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| Stormy weather at The Wick - Jonathan Parsons |
On Sunday the island became instant-soup-free when two
volunteers were asked to sort out the Emergency Food store and the volunteers
chucked old herbs and spices, myriad opened packets of pasta, soggy stock
cubes, rock-hard bags of sugar, lumpy cocoa powder and what seemed like a ton
of out-of-date skimmed milk powder.
On Monday six boat-loads of visitors arrived and left. On Tuesday 87 visitors came and went, and
most of them must have regretted their visit as they were soaked.
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| Welcoming visitors to Skomer - Sally Harris |
Apart from a short shower in the morning, Wednesday was a
glorious day. Six boats and happy
visitors. In the evening Chris Taylor took a turn around a flat calm North Haven in his yellow kayak accompanied by a young
female seal which nudged his paddle and swum sinuously around his craft. Two overnighters identified a Bar-tailed
Godwit by the track and when the message spread everybody trotted down the
track to view this comparative rarity.
Supper was a Pot-luck affair in the shelter with contributions from
everybody, topped off by a magnificent cake studded with chunks of Dairy Milk
from Tom the Guillimot researcher.
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| Muddy Puffins busy in the wind and rain - Sally Harris |
Thursday was a terrible day; very high winds and rain and no
boats. The weather cleared in the
afternoon and at the Wick the puffins were doing puffin-y things. Socialising and gathering new bedding for
their burrows and bringing in sand eels.
Two women chatting there had puffins walking confidently within inches
of their feet as they went about their business. There was an inaccurate sponge Birthday cake
for tea filled with yummy chocolate crème patisserie.
Lots of minor but important tasks are carried out when the
island is closed; mending signs, cutting back vegetation, unblocking u-bends,
mending door handles, putting up shelves; the list is endless.
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| Cutting back vegetation - Sonia Gadd |
Friday was dry, but very windy, so no boats again. The overnighters who came for one or two
nights were now on their third day, and have had a rummage in the Emergency
Food Store for provisions. Two of the
volunteers went down to the Warden’s House to continue transcribing 50-year old
journals into the computer. In May 1961
it was observed in Welsh Way
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| Another Skomer feast! - Sarah Harris |
On Friday evening there was a Feast in the shelter for 20
people, with contributions from every kitchen on the island. The evening ended with a delicious lemon
drizzle cake from Holly.
Sadly Saturday was time to go home. There was a swell but
boats were running. Goodbye Skomer, hope
to see you soon!
Pris Stewart
Skomer Volunteer
Weather was fine when I visited on Wednesday. Came across a Manx Shearwater in daylight. How unusual is this? Pictures on my blog.
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