Another Record Breaker

In the latest British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Ringing Report, Razorbill M23170, ringed as a chick on the cliffs of Bardsey Island, Gwynedd was reported back on the island for its 41st summer.
So we now have two record breakers - this Razorbill (41) and our Manxie at a minimum of 51 years old (re-trapped again this spring).

Steve will be attending our Council and Extraordinary Meeting this coming Saturday at Criccieth - after his family holiday in Norfolk. Steve, Emma and Connor will be returning to the island a couple of days later.

Bevan

Steve off the island (on holiday!) - the two Richards on their own

Steve and family came off the island last Tuesday and this morning I received word from them as they were busy stocking up with food to go on a week's holiday on the mainland - East Anglia look out!

Meanwhile, back on Bardsey, Richard Brown, Assistant Warden, saw off our visitors this week but no one arrived. Weather was a bit dodgy but Colin couldn't guarantee they would get over, so unfortunately, one visitor didn't make the journey from the midlands. However, it may be possible for him to get over on Monday as the weather looks like improving.

Bird News on the island is that a few Swifts have been seen and a Grey Wagtail (not breeders on Bardsey) and at sea other non-breeders have been up to 50 Gannets feeding. Richard Else has now finished his survey of the Shearwater burrows he was to do this year but will be checking them all again for confirmation of breeding. I have asked him to write something about his methods which I will put on the website.

Richard Brown (Assist. Warden) was his usual cheerful self when he phoned but did say that it would appear that Steve had laid a few traps for him before he left (joke). Richard has had to repair the Lawn Mower twice (otherwise our composting toilets don't work) and he has also had to repair one of the Cookers. The one thing he hasn't been able to repair is the Obs. Laptop Computer (on which we put the log each evening) which has refused to boot-up. Fortunately, we have back-up and there is another computer at the Obs. This does, however, underline how much we rely on the computer these days and that we must budget for repairs and renewals on a regular basis. (Council take note for future budgets - or have we members or friends in the computer business who can acquire uptodate laptops at very reasonable prices?).

Our intention to have satellite broadband for the Obs. has been delayed as we have to get the permission from CADW to put dishes on or around Cristin so there will be some delay while the forms are completed, submitted and a decision is made.

Finally, Richard tells me that Steve Porter and his family have returned from their holiday on Madeira, so that means that their son, Ben (pictured here) will be keeping an eye on the two Richards and contributing to each evening's log again.

Bevan

Refurbished Shop and Information Centre plus Rose Coloured Starling

Neil, Bevan and Denise Healey plus me and my wife Diane, returned from a successful week at the Observatory carrying out refurbishment of the Shop and Information Centre. Plans had been prepared, materials bought and sent over to the island and under the watchful eye of the Warden and his wife Emma, the team did an absolutely splendid job which we hope you will like. We are of course, hoping that it will result in increased sales to all visitors to the island, whether staying ones or day visitors.

I will shortly be putting some other photos on the website of the team actually working. We had an "opening ceremony" when we invited all the residents on the island round for tea, coffee and biscuits (juice for the kids) and one of the Vice Presidents (alias the Bardsey Crier) cut the tape.

We all had a great week on the island - we all worked very very hard, Bevan Healey even beginning work at 5.30 AM on one morning. Bevan spent most of his time "up in the gods" i.e. up the ladder in the roof painting the wooden beams and putting up plywood between them all. (Me and the girls painted them first). It really does look great now. Neil (our skilled carpenter) built brand new table tops all round the room plus shelving on which to display our wares and Wall Displays to tell visitors about our work. Denise worked on the curtains in front of the table tops as well as helping Diane with painting walls, varnishing tables, and painting doors. I'm not sure what the VIP did - he certainly didn't get any serious birding done - in fact, none of us did.


The Obs. staff team is working well together and we saw a lot of our new Assist. Warden, Richard Brown and our Shearwater man, Richard Else. Our personal chef (who else but Bev Healey), ably assisted by Denise and Diane, cooked wonderful meals for us every night, with the two Richards joining us. Also staying at the Obs. during the week was Marijke Albus who cooked us a marvellous BBQ on the front lawn on the Friday night. Marijke spent most of her time finding out all about the island's commonest bird, the Manxie. She spent a couple of nights out with Richard Brown catching and ringing them. Richard Else spent every day we were there putting his arm down Manxie burrows playing calls to them to check responses. Marijke even managed to read the Manx Shearwater monograph from cover to cover during the week.

I was looking forward to an evening at another Observatory on the island - Steve Porter's astronomical observatory. But unfortunately for me, the whole family left the island on the afternoon of our arrival - bound for a well earned holiday in Madeira.

My book of the week is Christine Evans' latest one entitled just "bardsey" - Essays by Christine and photographs by Wolf Marloh (published by Gomer 2008) - a beautiful book describing in words and images how she has come to spend every summer over the last 40 years on the island. A copy came home with me.

Visitors this week have been fortunate to see an ADULT ROSE COLOURED STARLING which was present today 10 June. I am not too upset that it didn't appear last week as I have had one before on the island - but not a good Adult like today's bird!

Bevan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turtle Doves are not extinct

Whilst speaking to Steve on the phone yesterday, young Ben (the infamous twitcher who lives on the island (jealous, jealous, jealous) and takes photographs of all the rare birds he sees just to shame the wardens in front of visitors at the nightly call-over) called in on the radio to report a Turtle Dove on the narrows. Can't remember when I last saw one in this country. Steve tells me that Bardsey gets more Turtle Doves in a year than the whole of Wales does.

Still a few Grasshopper Warblers on the island.

A couple of us are hoping to nip over one day this week to carry out some machinery repair work so will bring back some uptodate photos of the new Wardening Team at the Obs. I might even get one or two good rare bird photos from our young friend Ben to delight your eyes too.

Bevan - Bardsey Crier

Lighthouse Attraction

Lighthouse attractions on Bardsey can be dangerous for the birds (occasionally hundreds of birds are killed) but they can also enlighten us on what birds are passing over the island on migration at night.

On Tuesday night, 22 April, a lighthouse attraction brought down the following species:

120 Grasshopper Warblers; 80 Sedge Warblers; 100 Willow Warblers, a Wood Pigeon; 6 Sandwich Terns, seveal Black-tailed Godwits; a few Whimbrel and 1 Little Egret.

Without doubt, as we have said in the past, Bardsey must hold the record for being the best place in the UK for Groppers (Grasshopper Warblers). In recent years they have become rather a scarce breeding bird in the UK, having disappeared from many of their previous haunts. But attractions bringing in these numbers seems to indicate there are still plenty moving back north in the spring. (In Staffordshire, at one site where we have suitable habitat (heathland), last year 18 Grasshopper Warbler territories were recorded within a very small area. (I have to admit that unless I am very close to them, at my ripe old age (??), I am now unable to hear their song. I do how have a digital hearing aid and will be out shortly to check whether this enables me to hear them again.

Today (Thursday 24th April), the island has Blackcaps and Willow Warblers and during our phone conversation, Steve photographed a Siskin from his office window.

Bevan

Lots of Birds and Sun on Bardsey

Tuesday 22 April and the news today from the island is that there is lots of sun and lots of birds. In no particular order but Steve mentioned Grasshopper Warblers, lots of Willow Warblers, 137 Wheatears yesterday, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whitethroat, Tree Pipits, Flava Wagtails, White Wagtails, a Tristis Chiffchaff ringed, the first Swift, Great Northern Diver and loads of Manxies (they are probably going out tonight to ring a few of them).

Steve tells me that 130 litres of Paint has been applied to the Observatory since they all returned and it all looks spick and span. Several more weeks are now fully booked (check the Bookings page on the website).

Bevan

April Showers be blowed!

April didn't bring showers - it simply chucked it down! Well, it did in Portugal for the last few days of our break. We are back in England now and Steve tells us that it even snowed on the island (as it did in my home town in England while we were away).

But, nevertheless, the birds were on time in Portugal, and Bardsey and I even heard that a Cuckoo arrived today (14 April) in Staffordshire, which is the normal arrival day for them. Who says our climate is changing? Home to fruit blossom, frosts forecast tonight (check greenhouse heater thermostat works as just put tomatoes in) and the starlings still trying to access my swift boxes, even though I have stuffed the holes with cloths with the intention of pulling them out in a couple of weeks time when the swifts return to our road.

Bev and Jim have returned from a week on the island after installing the new generator - now fully working and even running the microwave. The two Richards are doing fine and Bev Healey rewarded them for their help with the installation by cooking them a few meals whilst he was over. Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey can't touch our Bev for cooking - I would back him against them any day.

I hear from Bev that young Porter is gripping them all off at the evening bird call. Wonderful! And not only with the birds he sees but he is also taking some great photographs to prove he has recorded them. Word is that Steve, the warden, is getting quite worried that his job is in jeopardy!

So get your booking in NOW. What more do you want? A warm and comfortable Observatory and away from the noise and bustle of civilisation for a week - you can't beat it.

Bardsey Crier

Last Day of March and looking good

Today is actually my wife and my wedding anniversary. I won't tell you how many years but some of you will know - you may even have been there. I well remember that we hired a Ford Consul and after the wedding we motored north to Yorkshire to call and see my Grandparents and then on to Ilkley to stay at the Ilkley Hotel on Ilkley Moor bar Tat of course. One posh night in a hotel and then the quality of the accommodation "went down" (in cost anyway). Then up to Grasmere and then on to SW Scotland when birding started taking over e.g. the geese. Then on up to Glasgow, under the tunnel, and on past Lomond and round to the west coast and up to Oban (Divers galore on the sea). Our accommodation had reduced from Hotel to Guest House, to Pub, to Council House B&B by the time we got to Oban and then up to Fort William. Then we turned inland to the Cairngorms where we stayed a night and got stuck in the snow I remember trying to get round the east side of the Cairngorms but couldn't make it and had to return back (Diane finding me Golden Eagle on the way near the Devil's Elbow). Our last day was spent motoring down to the Forth and on the ferry across to Edinburgh we lost all the oil out of our gearbox and only just made it off the ferry and into a Ford agents. Our last night B&B in Edinburgh was the worst accommodation of the week. I keep telling my wife, we must do it all again. Maybe we will set off this afternoon :-)) ?? years later.

Bardsey News! - just phoned the island but no reply. I guess they are busy meeting the boat (last Saturdays delayed) so no news is good news. I will carry on with this when they phone me back.
Bev and Jim arrived on the boat but weren't met by the Warden and his staff - for the simple reason, there had been a fall of migrants and they were busy catching and ringing. Bev phoned towards 6pm to say they had caught and ringed 300 birds today, mostly Goldcrests, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. There were 5 Firecrests on the island and also recorded today were Black Redstart, 2 Ring Ouzels and Swallows. The other good news is that Jim and Bev have already managed to get the new large generator up to the shed, using the Tirfor that they took with them. Tomorrow they will be starting on getting the old one out and putting the new one in. Weather good and forecast ok so cross fingers, everything running to schedule at the moment. Bev is now on cooking duties I expect.
This Bev and his wife are off early tomorrow birding elsewhere - if I find an internet cafe I will let you know what we get. I might even skype Steve to get the latest island news.

March winds do Blow - will we get snow?

Our Warden Steve, Emma (his wife), and their son Connor plus two Richards (Richard Brown, the Assistant Warden, and Richard Else, Shearwater project officer) managed to get over to Bardsey a week ago, on Friday, 14 March. Thank goodness they did as the weather has since deteriorated and as I type this gales are blowing not only in the Irish Sea but also throughout much of the UK, with sleet and hailstones, and snow on the way.
I had a chat with Emma on the phone and everyone is busy decorating and cleaning up the Observatory after four months being empty. But, according to Emma, they are all tackling it with gusto and good humour but will be having a day off tomorrow when they all celebrate Easter with their neighbours at the farm. And, would you believe it, there was one turkey left on the island after Xmas which will be the subject of the main course tomorrow.
Even though the weather at the moment is cold, wet and windy, spring has arrived and their are lambs on Bardsey and the spring bird visitors are arriving on time. Swallows, Sand Martins, Chiffchaff and Wheatears have all been recorded over the last week. There was a Great Tit today and Dunlin, Purple Sandpipers, Jack and Common Snipe (caught and ringed) have been seen. Steve is particularly upset that a Mute Swan was recorded on the island whilst they were absent. (It seems it would have been a new bird for the island for him:-))
So everything is underway to get the Observatory into full running order for visiting birdwatchers so I hope you are booking your weeks with the Booking Secretary.

79mph winds at Aberdaron - Steve and family still marooned - but in England!

Steve, Emma and Connor are still in Lancashire, watching the weather forecast to see when the gales abate and they can be carried back to the island by boat. Storm Kirsten is approaching the UK and if you want to watch the progress have a look at bbfo.org.uk and at the bottom of the first page you will find the weather forecast for seven days ahead.

Logging on to: http://meteonet.nl/aktueel/brackall.htm will show you the Atlantic Chart and the depressions and wind strengths and directions.

Why are the British so interested in the weather, I wonder? I hear you reply "because we are surrounded by water and our weather is ever changing", particularly in the Irish Sea.

Frogs have spawned in my garden pond and the first male smooth newt is around.