Our man on Bardsey - Ben Porter - reports as follows:-
Brambling reported by Ben on his bird table at Ty Pellaf early in the month.
Wigeon in early January.
One or two Coal Tits.
Lots (up to 200 which are record numbers) Golden Plovers early in the month together with up to 40 Lapwings
AND ON THE 26TH JANUARY - 1 LITTLE EGRET
AND FINALLY, TODAY, the 30th, in Henllyn - A GREY PHALAROPE.
Bevan
24 January 2009
George and Simon - Memories.
Don't forget to check the comments that are being submitted. Simon Hughes has reminded us that George and his family stayed on the island for the 1970 season and Sheamus has reminded us of Simon and Gwydion's (and Kim's) friendly brewing competitions and his generosity to visiting birders to the Obs. Simon also draws our attention to George's copperplate log entries. (Can our current warden, Steve, perhaps arrange for a page to be scanned for the web please).
Please keep reminding us all of any memories of either of them that you may have.
Bevan
Please keep reminding us all of any memories of either of them that you may have.
Bevan
22 January 2009
Goodbye Simon - we won't forget you
I journeyed down to Bromyard last Saturday to attend the Funeral Service of Simon Walker in St. Peters Church. The church was full with his family, his friends and his colleagues. They came from all over the UK as during his 52 years life he had travelled far and collected many friends and colleagues on the way.
His colleagues from English Nature (now Natural England) were there, his colleagues from the old days at Severn Trent were there, his BTO ringing friends from the midlands, his friends from the Worcestershire Trust, his friends who had accompanied him on his regular trips over the years to ring the seabirds of the Treshnish Isles off Mull, and of course the Bardsey Observatory and Trust and the island were represented by myself, Dick Loxton, and Gwydion Morley and Kim Atkinson (who have remained his good friends since they both left the island some years ago).
I think all people present learned a lot more about Simon and his devotion to wildlife conservation, as they listened to his brother and his colleagues talk of his skills, committment and humour that we all knew he possessed.
Jan, his wife, appealed to us all to keep in touch and to relate to Angus, their son, any memories we have of his father so that he will have these in the future to remind him of his wonderful dad.
I am sure those of you who had the pleasure and privilige of meeting, working and just being around Simon will do that small thing for them.
Jan and the family gave Simon a private Green Funeral in the morning - he was put in the ground in a wicker coffin, decorated by Jan, as he requested - a conservationist to the end.
I certainly am proud to have known him - you are invited to please post any memories you have of Simon on this BLOG.
Bevan
His colleagues from English Nature (now Natural England) were there, his colleagues from the old days at Severn Trent were there, his BTO ringing friends from the midlands, his friends from the Worcestershire Trust, his friends who had accompanied him on his regular trips over the years to ring the seabirds of the Treshnish Isles off Mull, and of course the Bardsey Observatory and Trust and the island were represented by myself, Dick Loxton, and Gwydion Morley and Kim Atkinson (who have remained his good friends since they both left the island some years ago).
I think all people present learned a lot more about Simon and his devotion to wildlife conservation, as they listened to his brother and his colleagues talk of his skills, committment and humour that we all knew he possessed.
Jan, his wife, appealed to us all to keep in touch and to relate to Angus, their son, any memories we have of his father so that he will have these in the future to remind him of his wonderful dad.
I am sure those of you who had the pleasure and privilige of meeting, working and just being around Simon will do that small thing for them.
Jan and the family gave Simon a private Green Funeral in the morning - he was put in the ground in a wicker coffin, decorated by Jan, as he requested - a conservationist to the end.
I certainly am proud to have known him - you are invited to please post any memories you have of Simon on this BLOG.
Bevan
9 January 2009
Simon Walker - Funeral Arrangements
Simon's wife Jan has given me the following information.
There will be a private green burial service for Simon on the morning of Saturday, 17th January. On the same day, in the afternoon at 2pm, at St. Peters Church, Bromyard, there will be a service to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Simon, to which everyone who would like to attend is invited.
Funeral directors dealing with Simon's funeral are: Victoria Allen Funeral Services, Church View, 8 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1ND - Tel: 01584 879035. No flowers please but if you are wanting to make a donation in lieu of flowers, their chosen charity would be Noah's Ark, a local Herefordshire charity which works and supports children who have been bereaved. Details from the funeral directors.
There will be a private green burial service for Simon on the morning of Saturday, 17th January. On the same day, in the afternoon at 2pm, at St. Peters Church, Bromyard, there will be a service to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Simon, to which everyone who would like to attend is invited.
Funeral directors dealing with Simon's funeral are: Victoria Allen Funeral Services, Church View, 8 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1ND - Tel: 01584 879035. No flowers please but if you are wanting to make a donation in lieu of flowers, their chosen charity would be Noah's Ark, a local Herefordshire charity which works and supports children who have been bereaved. Details from the funeral directors.
6 January 2009
George Evans - Observatory Warden 1964-69
We have only just heard this news, but another past warden of the Observatory, George Evans, died last June. The records show that George was our warden from 1964-69. He was probably there in 1970 too as we were closed for the next three years. The systematic list shows his records but there is no mention of whether we had a warden for those next three years.
Midland birdwatchers of my era will remember George as a meticulous Bird Recorder and extremely competent ornithologist who was well respected by all his colleagues and friends. It is indeed sad to hear of his death. I was hoping to see him in September last when 6 of his friends had a 50th re-union at Cley. Unfortunately, one of the 8 had already died, but we hadn't been able to contact George - little knowing that he was then no longer with us.
Bevan
Midland birdwatchers of my era will remember George as a meticulous Bird Recorder and extremely competent ornithologist who was well respected by all his colleagues and friends. It is indeed sad to hear of his death. I was hoping to see him in September last when 6 of his friends had a 50th re-union at Cley. Unfortunately, one of the 8 had already died, but we hadn't been able to contact George - little knowing that he was then no longer with us.
Bevan
1 January 2009
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb.
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb. A Happy New Year to you all.
Bevan
Bardsey Crier & Webmaster
Bevan
Bardsey Crier & Webmaster
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