30 May 2008

VIP due to visit Observatory

The title heading is really just a warning to the staff that one of the Vice Presidents is due to drop in shortly so they wake up and get the place spick and span. (Problem is they don't have satellite broadband yet). He is also taking Mrs. VIP with him together with his "personal chef" (guess who?) so the two Richards are in for a week of culinary delights! "If they can afford it!" :-))

Alicia (Lis), our Bookings Secretary, has just sent me the uptodate Bookings which I have uploaded to the Website. It shows some vacancies for June and early July but August is completely booked and only one or two spaces in September and October.

If you have missed out this year on your preferred dates, then my advice is to get your booking in now for 2009 (we have yet to confirm the prices which because of rising prices, may have to be a little more). However, it will still work out much, much cheaper than flying to Europe - and they speak English on Ynys Enlli (oops! - well, the warden does - well, if you call the Yorkshire dialect "English" :-))

Bevan

23 May 2008

Showers and Short-toed Lark

Yesterday (and still present today) is one Short-toed Lark. Today 6 Crossbills are on the island.

Jim and Bev have finished putting in the Shower in the washroom - the "turn-on" ceremony has not yet occurred.

Bevan

21 May 2008

Good News on Angharad plus a good bird

When Steve phoned today, I learned that Angharad is back working. It appeared that her ankle wasn't broken, only badly strained. Good news - but it goes to show how careful you have to be when walking on uneven ground (as I found out when I tripped over in Cristin yard and joined the YHC). A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS IS ESSENTIAL. I have just uploaded some photos of Angharad being prepared for her helicopter flight taken by Ian Wright (himself an ex RAF Air Sea Rescue Crewman). You will find them on http://www.bbfo.org.uk/yhc.htm

And the good bird news is that yesterday (Tuesday, 20 May), they trapped and ringed a MARSH WARBLER. I, of course, questioned their ID (what a nerve!), as Marsh and Reed Warblers are not easy to separate. Steve then read out to me the biometrics and formulas by which they were able to confirm the ID. That shut me up!

Jim and Bev were busy working hard and I will be reporting the results of their efforts when I visit in the near future.

JUST A REMINDER TO ANYONE GOING OVER TO STAY IN THE OBSERVATORY IN THE NEAR FUTURE - ALWAYS CHECK FOR THE CURRENT POSITION ON FOOD IN THE SHOP BY PHONING THE WARDEN ON: 07855 264151 A FEW DAYS BEFORE TRAVELLING. AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE NO MILK SO BRING UHT MILK BUT NOT A COW!

Bardsey Crier

18 May 2008

Another Yellow Helicopter Club member

Don't panic, no one on the island has been rushed to hospital. I have just had a back-dated claim, which has been already approved by the Board. The person who is to be added to the membership is Jane Strick, who, together with her husband, Arthur, farmed the island from Ty Pellaf for many years.

Jane's claim is that on the 3 December 1982, she did travel on a Wessex 2, XT604, of 'C' Flight, 22 Squadron, RAF Valley called to Bardsey Island to 'casevac' her from Ty Pella to C & A Hospital, Bangor. (I like the detail - we must request this on all future claims).

With this sort of detail, there did not appear to be any doubt that she was eligible for membership of the YHC - particularly as she has a witness - one Ian Wright, who was Crewman on that very flight. If anyone knows Jane's phone number, can they please ask her if she can confirm that, in fact, the Crewman was Ian Wright (must tie up all loose ends, you know, Ian!)

Ian of course, is well known to many Friends of Bardsey (and has just spent a week doing voluntary work at the Observatory. The photos below of his work revamping the Office is proof of the quality of his work. (His island skills are well known throughout the world and we thank him for his generosity in making them available to the Obs.)

SO NOW WE HAVE NINE MEMBERS OF THE YHC (5 FEMALES AND 4 MALES).

Thinks! - I wonder who has travelled to or from the island in the most ways. The different transports I can name are: fishing boat; Yacht; Jet Ski; Water Skis; helicopter; raft; canoe; Trinity Boat; Microlight; Swim; Has anyone yet arrived by Hot Air Balloon or Parachute? I daresay our Swiss friend who has just flown in his jet-propelled hang-glider might drop in one day.

I would like to hear of people who have arrived or departed from Bardsey in any of the unusual transports listed above - or any other even more unusual forms of transport!

Bevan

Sub Alpine and Nightingale trapped, etc.



Yesterday (Saturday 17th), the Sub-Alpine Warbler was re-trapped - and a Nightingale was also trapped and ringed.

Other goodies yesterday were a Black-tailed Godwit and a GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Ian Wright has just left the island after a week helping with painting, decorating and modifications (a complete revamp) of the OFFICE and we have photos to prove which Ian brought off the island. Hopefully you will find them on this Blog or I will put them on the main Website.

I must ask Steve to ask Steve Porter (our resident farmer and Beekeeper) to tell us how the bees are doing just behind the Cristin Heligoland. Mine in the garden were doing fine (bringing in loadsw of nectar from oil seed rape - and then, four days ago, desided to swarm into a neighbours' apple tree. I collected them that evening and transported them to my apiary 3 miles away and put them in a new hive. I will let you know how they get on. Now I must get up to the allotment and do some digging, planting and weeding.

Bevan

14 May 2008

Sub-Alpine Warbler trapped and ringed

Tuesday, 13 May - female Sub Alpine Warbler trapped and ringed. Other birds today of note: 1 Great Northern Diver and 2 male Redstarts.

Bev and Neil Healey drove up from Staffordshire with a Van load of materials which Colin took over in the afternoon. Main things being timber and panels.

And Birds today (Wednesday 14th) - 2 drakes and 1 duck Eider.

YHC (Yellow Helicopter Club) - I have also discovered four other people that are eligible, one unfortunately who is no longer with us. That person was Maurice Tibbles, the famous Wildlife Film Maker (Life of the Cuckoo - remember?) who was taken off the island in October 2001 by the RAF Air Sea Rescue. He died later that year.

The other three people were Adele Powell, a volunteer with the Whale and Dolphin Society; Libby Barnden, who farmed with her husband Dave at Ty Pellaf; and one of my fellow Vice Presidents, known to all Bardsey Island lovers - Peter Hope Jones. Peter had to be taken off in 1998 because of a serious nose bleed. So two of your Vice Presidents have spilt blood on the island :-))

So the total number of YHC members has now risen to 8 (eight). We don't want any more :-))

Oh! and finally, Steve tells me that Ian Wright has been helping the staff with re-fitting the office in Cristin and re-decorating. You won't recognise the Observatory - it seems to be getting a complete "make-over".

Bevan

11 May 2008

Birds Galore

Report from Steve of Birds yesterday (Saturday 10 May)

1 pair of Garganey
1 Wood Warbler; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 1 RING-TAILED HEN HARRIER; 1 WHINCHAT (first of year); 2 Tree Pipits; 2 Grasshopper Warblers; 7 Spotted Flycatchers; 40 Sedge Warblers; 10 Blackcaps; 10 Whitethroats; 16 Willow Warblers; 30 Wheatears; 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (ringed); 14 Whimbrel.

Just heard this morning that we have another member of the YHC (YELLOW HELICOPTER CLUB). Angharad Roberts, daughter of Gareth and Miriel at Cwrt Farm, was on the island playing with the children and 'oops, slipped and fell and broke her ankle I am told. The Yellow Helicopter was sent for and off she went to hospital. WE SEND YOU OUR "GET MENDED QUICK" MESSAGE Angharad as we know you are essential, not only to the workings of Cwrt Farm but also to the smooth running of the Observatory and the Island. There will be an important cog missing for a while. (Fancy being called a "cog"!)

BUT NOW ANGHARAD HAS JOINED THAT ELITE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALSO MADE A TRIP IN THE YELLOW HELICOPTER - WHICH, OF COURSE, INCLUDES BEN PORTER, DOT TYNE AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE OBSERVATORY - (a'hem - thats me, the Bardsey Crier). THREE FAMOUS PEOPLE!

Bevan

9 May 2008

Dotterel Day

Thursday 8 May was Dotterel day! This is the weekend when they can be found on many regular migration spots throughout England and Wales. Bare ground - golf courses, hill tops - anything looking a bit like the area where they will eventually nest - seems to attract them every year. A female was recorded at the South End yesterday.

And what else? Blue-headed Wagtail, Wood Warbler, Reed Warbler, Turtle Dove, 15 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 10 Sedge Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 6 Whitethroats, 30 Wheatear.

Breeding Birds: 2 pairs of House Martins nesting at the Lighthouse. It looks like being a poor season for seabirds - no Guillemots yet, only 1 Puffin but it may be that they are a bit late returning - only time will tell.

Some very Good News however - whilst out last night catching and ringing Shearwaters, our oldest bird was caught again. WE BELIEVE THIS BIRD HOLDS THE RECORD NOW AS THE OLDEST RINGED BIRD STILL LIVING - SHE WAS RINGED 50 YEARS 347 DAYS AGO.

TODAY, Friday 9 May - 1 pair of Garganey on Carreg Pool and 1 Wood Warbler.

Bevan

6 May 2008

Golden Oriole Day

Bev and his brother Neil went over to the island yesterday to take some food for the team and to do some work on the new generator exhaust. They were that busy, trying to finish the work before coming off the island with Colin (they only arrived about lunchtime) that they didn't manage to see the GOLDEN ORIOLE that flew past the Observatory at one stage.

That's devotion to duty. Miss out on a bird like a Golden Oriole in order to make sure visitors have electricity. Fortunately, Bev has seen one before, albeit abroad - but Neil hasn't.

The Obs. is looking into getting Satellite Broadband on the island so some of the residents can access the internet. Grants are being sourced and it is looking encouraging so it is hoped it won't be long before you will be getting reports DIRECT from the island. I had an email yesterday, asking if I could put more detailed information about the birds recorded on Bardsey, in the NEWS section. Unfortunately, my time is limited and I have to get the information from Steve by phone. I turned to this Blog as a way of doing something quickly, even when away from home and the PC as I can use the laptop which is more mobile. With the Blog I can access it from any online computer anywhere in the world and quickly do a note to you all - when I have some news.

In the not too distant future, we should have the facility for Steve to keep you updated on a daily basis. Isn't technology wonderful! (No, I hear a lot of you saying - and there are many times when I would agree)

Bevan

2 May 2008

Merry Month of May

Bird hews from the island is of a Redstart, a Hoodied Crow, Reed Warbler, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Sedge Warblers. Last Sunday over 300 birds were ringed, five species of warblers - Grasshopper, Willow, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge.

I asked about Peregrine and this year 2 pairs are again breeding.

On the last day of April, 25mm of rain fell on the island in 12 hours. Richard (Shearwater) is back on the island after returning from a funeral on the mainland so we are back up to full complement.

Bevan