Friday). It will probably be at least Monday, if not Wednesday, before conditions are suitable for boats to sale again.

Birds are few at the moment - but 15,000 Manxies were seen off the island a few days ago together with 4 Arctic Skuas.

Where else would you find that the next door neighbour's children were on holiday from school and yet your parents insisted on schooling continuing in the second week of August? I am referring of course to poor old Connor, Steve and Emma's son. Headmistress Andrea (and two of her children) presumably influenced that decision but now she has left the island I think he should get a few day's holiday with Uncle Bob and his friends next door.

OYEZ

Rough Weather - no boat today

Visitors were warned that today would be too rough for the boat to take them back to the mainland so several left yesterday. Unfortunately, no new visitors arrived today as usual which is a rare occurrence these days with Colin's larger boat and it being based on the island.

When Steve phoned it was raining (but it was everywhere in the UK I believe - my daughter was erecting two tents in the Lake District in the pouring rain) but the island still reported birds - 4 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Arctic Skuas.

While Steve was on the phone we checked the Weather Forecast and the Atlantic Chart. It looks as if the lines round the Low out there could bring the odd American bird to these islands. I will no doubt get a call from the island when one arrives.

Bevan

Hen Harrier and Gt. Spotted Woodpecker still there

Visitors departed and new ones arrived ok on Saturday last. Steve, his family and the staff now have the company of Alicia and Bob Normand, their daughter Andrea and her three children (look out Connor!). And a welcome visitor is David Wright (our ex Assistant Warden), now working over on the East Coast (see a previous BLOG account).

So plenty of good birders on the island this week so go find those birds boys and girls. And don't forget to do some sea watching.

Steve tells me that the Hen Harrier and Great Spotted Woodpecker are still on the islands and sea watching produced 2 Balearic Shearwaters last Thursday, and a Bal. Shearwater, a Sooty Shearwater and a Black Guillemot on Friday last.

Bevan

Two species of Harrier

Today a Marsh Harrier and a Hen Harrier were seen over the island. Also recorded was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a young bird of the year.

More Stormies Trapped

Last night 2 more Storm Petrels were attracted to the nets by luring with calls down near Cafn. Today the nets are out at Cristin and several Willow Warblers have already been ringed. A Green Sandpiper has passed over.

There was a Little Egret recorded at the beginning of this week - another one which indicates that there are more birds in the North Wales region now as the bird spreads north and west as a breeder.

Weather today and forecast is only slight winds but from an Easterly direction which hopefully will mean some good birds may drop in at Bardsey.

Steve is looking for any photos from visitors that could illustrate the Annual Report for last year. They must be of wildlife photographed on the island, whether it be plants, birds, insects, reptiles or amphibians, any sea life. Phone Steve on 07855 264151 or email chough at bbfo dot org dot uk

Bevan

Cuckoo bred on the island and Warblers begin the return trip

20 Willow Warblers on the island today, the first warblers to arrive on their return journey to Africa.

Caught and ringed a couple of days ago was a juvenile Cuckoo - too young to have flown to the island so we can only assume that it was born on the island. Cuckoos were seen earlier but it was assumed they were travelling through. However, we have now to assume that a female has laid an egg or two in some of Bardsey's passerine nests - Steve's guess is either Meadow Pipit or Dunnock. They have bred before on the island but I don't have the year yet. Can someone tell me please. Will the next returning breeder be a Corncrake I wonder!

Steve played a Storm Petrel tape this week and caught two birds which were ringed.

Richard Else is back on the island on Saturday to continue his Shearwater study. Steve's Assistant, Richard Brown, will be leaving for a short break - if you read this Richard, let us know what you are getting up to off the island (as if I didn't know!). His reply will, of course, be "birdwatching"! If you are passing Penkridge, drop in for a cuppa - the other Bev might cook you a meal!

Richard is holding the camera on both photos.

Bevan

Portable Trap working

I hear that Richard's Portable Heligoland trap has already resulted in them trapping and ringing three Rock Pipits and a Pied Wagtail on Solfach beach.

Go back to the home page of the website and read a short note from Richard Else about his census of the Manxie on Bardsey. Richard is having a short break now on the mainland before going back to continue his work.

Bevan

Return Migration underway - Manxies galore - and a new portable Heligoland

Richard (Assistant) phoned to say the return migration has started with a few waders moving through e.g. Common Sandpipers, Redshank, Curlew and Whimbrel. Today he had a Little Egret, Cuckoo, a Common Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Taking advantage of some empty rooms this week and some wet and windy weather, they have been putting lino down in the washroom and completing painting inside the Obs. - the dining room, staircase and a couple of bedrooms.

Richard has just finished making a Portable Heligoland Trap and the first bird he caught in the farmyard was a Pied Wagtail - just walked it in. They will now be trying it out on Solfach beach. It is about 18 feet long and can be carried by one person.

Shearwaters are very active at the moment, particularly as the nights are ideal at the moment for returning adults feeding their growing chicks. These are variable in size, with even some birds still sitting eggs and others with well grown chicks. Some are evidently up to a month behind others - is it the less mature birds? Richard Else leaves the island for a break tomorrow and a full complement of visitors arrives. Steve will be back, weather permitting, next Wednesday.

Bevan