Seals, Steps And Generator Sheds - A July/ Early August Island Update
Wildlife and Monitoring Updates
Goodbye to the Auks & Amy
In July we said goodbye to the last of the razorbills and guillemots! The final chicks fledged (or became Greater Black Backed lunch) and the last of the adults left the island. Amy, Will and Pete's study plots were completed! We still had one or two puffin stragglers about in early August, but the Wick was looking very empty and quiet compared to just a few weeks previously. With the auks leaving, so did Amy (fortunately fledging, not eaten by a Greater Black Backed Gull) - one of our LTV's from the April-July season. We were all very sad to see her go! Amy has included her goodbye message at the end of this blog.
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One of the last puffins enjoying a sunset before their departure. |
Vole Monitoring
At the end of July we started monitoring of our endemic vole subspecies - the Skomer Vole (Myodes glareolus skomerensis). We were joined by Dr Claire Risley to start the monitoring off, before the project was handed over to the island team. Longworth traps are set up with some cosy hay and vole snacks for the night, and then checked early in the morning. Voles are weighed, measured and marked before being let go, to help us obtain population data and learn more about this unique species. Skomer voles are larger, and generally believed to be more docile than the mainland Bank Vole. Getting to be a part of this project and see the voles up close was a fantastic experience, I'm sure the whole team would agree we all found the project greatly enjoyable!
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Amy (right) with Claire (left) checking one of the Longworth Traps for a Skomer Vole. |
Cetacean Monitoring
For my research project over the next three months I am monitoring and aiming to Photo ID cetaceans around the island. So far we've had some pretty good turn ups - with several sightings of Risso's dolphins, a large pod of Common Dolphin coming in very close at Skomer Head and regular sightings of Harbour Porpoise. Based on markings, notches and scarring on the fins of these animals I am hoping to be able to identify individuals and give them a unique ID code. This would then give us an idea whether the animals we are seeing are the same individuals regularly feeding in the same sites, or different groups of animals passing through. This involves working with the Porpoise Photo ID catalogue already put together by my colleagues at Sea Trust Wales, to see if any of the porpoise I spot around the island are the same as the individuals we see at Sea Trust's other survey sites around the Pembrokeshire Coast.
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Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) at Skomer Head. |
Greater Black Backed Gull Nest Site Surveys
At the start of August Amy and Anna headed out with Will to survey Greater Black Backed Gull nest sites. The aim was to count the number of Manx Shearwater remains within 10m of the nest site to try and see the affect of GBB predation on their population - to do this we used a tripod and rope to form a circular area surrounding successful nest sites (aptly nicknamed 'The Wheel of Death' by previous LTV Nick). The sites had been cleared of Manx Shearwater remains at the start of the season, so all remains counted we knew would be from this season and can therefore attribute a rate of manxie predation to one season of GBB gulls nesting on the island.
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Amy and Will examining a Greater Black Backed Gull pellet. |
The First Seal Pups
With the start of August came the first Skomer seal pups! We had three spotted off the Neck and another in at South Haven. With the puffins departing just a few days prior alongside a couple of chilly misty mornings this definitely felt like a marker for the turn of the seasons into Autumn. We're looking forward to starting up our seal monitoring again over the next few weeks and seeing plenty more cute seal pups!
Autumn Migration
Autumn migration was kicked off with the appearance of flying lemons in North Haven (flying lemon refers to Willow Warbler fledglings, not airborne citrus fruits - something which initially caused some confusion with the LTV's), which were closely followed by the appearance of Reed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Blue Tits and Turnstone - keep an eye on our recent sightings page to see what else shows up this Autumn!
Island Life Updates
DIY and Step Repairs
With bad weather causing a couple of no boats days in July it gave us some time to crack on with jobs that are usually harder to do with visitors about. Ceris taught Anna and Amy how to rebuild some of the steps on the slope at North Haven. We learnt and practised various DIY skills including how to properly drill screws in place, how to saw a square edge, how to make the step level and the how to deliver a solid kick when the wood for the step edge won't fit in place!
The DIY work continued following a barge delivery with a new back up generator for the island. The old generator shed was disassembled and volunteer Martin arrived to help us build a new one for our shiny new generator. Anna was able to further her DIY skills education to include cladding and using a circular saw! A picture of the completed shed can be seen below.
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Anna securing one of the new steps in place. |
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Amy, Ceris and Anna with the newly repaired steps. |
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The new generator shed constructed by one of our volunteers Martin, along with some help/ hinderance from Anna. |
Girl Power
With Leighton and Rob both off on leave at the end of July the island had an all female team of staff and volunteers for the week! We had busy few days - including a gas delivery with a number of full gas canisters to get up the 87 steps at North Haven, think it's safe to say we smashed it!
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Two of our weekly volunteers (Grace and Emma) and LTV Amy carrying one of the (very heavy) gas canisters up the steps at North Haven! |
The War of the Rosebay
Rosebay willowherb is an invasive species on the island and over the last few weeks I've been trying to map it's presence and pull it up where it's found. This has been an interesting opportunity to see some parts of the island I haven't visited before, as well as to learn more about this plant - it spreads through rhizomes (sometimes called 'runners'), which are like long arms that spread from the plant's roots. I've also discovered that Rosebay plant stems can be cooked like asparagus and the leaves can be eaten in salads - very handy when I'm running low on fresh of fruit and veg!
I've had a very enjoyable first few weeks on the island and am very much looking forward to the rest of my time here!
Diolch yn fawr am ddarllen!
Anna - new LTV for July, August, September
A Goodbye Message From Amy
What an incredible unforgettable few months it has been, it feels just like yesterday I was stepping off the boat, full of excitement ready to start my journey on Skomer. It has truly been the best few months of my life, I’ve learnt so much and gained so much experience, I’ve loved that each day would always bring something totally different. From giving the visitor welcome talks, sharing my passion for the island with new arrivals to helping with the seabird counts and Manx shearwater census, to doing the bio security checks and the thrill of learning to drive the gator was a definite highlight! I had the amazing opportunity to monitor the productivity of my favourite seabird the razorbill, sitting down at bull hole everyday, scope and binoculars at the ready looking for the first eggs, waiting for the chicks to hatch and seeing those tiny fluff balls grow into fledglings was a real privilege & something I’ll never forget. I also loved my time working on the curlew project, following these beautiful birds across the island, mapping their movements and behaviour, gave me a new appreciation for these beautiful waders.
Skomer is a place of magic, everyday has been an adventure, a chance to witness nature in its rawest, most beautiful form. From the sights and sounds of seabirds echoing around the cliffs, to short eared owls gliding across the bracken, seals basking on the rocks and the amazing spectacle every night when the Manx shearwaters return to their burrows under the cloak of darkness, their calls a haunting chorus in the night.
But it’s not just the wildlife that has made this experience so incredible. It’s the people. The small, tight knit community on Skomer that feels like family. There’s a unique camaraderie that comes from sharing a place so special. The Skomer team is a group of passionate, dedicated and kind hearted individuals and I’m so grateful to be apart of it.
As I pack my bags, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you Skomer for the sunsets that set the sea on fire, the friendships that will last a lifetime and for the memories that I’ll cherish forever. This isn’t a goodbye, but a see you later & I can't wait to be back soon!
-Amy
