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