Guest blogger and volunteer Sandra Young reflects on her weeks' volunteering on Skomer
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| Allen making some repairs to Bull Hole Research Hide |
Anyone can do it. What does it entail? We arrived last Saturday and was our
best weather day even though it was rainy and cold. It
is now Wednesday and so long as you keep adding layers of clothing
it's OK. But it does mean that you walk around like a robot
inhibited by layers. The invigorating wind has meant less sighting
of birds but we have seen some birds that you rarely see on the
mainland for example the short-eared owl and the water rail. It's
nesting time and there are lots of birds displaying or have mouths
full of nesting material. Some have already had chicks. Raven chicks
perched on a large rock were being fed constantly by parent for
almost an hour. Each time the parent approached the nest 3 heads
would appear squawking in anticipation. The puffins pad and scurry
along the ground, bob out of their burrows, decide that it is far too
cold and go back under ground for comfort. Tube nosed fulmars line
the cliffs near the top. A few guillemots further down and at the
bottom the kittiwakes quark their high pitched gaggle. All over the
island rabbits abound sometimes being chased by gulls – the most
prolific species on the island. However,
it is the Manx Shearwaters that steel the show for me. More than 120,000 pairs come to the island each year and their
presence is profound. Only visible at night these creatures are soft,
warm when held and clumsy on land but their noise is eerily
comforting as you realise that you are indeed in the minority. It's
a humbling and privilege to realise the trust they expend the
guardians of their summer home. There was little visible moonlight
but the stars, especially Venus guided us up the hill whereupon we
advised some visitors to keep their torch lights off or low so as not
to disturb the Manxies.
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| Geoff sharing his pictures. |
Day
time starts with observations at the hides. Even though you may see
the same birds day after day there is always something to attract
attention. Our jobs are varied from cleaning guest accommodation to
repairing rabbit enclosures, fencing and beach cleaning. Working as
a team is the key ingredient despite age difference, experiences,
abilities or sex. Six of us share a kitchen but sleep two per room.
The kitchen routine can be the most challenging but at the same time
the most entertaining as each person brings his or her life's
experience or lack of to the fore. As this is the warmest room in
the complex, unless of course you go to bed, everyone congregates in
this small space. This year's mixed bag of people has provided
laughter, information exchanging and so on. Bird song and
information extricated from an ipod was the most sought after device.
A whole array of wild life stuff could be accessed at the press of a
button. Another get-together included dining with the full-time
Island staff. A four course meal starting with vegetable curry with
potatoes and rice followed by pizza and then melon with fruit and
last of all bread and butter pudding just before bird log.
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| Tea is always essential to happy volunteering |
Bird
Log regularly occurs around 8.30 when Day visitors, volunteers and
Island staff relate birds and wildlife they have seen and observed
that day. This means that you meet other people with different
skills and life's experiences. Everyone's contribution is valued no
matter how unrealistic or realistic the sighting. It always
surprises me how I can be in the same place and the same time as some
people and not see the same bird but very often it is because
experienced birders know what and where to expect to see a specific
bird. They are also, understandably, better at identifying them.
What is most relevant is the care and the consideration afforded to
the birds. Feet are carefully placed when walking off the beaten
track in order to avoid trampling over someone's home. Even though
Manx Shearwater carcases litter the island the loss is
compensated by their sheer numbers. Greater Blacked-backed
are the chief predators but the male Peregrine Falcon will take the
weakest puffin.
What a perfect place
to be!
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| Back of the volunteer accommodation. |
