BARDSEY HAS ARRIVED IN THE 21st CENTURY

The first of no doubt many thousands of emails has just arrived from Bardsey - thanks to a young man who has just installed Satellite Broadband at Cristin.

As I write this, Steve, or his Assistant Richard, is probably sitting in the Library at Cristin surfing the web when he should be in the sitting room next door conducting the log for the last day of the week before our visitors leave the island.

This is certainly a day to remember as it now means communication to the island has improved a hundredfold and information from and to the island will improve, hopefully making life just that much more easy. "That's a joke, I have to say. Life will now become much busier and there will have to be "Internet Log-on times, both on the island and here in my home, otherwise I will never manage to do the washing up, or shopping, or look after the allotment or my bees, or even do any birding".

Anyway, it does mean we will get the news regularly now and photos of birds perhaps on the day they are seen.

My regards to all the visitors and I hope you all get off tomorrow.

The Bardsey Crier

This was the Week that was

Steve phoned today with news of events on the island over the last week.

Easter Sunday - an Easter Egg Hunt was organised for the youngsters on the island AND a female House Sparrow was trapped and ringed - a rare bird.

Wednesday 15th April - Connor celebrated his 7th birthday. He had 23 island people to his Pizza Party and Competition - the winner was Richard Brown with his Chocolate and Apple-topped Pudding PIZZA. The judge gave him the prize for taste and originality - absolutely delicious everyone said. Oh! and during the day they had the first TREE PIPIT of the year, about 350 Willow Warblers and 60 Greenland Wheatears. AND Trinity House has a NEW Ship which was moored close inshore that night and lit up the sky like Blackpool Tower with all its lights on. (Was that especially for Connor's benefit?)

Thursday/Friday 16/17 April night - A Lighthouse Attraction - 6 Grasshopper Warblers, 12 Wheatears, 1 Ringed Plover, 30 Manxies picked up and a Short-Eared Owl attracted.

Friday 17 April - About 30 Grasshopper Warblers, 150 Willow Warblers, 70 Wheatears.

Saturday 18 April - 1 male Sup-Alpine Warbler netted and ringed.

TODAY, Sunday 19 April - 2 Black Redstarts, Orange Tip Butterfly (10th record for island).

And the week finished with the volunteers finishing Connor's birthday present - a brand new Bedroom of his own - courtesy Mum and Dad, Bardsey Trust, BBFO, and volunteers, Bev, Neil and Michael.

Saturday 18 April

At 3pm this afternoon, a male Sub-Alpine Warbler was found on the island.

Ring Ouzel and Garden Warbler

Ring Ouzel and Garden Warbler seen today. Three volunteers arrived yesterday, Bev and his brother Neil, plus Michael - they will be carrying out several voluntary jobs during the next week and maybe beyond - improving the Warden's accommodation and some work on the Obs. building too.

Vice Pres. and Bardsey Crier Bev not able to "supervise" this time and sorry chaps - you'll have to do your own washing up. I am needed at home in Staffordshire to count Heronries, get the allotment up and running, and monitor birds and bats on a proposed windfarm site. Never a dull moment! But I will be thinking of you and waiting for those phone calls telling me of the rare birds you have seen (between sawing and hammering!).

FIRST SANDWICH TERNS OF THE YEAR

Today about 20 Chiffchaffs were seen on the island and the first Sandwich Terns of the year - the earliest ever recorded on the island.

Weekend Birding on Bardsey

SATURDAY

2 Jack Snipe (1 trapped) - 5 Black Redstarts - 20 Chiffchaffs - 12 Wheatears

SUNDAY

3 Black Redstarts - 15 Wheatears

And finally, the British Naturalists' Association (BNA) are holding a very interesting National Conference in Epping Forest on 9 May. Log on to: http://www.bna-naturalists.org for details.

Book your week on the island NOW

A glorious sunny warm day on the island today. Steve reports:

12 Sand Martins - 1 Willow Warbler (the earliest ever recorded - by one day) - 5 Black Redstarts - 1 Swallow - 1 HOOPOE - 1 first winter Iceland Gull (7th record) - 2 Coal Tits.

Oh! and 30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins on a flat sea. Don't you wish you were there?

Island Alive Again - population doubled

After a couple of delays due to strong winds, Steve, Emma, and their son Connor, plus the two Richards and Liz James arrived on the Island and walked back up to the Observatory last Sunday. In fact, these six have taken the island population to 11 which has more than doubled it. The other five are Emyr at Nant and Steve and his family at the farm.

Our gang are all working hard to get the Observatory ready for our first visitors in about 3 weeks time. Lots to do - mainly cleaning and decorating and hoping for sun and warmth to help dry everything out. It has helped enormously having Steve Porter and his family checking up on the Obs over the winter and putting the generator on occasionally to try and keep the Obs dry. But we do have one or two wet walls that need attention from our landlord which we hope is in hand.

The lads have been popping out birding and report the following today:

4 BLACK REDSTARTS - 6 WHEATEARS - THE FIRST SAND MARTIN OF THE YEAR - 1 WHITE WAGTAIL - c300 MEADOW PIPITS - 1 MISTLE THRUSH - 6 CHIFFCHAFFS.
Oh! and Steve turned his trousers into shorts on Solfach today I am told - a site for sore eyes! Next we'll hear he's donning a pair of swim trunks.

Wardens hopefully back on Island today

Weather has delayed the return of our Wardens to the island and the Observatory but the latest forecast and message from Steve is that they are hoping Ernest can take them over today. It certainly is a bright and sunny morning here in the Midlands. If you go to the home page of our website you will see I have added a new Weather LIVE from Abersoch which will give you a better idea of weather on the end of the Lleyn.

We have heard that Wheatear has returned to the island - I am sure the two Richards will be out and about as soon as they land so expect more reports in the coming days.

Reporting from Criccieth LIVE

I am sitting here in the hotel at Criccieth two and half hours into our Council Meeting. 19 Council Members have come together here today for the first of our three meetings this year. Steve Stansfield, our Warden, and his wife Emma are also present, as is our President and one of our Vice Presidents.

We have been discussing the work of the Observatory and particularly receiving reports and making decisions for the coming season so that the Observatory will run smoothly. Our work will continue, including, of course, continuing to provide accommodation for visitors who stay and help us record and study the wildlife of the island.

In case you think I am not paying intention at the meeting, I would add that it is now lunch time and I am enjoying a bowl of soup.

Finally, there was an apology from one of our Vice Presdients (no names no packdrill as they say) and I thought you would be interested in his reason for not being here today. It appears his son persuaded him to take him to the Test Match in Barbados! No comment from a fellow Vice President :-))

January BIRD news from our man on Bardsey, finishing with a good one!

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

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

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

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.

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

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb. A Happy New Year to you all.

Bevan
Bardsey Crier & Webmaster

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