tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32055196218047046282024-03-16T18:52:35.673+00:00The Skomer Island BlogSkomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.comBlogger492125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-91787351234616028252024-03-04T18:50:00.002+00:002024-03-06T11:31:36.010+00:00... And back again!<p style="text-align: justify;">The winters
are getting shorter. Certainly, that’s how it seems – as we returned to Skomer last Wednesday, it didn’t seem like three months since we had left.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After the
usual fortnight of constantly checking the online forecast, we took
advantage of the first available weather window, boarding <i>Wavedancer</i> at Neyland marina early on Wednesday morning. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFeJskDr8sbzIWRLnMSn77nEVI8np6l8_7Kug9DTO8ca1Q4gKpwu-cNVCSuWjWAJGdzHWQhfWcbWD8dsqdEbb2YkG04QTqFxW5JBb-8ts36lNiK45PWbz9vjK0Zy7StJYVTuR1csjN9Haonuyc5XNvinvc5DFvQikYX8ekOAPbrittOySanh13O7lDaVc/s1600/9d75fca5-2d11-43ea-bc1f-2350d13aa61c.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="A moored boat loaded up with lots of bags, boxes and barrels." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFeJskDr8sbzIWRLnMSn77nEVI8np6l8_7Kug9DTO8ca1Q4gKpwu-cNVCSuWjWAJGdzHWQhfWcbWD8dsqdEbb2YkG04QTqFxW5JBb-8ts36lNiK45PWbz9vjK0Zy7StJYVTuR1csjN9Haonuyc5XNvinvc5DFvQikYX8ekOAPbrittOySanh13O7lDaVc/w400-h300/9d75fca5-2d11-43ea-bc1f-2350d13aa61c.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading the <i style="text-align: justify;">Wavedancer</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFO9qr3PNlWWmsIDI7IM_wUalvPuIXypM1e4HD9mbgj2Sg2V6_FzG_0DQ0d5yPlWB90IBzxOL5kccIKtlvqypfPaVpjM_fe-438e-fgJIFAmQdcseVJoHtCg5ZkPDafji1ofCOzjc0yu6pO5jSr_LBA_Joond4k5-OeMzq4Gb4POWQQaNXXJ2pTMFfvTT/s1600/boat%20packed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Barrels, boxes and tins of beans on the deck of a boat" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFO9qr3PNlWWmsIDI7IM_wUalvPuIXypM1e4HD9mbgj2Sg2V6_FzG_0DQ0d5yPlWB90IBzxOL5kccIKtlvqypfPaVpjM_fe-438e-fgJIFAmQdcseVJoHtCg5ZkPDafji1ofCOzjc0yu6pO5jSr_LBA_Joond4k5-OeMzq4Gb4POWQQaNXXJ2pTMFfvTT/w400-h300/boat%20packed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything but the kitchen sink!</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We enjoyed… or endured… a rather choppy and very wet voyage to
the island. Accompanied out of the haven by common dolphins, we made it around
St Ann’s Head in sheeting rain and with an unpleasant degree of swell. More than one
of us went green about the gills and one wayward jar of mango chutney was
nearly lost overboard, but for some hasty action by those on deck!</span><span class="TextRun SCXW210939202 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW210939202 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgexiIiV2qxLEQJ4SeIOVJiuvPXkdkqxoojKQWkYPJjTxCqsaDJG2pr9i-72n_BVEOaFC9Tvxn32XAErdR55Fn7nTjpDZeYypACgDRQ5bkXzhobe-sA6fuTfgYKyLSo6km6NN2GOmuhg_dhNDbDEKEhi3yb0Fry0S2zbVC41n6BtI6CvpwBHIodC3xOxK/s1600/ed817c71-2381-4d8c-9f3b-476fb8d8397d.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two figures in waterproofs on the deck of a boat, with grey sea and grey sky in the background" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgexiIiV2qxLEQJ4SeIOVJiuvPXkdkqxoojKQWkYPJjTxCqsaDJG2pr9i-72n_BVEOaFC9Tvxn32XAErdR55Fn7nTjpDZeYypACgDRQ5bkXzhobe-sA6fuTfgYKyLSo6km6NN2GOmuhg_dhNDbDEKEhi3yb0Fry0S2zbVC41n6BtI6CvpwBHIodC3xOxK/w300-h400/ed817c71-2381-4d8c-9f3b-476fb8d8397d.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dreich journey</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGM8TU0Veb8IKpyQtwNdlDWmlgDrWmyPvzc0R3Fy2i0l8WiJnyOrt9LOiE72O99XtrewtdLfhSkGkIPgPNIaCgBKDJVXOv61TTlnXxWJHELkY2MvX8Ah0i1dYb78wMDnbkZq3MTzt6Kbv2CPlTQ3GrDzor6CGjhdcszjC0-lqxdHxmK2O3q-0zCV7LX55/s4032/IMG_8779.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two figures in waterproofs standing on deck and smiling at the camera" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGM8TU0Veb8IKpyQtwNdlDWmlgDrWmyPvzc0R3Fy2i0l8WiJnyOrt9LOiE72O99XtrewtdLfhSkGkIPgPNIaCgBKDJVXOv61TTlnXxWJHELkY2MvX8Ah0i1dYb78wMDnbkZq3MTzt6Kbv2CPlTQ3GrDzor6CGjhdcszjC0-lqxdHxmK2O3q-0zCV7LX55/w400-h300/IMG_8779.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Neyland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWJ0tYEUFQL9MOT8wtExFQbSMxNV1C2t0No3_u3EAnmIja6O0C0-bBHBAhA__ovDUWFm3blRba432fLXORfFEbepy-Vj-Dxz1yj0KTmw90BfNrFKezkPepyoxPGcT5s5ChNhTJwXQcP61CvXI7JDyhbIN9-mHKUGrbsEKaVZY_JxPWrsg5DbZtpf1DbjQ/s4032/IMG_8780.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two figures in waterproofs on the deck of the boat smiling at the camera" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWJ0tYEUFQL9MOT8wtExFQbSMxNV1C2t0No3_u3EAnmIja6O0C0-bBHBAhA__ovDUWFm3blRba432fLXORfFEbepy-Vj-Dxz1yj0KTmw90BfNrFKezkPepyoxPGcT5s5ChNhTJwXQcP61CvXI7JDyhbIN9-mHKUGrbsEKaVZY_JxPWrsg5DbZtpf1DbjQ/w400-h300/IMG_8780.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soggy but unfazed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssD74qbGEk-6S5nRP9KQajpsf3VTmmk6OE4CqrPGigV2-Vo29qewtRI4_Oqzq9S2xlUVFugQnIUsNmPMnztVbq2PiUTrSlO1368ovjdLQCT4VnFsPat62iJnTXACgtr1rtSZ5QoF3gjiRQ6iB5rpKbOk5VcE9oWXN-0Yz6mg8SYfb33k0T-dr_W2tDc5M/s1600/5081a03a-ebe4-4b49-b8fb-7b51468ca986.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Four figures in waterproofs on the deck of a boat with land in the background" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssD74qbGEk-6S5nRP9KQajpsf3VTmmk6OE4CqrPGigV2-Vo29qewtRI4_Oqzq9S2xlUVFugQnIUsNmPMnztVbq2PiUTrSlO1368ovjdLQCT4VnFsPat62iJnTXACgtr1rtSZ5QoF3gjiRQ6iB5rpKbOk5VcE9oWXN-0Yz6mg8SYfb33k0T-dr_W2tDc5M/w400-h300/5081a03a-ebe4-4b49-b8fb-7b51468ca986.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skomer in sight!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">At last,
the island. Breakfasts miraculously having remained where they were supposed to, we were very glad to set foot on the steps once more.</div></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then the
boxes – the bags – the tins of paint – the guttering – the brewery kit – the books
– the cartons of milk – the tarpaulins – the fuel cans – and, of course, the
baked beans. Those 87 steps don’t get any easier… but, sustained by crème eggs,
and with two additional helpers, we made it to the top. Back again – fulmars
wheeling past, made curious by our presence, and seals popping their heads out
of the water to inspect the boat. There we paused a moment as <i>Wavedancer</i> departed – just us four, now, and thousands of auks on the cliffs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaUmNhMAYmTPDIv7B9UATbIQbtyQ5TE4GokRlm92OvNqVALL6lOd14n1ylPRU5V3LWI3lKVma-EVSwAujYqSwtNHR5nZuVrIJs_MyZ_en3eubkwRhDbw8zF_EThGF1wl_i7_RGWDPO9CmRTpNDKBrTYyAGKinbdVTSSS2-wKhzRj663v3Eel6zjxMtzaX/s1600/54aaad92-b879-4923-b7fb-5f1c4c932cf7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="In the foreground a figure in red waterproofs leaning on a fence post as further down the steps two others look at a pile of boxes" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaUmNhMAYmTPDIv7B9UATbIQbtyQ5TE4GokRlm92OvNqVALL6lOd14n1ylPRU5V3LWI3lKVma-EVSwAujYqSwtNHR5nZuVrIJs_MyZ_en3eubkwRhDbw8zF_EThGF1wl_i7_RGWDPO9CmRTpNDKBrTYyAGKinbdVTSSS2-wKhzRj663v3Eel6zjxMtzaX/w300-h400/54aaad92-b879-4923-b7fb-5f1c4c932cf7.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly there...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oZkewm4zHJpxRiCGDVMqgUZDmhOOrMMDB12N36IP_rb0haKXgWyKP4BTa0jt2Y5oxLc7dlgDXe8HjvZWn1wxvd4R3vG8ag-ES4CV_l2eZuG8v_KJtJmsFdoxdJlQFNkINb3Im9THPfGmthKpjpGwGTYxuSzKbbgYJ91YSILW2WeFuzv4XR0Ie0Gc9Wk/s4032/IMG_8781.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tall person in a blue coat secures a dumper load of bags, boxes and a length of guttering" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oZkewm4zHJpxRiCGDVMqgUZDmhOOrMMDB12N36IP_rb0haKXgWyKP4BTa0jt2Y5oxLc7dlgDXe8HjvZWn1wxvd4R3vG8ag-ES4CV_l2eZuG8v_KJtJmsFdoxdJlQFNkINb3Im9THPfGmthKpjpGwGTYxuSzKbbgYJ91YSILW2WeFuzv4XR0Ie0Gc9Wk/w400-h300/IMG_8781.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob loads the dumper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhiLk8HY4qfLtMGb85j0uWDukw-3paL6VZScNvifuQ0BO4_aqWMxCTdI3-yUJzCRDqtSoG8hrKx31Cb-_Ua2kMt9oIJbvLw2vHhjzEc9DW1voRL4qfDQvtNc4K7L7_lvpWgnD-MD1IcY0ZjG_wY3Aip4Ya5sXjjonLKw2UYkkHf85lbAxYg2YA8VdLByA/s4032/IMG_8783.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A foggy view of North Haven bay" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhiLk8HY4qfLtMGb85j0uWDukw-3paL6VZScNvifuQ0BO4_aqWMxCTdI3-yUJzCRDqtSoG8hrKx31Cb-_Ua2kMt9oIJbvLw2vHhjzEc9DW1voRL4qfDQvtNc4K7L7_lvpWgnD-MD1IcY0ZjG_wY3Aip4Ya5sXjjonLKw2UYkkHf85lbAxYg2YA8VdLByA/w400-h300/IMG_8783.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mainland's out there somewhere</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We have
become accustomed to some sort of disaster awaiting us on our return – a rockfall, missing roof tiles, broken windows or an absent satellite dish. It
was therefore with an air almost of disbelief that we checked first the
buildings and then the paths and cautiously pronounced that all was well. Some
mould on the internal walls – to be expected – but the island has weathered the
winter remarkably unscathed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Since then,
we’ve mostly been settling in, setting up the buildings, carrying out
biosecurity checks, and making a start on our ever growing to-do lists. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The island
has alternately been bathed in glorious sunshine and barraged by wind and rain –
a tumultuous start to the season. After the wettest February on record,
Skomer is sodden – the old dam at North Valley Crossing is holding back a significant
amount of water, and paths have become streams in several places. Wellies are
essential… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1km1PU_nyfDFpa1_2psBuNGHp8nieHxdENSs6152MHJL1hE3POSKmPFeyMcHvJSlu9-0RY9kGD6dIaczta0TG1gxSDRKU2ftjQNHnIMt36f_mikYQRUycfq-urfMf9ySW5vg6DLx6qpHZgSgZbCCL1n9AgUf7VxM2CXAod_GhmUGroLVcmD1W_ej-gytQ/s4032/IMG_8825.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A wall between two pools of water. The right hand water level is much lower than that on the left." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1km1PU_nyfDFpa1_2psBuNGHp8nieHxdENSs6152MHJL1hE3POSKmPFeyMcHvJSlu9-0RY9kGD6dIaczta0TG1gxSDRKU2ftjQNHnIMt36f_mikYQRUycfq-urfMf9ySW5vg6DLx6qpHZgSgZbCCL1n9AgUf7VxM2CXAod_GhmUGroLVcmD1W_ej-gytQ/w400-h300/IMG_8825.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Valley Crossing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1DNsHyjQlz1I9oB3RhMOMKqyJSHbw6tDrMr24FixDFOd2SNtPnjMZVDVOfTbzOrmJCi4PE5jbZ2Uu8LI9ctsM9i_aZlNA59Nbun-bcme5kCDGmRV9J66cH0iyHkT1JanIZLNjENv5oQU1UQiCxE9vSS5g8xgiIKCVFmgUi3dZWQt9FjPSIgKOjJVQBAq/s4032/IMG_8855.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A waterlogged area of grass in the sunshine." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1DNsHyjQlz1I9oB3RhMOMKqyJSHbw6tDrMr24FixDFOd2SNtPnjMZVDVOfTbzOrmJCi4PE5jbZ2Uu8LI9ctsM9i_aZlNA59Nbun-bcme5kCDGmRV9J66cH0iyHkT1JanIZLNjENv5oQU1UQiCxE9vSS5g8xgiIKCVFmgUi3dZWQt9FjPSIgKOjJVQBAq/w400-h300/IMG_8855.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterlogged</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite the
cold and the wet, it is beginning to feel like spring – daffodils are blooming in
bright patches amongst the bracken, chough and shags are nest building, and
ravens are already incubating at the Wick. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9sVVvUaAP5SyYy0Sib_VFnJ3GlbsxT-8BR3ecuUX_o1hSnFr1jTZvaH4_kZyUPMQoEjJXDRuEZBf7n5RKNhASj53gdvlbwrWT-IvRtTV8NgxhpJ5QVBjEKSfJZmnv2LJZkjikQXbSmj2b55FdJ-2sYG3y1Jckb3cTIzkn0YKJITNeIZZEnzcF7z7i7H1/s4032/IMG_8798.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A cliff in the foreground with a distant island in the background, against bright blue sea and sky." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9sVVvUaAP5SyYy0Sib_VFnJ3GlbsxT-8BR3ecuUX_o1hSnFr1jTZvaH4_kZyUPMQoEjJXDRuEZBf7n5RKNhASj53gdvlbwrWT-IvRtTV8NgxhpJ5QVBjEKSfJZmnv2LJZkjikQXbSmj2b55FdJ-2sYG3y1Jckb3cTIzkn0YKJITNeIZZEnzcF7z7i7H1/w400-h300/IMG_8798.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guillemots on the cliffs at South Stream</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRn2IyxGp-5pDZepLqbNDReSap_xWXiqn49pe5zRCAc9_l7wj5scp0J5v0Z6pc442IFwoNELVfXgh9yVFoWu6DzsIOBwUOZmWD5vW2ALvdsgTviZvfVhmsXw-k42ha7lgMlf6HhwMddyH-cZto3iYSU5u9rHSNlZ89XNwZYd50Luz4lSpwQcmSw4UneQa/s4032/IMG_8851.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A farm compound of buildings surrounded by brown bracken, set against grey sky" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRn2IyxGp-5pDZepLqbNDReSap_xWXiqn49pe5zRCAc9_l7wj5scp0J5v0Z6pc442IFwoNELVfXgh9yVFoWu6DzsIOBwUOZmWD5vW2ALvdsgTviZvfVhmsXw-k42ha7lgMlf6HhwMddyH-cZto3iYSU5u9rHSNlZ89XNwZYd50Luz4lSpwQcmSw4UneQa/w400-h300/IMG_8851.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic March view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yLMAQYEu6HJO12K-4-_1qjPoin170KDZSAPoS4qK4Kfwg3scyO2BChh12f8G26RxU74zDrTKcApvyAboa8Uir19PR2Dr9mcIM0xX1eTAv86eQKvqCUjfrDVn3P-TKV4nAybAWoNPjnIKeZPcaORDbRqwaLF_DYsF_6MgOgfrGr44Jair3Hj1DBTOQnWB/s4032/IMG_8869.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A ruined building and a courtyard in bright sunshine" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yLMAQYEu6HJO12K-4-_1qjPoin170KDZSAPoS4qK4Kfwg3scyO2BChh12f8G26RxU74zDrTKcApvyAboa8Uir19PR2Dr9mcIM0xX1eTAv86eQKvqCUjfrDVn3P-TKV4nAybAWoNPjnIKeZPcaORDbRqwaLF_DYsF_6MgOgfrGr44Jair3Hj1DBTOQnWB/w400-h300/IMG_8869.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glorious Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh, and this
morning Leighton spotted our first puffin of the year! We haven’t seen or heard any Manxies yet, but it won’t be long. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over the
next few weeks, we’ll be cleaning and painting the accommodation, improving the
paths, carrying out monitoring of the early breeding species, putting the finishing
touches to last year’s reports, and preparing to welcome our first visitors of
the year on 29<sup>th</sup> March. Not long now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s good
to be back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>– <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Ceris, Assistant Warden</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g8ZoI6qKSkh2X2lxZWnc7uaZnEbQSGviCJg8ZQiQOJyVMh7i91KL_LH7gUl6NtTS6X6Wm5TfhvzF-QxJTa-HhfiJgKWQD0xnLYWubCDKHbEGBnKSn2V3opTgCf7gkoj3Cg0j_PB9AjLZ1Lk0VvdwtlZolsTFVIuvQG7mX3azfmpW8pBbTxydFSkxQPf7/s4032/IMG_8844.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grey skies, a grey pond, and a strip of sunlit bracken in between the two" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g8ZoI6qKSkh2X2lxZWnc7uaZnEbQSGviCJg8ZQiQOJyVMh7i91KL_LH7gUl6NtTS6X6Wm5TfhvzF-QxJTa-HhfiJgKWQD0xnLYWubCDKHbEGBnKSn2V3opTgCf7gkoj3Cg0j_PB9AjLZ1Lk0VvdwtlZolsTFVIuvQG7mX3azfmpW8pBbTxydFSkxQPf7/w400-h300/IMG_8844.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Pond with looming rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QWxPXquj5MiEUUhP16_Sy1qyTmAhm_wx1iMbkPw7OovzAcEPUIBXArmDfW4m6OuxZwDFNFuVwyFxaU-6jEIzITNoQDTAmdkH5p9j4l3WuvD1k2SzdsD60YbXhnS8CEPbPu11fGzkq98y3ZmCKSLpBmeo6RY1O5hc__EwfsW-BfjqA6IgpZc2kalmtUXJ/s4032/IMG_8853.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A large rock in a windswept sea against bright blue skies" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QWxPXquj5MiEUUhP16_Sy1qyTmAhm_wx1iMbkPw7OovzAcEPUIBXArmDfW4m6OuxZwDFNFuVwyFxaU-6jEIzITNoQDTAmdkH5p9j4l3WuvD1k2SzdsD60YbXhnS8CEPbPu11fGzkq98y3ZmCKSLpBmeo6RY1O5hc__EwfsW-BfjqA6IgpZc2kalmtUXJ/w400-h300/IMG_8853.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garland Stone in the sunshine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-81022169639354553482024-01-03T00:56:00.001+00:002024-01-03T00:56:20.586+00:00Long-Term Volunteering – Hear It From Them!<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Two of our long-term volunteers
from 2022 kindly answered a couple of questions for us about their experience
of volunteering on Skomer. Don't just take it from us - listen to them!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><u><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lira Valencia</span></u><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PQHi7v6CGVG1b6VShLfxKpGxxUdIpSQANSMIf93QiSslev-d2tUK-enTiNYA7OQNHCUBhaFBh-0iPhO1vld-1vis6f9VOTMRqwYltj0qTSuvgQ6JeFmzqS1xFd-EPx7F0Cx0krhcZK0b3s9S_V3B5ZDmBu_LPwOzgAUJz0R4-PYoAs3FLzI8fYJaRoC8/s640/Lira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lira smiling and wearing gloves." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PQHi7v6CGVG1b6VShLfxKpGxxUdIpSQANSMIf93QiSslev-d2tUK-enTiNYA7OQNHCUBhaFBh-0iPhO1vld-1vis6f9VOTMRqwYltj0qTSuvgQ6JeFmzqS1xFd-EPx7F0Cx0krhcZK0b3s9S_V3B5ZDmBu_LPwOzgAUJz0R4-PYoAs3FLzI8fYJaRoC8/w240-h320/Lira.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lira, in her new job at
Walthamstow Wetlands, holding a very small spider!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</tbody></table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When were you an LTV on
Skomer? </span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hello everyone, my name is Lira and I was a
long-term volunteer during the Autumn (July-October) on Skomer Island. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Favourite memory/ies from
Skomer? </span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I initially applied to volunteer on Skomer island
for the hands-on experience and to gain some practical conservation skills,
however I soon learnt that Skomer had so much more to offer than I expected!
The weather was absolutely stunning during these months which made exploring
the island such a treat- I had countless unforgettable swims with puffins over
my head and seals below my feet! For someone like me, who loves wildlife and
nature, you could spend hours exploring the island and almost always finish the
day admiring a spectacular sunset. With no shops on the island, one of the most
valuable things I learnt was how to make a gooooood bread. And with the island
being cut off from the mainland water supply, I also became so much more aware
of water wastage and my bad habits around water usage. These are things I
didn’t expect to learn but I am so grateful for- you won’t learn these things
unless your living on an island like Skomer!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What are you up to now? </span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">With the help from the Skomer island team (they are incredibly
supportive and helpful) I got my first job in the wildlife sector the week I
arrived back home! I now work with the London Wildlife Trust as a Visitor
Engagement and Volunteer ranger at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/walthamstow-wetlands"><span style="color: #3772a7; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Walthamstow Wetlands</span></a></span><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> - the largest urban
wetlands in Europe! Without the skills and confidence gained from my Skomer
experience, and without the encouragement from the amazing staff, I wouldn’t
have applied for my current job. Skomer island will always be a special place
with some of my favourite memories ever! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><u><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Anna Weir</span></u><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCJSLaJyl8Ev4kb3bgNkN1e8PaV0n9dTDVhoesa23QRcOikvri6aFehXE7PxpwfDmBUVYf05h5JMaTd604zGBTMg2O2O0ueNfkyrJJCSYTolPXEx7d9Wm-NAD1psb6lIDPeo4wc1_NCzH1CDAKd3dlKRmGvn7b5sQjrYeQvrRhBAYA-koiJnCWDR1mI4s/s602/Anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anna standing by the Farm." border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="602" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCJSLaJyl8Ev4kb3bgNkN1e8PaV0n9dTDVhoesa23QRcOikvri6aFehXE7PxpwfDmBUVYf05h5JMaTd604zGBTMg2O2O0ueNfkyrJJCSYTolPXEx7d9Wm-NAD1psb6lIDPeo4wc1_NCzH1CDAKd3dlKRmGvn7b5sQjrYeQvrRhBAYA-koiJnCWDR1mI4s/w320-h240/Anna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Anna working on her
personal project inside one of the exclosures on the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When were you an LTV on Skomer?</span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> I was a long-term volunteer on Skomer from July - October 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Favourite memory/ies from
Skomer? </span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I loved spending last summer as an LTV on Skomer
island. I have so many happy memories of my time there. I learnt so much about
Skomer's wildlife and what it takes to run a small island nature reserve
(delivering welcome talks, wildlife surveying and fixing signs and benches!). I
enjoyed meeting volunteers and visitors, sharing golden summer evenings with
the puffins, and climbing into caves to monitor the seals pups! However, my
standout memory has to be the night spent assisting with the storm petrel
ringing. Having a tiny storm petrel sat in my hand with Manx Shearwater flying
over head and waves crashing in the background was certainly a magical and
unforgettable experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What are you up to now? </span></b><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After leaving Skomer I have started a new conservation internship
on </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.ascension.gov.ac/conservation/about-conservation" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3772a7; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Ascension Island</span></a></span><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> in the South Atlantic. Here I have been assisting with a variety
of conservation projects from vegetation management in the cloud forest upon
Green Mountain, tagging the Endemic Ascension Frigatebird chicks, to counting
Green turtle tracks and nests on the beaches. Skomer was a great stepping stone
in preparing me for this internship because, whilst I'm no longer just a 10
minute boat ride away from the mainland, many aspects of island living remain
similar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For full details on the roles
and how to apply for 2024, please see our website: </span><a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/volunteering-opportunities/skomer-island-long-term-volunteering"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.welshwildlife.org/volunteering-opportunities/skomer-island-long-term-volunteering</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-72703805633344629842024-01-01T08:00:00.094+00:002024-01-01T09:13:25.188+00:00Long-term volunteer applications for 2024 are OPEN<p><u>Long-Term Volunteers</u></p><p>On 1st January, <a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/volunteering-opportunities/skomer-island-long-term-volunteering">applications for long-term volunteering</a> on Skomer for 2024 go live. Our long-term volunteers form an integral part of the island team. Assisting with day-to-day running of the island and supporting the wardens, visitor officer, and field worker with visitor engagement and wildlife monitoring. <b>Simply put – we could not run without them!</b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiND2zpT8oqusrfkLl1HT4cEp9K1GdX5on8VmYSES0MSB2V1kKlREsD6a135NH16oJjCzHn9NopsjbguX0o9OWthk-Y4vElAmeaaMmjOvdN1Vf5yfJiZQkmnZl_pQ5gkyEYL55AOnJ-VDhal0pdyV5UE5xp-yecRbfBA8-62tnWYIpGhTh9JUvY8Rr60A/s4608/20220415_Sunset%20at%20Garland%20Stone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiND2zpT8oqusrfkLl1HT4cEp9K1GdX5on8VmYSES0MSB2V1kKlREsD6a135NH16oJjCzHn9NopsjbguX0o9OWthk-Y4vElAmeaaMmjOvdN1Vf5yfJiZQkmnZl_pQ5gkyEYL55AOnJ-VDhal0pdyV5UE5xp-yecRbfBA8-62tnWYIpGhTh9JUvY8Rr60A/w640-h480/20220415_Sunset%20at%20Garland%20Stone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Garland Stone © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.33333em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have three <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Long-Term Volunteer</span> positions available in 2024:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin-bottom: 0.888889em; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 positions Saturday 23rd March - Saturday 6th July</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 position Saturday 6th July - Tuesday 1st October</span></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.33333em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also have one <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Seabird Monitoring Volunteer</span> position available in 2024:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin-bottom: 0.888889em; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: disc; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 position Tuesday 21st May - Tuesday 25th June</span></li></ul><p><u>What can I expect?</u></p><p><b>Public engagement</b></p><p>Skomer welcomes up to 250 visitors a day, and provides accommodation for 16 overnight guests. Staff and long-term volunteers work on a rota to deliver engaging welcome talks to visitors – sharing their favourite parts of the island, as well as any exciting updates (i.e. the first seal pup of the year hidden amongst boulders in South Haven, swallow chicks ready to fledge in the indoor picnic shelters, or a woodchat shrike calling at Moorey Mere!).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07_MLLAEk7hS5YcrUXXMp5xORuf4QqUSNWIl1svf_Q8XffLJl4bGDzxkiKpWQlMPpZ-lhpaAnXZQa5y-EX5NtMN6tCAji4hNlSE-9DH_f5wIHx6_QAUsI6EXmULKmdAHFwrOegVzwcwsKRv9AxjyDe6b6za22zI4CQmQRNAkVBRLw34_-ttWjMo3yqKCW/s2016/El%20and%20Maddie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07_MLLAEk7hS5YcrUXXMp5xORuf4QqUSNWIl1svf_Q8XffLJl4bGDzxkiKpWQlMPpZ-lhpaAnXZQa5y-EX5NtMN6tCAji4hNlSE-9DH_f5wIHx6_QAUsI6EXmULKmdAHFwrOegVzwcwsKRv9AxjyDe6b6za22zI4CQmQRNAkVBRLw34_-ttWjMo3yqKCW/w640-h480/El%20and%20Maddie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2023 LTVs Maddie and El prepare to run morning boats - © WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_8v13UYAPhmXfLruxTh5iarCRcOA_-HGPJUsEThhkKKyuqw3QkbFiGs-xijjdHkNcXMca2lRvIeoVbyGT6t-REdaWVdI5HgYs1Egh5agqT1J2zE8l4cySgMnMFJBizX0I7qIk84V8NDZWeo8YXelGTKdyd2nMDAZHW-tkcyLKx7p1zgU3_FzTVQCJg/s1024/20221215_LTV_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Long-term volunteer Eve (2022) stood in North Haven. The Dale Queen approaches in the background. Eve is running afternoon boats." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_8v13UYAPhmXfLruxTh5iarCRcOA_-HGPJUsEThhkKKyuqw3QkbFiGs-xijjdHkNcXMca2lRvIeoVbyGT6t-REdaWVdI5HgYs1Egh5agqT1J2zE8l4cySgMnMFJBizX0I7qIk84V8NDZWeo8YXelGTKdyd2nMDAZHW-tkcyLKx7p1zgU3_FzTVQCJg/w640-h480/20221215_LTV_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-term volunteer Eve (2022) runs afternoon boats © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Additionally, we host several overnight events over the course of the year. Long-term volunteers help to run these events. These include our family friendly Shearwater Week and Young Birders’ Week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpGWjFmwYozKRZtrvJUMzpu0S7tHG9u5-UZoKls0XozPKRiwsepwA1H0S2GvdrIKpCTzOdvlOL_2kT1XZ12xQk_DaDr9K6xoHDLIlAJkWao3wkCMCQX-bSJIqnO4iNEi3NsJQVT7tofMcr-ig2xhxU__kmGY9ek6ytzKM_soh3fTOLfor55xhCDppiw/s1024/20230107_Moths%20at%20YBW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpGWjFmwYozKRZtrvJUMzpu0S7tHG9u5-UZoKls0XozPKRiwsepwA1H0S2GvdrIKpCTzOdvlOL_2kT1XZ12xQk_DaDr9K6xoHDLIlAJkWao3wkCMCQX-bSJIqnO4iNEi3NsJQVT7tofMcr-ig2xhxU__kmGY9ek6ytzKM_soh3fTOLfor55xhCDppiw/w640-h480/20230107_Moths%20at%20YBW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-term volunteers Lira and Anna (2022) identify moths with Bee and Ed, as part of Young Birders' Week © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Seasonal wildlife monitoring</b></p><p>Skomer is internationally important for seabirds, with over 42,000 Puffins, 30,000 Guillemots, 10,000 Razorbills and almost half the world’s population of Manx Shearwaters – a staggering 350,000 breeding pairs. The island is also home to an abundance of other wildlife, including breeding Chough, Curlew, and Peregrine, Atlantic Grey Seals and its own endemic sub-species of bank vole - Skomer Voles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmipkhmaGgVcb2Qfz3VE4G-6QBWNv1L9gGw42hHX3tPAsvTg7PzdOlkGPSErDjZohokhLJaBabQTDStoNjuXYD9guEAQGESLTvtbybHfEjb66q_hqaWcynEexe8dm6LjnFLVatZJ3hMdFpJrnmWPnzqosyoZhM-QFnSEMkAHu9n5PpnJUrjRlfRBZ7g/s3992/IMG_1152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2661" data-original-width="3992" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmipkhmaGgVcb2Qfz3VE4G-6QBWNv1L9gGw42hHX3tPAsvTg7PzdOlkGPSErDjZohokhLJaBabQTDStoNjuXYD9guEAQGESLTvtbybHfEjb66q_hqaWcynEexe8dm6LjnFLVatZJ3hMdFpJrnmWPnzqosyoZhM-QFnSEMkAHu9n5PpnJUrjRlfRBZ7g/w640-h426/IMG_1152.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of razorbills © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS_SEEp8GYctq84BekHT9W87RHkr-k3ImKXuCc-REiZvTchI5eKKoW7n1RbDi3wNY9eg_6Pt2mtZ_FvEjVkSW64Lh0dFxbzGKUOMFMqeE1d9wm27YDLnqq_hEBfgm6RcuV2Fy6gI-UeK2ZmUzFfgH6sMa7wlELXdjeYz-9hV6GSdrmlBU5Ovs4DpMQQ/s6000/20220916_Seal%20pup%20at%20Pigstone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS_SEEp8GYctq84BekHT9W87RHkr-k3ImKXuCc-REiZvTchI5eKKoW7n1RbDi3wNY9eg_6Pt2mtZ_FvEjVkSW64Lh0dFxbzGKUOMFMqeE1d9wm27YDLnqq_hEBfgm6RcuV2Fy6gI-UeK2ZmUzFfgH6sMa7wlELXdjeYz-9hV6GSdrmlBU5Ovs4DpMQQ/w640-h426/20220916_Seal%20pup%20at%20Pigstone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal pup in Pigstone Bay © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V5vkhAYVHvFa-jLkcpV-gD5ZFDDj_d0yczCB7b9Sw6fJ5aIpuOre-B-Pe1lpqcz_fFB13TAGI351oCVR52Mo6CkoXMATIsfEDMpCe2wjBtaFawPkLCdh_7rgr6jkJ9WLmI5qv866U7pvk8j66OH5IHyB9Psie9DziL9MIEvoFYtOfz22sgbApjmEkrsR/s1024/Team%20Manxie%20Census.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V5vkhAYVHvFa-jLkcpV-gD5ZFDDj_d0yczCB7b9Sw6fJ5aIpuOre-B-Pe1lpqcz_fFB13TAGI351oCVR52Mo6CkoXMATIsfEDMpCe2wjBtaFawPkLCdh_7rgr6jkJ9WLmI5qv866U7pvk8j66OH5IHyB9Psie9DziL9MIEvoFYtOfz22sgbApjmEkrsR/w640-h480/Team%20Manxie%20Census.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team complete a Manx Shearwater census in 2023 - © WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The team are responsible for monitoring, and counting these incredible species. The latter part of May into June is a particularly important time, with our seabird counts taking place during this period. Long-term volunteers are joined by a seabird monitoring volunteer to complete our annual census of cliff nesting seabirds and Manx shearwaters. Seal monitoring takes place from August onwards, with our first pup usually being seen in the first week on the month.</p><p>We also monitoring our breeding birds, carry out butterfly transects, and set moth traps. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qQeMxi3WCy9if-nY1gcUxkdu7arBP6IjPmZ2el4eyEPiyg2HSaElhFPQfzWwOjCWRJOaxTmzVVoOU7D2HZSpgTTKLCIbBPgRKCJHfzmkGW_aqLnmmf-G0rqAjbnjF1jQoSTiQShSOuTRlaJh19IeiF30a0jTmuTqgp4YA0ZOQbiixUdS0DJDU9ofgg/s1024/20221215_LTV_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qQeMxi3WCy9if-nY1gcUxkdu7arBP6IjPmZ2el4eyEPiyg2HSaElhFPQfzWwOjCWRJOaxTmzVVoOU7D2HZSpgTTKLCIbBPgRKCJHfzmkGW_aqLnmmf-G0rqAjbnjF1jQoSTiQShSOuTRlaJh19IeiF30a0jTmuTqgp4YA0ZOQbiixUdS0DJDU9ofgg/w640-h480/20221215_LTV_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-term volunteer Lira (2022) carries out a butterfly transect © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is always wildlife monitoring going on, and long-term volunteers get stuck in with every aspect! Additionally, there are nearly always opportunities to get involved with the work our researchers are carrying out – ranging from Manx Shearwater chick weighing, to gull chick ringing.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbUrpFKzZvO_cEyELDLL2xkDyq94Hve20Fh_jd7Yqz3bHq1dhnyaMOq7olOJpyiLAL1JdHl-H1xPXVcE3ati2SmLSvflp-i7u8oJLkPdJmR-6VWMRTPm-m8j8C_14_6pzJRruo3PSMaDRpK_B5VOBOX1ZE26_kb-A-vppkHZvNRRa3ZxMBHFj5fiy4A/s896/2021_Becca.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbUrpFKzZvO_cEyELDLL2xkDyq94Hve20Fh_jd7Yqz3bHq1dhnyaMOq7olOJpyiLAL1JdHl-H1xPXVcE3ati2SmLSvflp-i7u8oJLkPdJmR-6VWMRTPm-m8j8C_14_6pzJRruo3PSMaDRpK_B5VOBOX1ZE26_kb-A-vppkHZvNRRa3ZxMBHFj5fiy4A/w480-h640/2021_Becca.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-term volunteer Becca (2021) assists with Manxie chick weighing © Becca Wanless / LTV 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Maintenance Skills</b></p><p>Living away from the mainland means that when things break there isn’t always a ‘professional’ around to fix it…the quickest way is often to do it yourself! With the support of staff, long-term volunteers assist with maintenance tasks. In 2022 this included: fixing benches, building boardwalks, repairing burrows, painting, carpentry, widening paths, etc. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCEyYrZEhyuDxfVIlxpQf8bUmQomYMCeFfOgruc9AqGzbR6v5_HGS0CGUU43-bG3A76p6Zb4EfrIowJw2fIzQzKC_oQw4qreszaGydzM-i4xfE0w-VapcZqsk9toi62zKhPJJsIZbvkzgyLYOO_DeHFCx91YLdRGdsw4-NaaISE90JBPL0JJ8oh-oIQ/s1024/LTV_Fixing%20the%20benches%20at%20NHV.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCEyYrZEhyuDxfVIlxpQf8bUmQomYMCeFfOgruc9AqGzbR6v5_HGS0CGUU43-bG3A76p6Zb4EfrIowJw2fIzQzKC_oQw4qreszaGydzM-i4xfE0w-VapcZqsk9toi62zKhPJJsIZbvkzgyLYOO_DeHFCx91YLdRGdsw4-NaaISE90JBPL0JJ8oh-oIQ/w640-h480/LTV_Fixing%20the%20benches%20at%20NHV.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-term volunteers Lira and Anna (2022) prepare to fix a bench in North Haven © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Training (and PPE) is provided in the use of relevant tools and equipment. Long-term volunteers are also expected to assist in the cleaning and management of visitor accommodation and facilities when required.</p><p><b>Memories</b></p><p>We admit we are likely biased, but Skomer is a pretty cool place to spend 3-months. Alongside learning new skills and living on a National Nature Reserve, you’ll get to meet and work with people from all walks of life.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMqr3V4dXm11wGr8rBh93tAKuaCwgCy5sRqtD9F54LsfHknmMGy9eJ3PnOJzHMlJodbHZ1gyv9oVNzP6bOoX1lrqeEoFJNL2seKtc0tXFtgv79JGGSUgmpwnOFq4ntwICcZWS5_KkmpgqtbgWUHKkncr4gssf84c8CVcYlt-UcIiPBC0Srh-xhaipLQRX/s2048/Team%20photo%202023.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMqr3V4dXm11wGr8rBh93tAKuaCwgCy5sRqtD9F54LsfHknmMGy9eJ3PnOJzHMlJodbHZ1gyv9oVNzP6bOoX1lrqeEoFJNL2seKtc0tXFtgv79JGGSUgmpwnOFq4ntwICcZWS5_KkmpgqtbgWUHKkncr4gssf84c8CVcYlt-UcIiPBC0Srh-xhaipLQRX/w640-h480/Team%20photo%202023.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the team of 2023 at a dungarees and folk music social - © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><u>How can I afford to volunteer?</u></p>We recognise that volunteering for an extended period of time can be tricky. Unfortunately, for many early career conservationists this balancing act can be too much. We’ve been working to make volunteering on Skomer more accessible, and offer the following benefits:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Free accommodation (including bills) for the duration</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Travel
expenses to and from Skomer (from within the UK)</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Training
budget - may include brushcutter, first aid course or Powerboat Level 2</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">£350
bursary for LTVs and £250 bursary for Seabird Monitoring Volunteer is also available from the <a href="https://www.friendsofskokholmandskomer.org/home">Friends of Skokholm and Skomer</a> upon
completion of a report which will be included in their newsletter.</span></li></ul></div><div><p></p><p>Please note, all expenses must be claimed back through the <a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/" target="_blank">Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales</a>. We are unable to pay for travel or parking upfront.</p><p>Interested in applying? <b><a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/volunteering-opportunities/skomer-island-long-term-volunteering">Apply here</a>.</b></p><p>Please note that the deadline for LTV applications is 23:59 on Sunday 28th January 2024 and for Seabird Monitoring Volunteer applications the deadline is 23:59 on Tuesday 13th February. For any queries regarding long-term volunteering, please email skomer.volunteer@welshwildlife.org. </p><p>We look forward to receiving your application. Pob lwc!</p><p>Rob, Skomer VO.</p><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-69956558241581619252023-11-08T15:17:00.000+00:002023-11-08T15:17:54.496+00:00David Saunders MBE We are sad to report the passing of David Saunders MBE in October 2023. David moved to Pembrokeshire in 1960 and was appointed first warden of Skomer Island, when it was declared a National Nature Reserve. He worked on the Island for seven years, with his wife and two children. David’s passion for seabirds then led him to help lead Operation Seafarer (the first national seabird census of 1969–1970), which provided the first comprehensive account of the numbers and distribution of seabirds around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. He was the director of the West Wales Naturalists Trust from 1976 to 1994. The West Wales Naturalists Trust was a fore-runner of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Later, David was known for his writing and lectures. He spent a number of years lecturing on cruise ships and across the counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. He was the author of number of books focused on seabirds and bird watching. His book "Where to Watch Birds in Wales" has recently been printed in its 5th edition. He continued to be a regular contributor to a number of publications. <div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHEK1yb-EYPqg3lfhPONIi4S_BOB_A8hxtaNqd3hvD2sRMxe_MOqlzHtkqn2IDTGfAEjw19Gyp20VbhEtX_2zVHXkcZEYajPuJ4sUYUcdhAYEM0MBgKqKMMYx8-dZN5FgnJne427o8U8hC_xR0Jl6xHHzNjnyMbVar8V1aFopb8glVdOUCeleX-5fFru3x" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bearded man with binoculars stands in front of the sea on a sunny day. In the background is a red, blue and white tour boat." data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1293" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHEK1yb-EYPqg3lfhPONIi4S_BOB_A8hxtaNqd3hvD2sRMxe_MOqlzHtkqn2IDTGfAEjw19Gyp20VbhEtX_2zVHXkcZEYajPuJ4sUYUcdhAYEM0MBgKqKMMYx8-dZN5FgnJne427o8U8hC_xR0Jl6xHHzNjnyMbVar8V1aFopb8glVdOUCeleX-5fFru3x=w413-h640" width="413" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">Photo credit: SEWBReC – Mary Gillham Archive Project -
<a href="https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/698551">https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/698551</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>David was awarded the MBE in 2003 for "Services to Wildlife Conservation in Wales", and in 2014 was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Welsh Ornithological Society. David was determined to help the Wildlife Trusts in Wales to work together more effectively and he helped set up quarterly meetings at Gregynog Hall to coordinate responses to All Wales consultations from the Welsh Office and others. Each Wildlife Trust was represented by one trustee and one staff member. </div><div><br /></div><div>David led the campaign to save Carmel Woods from being quarried, which led to the discovery of the only Welsh Turlough [seasonal water body with specialist fauna]. The Grasslands Trust owned the site, and then Nature Resources Wales bought it when the Grasslands Trust went into administration and it is now leased by us. It is comforting to think of the fact that one of our best nature reserves in Carmarthenshire is ours because David helped to save it all those years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>After leaving the West Wales Wildlife Trust, David kept in close contact with staff. Nigel Ajax-Lewis first met him in the mid 1970s through Cardiff University, and was still in contact during the pandemic, when they corresponded about the bird interest of Aberthaw for his latest book on where to watch birds. He maintained a passionate interest in Skomer and Skokholm Islands and was in regular email contact with me, and in close contact with the Friends of the Islands.
David is survived by his wife Shirley, children Robert, Rachel and Catherine, grandchildren Rhys, Huw, Sian, Owen, Eve, William and Emily and great grandson Leo. The family have asked that if you wish to mark his passing, donations can be made in his memory to The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at:
<a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/donate">https://www.welshwildlife.org/donate
</a></div></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-57840308002227541202023-10-03T18:55:00.004+01:002023-10-03T18:55:45.048+01:00Young Birders' Week 2023<p>This year, we enjoyed having 25 young people staying in the hostel as part of Young Birders' Week 2023. The event was generously funded by Pembrokeshire Bird Group and the Nature Networks Fund which helped to make the event accessible for young people.</p><p>We got up to a variety of activities during their stay - from moth trapping to cetacean watching, Manxie chick weighing and quizzes it truly was a fun week for the island staff. But that's enough from me - let's give our young people a voice and hear their thoughts on the event.</p><p>Rob, Skomer VO</p><p>------</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">1. Liliana </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP6RN-GWfSMp_-kCvq0gxSwftaNEDCZoRgJ3bTYEJPYHizKZqCL91XqInE9lYODo8RZ-pVFnJTIo7mUNZacAtdSbiROw45AcITwrxPNlOcu79w0s1dA3Q56938u8FdH0wbCAgLIir7kUyu7KsuCkxt__s32sa-J7N57yGm8cYWJxf0qP_dZydvtU734Dq/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-09-22%20at%2014.26.59.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Liliana, one of the group, holding a Manxie chick." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP6RN-GWfSMp_-kCvq0gxSwftaNEDCZoRgJ3bTYEJPYHizKZqCL91XqInE9lYODo8RZ-pVFnJTIo7mUNZacAtdSbiROw45AcITwrxPNlOcu79w0s1dA3Q56938u8FdH0wbCAgLIir7kUyu7KsuCkxt__s32sa-J7N57yGm8cYWJxf0qP_dZydvtU734Dq/w240-h320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-09-22%20at%2014.26.59.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liliana holding a Manxie chick</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A treasure trove of tremendous wildlife, a windswept
landscape bejewelled with birds, which holds such a special place in my heart.
Skomer Island, a place I have been lucky enough to visit on a few occasions
over the years as a Pembrokeshire local myself. After staying on the island for
weekly volunteering in April I couldn’t wait to get back and this years Young
Birders week was the perfect opportunity. Seeing the island in September is
quite a different experience to the chaos of the breeding season, but no less
spectacular. Autumn migrants are starting to pass through, the weather is even
more <br />changeable, and the Manx Shearwater chicks are beginning their nightly
preparations for their extraordinary fledging to Argentina. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having just finished my second year of Zoology at Cardiff
University, Skomer Young Birders presented a fantastic opportunity to get some
first-hand survey experience and develop my passion for birds around
like-minded young people. I attended the week last year too and feel as though
it really helped propel me further in my personal and academic life, giving me
a taste of what working outdoors in field research might be like and vastly
improving my identification skills. So I was back again this year, eager to
learn more from the staff, researchers, and other young birders. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had the chance to conduct cetacean surveys with the Long
Term Volunteers, spotting pods of porpoise fishing around Garlan Stone, and hear
from the resident grey seal researcher who told us all about the lives of seals
while we watched newborn pups take their first swim. One evening we set up Skomer
vole traps, filling them with cozy straw bedding and lots of oat snacks, then
checked them the following morning. Getting to hold the little voles was
wonderful, they have such sweet little faces, and learning that they are
recognised as a genetic sub-species was fascinating for the evolutionary
biologist in me. Helping out with the daily Manxy chick weighing was a definite
highlight. The chicks were all in various stages of loosing their fluffy down
which was resulting in some extremely funky feather-styles, somehow making them
even cuter! I will also never forget the moth trap that we did on the second
night, I have never seen so many moths in my life! There must have been almost
300 moths, which gave everyone plenty of time to improve their ID skills as we
sorted through all the species. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The weather was unseasonably warm so daily swims were a
must, and the birds passing through over the few days were marvellous. My first
ever Hoopoe, Wryneck and Spotted flycatcher all on the same day! However, when
the final day came, and the annual bird race was upon us, the sea mist had well
and truly set in. It definitely made the race far more interesting, not being
able to see the sea from the cliffs rather ruled out spotting any seabirds and
did force everyone to rely more on sound ID, an area in which I still have a
lot to learn. I really enjoyed getting to know the other young people over the
few days and the range of interests, backgrounds and birding-skill meant
everyone had something to learn from each other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I cannot sing the praises of Skomer Young Birders enough, I absolutely
love nature, the outdoors, and birds, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole
experience! Everyone was so friendly and willing to share their knowledge and
the organised activities provided great practical experience, while the free
time left plenty of opportunity to explore this special island. A fantastic few
days in a beautiful place with great people creating memories I will treasure…
what more could you ask for.<o:p></o:p></p>------<p></p><p>2. Ellie</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7TDrrBCUE8t9VsICzP0PA2uH6M89HzisG34Qbems7P4qdzHB70xZckPznm75MFFfRe26o_xGizYP6kr8P2chXlGFQjEtwJiTATETQ8KrkOKQeW_1NRy7-2ljbPM2_VJooxhppHtpmGHuMEHAaIx0eUtWf_h-CsYU9evPcNirqIchJxuSRdLCXv0qoMEf/s957/267e1ba4-f695-405d-b2cd-5adbe4cd801e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A selfie of a group of young people birding at the Farm." border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7TDrrBCUE8t9VsICzP0PA2uH6M89HzisG34Qbems7P4qdzHB70xZckPznm75MFFfRe26o_xGizYP6kr8P2chXlGFQjEtwJiTATETQ8KrkOKQeW_1NRy7-2ljbPM2_VJooxhppHtpmGHuMEHAaIx0eUtWf_h-CsYU9evPcNirqIchJxuSRdLCXv0qoMEf/w241-h320/267e1ba4-f695-405d-b2cd-5adbe4cd801e.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie, as seen in Jake's selfie of their team on the Bird Race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Having now had the chance to look through my camera at the
hundreds of photos I took that week, I can officially say I ticked off 52
species, and 6 lifers in 4 days! While seeing the birds on a young birders trip
was key, the people and the landscape really boosted how great this trip is to
look back at. We've all kept in contact back on the mainland and are already
looking for ways to get back. The staff are so enthusiastic about what they do
and what they know, super inspiring. As someone aiming for this line of work it
was such a good insight into fieldwork based ecological employment. Such a wel
organised trip, ace activities and as much fun and laughs as their was wildlife
on the island. Can't recommend this week enough no matter the level of birder you
enter at, guaranteed to learn something new and look back fondly.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">------</p><p class="MsoNormal">3. Jenny</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy31238VtjQCY97esg-4wz1uo5sGi-jqK6WFDDoOyV-O5HkTwqpjNg8l4QoZiNAzoUVPgPDWyvOxYLSTPKuEGgJqrS7pFc-C2c36b0uK2QfqgfetEt-xknGnhTRuO02Re1zS1TOBZft_9YhFFRALzw2VJkz1E6GpK6VIYODoDxtXA2SW0WcTYM4Xhot_3t/s946/Jenny%20holding%20a%20Skomer%20Vole.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jenny holding a Skomer Vole." border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="705" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy31238VtjQCY97esg-4wz1uo5sGi-jqK6WFDDoOyV-O5HkTwqpjNg8l4QoZiNAzoUVPgPDWyvOxYLSTPKuEGgJqrS7pFc-C2c36b0uK2QfqgfetEt-xknGnhTRuO02Re1zS1TOBZft_9YhFFRALzw2VJkz1E6GpK6VIYODoDxtXA2SW0WcTYM4Xhot_3t/w238-h320/Jenny%20holding%20a%20Skomer%20Vole.png" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny holding a Skomer Vole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Up goes the ferry, down cries my belly, we’re coming round
the bend, here it goes! No mysterious out-of-mist reveal but in its place a rare
sighting: the sun! and with it an infrequent glow, the island in the distance
standing proud like a crow. “There!” shout the crew of the Dale Princess,
pointing to the rising fin popping out of the sea as its owner sinks back in.
We rise and rush to one side of the boat, catching sight of a rogue juvenile
razorbill afloat.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we make it to shore, the recently crowned islanders are
weaving up the stairs, ready to start heaving as they lift our bags in conveyor
belt formation and their faces are alit with the kind of joy reserved for i-went-on-a-yoga-retreat-but-then-i-ended-up-enlightened-to-the-fact-that-pied-wagtails-are-massively-underrated.
Once we arrive there is a man with blue hair standing on a dumper and a tall
lady with short hair almost, well yes actually, jumping up and down and both
are grinning and we’re spinning our bags onto the four-wheeled yellow vehicle.
They’re telling us that this is their favourite week and we’re wondering if
they say this every week but really they do seem very excited and we’re excited
and we all plod up the path.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is the farm and the swallows are singing, Mario karting
around the archways of the old barn with no roof. The sun is high and we can
spot a few others (meadow pipit, singing robin, is that a linnet? Oh I don’t
know) coming to join the party. After we get a low-down of the plan we make a beeline
for the path, as the grinning blue haired man (Rob is his name) is giving us a
tour of the island. We begin east side I think but it could be south, because
at this point we’ve got first-time-round jelly brains which makes us see
through frames that make island orientation utterly different from all the
times that will follow. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rob’s leaping from path to rock, pointing high and low and
jumping to and fro explaining all the essentials he thinks we need to know. The
puffins and razorbills and guillemots were here, but now they’re not just the
shearwaters that walk weird. But here, eat this leaf it tastes like lemon and
called sorrel and this other one tormentil is a yellow four petalled flower.
You see the different gulls? The herring and greater and lesser black backs and
maybe we’ll see some kittiwakes and oh whats that sound? The chough’ty chough
choughs! Jibbering away yes jabber chatter blabber. Is that a pheasant?? What’s
hopping? I hear a hollow whaling sound! Red admiral, hello! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The visitors have gone round the bend we’ll sing a fair well
song and then splash! Wasn’t me, oop hello there you are a curious whiskered
watery mammal! Stop hiding underwater please!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next day, we’re out
near the Neck, burrows blobbing the landscape, Sarah reaches down, until she’s
armpit level with the ground. Then a fluffy one’s in her hand, blinking and
wondering why he’s back on the scales. But she’s measuring your weight before
fledge, it’s important stuff you know and now you’ve all got special burrow
numbers, a bit random but its your very own code! Alright he thinks and settles
in, adorning his fluff to the goggle-y eyed strangers, although he’s a rare
one, his friends mostly preferring the squiggle, squirm, flap technique. Sarah
shows her expert shuffle, lightly tip tapping across the land, stepping on just
the right mound as to keep everything bound. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their nocturnal habits were quite the intrigue, and we came
back to see what all the legendary partying around at night was about. Indeed,
we discovered they even keep the bouncy castle tradition alive, and with a big
moon in sight some say no not tonight. But others were ready, had the
Argentinian tango in mind, and off they went on their 11-day flight. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The days continued on…a snoot, the unseen coot, only choice was
the route. The mysterious incident of two voles trapped at nighttime. Whaling,
bathing seals on the shore, what more? Sunnies, full tummies and bunnies
galore. All played a part in making this a curious week: the bee and bird buffs,
the flying rocket enthusiasts, the master devil’s coach horse spotter…the convolvulus
hawk moth! There was excitement, and movement and squawking all around - and
not just from the birds. A fantastic time. Thank you to the amazing team on
Skomer Island!<o:p></o:p></p>------<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">4. Daisy</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzrBpfX7mGu0Ue0AM3e_Vh61283Z7kBa-VNhsHd9OVT0M030EmwbJzRV8UvvVaq5VvtTUbWhxizYkK1XK2sWPmBaq42mNOyCAxwH2JQmG1TEeYEbakKoXvXejtXasQOfBABvN97n_LWv3bePqUJlKjfx-WLHykQ_AJXPCFkCiTK_dmIC21Os7LAIx9K22/s2048/Rob%20tour.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob leading a guided walk at the Harold Stone." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzrBpfX7mGu0Ue0AM3e_Vh61283Z7kBa-VNhsHd9OVT0M030EmwbJzRV8UvvVaq5VvtTUbWhxizYkK1XK2sWPmBaq42mNOyCAxwH2JQmG1TEeYEbakKoXvXejtXasQOfBABvN97n_LWv3bePqUJlKjfx-WLHykQ_AJXPCFkCiTK_dmIC21Os7LAIx9K22/w320-h240/Rob%20tour.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group on a guided walk of the island with VO Rob</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">In the first week of September this year, I was lucky enough
to take part in Skomer’s Young Birders’ Week. This is a yearly opportunity for
people aged 18-25 to experience a 3-night stay on the island and see all it has
to offer in the autumn, including Manx shearwater chicks, new-born seal pups
and migrating birds on their way to their winter grounds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I found out about the week on social media and thought it
sounded like the perfect chance to get back to nature. I’ve loved wildlife for
almost as long as I can remember, and volunteered with a few different
organisations to this end, including monitoring marine mammals with the
Wildlife Trust at Cardigan Bay. I studied Biology at university, hoping to one
day work in conservation. Since graduating, I’ve worked in an office job for an
environmental charity, but have really missed the outdoors and the connection
to nature that more hands-on conservation can bring.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I travelled from Bedfordshire to west Wales via three trains
and a friend’s van, arriving at the boat to Skomer for 10am. The wildlife lost
no time and as we reached the docking area on the island we saw three porpoises
surfacing, including a calf, just a few metres from the boat. Gannets and
fulmars were gliding above the sea and the skies were blue and sunny – and stayed
that way until we left – something I’m not used to on the Welsh coast!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The next 3 days were packed full of experiences that were
just as magical, including weighing Manx shearwater chicks, night walks around
the island, and vole trapping, meaning we could see and handle the endemic
Skomer vole, a subspecies of bank vole. The team on the island were extremely
generous with their time, letting us help set up traps, and answering any
questions we had about the island and their work on it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Although it’s hard to narrow it down, my highlights of the
week were:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Morning moth trapping – there were some
beautiful moths that I’ve never seen before, including a </span><i style="text-indent: -18pt;">huge</i><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">
Convolvulus hawk-moth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Watching a short-eared owl hunt over the bracken
as the sun was setting on our first night on the island.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Night walks, seeing some of the hundreds of
thousands of Manx shearwaters on the island take their first flights and start
their migration to Argentina (including one which fledged from the rock Sir
David Attenborough sat next to on his recent documentary, Wild Isles)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Sitting at the farmhouse, where the visitor
accommodation is, watching swallows swoop around the old buildings while having
breakfast.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Walking around the whole island as part of a
Bird Race on our last day, where we split into teams and tried to see as many
species as possible. Despite the competitive aspect, when one team spotted a little
owl sitting in a rock formation they immediately sent detailed directions to
the whatsapp group so that everyone would have a chance to see it. We also saw
a peregrine falcon, a spotted flycatcher, some of the island’s choughs, a pair
of curlews, and then later on a snipe and dunlin resting at the North pond.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>A huge thank you to the staff, volunteers and researchers on
Skomer as well as the other young birders for all they did in making it such a
wonderful few days. And another thank you to the Wildlife Trust of South and
West Wales for making the week possible. It’s really inspired me to spend some
more time out in nature, birdwatching and volunteering – and I’m already
looking into applying to come back to Skomer to volunteer. It’s a difficult
place to leave behind!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMOfKxqr7p8c8MLvtDdYQLHiYs8-4hZIxgBsVj1w9Pch85OTIFTsPEXSxlYFZ2dxYhxgi6o6ba1O6K0NRnOvF8BMXh3146MTmof4b8FSzJghyXE3RGsFrEk-fcBPXWt-exph_ujJNOzVM2lbzFDSovnJ_LZXlU-uXUkK6XC_LhzJs0fzMVyl8Rb-B00dH/s1260/Group%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group selfie on the steps." border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1260" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMOfKxqr7p8c8MLvtDdYQLHiYs8-4hZIxgBsVj1w9Pch85OTIFTsPEXSxlYFZ2dxYhxgi6o6ba1O6K0NRnOvF8BMXh3146MTmof4b8FSzJghyXE3RGsFrEk-fcBPXWt-exph_ujJNOzVM2lbzFDSovnJ_LZXlU-uXUkK6XC_LhzJs0fzMVyl8Rb-B00dH/w320-h240/Group%201.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first group</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuJh1vDIRh80zwMM8On3m3kFKbvdqnO1ttO-0qwmZN_94QuBH9uZmZWMzE7YWj0mUazs0coHYR4NUES1CpeQXC6LJ4rCowJCpEM0kRFF_bDjvQWZDoQz12TwyIVGQ2U2QL021Vbdumy9WrsJ8yoEAycn-MFxSU1TyWwrPsu0m7Vgx6ZarZE23Jqy_rnKH/s1270/Group%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group selfie with the second group." border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1270" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuJh1vDIRh80zwMM8On3m3kFKbvdqnO1ttO-0qwmZN_94QuBH9uZmZWMzE7YWj0mUazs0coHYR4NUES1CpeQXC6LJ4rCowJCpEM0kRFF_bDjvQWZDoQz12TwyIVGQ2U2QL021Vbdumy9WrsJ8yoEAycn-MFxSU1TyWwrPsu0m7Vgx6ZarZE23Jqy_rnKH/w320-h212/Group%202.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our second bunch of young birders</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p><p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-63145876818748659782023-07-19T16:45:00.000+01:002023-07-19T16:45:16.610+01:00Island update: LTVs El and Maddie<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hi! I'm El, one of the long term
volunteers on Skomer this July to September. After a day's delay due to poor
weather conditions we arrived on Skomer to a warm welcome and warm weather.
I've only been on Skomer a week but am already settled in and excited for what
the next three months will bring.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtbqjcc3h9QA1W8YKl7GMNP5hZtByzgNxID1qAOcX6FaE11zuUbcOFpVyEwnHsNsbbFOZkYf1mcmF9QyK3KEbx1GE_4oEqIZmDEVyiYmMBZ993AY-4OO2YpJSzKNDW-VnbVWqCVH6DjtSp00MwPRc7-uVnp_3TLStkPee0ctlIJEqw_IbhofNzebpf-8a/s2016/El.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="A well wrapped-up figure sitting next to a boulder and looking through binoculars at a steep cliff face." border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtbqjcc3h9QA1W8YKl7GMNP5hZtByzgNxID1qAOcX6FaE11zuUbcOFpVyEwnHsNsbbFOZkYf1mcmF9QyK3KEbx1GE_4oEqIZmDEVyiYmMBZ993AY-4OO2YpJSzKNDW-VnbVWqCVH6DjtSp00MwPRc7-uVnp_3TLStkPee0ctlIJEqw_IbhofNzebpf-8a/w640-h480/El.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El spotting kittiwakes at the Wick</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I studied Ecology and Conservation Biology. After
graduating in 2021 I worked in practical conservation and habitat management at
an environmental education center. Eager to get a chance to get more involved
with species monitoring efforts, last summer I volunteered on the Isle of Eigg.
There I developed a taste for island life, and I knew I wanted to continue
working in places surrounded by the sea and as many birds as possible. I spent
this spring and early summer on Skokholm, Skomer's neighboring island. I got
the chance to work with a range of seabirds, including great black backed
gulls, Manx shearwaters, storm petrels, puffins and fulmars. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Now on Skomer, I am getting into the swing of
welcoming day visitors to the island and chatting with people about Skomer's
awesome wildlife. I've also been cutting back fast-growing bracken and brambles
from paths and signs, and have helped check biosecurity boxes set up around the
island. I have enjoyed spending my free time so far exploring the island and
watching my favourite gulls, kittiwakes, with their young. The highlight of the
week was getting to see an incredibly fluffy Manx shearwater chick (thanks
Emma!). I'm looking forward to starting seal counts as they begin returning to
Skomer to pup. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Thanks for reading! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">- El<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiYshxNF5Yp2BoVK9lJJ48emvk727hhLbS-ijNRVj9ZLp_zFWT1Deiu7zY5R5eK57lyrGZwilz_gaDGDsx0ce04meD9g6EQ0ImyrxGEFuNHurXu69GZDc2Ovh4wtnuNTDZQ8DBjDCGcYWQeRyplrZ48OklmTjn3HqOgKUvc1QSmNRSuV4Hd-J5UEhqsDg/s2016/Maddie%20and%20El.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two long-term volunteers wearing caps and standing in front of Skomer's sales point" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiYshxNF5Yp2BoVK9lJJ48emvk727hhLbS-ijNRVj9ZLp_zFWT1Deiu7zY5R5eK57lyrGZwilz_gaDGDsx0ce04meD9g6EQ0ImyrxGEFuNHurXu69GZDc2Ovh4wtnuNTDZQ8DBjDCGcYWQeRyplrZ48OklmTjn3HqOgKUvc1QSmNRSuV4Hd-J5UEhqsDg/w640-h480/Maddie%20and%20El.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">El and Maddie running morning boats</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hi - my name’s Maddie, I’m 23
years old and the second new Skomer Island long-term volunteer (LTV) for
July-September. During my short time on the island I’ve already started aching
all over from getting stuck into the hard work, including lugging visitors’
bags and brushcutting - but I’m still not used to the sheer amount of wildlife
now on doorstep!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve recently graduated from
Cardiff University with an integrated Master’s degree in Biological Sciences.
My degree choice was definitely influenced by my lifelong passion for the
natural world (especially birds!), but I wanted to do something completely
different to studying over the summer, with practical conservation work.
Alongside uni, I volunteered time to get involved with conservation efforts
whenever possible, including wetland bird surveying, nest box monitoring,
Great-crested Newt surveying, vegetation management at local wild spaces and
helping to set up my university’s ornithological society. Each of these
rewarding experiences have helped prepare me for this role, but there’s still
been a lot to learn! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyC6le0gE9gf3OBZGTYYMSnRZ9UHmCyuUQ6mlrWZp5wiHm0jEtmSKO3CTxJ1UepdrCY6H_TC3g0fazTI47x7YbTNENOgFwsp-9UmC2D_7sdEFEeBoBa7Obu9VHC0PwiLWdBI7DzV5kwO6ODqWILLvTeNStf7Bdn8HeXJSZ9sYCm0qNI24lFtHkKOvMwd2/s2016/Maddie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Maddie smiling at the camera, in the middle of a field full of wood sage" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyC6le0gE9gf3OBZGTYYMSnRZ9UHmCyuUQ6mlrWZp5wiHm0jEtmSKO3CTxJ1UepdrCY6H_TC3g0fazTI47x7YbTNENOgFwsp-9UmC2D_7sdEFEeBoBa7Obu9VHC0PwiLWdBI7DzV5kwO6ODqWILLvTeNStf7Bdn8HeXJSZ9sYCm0qNI24lFtHkKOvMwd2/w640-h480/Maddie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maddie on a morning wander</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">After my initial arrival on the
island and getting a chance to take in all the wildlife, I soon jumped straight
into work. My tasks so far have included helping the day visitors and hostel
guests on and off the island, including giving welcome talks about Skomer –
these pushed me out of my comfort zone initially, but I now really enjoy
sharing facts and recent sightings with the visitors. I’ve also got involved
with other tasks, such as path clearance with a brushcutter, sorting out kit
and contributing to bird log (a relaxed daily chat with staff and guests to
record everything we’ve seen during the day).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In such a short space of time I
feel like I’ve already gathered many memories that will stick with me. Three of
the most exciting parts for me so far have been:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Stepping outside at midnight to
hear the endless cacophony of thousands of nocturnal Manx Shearwaters calling
out as they flew above – the sound is incredible, and quite spooky!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Spotting a leucistic (white)
Puffin bobbing on the water among its more colourful companions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Seeing young birds all over the
island – Oystercatchers, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Curlew, Meadow Pipits,
Guillemots and many more!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw7qjDIaN1Tiky0Dn2QBvKfxjj2HvDUkNhP9JWaJY6sY9Iw-njqve7jUZCjvxHBeQDNh0tUCdUDMDESHYO4IG6uAa-mKlTgghWRXS6EoDObzMBoNP2AcUuVXwlcwhXThCQsZSX7TPCVG5gvse_hDm_VanSDZ4u3c4iUSMhKMBPAc1uH3UcsOK7SqqQe9A/s5472/DSC08374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Young Oystercatcher with dusky bill runs from left to right through green vegetation" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw7qjDIaN1Tiky0Dn2QBvKfxjj2HvDUkNhP9JWaJY6sY9Iw-njqve7jUZCjvxHBeQDNh0tUCdUDMDESHYO4IG6uAa-mKlTgghWRXS6EoDObzMBoNP2AcUuVXwlcwhXThCQsZSX7TPCVG5gvse_hDm_VanSDZ4u3c4iUSMhKMBPAc1uH3UcsOK7SqqQe9A/w640-h426/DSC08374.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Oystercatcher </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Throughout summer and as autumn
draws nearer, I’m excited to join in with more conservation work – including
monitoring the Atlantic Grey Seals during the pupping season in just a few
weeks time. Very soon I’ll also be starting a personal research project (once
I’ve finally narrowed down a study species!). Lastly, I’m really looking
forward to chatting with more guests, as well as getting to spend lots more
time with the friendly staff and researchers here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Thanks for reading! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">- Maddie <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczjww3goUYPAQ4d0_uwYWIJqdZOpCblMuoPjA6iLFrYpk1_QYCSxyyoY3DMnSj69fr3M0ARa8fCaJj_xfgoYf_qeKkK2E_Clc165ijeCOPB_XhOcxKS5pgVTDGuSppb1fa2rOTmqeXu30mb3s4J-F8lTxbxxKdUQYXRIHcZpcWYoYfk_zHOyuxmm3vXX0/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-07-19%20at%2016.25.03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hand holding a young Puffin with book shelves in the background" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczjww3goUYPAQ4d0_uwYWIJqdZOpCblMuoPjA6iLFrYpk1_QYCSxyyoY3DMnSj69fr3M0ARa8fCaJj_xfgoYf_qeKkK2E_Clc165ijeCOPB_XhOcxKS5pgVTDGuSppb1fa2rOTmqeXu30mb3s4J-F8lTxbxxKdUQYXRIHcZpcWYoYfk_zHOyuxmm3vXX0/w482-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-07-19%20at%2016.25.03.jpeg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This young Puffin ended up in the Library after wandering into an open door, blown open at night</td></tr></tbody></table>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-31291420641527338782023-07-15T13:39:00.003+01:002023-07-15T13:40:24.442+01:00Seabird Counts 2023 - How Did We Count Them?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> If
you were on the island in May or June, you may have noticed our staff carrying
out lots of land and boat surveys – that’s because it was seabird counting
season. With the aid of some photos, we thought it would be nice to explain a
little more about what the survey work entailed. Our Puffin counts were
completed in March (<a href="https://skomerisland.blogspot.com/2023/05/clickers-at-ready.html">see blog post here</a>) so we were focusing on Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars,
Kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm7VmSeGvFVDiSNkyaCMQkrQvJaSQ_rOlCUQSQgxaC6VNWIsoreuZFDX25k_572dB9RjhnOENSDI-G8_Tx8NiBy9pW28_wJ4n3BLk0UHyxLvWQQ4Db4sPCbXqawpl4MdD7287RJIyBAqKVyvWAGiLjSS34ayNPJDeopaTCw3h59rY_7pM9hA-i7rGx2fiu" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob and Leighton fixing up the boat on the dry dock." data-original-height="296" data-original-width="395" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm7VmSeGvFVDiSNkyaCMQkrQvJaSQ_rOlCUQSQgxaC6VNWIsoreuZFDX25k_572dB9RjhnOENSDI-G8_Tx8NiBy9pW28_wJ4n3BLk0UHyxLvWQQ4Db4sPCbXqawpl4MdD7287RJIyBAqKVyvWAGiLjSS34ayNPJDeopaTCw3h59rY_7pM9hA-i7rGx2fiu=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob and Leighton fixing up the boat ready for launch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwG0E8hSKzhzyPmP47qhlxqgaZLbkxYchw3z_XblkyGD4j1_64UPotmjkZLcQPvO1C9WMGkgJogU2hVIwvg2UlBHPTZ7auIuWc1JtpC1m7tmPj-pdrTSjcNRGUWkrtnD6pqfxzYExET0vETaIUDwvkPt2QC9xkdQK8KKYxgUIc5vPfbJ6Y4LV5pikVUSPI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob wearing sunglasses and a hat driving an orange boat." data-original-height="318" data-original-width="239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwG0E8hSKzhzyPmP47qhlxqgaZLbkxYchw3z_XblkyGD4j1_64UPotmjkZLcQPvO1C9WMGkgJogU2hVIwvg2UlBHPTZ7auIuWc1JtpC1m7tmPj-pdrTSjcNRGUWkrtnD6pqfxzYExET0vETaIUDwvkPt2QC9xkdQK8KKYxgUIc5vPfbJ6Y4LV5pikVUSPI" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob on his powerboat course pre-season</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guillemots
and Razorbills<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our counts
for Guillemots and Razorbills started on 25<sup>th</sup> May and had to be
completed by 11<sup>th</sup> June. The island is split into 45 sections of
coast, each of which has to be counted twice. Every Guillemot and Razorbill in
suitable breeding habitat (not sitting on the tideline and clearly on nest
sites) are counted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQv6J1b8mJt8mdHvcc8GE9Ncm-7Li7iflNP3f_q3C99PUJT2TY_98_NFkG5iORKSVl1Pyo8Laj_mKb3mLictKc4Qc9aX7otr_kIKQaTqoQdS4g6KMTl_GiXbqhv8jFJIlA-ZJESjyX6_7jHEgiqoddZBjQtEfvbkiL59jcnorPzBuNycZK-HB2Paq1xGwM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hannah and Lisa using binoculars to count seabirds from the side of the boat." data-original-height="275" data-original-width="367" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQv6J1b8mJt8mdHvcc8GE9Ncm-7Li7iflNP3f_q3C99PUJT2TY_98_NFkG5iORKSVl1Pyo8Laj_mKb3mLictKc4Qc9aX7otr_kIKQaTqoQdS4g6KMTl_GiXbqhv8jFJIlA-ZJESjyX6_7jHEgiqoddZBjQtEfvbkiL59jcnorPzBuNycZK-HB2Paq1xGwM=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah and Lisa counting Guillemots and Razorbills</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">The photo
below shows the difference between a Guillemot and a Razorbill. Razorbills are
black with a blunt thick bill with a white stripe and a long pointed tail,
whereas the Guillemots are chocolate brown with a shorter tail and long thin
beak.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOFpF4D84yUxRV1iy7xuSUmedEnnLGgvTJ0HjP4PBmKspgalxPEmrjT1k4x4zxAK2NHD0b3XS9eTcfz5hZYG4_AYPDMnSAAEdv0TUmknrRzLVB5N1-lzxicbEA9UX1NdqK3DDM_kP_1_hwBpKKMKoHg6pGyNenM9iaGm0wgB0wnU63AvkW1Alv52rzyYod" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A brown Guillemot on a cliff with a pair of darker Razorbills above it with a chick." data-original-height="316" data-original-width="421" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOFpF4D84yUxRV1iy7xuSUmedEnnLGgvTJ0HjP4PBmKspgalxPEmrjT1k4x4zxAK2NHD0b3XS9eTcfz5hZYG4_AYPDMnSAAEdv0TUmknrRzLVB5N1-lzxicbEA9UX1NdqK3DDM_kP_1_hwBpKKMKoHg6pGyNenM9iaGm0wgB0wnU63AvkW1Alv52rzyYod=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Guillemot (bottom) and pair of Razorbills with a chick (centre)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN-US">Fulmars
and Kittiwakes<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The counts
for these birds start on the 1<sup>st</sup> June to time with their incubation,
though the rest of the methodology is the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Kittiwakes
are found in dense colonies. They are medium-sized gulls with black legs and
wingtips, a prominent dark eye and yellow bill. Fulmars, who are members of the
Albatross family despite resembling gulls, have broad stiff wings and a
prominent “tube-nose” capable of spraying an oily substance at predators when
threatened.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilB9Ij3XmqkbCje7NgpFPcdOjOflUyhW2oA_K61KHuYTRsTd_FmJZI3ONEscs5QEP5PzEsDx8nb8WetT-ZNxFWnFHsVgnqBYKyFmAI2nzEgzQPiKp7krWV27J3Ibp-4Z9AN0JTeEUeGwvU9kzzIAA7Ifirqt7F_W294uiGW6LLqz8pLlQwIonTNlVhtLba" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A steep cliff face with Kittiwakes nesting." data-original-height="249" data-original-width="331" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilB9Ij3XmqkbCje7NgpFPcdOjOflUyhW2oA_K61KHuYTRsTd_FmJZI3ONEscs5QEP5PzEsDx8nb8WetT-ZNxFWnFHsVgnqBYKyFmAI2nzEgzQPiKp7krWV27J3Ibp-4Z9AN0JTeEUeGwvU9kzzIAA7Ifirqt7F_W294uiGW6LLqz8pLlQwIonTNlVhtLba" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittiwakes on a cliff face with chicks</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfIUU2JUV0mSBA_IZoQFImurnj_gHLuekSNTSMwwmkVO7Sb_Z7s42J46j1ZYsZ3vzacARTf3y1-W3zBz0v2QV8rkQ5SGPxrkBf5lrc4nK8y51DENmh4wr-XR5yDf7GQIjbM_MfD1-24Mtz1nc8Ex4C3mHlCwPbmsQdUfude8TEHFbeunUKNFhDzRILEoNY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hebe and Issy counting with binoculars with the cliffs behind them." data-original-height="229" data-original-width="407" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfIUU2JUV0mSBA_IZoQFImurnj_gHLuekSNTSMwwmkVO7Sb_Z7s42J46j1ZYsZ3vzacARTf3y1-W3zBz0v2QV8rkQ5SGPxrkBf5lrc4nK8y51DENmh4wr-XR5yDf7GQIjbM_MfD1-24Mtz1nc8Ex4C3mHlCwPbmsQdUfude8TEHFbeunUKNFhDzRILEoNY=w320-h180" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hebe and Issy counting Fulmars and Kittiwakes from the boat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><u><span lang="EN-US">Manx
Shearwater Census</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">To monitor
the Manx Shearwater numbers, we have a series of 100m<sup>2</sup> circular
plots around the island. As this starts on 1<sup>st</sup> June, Manx
Shearwaters should be on their nests incubating during the day. As a team, we
move through the plots, playing Manx Shearwater calls down every burrow we find
– the Manxies will usually call back to the recording if they’re in there. By
working out how many burrows in a plot are occupied, we can scale this up to
get an estimate of island numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHfmf1wR95xjyjXE04540NWHtxVe2qfYsfyLgFgP34nTYDAEmPnOyTgwxOXlKzl8M4rP6mi70W7adlJHrf5pnsrG5rB4o1rCQ8IdMAjVFGdp_ERmejr8i5TiTNOC0982vcKINd41cIbdHbFmTCSKQWCR8VHPqRBx0gQ4OjVwNRdAZO9M5LQmhnxDvDkNT3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A view down a steep hill with Rob, Hebe, Erin and Lotti all holding ropes." data-original-height="291" data-original-width="387" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHfmf1wR95xjyjXE04540NWHtxVe2qfYsfyLgFgP34nTYDAEmPnOyTgwxOXlKzl8M4rP6mi70W7adlJHrf5pnsrG5rB4o1rCQ8IdMAjVFGdp_ERmejr8i5TiTNOC0982vcKINd41cIbdHbFmTCSKQWCR8VHPqRBx0gQ4OjVwNRdAZO9M5LQmhnxDvDkNT3" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob, Hebe, Erin and Lotti putting ropes to mark the Manx Shearwater area</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1Bh7HRXJ9oUOT56a6uH5xMzm8YM7KD3m7L90PogJzYPTkqM2CYHS9_9Zhx3C3mjnAOSMlmwmoF0FBBQi4Lalo4qgLj6-q7eDbI0t8Y17_mwp9ZHkxCIQoiPrMoQRI2LowgGR0f1lYD6JKjrlkAHhLugHCL18nwmNwEet_QAt6k9cnmJAwq6Jrwu55IMl7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Erin and Leighton crawling over burrows holding speakers." data-original-height="278" data-original-width="371" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1Bh7HRXJ9oUOT56a6uH5xMzm8YM7KD3m7L90PogJzYPTkqM2CYHS9_9Zhx3C3mjnAOSMlmwmoF0FBBQi4Lalo4qgLj6-q7eDbI0t8Y17_mwp9ZHkxCIQoiPrMoQRI2LowgGR0f1lYD6JKjrlkAHhLugHCL18nwmNwEet_QAt6k9cnmJAwq6Jrwu55IMl7=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leighton and Erin checking burrows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwxoeYkjHFF0kzhsK6lQx4gA3SJm92KUjx0K533E3LOMhn4skztxQ0z4_NgD8TJZAzweLSfpLJ60n4k-K9Pgb5rcUMcACP9FATuWmggOvm_o4kwlrm0ynvN1bUhMUpym7nxzd82i8uopwCpkMEeTiZQTZ1d5m_ZUEHFukHdcMxycNrCkLVuI9p-HgDVtb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Will lying on the ground holding a speaker in the entrance of a Manx Shearwater burrow." data-original-height="254" data-original-width="339" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwxoeYkjHFF0kzhsK6lQx4gA3SJm92KUjx0K533E3LOMhn4skztxQ0z4_NgD8TJZAzweLSfpLJ60n4k-K9Pgb5rcUMcACP9FATuWmggOvm_o4kwlrm0ynvN1bUhMUpym7nxzd82i8uopwCpkMEeTiZQTZ1d5m_ZUEHFukHdcMxycNrCkLVuI9p-HgDVtb=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will playing a Manx Shearwater call down a burrow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">From all of
this data, we can calculate the populations of these five seabird species on
Skomer. It tells us how our seabirds are doing and informs our conservation
management for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We are
incredibly grateful to all our staff, researchers and weekly volunteers for
their help in completing this work. We are especially thankful to Hebe, our
seabird volunteer, Erin and Lotti, our long-term volunteers and Issy, our 2022
seabird volunteer, for their tireless work on boat and land surveys. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">
</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimcCG1-m9kL-obVd0y-McCbqNilG1NgRf8yuXnRVO3Q5vLLzCok7W_vhUhyR4_CDnCuu0BlpjitmrO6LJUJM_FcLjcU5o37zmqjl-jhW27romzDumOBIr9hoq5uwdPICHQWss2l3QtjWrQVrRCOQTRa82uHHY-_VcUmelanD5-cf92gVvaDPwYODY9LJdq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hebe smiling at the camera in the boat with a view of the cliffs behind her." data-original-height="393" data-original-width="221" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimcCG1-m9kL-obVd0y-McCbqNilG1NgRf8yuXnRVO3Q5vLLzCok7W_vhUhyR4_CDnCuu0BlpjitmrO6LJUJM_FcLjcU5o37zmqjl-jhW27romzDumOBIr9hoq5uwdPICHQWss2l3QtjWrQVrRCOQTRa82uHHY-_VcUmelanD5-cf92gVvaDPwYODY9LJdq=w180-h320" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hebe on our boat</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqjHoGneeXB-NwrDx_LChkNgQn2-rAEDPppjmkfSZP9EEZi6qi8VWD9CGwxFmSJLXTu2zpJM-gOx_94Om0CDMenAf1K4faD7CAeuHha6BF1ShtLNTf4zv89IPH6MUySBmkIjCM9-IB0qDII6LfPG8l3bcRvvv8HyZptOwk097WXWFoWc8-rNex2JP6C53f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ceris, Erin, Hebe, Tani and Rob taking a selfie on the island." data-original-height="352" data-original-width="461" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqjHoGneeXB-NwrDx_LChkNgQn2-rAEDPppjmkfSZP9EEZi6qi8VWD9CGwxFmSJLXTu2zpJM-gOx_94Om0CDMenAf1K4faD7CAeuHha6BF1ShtLNTf4zv89IPH6MUySBmkIjCM9-IB0qDII6LfPG8l3bcRvvv8HyZptOwk097WXWFoWc8-rNex2JP6C53f" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team celebrating the completion of another Manx Shearwater plot - this one took 5 hours!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Until next
year, seabird counts!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This
project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by
the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government. We are very grateful, as this funded the boat
repairs, boat clothes, Rob’s powerboat course and whole island seabird counts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfVhZzH0txQ5ITIWtgzid-poRbdhzGSXq2fHcg-BBYqBnNCgf2NJojkPmNjrlLfezOm_GvcRjJaa21-NYdXh31uYk6kSFkqLNIXxa1PyIR1Re7a-kLJtJa7myXUwAt20QqY4gZ0xLxiUg5ArsXVE5IswJYW_plPgkC2OOrr6_AKyHGL_mAtjNJiWF_iYs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rob driving the boat whilst wearing a new blue boat jacket." data-original-height="318" data-original-width="424" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfVhZzH0txQ5ITIWtgzid-poRbdhzGSXq2fHcg-BBYqBnNCgf2NJojkPmNjrlLfezOm_GvcRjJaa21-NYdXh31uYk6kSFkqLNIXxa1PyIR1Re7a-kLJtJa7myXUwAt20QqY4gZ0xLxiUg5ArsXVE5IswJYW_plPgkC2OOrr6_AKyHGL_mAtjNJiWF_iYs=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob modelling some of the new boat clothes provided by the funding.</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US"><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9FN27BO6cN50Zj19c9bmJx7O1j4AJwbh_Lc6EVWFvpntlGLoIqq8HHIN4f8z03Uupdq9VrqimmPm-1rR9hKotKK0mWsDpjHSlznY3T_UqNUUXzuI78Xmv8_tsnua7ReospJTxmAu-a75sFKeXVu9GCYlusXEm1yaNWDSeoXj47A0XHhi_NI7wN5lyEAH8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Heritage Fund Logo" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="842" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9FN27BO6cN50Zj19c9bmJx7O1j4AJwbh_Lc6EVWFvpntlGLoIqq8HHIN4f8z03Uupdq9VrqimmPm-1rR9hKotKK0mWsDpjHSlznY3T_UqNUUXzuI78Xmv8_tsnua7ReospJTxmAu-a75sFKeXVu9GCYlusXEm1yaNWDSeoXj47A0XHhi_NI7wN5lyEAH8=w640-h114" width="640" /></a></div><p></p></div><p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-42656576468909471402023-06-22T15:34:00.003+01:002023-06-22T15:36:28.551+01:00LBB (Lesser Black-backed Gull) counts 2023 - Which is also known as – ‘Finding Rare Birds’<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A guest blog from two volunteers; Mike and Ted Wallen who count Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Skomer every year: </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We are honoured once again be be asked
to write a guest blog of our annual pilgrimage to Skomer to count the Lesser
Black-backed Gulls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The weather forecast looked good
for the 5 days, and although the wind direction for our stay (mainly north)
didn’t look brilliant for rare birds, you can never really tell, little did we
know what lay ahead ………<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the end of the day, we were here
to count gulls, not find rare birds …………<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We were met by Leighton as we
jumped off the Dale Queen with our not so light rucksacks, packed full of
thousands of calories to get us through the long days ahead, and said hello to
a few of the 2023 team at the top of the steps. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We walked with Leighton to the farm
and talked through the gull counts ensuring our work wouldn’t impact on both
the scarce breeding species and the other researchers already on the island. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After throwing our stuff out of the
rucksacks and stocking up the ‘day bag’ with loads of food we were off counting…….well,
after a quick check of North Valley Crossing bushes. Straight away 3 Redpoll
went over, a few Swift and hirundines were pouring through West. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We started on the North coast
towards the Garland Stone, incredibly almost the first gull we looked at was a
hybrid Herring X LBB.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb3y7Zp41--LdLHMv2sqv9KxjoZ08tKusWjpUIBE_3lh9XIE-swBwJ2Zxea_U6Wj0lPOmha0G3jxO0WhsMcfdkOS_4tleG7lfmh0qQM3KqvSYBKYZTlYbxy0vINxXPDgcbfPS0K472C8lyE2JW-bKqAKktlOmiQ5CdmMNuNcni_Wz931QI2ppQXf-nooK/s3234/IMG_9992%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2378" data-original-width="3234" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb3y7Zp41--LdLHMv2sqv9KxjoZ08tKusWjpUIBE_3lh9XIE-swBwJ2Zxea_U6Wj0lPOmha0G3jxO0WhsMcfdkOS_4tleG7lfmh0qQM3KqvSYBKYZTlYbxy0vINxXPDgcbfPS0K472C8lyE2JW-bKqAKktlOmiQ5CdmMNuNcni_Wz931QI2ppQXf-nooK/w400-h294/IMG_9992%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hybrid Herring Gull x LBB Gull by Mike</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After a few counts here we reached
the coast and looked over the stunning view of the north coast and the Garland
Stone- my favourite place on the planet. A few more small counts, ate lunch at
the farm and then headed off into the west fields. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We were out just beyond West pond
when a significant number of gulls went berserk towards the Wick, rising up to
mob something…. something that was heading our way ! Unsurprisingly Ted was the
first one to see it, and exclaimed (quite loudly </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) that it was ‘massive’. I got on it and after a second or two shouted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Osprey !! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is Ted’s favourite bird in the
world, total shock took over as the bird flew towards us, the sun behind us and
dazzling blue skies behind the bird. To describe the views as sensational is no
understatement, we punched the air, fist bumped and hugged, well after we’d
taken a few pics and the bird had passed us. A moment of magic, a memory for a
life-time !!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuYctvyphzcPQ-AVxVKRtcbAblTKqxJvcIXXBflvAYl5P9uwNnsY7JKvAWpA3eJUxVzNFHavfMU_G9PgKEld-uphssykTBwSNOryuNzea-m5FnFHmjRDTf3atsNCj0b95KhSapTs65KflbgxO8LzmuLxSVM0D4ZD3Dsbu7czOt4-Uvh5S0ibEZwiMPN7W/s1255/DSCN0834%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1255" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuYctvyphzcPQ-AVxVKRtcbAblTKqxJvcIXXBflvAYl5P9uwNnsY7JKvAWpA3eJUxVzNFHavfMU_G9PgKEld-uphssykTBwSNOryuNzea-m5FnFHmjRDTf3atsNCj0b95KhSapTs65KflbgxO8LzmuLxSVM0D4ZD3Dsbu7czOt4-Uvh5S0ibEZwiMPN7W/w400-h318/DSCN0834%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey by Ted</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We moved on, but a day of beautiful
birds wasn’t over yet, as Ted then found a full S/P Golden Plover, the sun was
lower in the sky at this point, the plover looked fantastic in the late
afternoon sun, in the most stunning scenery – Wow !<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi909BBEuqaCOhfcG86sfHVDAgO6PS9x3c-hmUAQAixy31zRgU1hbhJoQYQukE3g39B2qDVDLS-5bRFbYkQA7rUspyQsdNwRHn-Qf4mUZ5oS0wHWhrLZEMV79OHjzsyC7ZOH5yx0pkDB5MOvF5s7mXhtuCEjCd-FXBTbqOjiEIQsLbNJ0DflINExd6z1IwM/s2381/DSCN1000%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="2381" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi909BBEuqaCOhfcG86sfHVDAgO6PS9x3c-hmUAQAixy31zRgU1hbhJoQYQukE3g39B2qDVDLS-5bRFbYkQA7rUspyQsdNwRHn-Qf4mUZ5oS0wHWhrLZEMV79OHjzsyC7ZOH5yx0pkDB5MOvF5s7mXhtuCEjCd-FXBTbqOjiEIQsLbNJ0DflINExd6z1IwM/w400-h295/DSCN1000%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Plover by Ted</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Counting LBB’s</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So just a brief idea of what we and
the island staff do to count the gulls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The whole island is one colony of
LBB’s, it is then divided into sub-colonies which stay the same each year with
minor fluctuations in size/ shape, then there are fixed points to view each
sub-colony from. Ted and I go to those fixed points and count how many birds
are actually on nests/ nesting, these are called the eye counts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next day saw us continuing with
the counts but obviously ‘migrant bashing’ early morning and evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Good birds were still to be found
in between the counts, firstly a lovely S/P Black-tailed Godwit near Gorse Hill
and then we watched 3 Greylag Geese Fly-in, they are rare out here. At lunch at
the farm a male House Sparrow was a surprise and also a really rare bird here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZpF1uYw6AEngzwMRtJRERtaeyX4Pf0bwn2rmO1nYGmpjbWW2u8GcVBTNklkAeDgdfIFD44ubHoVGh-9xfYn5PW59FIHWRqqKLRTWtzsrduDbqmW9ClPH4ZOTZvVdh5oMLRIy8zAsHYCpRk2KxzCZn5iYeHIx5aj6u4_6TEYHExgWzTqtDimfQuUrOOYM/s3040/DSCN1103%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2456" data-original-width="3040" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZpF1uYw6AEngzwMRtJRERtaeyX4Pf0bwn2rmO1nYGmpjbWW2u8GcVBTNklkAeDgdfIFD44ubHoVGh-9xfYn5PW59FIHWRqqKLRTWtzsrduDbqmW9ClPH4ZOTZvVdh5oMLRIy8zAsHYCpRk2KxzCZn5iYeHIx5aj6u4_6TEYHExgWzTqtDimfQuUrOOYM/w400-h324/DSCN1103%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greylag Geese by Ted</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The counts were going well with
lots of fine weather, it was the 13</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the next day, would it be
unlucky for us.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sat 13<sup>th</sup> May <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dawned clear, bright and sunny,
another stunning day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As usual we started looking for
rarities at North Valley crossing, but it wasn’t a visual thing that got the
adrenalin pumping, but one of the most beautiful songs in the bird world- a
singing Nightingale – Boom !! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How incredible to be standing in
the morning sun, amongst acres of bluebells, the smells, the sounds, and then
being serenaded by this beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxUs6oOEdg6A3x_YXTYDsCXJLTPRB4brqU7Yp5ef0OBPGVLV_NcsDFMv3_c76y88ptraTaZccTEI-kAMSsMgQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />Nightingale recording by
Ted (volume up)<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Other good birds arrived with a
Yellow Wagtail flying into North pond (later moving to Moorey Mere) and 2 Reed
Warblers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iPsrHp_zXj8Dw-TvR7DmnMwVbQn0UyBMAyKzp27xK14Guw7JMHyr2PZBsDgWiS9-FOynifnPLpKUsbPVD82JJxcPEp3LWPcYktm7eUcKnMoYUkkWP_rZiEdLJ6XkU4KhNGFD84ciK2Mz6LDSoT8nc2zcrpwgSljSPpLkUaQGgYDW3iHy3380Brr5Jrcf/s3369/IMG_0218%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2497" data-original-width="3369" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iPsrHp_zXj8Dw-TvR7DmnMwVbQn0UyBMAyKzp27xK14Guw7JMHyr2PZBsDgWiS9-FOynifnPLpKUsbPVD82JJxcPEp3LWPcYktm7eUcKnMoYUkkWP_rZiEdLJ6XkU4KhNGFD84ciK2Mz6LDSoT8nc2zcrpwgSljSPpLkUaQGgYDW3iHy3380Brr5Jrcf/w400-h296/IMG_0218%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail by Mike </td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We were above High Cliff just
before midday when Ted picked up a Skylark flying in from the East, another
good bird, we finished a count and moved to South Plateau near the Mew Stone,
having a look for the Skylark.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On looking to my left I saw a big
flock of ‘black’ birds going away, I exclaimed to Ted and looked at them,
seeing a flap,flap glide and their Gizz I uttered an expletive and said they
were Cormorants and that I’d hoped they were something good. We both lifted our
bins again and then both shouted – GLOSSY IBIS !!!!!!!! Pandamonium ensued.
There were about 20, yes 20 of them. It was a mixture of looking at them,
getting photos and trying to alert Leighton and the rest of the team, whilst
your hands shook from the adrenaline, thank goodness we were sitting down !<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We watched the flock fly along the
south coast all the way to Skomer Head where they turned north and continued
around the coast of this magical island. Only afterwards when we’d calmed down
could we count them in our photos- there were 17 – absolutely incredible </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzlW7-Er5efC33mmnYq9oi6Aq-HYCGmbsR1ey7DG6PrDyairTqgqHNHdGYZslnzEyLo4SmRFoZ8mb1CLmK7LQGh_7lUSej1TkZPrpwi0jnxvFJedK7r9B48EpVKeajmFMWJ_xcwrirf1J5puZS3gDANJj17nWK1U3aZMDdZRyu4cLANRf1rcn0SXNAQVi/s1176/DSCN1626%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1176" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzlW7-Er5efC33mmnYq9oi6Aq-HYCGmbsR1ey7DG6PrDyairTqgqHNHdGYZslnzEyLo4SmRFoZ8mb1CLmK7LQGh_7lUSej1TkZPrpwi0jnxvFJedK7r9B48EpVKeajmFMWJ_xcwrirf1J5puZS3gDANJj17nWK1U3aZMDdZRyu4cLANRf1rcn0SXNAQVi/w400-h318/DSCN1626%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4ifk4LgRk5dyUD48M6qY84NHJDGvPRPJNwaylW_Kpx1auu7ZC74VqTRKIqJxl0cnK2J3xdFcBtX6LqW9NumNl_Z7VhEHsCfQ6IF1G851sE4eUdk6eQlv1b06h4BhRPCa2MevmZsv07sHDNraePcB7XvkxJ8dvDvqHv0VgtjSQ0RCJT2n5Gd18L_1ctYB/s2534/DSCN1628%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="2534" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4ifk4LgRk5dyUD48M6qY84NHJDGvPRPJNwaylW_Kpx1auu7ZC74VqTRKIqJxl0cnK2J3xdFcBtX6LqW9NumNl_Z7VhEHsCfQ6IF1G851sE4eUdk6eQlv1b06h4BhRPCa2MevmZsv07sHDNraePcB7XvkxJ8dvDvqHv0VgtjSQ0RCJT2n5Gd18L_1ctYB/w400-h300/DSCN1628%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glossy Ibis by Ted</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Monday 15</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> May saw us
camped out at Skomer head at 0615 for a very chilly seawatch. Well, we don’t
have a whole lot of sea in Bucks, so we have to make the most of it. Despite
our hands turning numb in the cold northerlies, it was actually really good for
waders. In 2hrs we enjoyed flocks of 2 Turnstone, 13 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 5
Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel. We finished the gull counts by the afternoon and
actually had an hour to just sit near the Mew Stone and look for migrants
arriving on the South Coast, before a beautiful evenings sunset.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV6TFRn5UxMHg-uAUMMNmJEQUuNiOdQXLXdnoIzRRAXh62hDi8GDlvEiXWNZc4Q6gNfA2Pm2XXEvoF3dXgp2_Hfn9pz5qu7t_tHFPESqDJh-D4-yoEyLNBsPAjQbbiGZuj-rQaj8OJEi9au2ezJ7MQStmNSqIyLgVBcTqmfLPVnf_xWXkS87tSmXQQvTZ/s5184/IMG_0365.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV6TFRn5UxMHg-uAUMMNmJEQUuNiOdQXLXdnoIzRRAXh62hDi8GDlvEiXWNZc4Q6gNfA2Pm2XXEvoF3dXgp2_Hfn9pz5qu7t_tHFPESqDJh-D4-yoEyLNBsPAjQbbiGZuj-rQaj8OJEi9au2ezJ7MQStmNSqIyLgVBcTqmfLPVnf_xWXkS87tSmXQQvTZ/w400-h266/IMG_0365.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset by Mike</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tuesday 16</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> May was our
last morning before we had to leave this awesome place, the island decided to
give us one more gift as Ted found a Lapwing flying around over North Valley,
another new island bird for Ted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5 Swift as we made our way East to
North Haven and all too soon it was time to jump on the Dale Queen and head for
the mainland.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Once again an incredible few days,
with totally amazing people, brilliant birds and a few thousand gulls on what
is to me, the most beautiful place on planet earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mike + Ted Wallen<o:p></o:p></span></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-16741531921904555552023-05-19T12:10:00.003+01:002023-05-19T12:10:51.033+01:00Meet The 2023 Skomer Island Team<p>The arrival
of May has seen our seabirds starting to lay and our researchers are hard at
work monitoring their productivity. But the changing season has also brought a
flurry of new staff to the island.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And so,
introducing Skomer Island’s WTSWW 2023 staff…<o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW45Fo4X3qug2PFGIvp2RcJjjuhhrKS-bItPdtPuK_paWVO52LOGUvkdct3UwSv59RF5731RhBvi_sQuqw5I6BBY_NWYxOIUOt4k48yHFZZ43lHUs9SWeLdODOxvjEHFcitMqDThu_u5bTd2LUrsPGsjETWmbIG9ewHjy-16CFhhC696CH7bGuOfu4w/s2048/Team%20Photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Skomer Island team standing in front of a book case. Left to right, we have Hannah, Lotti, Erin, Leighton, Rob and Ceris." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW45Fo4X3qug2PFGIvp2RcJjjuhhrKS-bItPdtPuK_paWVO52LOGUvkdct3UwSv59RF5731RhBvi_sQuqw5I6BBY_NWYxOIUOt4k48yHFZZ43lHUs9SWeLdODOxvjEHFcitMqDThu_u5bTd2LUrsPGsjETWmbIG9ewHjy-16CFhhC696CH7bGuOfu4w/w524-h394/Team%20Photo.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2023 Team, L-R: Hannah (Fieldworker), Lotti (LTV), Erin (LTV), Leighton (Warden), Rob (Visitor Officer), Ceris (Assistant Warden) © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LAA2fyU7xUDOxo5U3POCLXGgD-sWpX3zcN7NsgEF02tBIKY4LbeklQnx2nJjEDtprKQgY3pkXsQx_eJK_WqY-yl34Z0lyP12JTtblMtgMO1MYOJAOkfi63n2KI43r43a8bDe-3LgYlrGyfWGcfMPYK3cxf4YE0o99FOZ9FNWH8T_F6S43v5BRWqrsw/s1024/Leighton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Leighton driving the boat off Skomer." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LAA2fyU7xUDOxo5U3POCLXGgD-sWpX3zcN7NsgEF02tBIKY4LbeklQnx2nJjEDtprKQgY3pkXsQx_eJK_WqY-yl34Z0lyP12JTtblMtgMO1MYOJAOkfi63n2KI43r43a8bDe-3LgYlrGyfWGcfMPYK3cxf4YE0o99FOZ9FNWH8T_F6S43v5BRWqrsw/w256-h192/Leighton.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leighton out on the boat © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leighton
– Warden (he/him)<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leighton is
back for his third year as Warden and sixth year in total. As a previous Visitor
Officer on Skomer, he knows the island inside out! He oversees all research,
monitoring and visitor operations on the island.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHR68npFioYcD-zmCL2W_1J3Wn-K1CjXmMvdvbCLnN0NyH45msu-5Ng6S8RhbpfccQ3vZfLoaFR6Ml2CD-vA2UScR9ewhFsAsFcWcEYqUXgF6OAZYxlpeB_3cHXJIRk0-kfCNnvwQv4-qqL19I5QU2rbTf7x_oDZzeB25tnROxMkh7FS9vn6layfuXA/s1024/Ceris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img alt="Ceris driving the dumper truck down to the beach." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHR68npFioYcD-zmCL2W_1J3Wn-K1CjXmMvdvbCLnN0NyH45msu-5Ng6S8RhbpfccQ3vZfLoaFR6Ml2CD-vA2UScR9ewhFsAsFcWcEYqUXgF6OAZYxlpeB_3cHXJIRk0-kfCNnvwQv4-qqL19I5QU2rbTf7x_oDZzeB25tnROxMkh7FS9vn6layfuXA/w304-h228/Ceris.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceris driving the dumper truck © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN-US"></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><u><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></u></p><div style="text-align: center;"><u><u><span lang="EN-US">Ceris –
Assistant Warden (she/her)</span></u></u></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Ce<span style="text-align: right;">ris has
returned to the island for her fourth season on Skomer as our Assistant Warden.
She is a strong advocate for increasing diversity and inclusion on the island
and is in charge of the weekly volunteer work plans, along with a range of
monitoring and surveys, maintenance work and welcome talks to guests. She is
learning Welsh and enjoys practising this on morning boats!</span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeXst9lHkH1RXRlwm2arjB8vSpAFj98WpZduRGW-EfuY3GVfJf-IwZ4-UgxvKnR7rScM562pgHYIJIqKfVWA9IL9cBH-yvSSR2cxilhRxHlN_fOxEHlo4mQ_Z58pgyIubgBWG_qhglgH57r3xwCgB1Z_a4SyCDZHwDhLix82Oh3S2mIL7i8aRxWqWCQ/s1024/Rob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeXst9lHkH1RXRlwm2arjB8vSpAFj98WpZduRGW-EfuY3GVfJf-IwZ4-UgxvKnR7rScM562pgHYIJIqKfVWA9IL9cBH-yvSSR2cxilhRxHlN_fOxEHlo4mQ_Z58pgyIubgBWG_qhglgH57r3xwCgB1Z_a4SyCDZHwDhLix82Oh3S2mIL7i8aRxWqWCQ/w299-h224/Rob.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob out on a breeding bird survey © Skomer AW</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rob –
Visitor Officer (he/him)<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The team
are excited to welcome Rob as Visitor Officer for his first season. Taking over
from Beth, he has big shoes to fill – but thankfully has big feet. Rob runs our
hostel, is responsible for day visitors, runs the social media and carries out
a range of monitoring work. As a previous long-term volunteer, he is excited to be back to show off our birds, bats, plants and everything in
between in all their glory! When not working, he is learning Welsh, enjoys playing
his instruments and gives Leighton a run for his money in island
cricket matches...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KjIdJSa1AJ6L8UVf8Wv2SXvaMjevDa0nuzT3NO5zgGIFVKFf906DFEMrtaxKA69BVLY0iksfVQo2bPoe56IYVaXDazd25sMty3PYmbEijJ3Dn61RCfDOjWHDavZQwtu83MXdYJBWNBVirzRuq-2KpG8TX1VEqZpTnKliX2vZzMXrkMm7GLXZitCq9A/s5184/Hannah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img alt="A cliff on Skomer with Hannah just visible using a scope on the right hand side to survey." border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KjIdJSa1AJ6L8UVf8Wv2SXvaMjevDa0nuzT3NO5zgGIFVKFf906DFEMrtaxKA69BVLY0iksfVQo2bPoe56IYVaXDazd25sMty3PYmbEijJ3Dn61RCfDOjWHDavZQwtu83MXdYJBWNBVirzRuq-2KpG8TX1VEqZpTnKliX2vZzMXrkMm7GLXZitCq9A/w320-h213/Hannah.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot Hannah surveying? © Lotti B-H</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><u>H<span lang="EN-US">annah –
Fieldworker (she/her)</span></u></u></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;">Ha</span>nnah has
joined us as Fieldworker this year. An experienced seabird researcher, Hannah
has worked on the Isle of May, Malta and the Azores. She monitors Razorbills, Guillemots,
Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls for breeding
success. When she’s not looking through her scope, she’s a big fan of sea
swimming and can be found birding all over the island.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Lotti
(she/her) and Erin (she/her) – Long-Term Volunteers<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">Last and
not least, we have our amazing Long-Term Volunteers, Lotti and Erin! They are
with us until mid-July and are getting stuck in with everything going on – to
read about them, here’s their introductions: <a href="https://skomerisland.blogspot.com/2023/04/island-update-ltvs-lotti-and-erin.html" target="_blank">Introducing Lotti and Erin</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMTYZLs7d3DpdwqfPEm4X3OtFhNGPzXGTSsVSvd2ELNuL9q_rQhcWm4ALeEs64-OFjPDOpb2vhVECnW8fA61MGmwSqnwbu_safJaZEioLy2SyV-OkbOGTD1mvCpFqg4lmhk76g8U7xrt4nKNguAcZ9nfM2fumUD2MvUXiu1ZZDAut3Thp8LO0CjoI1w/s1024/Erin%20and%20Lotti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lotti and Erin holding Easter eggs in the garden" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMTYZLs7d3DpdwqfPEm4X3OtFhNGPzXGTSsVSvd2ELNuL9q_rQhcWm4ALeEs64-OFjPDOpb2vhVECnW8fA61MGmwSqnwbu_safJaZEioLy2SyV-OkbOGTD1mvCpFqg4lmhk76g8U7xrt4nKNguAcZ9nfM2fumUD2MvUXiu1ZZDAut3Thp8LO0CjoI1w/w320-h240/Erin%20and%20Lotti.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotti and Erin, our LTVs from March to July © Skomer VO </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">So there we
have it, our team for 2023! If you’re over this summer, please feel free to
stop us and say hello. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://skomerisland.blogspot.com/2023/04/island-update-ltvs-lotti-and-erin.html" target="_blank"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hope to see
you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Skomer
Island Team<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0PPQ4+77 Haverfordwest, UK51.7381381 -5.294294451.73282259609384 -5.3028774688476563 51.743453603906161 -5.2857113311523438tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-18459174141309216412023-05-01T14:15:00.001+01:002023-05-01T14:15:00.146+01:00Clickers at the ready...<p>So, how do
we count the Atlantic puffin?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sf0JkPLdzPqIJNEWJzQ57uWQyZbRz8UgqA6yoaB_3PyFzq2iMGWzIsZ_MDI5ckFekau7MSqCuqcVlZlvJ2IPyIaq6Kjko1ee8UOQFlKBDp-nTI-b3z0T56ZaRAeOmX3-q9A-w35eBqguqhwFStcf2IFbpcvqJkKHENqGQyRvkuv3GZUP4daYNJ64jg/s5472/20230405_Puffins%20on%20Isthmus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Puffins massing on land. Sparse vegetation is seen underneath them." border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sf0JkPLdzPqIJNEWJzQ57uWQyZbRz8UgqA6yoaB_3PyFzq2iMGWzIsZ_MDI5ckFekau7MSqCuqcVlZlvJ2IPyIaq6Kjko1ee8UOQFlKBDp-nTI-b3z0T56ZaRAeOmX3-q9A-w35eBqguqhwFStcf2IFbpcvqJkKHENqGQyRvkuv3GZUP4daYNJ64jg/w640-h426/20230405_Puffins%20on%20Isthmus.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins massing on the Isthmus © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Unlike the
majority of our seabirds, which are counted in May or June, our puffin count takes
place sometime in late March or early April. Counts are carried out at this
early point in the season as later on a large proportion of our puffins will be
hidden away in burrows incubating eggs and later feeding chicks. Therefore
impossible to count by eye!
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Often
coinciding with the weather improving, counts occur on evenings where the puffins
begin to mass in large numbers off the island. Once a threshold is passed, it's
decided that we will be counting. This year, those fateful evenings were the 27<sup>th</sup>
March and 3<sup>rd</sup> April.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsVKqFKYvdLak7B_i1VnaHh4iPPENFmyWCXywa-b2-2X-xxjrjy49v8dUejN4xzh6UZ_sgeFm_9J9auAtn_mG9CJ_m9TJ_2KPIEYNRJiaiJS1CGwLC5w0sZBf-r6MPYQ-GcbDqF0ioaKJOUl7g6kVuOzr0a5oEbFPbjfq8iwZyuI4oQLjx5uHXv7mzQ/s4608/20230405_Puffin%20count%20at%20SHV.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Map and clickers overlooking the coast." border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsVKqFKYvdLak7B_i1VnaHh4iPPENFmyWCXywa-b2-2X-xxjrjy49v8dUejN4xzh6UZ_sgeFm_9J9auAtn_mG9CJ_m9TJ_2KPIEYNRJiaiJS1CGwLC5w0sZBf-r6MPYQ-GcbDqF0ioaKJOUl7g6kVuOzr0a5oEbFPbjfq8iwZyuI4oQLjx5uHXv7mzQ/w640-h480/20230405_Puffin%20count%20at%20SHV.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The essentials for counting puffins. View from the top of High Cliff © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table>Skomer is
split into seven sections and, from 5pm onwards, staff and volunteers work to
count every bird on land, on sea, and swirling in the air. It’s quite a task,
made all the more difficult by fragile burrowed ground and an ever approaching
sunset. The kit list however is simple: binoculars, a map, two pencils, a handful
of clickers, and a large number of layers.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Land counts
are by far the simplest, with rocks, grassy banks and clefts in the cliffs being
used as markers to indicate where you’ve counted to. Counts of rafts out at sea
can be split using buoys or rocks if they are there, but this is rarely the case. Air counts are tricker still…</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VYDQe0oisa9G3Ls8LqK8ESsNF_y6N3yzcCuUMgOgWZ-XqpsWlwxoBC4BB_nuknN7nnF0Nr11fFW_ouINlSpEe68kgXREO6yOUYzJalc_2TJ0SgkJZuSPTa-JsiYYxU6aB7iEnxY7bCKEWlzvDL19ik498FZF7tsyi0gJKO-u_GerqXRQrtsjVTY01w/s3994/20230405_Puffins%20in%20South%20Haven.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Puffins swirling in the sky. Coastline visible in the backdrop." border="0" data-original-height="2846" data-original-width="3994" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VYDQe0oisa9G3Ls8LqK8ESsNF_y6N3yzcCuUMgOgWZ-XqpsWlwxoBC4BB_nuknN7nnF0Nr11fFW_ouINlSpEe68kgXREO6yOUYzJalc_2TJ0SgkJZuSPTa-JsiYYxU6aB7iEnxY7bCKEWlzvDL19ik498FZF7tsyi0gJKO-u_GerqXRQrtsjVTY01w/w640-h456/20230405_Puffins%20in%20South%20Haven.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins swirling in South Haven © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table>There will
inevitably be a degree of error in our counts – some birds will be counted more
than once, others will be missed altogether. But the important thing is that
the methodology remains the same year on year, meaning that our annual counts
are comparable. This year a record breaking 42,513 birds were recorded on and
around Skomer - our highest count since the early 1900s.</div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>In 2023 our
final numbers came in at 42,513 puffins on the 27<sup>th</sup> March, and 42,406
puffins (a mere 107 birds fewer) on the 3<sup>rd</sup> April.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Counts end
with a large hot chocolate, some much needed snacks, and a general feeling of ‘<i>blimey’</i>
once the maths has all been done. Shortly followed by collapsing into bed, thumb inevitably still twitching...whoever suggested counting sheep had clearly never come across puffins!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Beth, Skomer VO.</p></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-39268473412506088092023-04-23T15:08:00.001+01:002023-04-29T15:05:44.770+01:00Island update: LTVs Lotti and Erin<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Su’mae! My
name is Lotti and I am one of the long-term volunteers (LTVs) on Skomer from April to
July 2023! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">I graduated in Zoology last
year, during which I spent an incredible year as a placement student with a
field centre in the Scottish Highlands, and after which I worked as an
Assistant Ecologist in Devon. I came to Skomer because I wanted to learn more
about surveying breeding birds and what goes into managing a nature reserve, as
well as to connect with other nature enthusiasts and experience an alternative
way of life that is more connected with wildlife and the land – and what better
place than Skomer?! <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{0fcc468a-d0f4-4c75-ad01-a3a4d1171c42}{183}" paraid="442353085" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; 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vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="A person in a navy blue coat wearing a puffin headband opening a grey box on the ground" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wfOiLKhfKUToUB9Faf8PBAXRswndt8M8m_kUBMsr_ITQIT0yFxCYEisqVmbgFhwXffKwuHVN8AaL2YpZj-LxjKPPSNNboGf_sa2y3IW7ocfQVCVm8ZRG6UwptkLLv9OgyxidsrxH-UjthssL00WlB_ZhYKC9sMpWIHOFL3LNLSppeX6pr8gylAQkow/w300-h400/IMG-20230412-WA0017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Checking biosecurity boxes</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{12}" paraid="650433007" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wfOiLKhfKUToUB9Faf8PBAXRswndt8M8m_kUBMsr_ITQIT0yFxCYEisqVmbgFhwXffKwuHVN8AaL2YpZj-LxjKPPSNNboGf_sa2y3IW7ocfQVCVm8ZRG6UwptkLLv9OgyxidsrxH-UjthssL00WlB_ZhYKC9sMpWIHOFL3LNLSppeX6pr8gylAQkow/s1024/IMG-20230412-WA0017.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I ha</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> never been to Skomer before</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> was in awe as I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">arrived on a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">gloriously sunny day</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">wonderful swirl</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of puffins </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">around </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">boat </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">as I made the short crossing over</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the cheery waves of the staff and volunteers </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">already on the island</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> greeting me</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">My</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> first </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">couple of weeks here have flown past and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have already been involved in lots of exciting tasks all over the island, from the second island</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">wide puffin census of the season, biosecurity checks and repairing burrows, to welcoming day visitors and giving talks. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have also really enjoyed getting back into the habitat of making daily bird </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">counts and sharing them at the evening Skomer bird logs where we can hear what everyone else saw around the island as well. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The staff have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">all </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">been </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">incredibly kind and welcoming</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> throughout, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">even </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">surprising us with a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> hilarious</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Easter egg hunt</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> when least expected</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><p></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{26}" paraid="289291979" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{26}" paraid="289291979" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Two figures on a narrow strip of land lit by bright sunshine. One is walking away whilst the other smiles at the camera" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx54q9AiePHF1M-DW3dDk8aEGlanIT-0qbcTcZAWl_SfmyFYGtiTJdeVvTno_9PHp3qezVevB4IooqsJ-fm5hJ7e7OLy0tjQNE7B38SgfoDYvXs3WdtoyTuj6JrKBNXrW9dRh9bvlja8bRahKAzmSWihCNejARwUQmzRiYPNB-j6YJRPISIYKpXbKMg/w300-h400/IMG-20230412-WA0020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunshine on the Neck</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{26}" paraid="289291979" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx54q9AiePHF1M-DW3dDk8aEGlanIT-0qbcTcZAWl_SfmyFYGtiTJdeVvTno_9PHp3qezVevB4IooqsJ-fm5hJ7e7OLy0tjQNE7B38SgfoDYvXs3WdtoyTuj6JrKBNXrW9dRh9bvlja8bRahKAzmSWihCNejARwUQmzRiYPNB-j6YJRPISIYKpXbKMg/s1024/IMG-20230412-WA0020.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><span class="TextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">fter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the busy </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">day</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, I have enjoyed spending time exploring the island further and have spotted hen harrier, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">black re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">start, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">porpoise, common dolphin, Skomer’s own vole subspecies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, and of course all of the auks, puffins and Manx shearwater!</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">discovered my favourite place to watch puffins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">: </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">along</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sea campion swathed slopes of the south-east of the island, where I have watched the puffins at sunset </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">billing and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">collecting large tufts of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">campion to line their burrows. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{112}" paraid="359829647" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPrPdfg5UjVgaiwqDahSeaJVtAczHD-cfCVTjdU4LCC1yDQRRgNLN5UPxEq0I256GYV2LezTfWEE4aEXym8WH8pq3j60QP-pW9jxDX_iFvVsytgaENxKmGGdR1bPbmx4ZSeUQY3L5jNpBfqCQo5XLDtu21uwy81KrHaosLslRd1Q7Rvj1X8FONDx3pA/s5184/IMG_1549.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Profile of a puffin surrounded by white flowers" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPrPdfg5UjVgaiwqDahSeaJVtAczHD-cfCVTjdU4LCC1yDQRRgNLN5UPxEq0I256GYV2LezTfWEE4aEXym8WH8pq3j60QP-pW9jxDX_iFvVsytgaENxKmGGdR1bPbmx4ZSeUQY3L5jNpBfqCQo5XLDtu21uwy81KrHaosLslRd1Q7Rvj1X8FONDx3pA/w640-h426/IMG_1549.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Watching puffins </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">at sunset in the</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sea campion ©</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"> Lotti Budd-Thiemann<span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span></span><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{112}" paraid="359829647" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">highlight so far h</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">as</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> been experiencing the magic of the Manx shearwater at night</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Under the cover of darkness, th</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e island is filled with a cacophony of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">their calls</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, and having never seen or even heard Manxies before, it has been incredible to find yourself </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">residing an island that by night is theirs. By </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">our red lights we watched </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bird</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s sitting by the path and running </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">clumsily along the ground, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">with one even running straight under our feet!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{178}" paraid="1160626925" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{210}" paraid="1637273791" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Tu2d-_sGbTE_RT4bH1T6m3LqW9qEpuFyGjn82zUSe52hgynhI4IBoWRa1Uc8X4UPt4QqhkMburBlz2pWG-teXNEACZBN7zYxhXC41VJuyMo988Fj5ro3U8NFbtE8ua9yXwj5BTBxSpcM57eNHD9R_ykrhQ2_-q-9KIalEuI4iTehJvSVPCcW0KTMEw/s2255/PXL_20230407_203539315.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Photograph of a Manx shearwater lit by red light" border="0" data-original-height="1740" data-original-width="2255" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Tu2d-_sGbTE_RT4bH1T6m3LqW9qEpuFyGjn82zUSe52hgynhI4IBoWRa1Uc8X4UPt4QqhkMburBlz2pWG-teXNEACZBN7zYxhXC41VJuyMo988Fj5ro3U8NFbtE8ua9yXwj5BTBxSpcM57eNHD9R_ykrhQ2_-q-9KIalEuI4iTehJvSVPCcW0KTMEw/w400-h309/PXL_20230407_203539315.NIGHT.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">Night time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> walks looking for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manx shearwater</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ©</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"> Lotti Budd-Thiemann<span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{220}" paraid="823563865" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{234}" paraid="905689594" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t is a privilege to be able to spend several months on such a special island and I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">can’t wait to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">see how it changes </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the breeding season ramps up and the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">island blooms with bluebells and red campion.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> am </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">looking forward to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the bustle of breeding bird surveys, carrying out a personal project, and hopefully learning to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ace bread making and crochet</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ing in my free time! </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{226bd4be-0c64-47e7-adbc-52ebbb206431}{234}" paraid="905689594" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{5dcc97ea-90c4-46b7-a50c-ce52aed449f5}{11}" paraid="111501655" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Looking forward to writing another blog of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Skomer adventures soon!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{5dcc97ea-90c4-46b7-a50c-ce52aed449f5}{11}" paraid="111501655" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{5dcc97ea-90c4-46b7-a50c-ce52aed449f5}{11}" paraid="111501655" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">- Lotti, LTV</span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{5dcc97ea-90c4-46b7-a50c-ce52aed449f5}{11}" paraid="111501655" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW226494768 BCX8" paraeid="{5dcc97ea-90c4-46b7-a50c-ce52aed449f5}{11}" paraid="111501655" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="EOP SCXW226494768 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: arial; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K6YqNsY1JMgtP-wfrORmX2Zt7_urOHw8lIcqmxMyodd0eS8gRpAHoGoUZW9K8rnE8vLhbv8Z6gVRuos7voQEG2_6j9eAfXdW6-VfkhDDwAKLsXJiKcIkmQAKk7gJ0vT7mZFiZX_P4elNOScBP2n_8ITxRBxItiNx1AcrFkMc611bfiXNXu_OlHTgXg/s1024/IMG-20230412-WA0007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="Two young women dressed in overalls smiling at the camera and holding handfuls of Creme eggs" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K6YqNsY1JMgtP-wfrORmX2Zt7_urOHw8lIcqmxMyodd0eS8gRpAHoGoUZW9K8rnE8vLhbv8Z6gVRuos7voQEG2_6j9eAfXdW6-VfkhDDwAKLsXJiKcIkmQAKk7gJ0vT7mZFiZX_P4elNOScBP2n_8ITxRBxItiNx1AcrFkMc611bfiXNXu_OlHTgXg/w640-h480/IMG-20230412-WA0007.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lotti and Erin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226494768 BCX8" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;">with their Easter egg hunt haul!
</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> --------------------------------------------------</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Hi
everyone! My name is Erin, I'm 23 and I'm one of the long-term volunteers on
Skomer for March - July. I arrived on Skomer nearly three weeks ago, but the
warm welcome has made it feel like I've been here for much longer. Armed with a
map and clicker, I spent my first evening here helping with the record-breaking
puffin count under the guidance of legendary volunteer Alison. After one day of
sun my first week turned wet and windy, but I was kept busy with cleaning,
painting, drilling and digging to get the island ready for visitors. Since
then, I have been giving welcome talks to day visitors, doing biosecurity
checks, exploring the island, as well as going on my first breeding bird
survey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPZSXOjBn0AxjXG0OjgOQylUiupCBbC2I-yr9QcGpJ98c8gZC7QdbaXZw7LHHLZj7eSU9zQp0NA4xAYkItDbVqMMIM3xeWitRTtH8yYspe5Ne3wCfna50s3Wdc5PDBXoOmUvz54Yem9ZgYu2ybFuJq6u9NyrItbduoFI5nERYENlzA1tpvKlV07IHFg/s1091/4d38e558-15d7-4dea-922e-4d6986b4ecc7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph through an open door of a young woman painting the walls in a corridor" border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="818" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPZSXOjBn0AxjXG0OjgOQylUiupCBbC2I-yr9QcGpJ98c8gZC7QdbaXZw7LHHLZj7eSU9zQp0NA4xAYkItDbVqMMIM3xeWitRTtH8yYspe5Ne3wCfna50s3Wdc5PDBXoOmUvz54Yem9ZgYu2ybFuJq6u9NyrItbduoFI5nERYENlzA1tpvKlV07IHFg/w300-h400/4d38e558-15d7-4dea-922e-4d6986b4ecc7.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting the fishbowl corridor</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />Studying
zoology in Cornwall was where I discovered my love for seabirds, especially
gulls. Living a few minutes' walk from the beach, my time at university felt
constantly observed by the ever-watchful eyes of the resident herring gulls.
Through their permanent presence on the beach, in the bins and nesting on the
roof, I noticed how beautiful, intelligent and full of character gulls are, and
studying their behaviour has made me realise how just a few simple steps can
make it easy for people to live alongside them. As for other seabirds, watching
Manx shearwater fly past from a ferry to the Scilly Isles, finding fulmar and
kittiwake nests along the Cornish cliffs, and paddling past cormorants during
sunset sea swims are all memories that stand out from my time in Cornwall. I
can't wait to share the wonderful world of seabirds with Skomer's visitors, and
maybe even convert some of them into gull lovers, or at least gull
appreciators!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Since
graduating in 2021, I have volunteered with giraffes in South Africa, at a
seabird reserve in Anglesey, and in a peat bog on Mull. Spending just a week or
two in each of these amazing places made me look for opportunities to volunteer
for longer periods of time, so I am super excited to be staying on Skomer for
over three months. While here I am hoping to gain more practical conservation
skills and improve my wildlife ID, from bumblebee species to breeding bird
calls to ageing immature gulls. After living inland for the past two years, I
am thrilled to be back by the sea and living on an island surrounded by diving
gannets, nesting fulmars, calling chough and singing seals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhbUg8fF3BghYcqkigYl9ANyjLDDH2CS0SxHSB6AVLrjC6D7k2vOWfpN8zaDrT1EPyhJhnLtU7DADOiG7XtxftfrVG7_aack3NnHi0j-NCTXbSy86ejrPh6-KS7bxqhmu4s1PXGArd8oTervq0hnVFWoJyH6dBYvB5qrfsyoPcsIZlxeN3NN73DdUuA/s4800/DSC09474.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A landscape photo in blues and greys showing a ridgeline and sea in the background. In the distance there is a figure walking. There is a gull flying in the top left of the image." border="0" data-original-height="3189" data-original-width="4800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhbUg8fF3BghYcqkigYl9ANyjLDDH2CS0SxHSB6AVLrjC6D7k2vOWfpN8zaDrT1EPyhJhnLtU7DADOiG7XtxftfrVG7_aack3NnHi0j-NCTXbSy86ejrPh6-KS7bxqhmu4s1PXGArd8oTervq0hnVFWoJyH6dBYvB5qrfsyoPcsIZlxeN3NN73DdUuA/w640-h426/DSC09474.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Walking along the ridge above High Cliff - Siân Hassan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Highlights
from the past three weeks have included seeing Manxies for the first time,
learning to drive the gator, and working with three fantastic groups of weekly
volunteers. Having never been to Skomer before, I am looking forward to getting
to know the island in depth and seeing how Skomer changes over the next three
months. I am particularly excited to help with seabird counts, start my project
on the predation of Manxies on Skomer, go swimming in North Haven and hopefully
see some gull chicks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ligatures: none;">Thanks
for reading! Diolch! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Erin, LTV</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><br /><p style="font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></p></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-39631506782941570792023-04-11T14:18:00.000+01:002023-04-11T14:18:17.588+01:00Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This was never going to an easy one. After a phenomenal two
and a bit years on Skomer, I’m heading back to the mainland…well, sort of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will be honest, I’ve been dreading writing this blog. What
on earth are you supposed to say when you’re leaving a team and an island that
you love?! However, I have now procrastinated enough and, with a box of tissues
at the ready, it would seem that it is time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cwtvv4VqHdqPWT_eZMloOwba58ATDI2TesAcv_ITGzolMpN5ymM16yt68wCZlXDWEVR2cBSDO7eWmYIphrVRI8EZcYi69EuGZftqPykq0-nZPLjSnQNlADw3vx58CuXge0NDWDh6jYZoVN3gpqtwPzo6pAO45yOkWi1qACzKUuOQ9gdyr__cGlHnPA/s1024/20230410_Beth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A person sat on a rock. They are holding onto their hat in the wind." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cwtvv4VqHdqPWT_eZMloOwba58ATDI2TesAcv_ITGzolMpN5ymM16yt68wCZlXDWEVR2cBSDO7eWmYIphrVRI8EZcYi69EuGZftqPykq0-nZPLjSnQNlADw3vx58CuXge0NDWDh6jYZoVN3gpqtwPzo6pAO45yOkWi1qACzKUuOQ9gdyr__cGlHnPA/w640-h480/20230410_Beth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very stormy day up at Garland Stone © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table>Working on Skomer was, inevitably, always going to be so
much more than a job. It wasn’t until visiting friends on the mainland during my
first winter off, that someone pointed out I was referring to returning in the
Spring as ‘going home’. It’s very much set the tone for my time on the island.
I still find it baffling how such a small mound of rock, a mile off the coast
of Pembrokeshire, could have had such a huge impact, over such a short period
of time. Skomer, it would seem, has a habit of leaving a mark on the soul. I’m
certainly no exception.<div><br /><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVioWmNBF2yJ2DNpN4-kHNT855d5KIidKCQZV6O2XNeLtvJZCPjocLsRYPcbrhx-kb-lYbnV0y_OsHdxn9XpBYD8cEN7JdXGh-8DJokfpIoQvC0hJu2sm_9mv4My6zgS2x49G2h2MEqVbFhn_Jp7hlIlm8yd2BTonPftzALM50CWWXureAwOVhtDw0w/s6000/20230410_Farm.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Farm building nestled amongst rocky outcrops and fields." border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVioWmNBF2yJ2DNpN4-kHNT855d5KIidKCQZV6O2XNeLtvJZCPjocLsRYPcbrhx-kb-lYbnV0y_OsHdxn9XpBYD8cEN7JdXGh-8DJokfpIoQvC0hJu2sm_9mv4My6zgS2x49G2h2MEqVbFhn_Jp7hlIlm8yd2BTonPftzALM50CWWXureAwOVhtDw0w/w640-h426/20230410_Farm.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Home'. View of the Farm from my first island walk back in April 2021 © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table>The last two years have been filled with the most incredible
highlights – both wildlife and people. I’ve learnt an awful lot, and am leaving
with a tonne of memories, new skills (and friends), and a handful more stress
lines than when I first arrived. Picking high points is a challenge, but has
got to include:<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span><b>Singing whilst counting seabirds.</b> No seabird count from
the boat on Skomer could possibly be completed without singing… ABBA
specifically (sorry Izzy!). I’d like to say we improved somewhat over the
course of the season, but I think that would probably be a lie. Good things the
birds don’t seem to mind.<div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRcZvxU-unPoDLVm-dbc-uhvP4CDXphB08119N0GjOUf6DFld9fbI6hatdilRdn-8TQSHjlP-HKs-lM7fLXYQfsLYS-F5oOpkTEa1inUH_S1ERGfSWpJn9Q-BSEbUz1HMGzS_tYQiGIZ0OQJBU3wbKDiTdSl_nHUlYMYe91LsBirV1XE0nInzOpaoEA/s1024/20230410_Seabird%20counts.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three people sat in a boat, they are smiling at the camera." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRcZvxU-unPoDLVm-dbc-uhvP4CDXphB08119N0GjOUf6DFld9fbI6hatdilRdn-8TQSHjlP-HKs-lM7fLXYQfsLYS-F5oOpkTEa1inUH_S1ERGfSWpJn9Q-BSEbUz1HMGzS_tYQiGIZ0OQJBU3wbKDiTdSl_nHUlYMYe91LsBirV1XE0nInzOpaoEA/w640-h480/20230410_Seabird%20counts.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing and clicking. The last day of boat counts in 2022. L-R: Ceris, Freya, and Beth © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span><b>The final sunrise of 2022.</b> Watching sunrise from
Harold Stone on moving off day became something of a ritual. Huddled amongst the
rocks last year, wearing every layer that wasn’t already packed, a flock of
starlings whooshed past a mere metre from our noses. You could feel every wing
beat.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span><b>Abseiling into our hidden caves. </b>Important for monitoring, and spraying our seal pups. But also an excellent chance to explore some rock pools!</div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT1yytntn-liZNtWai4Jdl6fPr0iEzLNUdME_2rxzcPphs3bbHU8sSgLyAjMMtuEUYd5O4m5CCbD3j_dHWsWB5iwakOAkSAwcDP9Zy76m5Sfm7o4Eh-gFfnnFPAlrxiRvmAiqgwosJ1EitRqcvbgt-3fx2IpaAi3HsMI3PZasAoBbNowUtCunIjxtQA/s4000/20230410_Gem%20anemone.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two gem anemones in a rocky crevice. The anemones are pale purple, and 'lumpy' in appearance." border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT1yytntn-liZNtWai4Jdl6fPr0iEzLNUdME_2rxzcPphs3bbHU8sSgLyAjMMtuEUYd5O4m5CCbD3j_dHWsWB5iwakOAkSAwcDP9Zy76m5Sfm7o4Eh-gFfnnFPAlrxiRvmAiqgwosJ1EitRqcvbgt-3fx2IpaAi3HsMI3PZasAoBbNowUtCunIjxtQA/w640-h480/20230410_Gem%20anemone.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first gem anemones in the Lantern © Seal Fieldworker<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9K0KjBn5kO7EXkffhxXUu-TarZE0dBhKClMZLAb-X21w2SdIRSDwN2OcylxgdcdrlRNDJjqsXXBu_1TEIubs9a2UHLKbGUxRhXg5OnfKG90bgTIs_DoA3ugwII2ZyvWbiyX2eTU8pjQ-FRgnN5FtKD96SjTpMy1M5i-4bVUifb_FkdvBQse1YqioCw/s1024/20230410_Seal%20Hole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Looking at the outside world from inside a cave." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9K0KjBn5kO7EXkffhxXUu-TarZE0dBhKClMZLAb-X21w2SdIRSDwN2OcylxgdcdrlRNDJjqsXXBu_1TEIubs9a2UHLKbGUxRhXg5OnfKG90bgTIs_DoA3ugwII2ZyvWbiyX2eTU8pjQ-FRgnN5FtKD96SjTpMy1M5i-4bVUifb_FkdvBQse1YqioCw/w640-h480/20230410_Seal%20Hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite cave - Seal Hole on the west side of the Neck © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span><b>My first jumplings in 2021.</b> A group scurry down to
the Amos with scopes over shoulders. Scanning the cliff face for the first
brave guillemot chicks of the year. The excitement, kept quiet to avoid
disturbing the birds, when the first one jumped was electric. Synchronised gasps
and grins all round.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='636' height='529' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzWEBxgxM3pqbfbyboiyO8awjN7fUMdsj1A87pBfcHYjwlen6cROMm1IHZfjvht43PlnmTRhQnmwbeBSXDn8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the Amos at sunset to the sound of gargling guillemots © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><div><div><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span>Evenings curled up by the fire.</b> From Welsh cakes and whiskey, to knitting with folk music, to the occasional board game night. Probably the most stereotypically 'island' thing we could possibly do. But the absolute best way to spend a foul Autumn evening - especially with Manxies calling outside. </div><div><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">• </span>Every island swim.</b> Every single one.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKWipf2AR_jeDEDowb8Mn9cEJZbyCSeUQ8c2e9-0paDJsjgPqnrIKXgwl_4QEZ5c-MI3VPw57xoqwLmv0P0zTC0OAJ6H6BzJgvQplDsDN9gxE7NKDa046QX98UhpbN_0DZtDka20MXrqxtjmT0qN9tqsvlYnfbGrPazO4RaCY0JLx_rNqTHyxug320g/s6960/20230410_Swimming_1.jpg.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two people swimming in the sea. There are puffins surrounding them." border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKWipf2AR_jeDEDowb8Mn9cEJZbyCSeUQ8c2e9-0paDJsjgPqnrIKXgwl_4QEZ5c-MI3VPw57xoqwLmv0P0zTC0OAJ6H6BzJgvQplDsDN9gxE7NKDa046QX98UhpbN_0DZtDka20MXrqxtjmT0qN9tqsvlYnfbGrPazO4RaCY0JLx_rNqTHyxug320g/w640-h426/20230410_Swimming_1.jpg.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming with puffins (and Ceris) on a calm day in North Haven © Skomer Volunteer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPzNGDhP9zuau-m07iD1IVXIwIfKmNKBmTMRgREb5LqNbB9qTrrw2TIigIaRn5KG8mtS_jeVO09P9ueua67ywd2KwNvp92Uq7OzjF-C6ktNR3MFI3A2b7hCY-txT52O1VZxUM4uaw70BEFdiWpKRf18sipvUKh6c9IwdzjDIet8I7eCbIGTnTxAH-Zg/s1567/20230410_Swimming_2.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three people swimming in the sea." border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1567" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPzNGDhP9zuau-m07iD1IVXIwIfKmNKBmTMRgREb5LqNbB9qTrrw2TIigIaRn5KG8mtS_jeVO09P9ueua67ywd2KwNvp92Uq7OzjF-C6ktNR3MFI3A2b7hCY-txT52O1VZxUM4uaw70BEFdiWpKRf18sipvUKh6c9IwdzjDIet8I7eCbIGTnTxAH-Zg/w640-h480/20230410_Swimming_2.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An impromptu swim off the boat, at Little Will Bench on the west coast of Skomer. L-R: Beth, Freya, and Ceris © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0unjSDhYT3Tb-ihiONyyXvrXAHjVkYzxY6P2d4JkEpNapQK87caOlt08dIcqOUDXdk8PMZTeR4w91lL9eDE5IAxhcvNdZADmU08TDZ3XiAZvUaE5XZ-jCM-7KNlksXUWqADUSL3nGW2KyCkQCYG4pBCbzXbDm7eE9S2IKBZOgZtADAylpEOvJZb0xA/s1024/20230410_Swimming_3.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two people smiling at the camera. They both have wet hair." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0unjSDhYT3Tb-ihiONyyXvrXAHjVkYzxY6P2d4JkEpNapQK87caOlt08dIcqOUDXdk8PMZTeR4w91lL9eDE5IAxhcvNdZADmU08TDZ3XiAZvUaE5XZ-jCM-7KNlksXUWqADUSL3nGW2KyCkQCYG4pBCbzXbDm7eE9S2IKBZOgZtADAylpEOvJZb0xA/w640-h480/20230410_Swimming_3.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a quick dip in November. L-R: Beth and Ceris © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for thank yous, there are more than I possibly have room for…in
fact you may wish to skip this paragraph. To my island family, Ceris, Leighton, and Freya, thank you for filling the last two years with laughter (often at
my expense), good food, sleep-deprived chaos (the very best kind), and ‘oof
choofs’. To our researchers, Sarah, Bee, Trina, Lewis, Joe, Annette, Jules, Kirsty,
Josie, Simon, and everyone else, thank you for sharing your knowledge, for the
late nights and early starts, and for being the most wonderful of beans. To our
long-term volunteers, Becca, Samanta, Izzy, Rowie, Ed, Eve, Kelda, Becci, Lira, Anna, Erin, and Lotti, thank you for working your socks off, and for finding the positive
vibes on even the longest of days. To our weekly volunteers and visitors, thank
you for sharing your love of the island, and for reminding me just how special
a place Skomer is on pretty much a daily basis. To all at Dale Sailing, thank you
for the numerous lifts, postal deliveries, chat, and beautifully perfected
chain at changeovers. To Chrissy and Gary, thank you for always finding the
time for a natter, and for somehow continuing to smile no matter how busy the day.
To Lisa and Dave, thank you for everything…I really don’t know what else to say,
just for all of it. To the mainland team, but particularly Jon and Jane, thank
you for providing calm amongst the chaos – except of course in the first week
of October! To my long suffering family and friends, thank you for accepting
that I hardly ever text back…what can I say, I do live on an island. Finally,
Tom, thanks for putting up with me, and for dealing with all the tears once I’d
decided I was leaving Skomer this winter; you are the very best of eggs.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x57TC1g9Wmdz5TeG7r560Rvx5etZpsN5O_ffVb4G4GdmYlu_7PghrOOd0bTN9MBo5waVxmV5en3RLRKp91z6ZGnpXqVuNAGVifNrvGP-G6aQupXwx6FWP91v3Z0inK4PR5PKY6WimQL3IRSXT0ptqyBk1fGCSEQ77OMIqTgDYLbGLZOkIf8MOGvxdw/s2048/20230410_Bull%20Hole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Four people smiling against a coastal backdrop. Two have their arms in the air." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x57TC1g9Wmdz5TeG7r560Rvx5etZpsN5O_ffVb4G4GdmYlu_7PghrOOd0bTN9MBo5waVxmV5en3RLRKp91z6ZGnpXqVuNAGVifNrvGP-G6aQupXwx6FWP91v3Z0inK4PR5PKY6WimQL3IRSXT0ptqyBk1fGCSEQ77OMIqTgDYLbGLZOkIf8MOGvxdw/w640-h480/20230410_Bull%20Hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Successful count of Bull Hole in 2021. L-R: Becci, Kelda, Eve, and Beth © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0MgxkFsYmIKFZzsIaZoqPtM5iPGEBwYT7P15W0VTG9I1dmrMoNasOPKkW2nW7Tx_buhuQUcpmE8fhlm2hKUvZZY7ybsW6HJW4rSYu9AEjYi_20D2zphGc7eyemfNWdffzAVdZespMS7MYepz5r-eavMlbWgjYJj_Q2bX2wQEDcPKJ7a7BHogmBUBgA/s3572/20230410_Farm%20Fest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of people sat in a grassy courtyard as the sun sets. Someone is playing the guitar." border="0" data-original-height="2679" data-original-width="3572" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0MgxkFsYmIKFZzsIaZoqPtM5iPGEBwYT7P15W0VTG9I1dmrMoNasOPKkW2nW7Tx_buhuQUcpmE8fhlm2hKUvZZY7ybsW6HJW4rSYu9AEjYi_20D2zphGc7eyemfNWdffzAVdZespMS7MYepz5r-eavMlbWgjYJj_Q2bX2wQEDcPKJ7a7BHogmBUBgA/w640-h480/20230410_Farm%20Fest.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm Fest '23. Full of folk music, food and whiskey © Skomer VO<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lMMnVTL6xtdeoLi0k_dvOyZR7BE_0LVqTAzRp2fQazEpQJTOxIIhASSjweiEe78RmlVvU4OgA0KnhxkC0LHiug4XA5PKPTMUpmEmHSlynxA3_RUi1nXpX3J81ccDpHFbSDDrRPVCx_BJSvhYChEg_w7HP7cbr0FZa_xmYlZgVfzMhWX9iJPrgm3uBw/s1024/20230410_Team%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Four people smiling at the camera. Sea behind." border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lMMnVTL6xtdeoLi0k_dvOyZR7BE_0LVqTAzRp2fQazEpQJTOxIIhASSjweiEe78RmlVvU4OgA0KnhxkC0LHiug4XA5PKPTMUpmEmHSlynxA3_RUi1nXpX3J81ccDpHFbSDDrRPVCx_BJSvhYChEg_w7HP7cbr0FZa_xmYlZgVfzMhWX9iJPrgm3uBw/w640-h480/20230410_Team%20photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few all team photos we've managed to take! L-R: Ceris, Leighton, Freya, and Beth © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table>Blimey. Well I’m almost out of steam (and tissues). So, what
next you may ask? It’s an excellent question. Although gutted to be leaving, I’m
excited to be moving on to a seabird research assistant role with the RSPB. I’ll
be spending 2.5 months out on the Outer Hebrides, before heading down to
Bempton Cliffs for a further 2 months. After that, who knows. Back to going where
the wind takes me.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>It's been a genuine pleasure to get to share even the
smallest part of Skomer with you all. I’m sure this is not a goodbye. But until
then, for one final time, wela i di wedyn.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beth, Visitor Officer 2021 – 2023.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-37585062974991767052023-04-09T20:00:00.009+01:002023-04-09T20:00:00.156+01:00Our Wild Isle: Sir David Attenborough on Skomer Island<p>The eagle eyed amongst you may well have noticed that Skomer
has now featured not once, but twice, in the new BBC natural history series:
Wild Isles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfbd5AGwd6idwR5vcgOx9FHEMViRC858lMyxRabfRqXDEyhH9IMT_fIsUtOzJSoLSlpb_Tvxa5AilVAooFogFBJXP0yMmzdF9k7xMfJJgPHv8RrCCxpPq8wom3wHdyiSJzU0fu34k-wGEc7mViZb8TDquvyW-NFd-QZmmD067uTm-RBOq-cYlRVuh7A/s1024/20230409_SDA%20with%20manxies.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sir David Attenborough sat on a rock looking at a Manx shearwater. Image is in black and white." border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfbd5AGwd6idwR5vcgOx9FHEMViRC858lMyxRabfRqXDEyhH9IMT_fIsUtOzJSoLSlpb_Tvxa5AilVAooFogFBJXP0yMmzdF9k7xMfJJgPHv8RrCCxpPq8wom3wHdyiSJzU0fu34k-wGEc7mViZb8TDquvyW-NFd-QZmmD067uTm-RBOq-cYlRVuh7A/w640-h426/20230409_SDA%20with%20manxies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sir David watching Manx shearwaters fledge in North Haven © Alex Board / Silverback Films</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Anyone who has visited our island home will already know
just how special a place it is. But for Skomer to be included alongside
reserves and wildlife spectacles across the British Isles really does go to
show how important it is on a national, and international, scale.</p><p class="MsoNormal">During two trips to Skomer in 2022, the Silverback crew, and
Sir David Attenborough himself, filmed alongside some of our best known bird
species: Atlantic puffins and Manx shearwaters.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ls9uJMw4-65mMQdYEGXM6taWNHGdc2SAMnyOi-Y3PPApIyCG23HYQ8PXgwMT3sP76luC1_tSSz24SfUAdxWdbLxcFV52Mktr3N81GnK0bbbEkwnOWBtb7AgsLhLUGkt4oGKj5_BnlBumg_QBz48P_P5QwQTixpPx8AT8uWo9-44iWkPDEQF5yxcCLQ/s2048/20230409_Puffin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Silhouette of a puffin against the sunset." border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ls9uJMw4-65mMQdYEGXM6taWNHGdc2SAMnyOi-Y3PPApIyCG23HYQ8PXgwMT3sP76luC1_tSSz24SfUAdxWdbLxcFV52Mktr3N81GnK0bbbEkwnOWBtb7AgsLhLUGkt4oGKj5_BnlBumg_QBz48P_P5QwQTixpPx8AT8uWo9-44iWkPDEQF5yxcCLQ/w640-h426/20230409_Puffin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic puffin at sunset © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Crossings to Skomer are always accompanied by something of a
<i>will-they-won’t-they</i> feel, with strong winds occasionally playing havoc
with boat access to the island. The first visit in June to film puffins was no
exception to this. In fact, the island was closed for two days prior to filming
as a result of strong northerly winds. With the wind thankfully dropping off
just in time, filming was able to go ahead as planned.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I have long suspected that puffins, with their brightly
coloured bills, are the divas of the bird world. Filming last June really
helped to confirm this. Having been essentially grounded for two days, the
puffins headed back out to sea to fish in their thousands. Making the most of
the calm weather, their return in the evening was delayed…not ideal for keeping
to a tight filming schedule! Fashionably late the puffins did eventually show,
pushing filming (and dinner) back by several hours.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1o_7OQGJkczknOk3A10c797BbdvXq8Z6VHZJLZNR4HzRRBSIWJWP3yO5jOsaYS059W5un4_VvqjqNoD1lWr4xfB4VdZgZu2Kzls5fenjKfyfmb0540rtOfkmLA08mslg7o2ETwwvuwRbGJOE9AVD9DfZcWrD9g5sLet9fzhmn4Hh3yZzh5rD2dZtMQ/s5500/20230409_SDA%20team%20photo%20in%20June.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of people smiling at a camera. Sir David Attenborough stands in the middle." border="0" data-original-height="3894" data-original-width="5500" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1o_7OQGJkczknOk3A10c797BbdvXq8Z6VHZJLZNR4HzRRBSIWJWP3yO5jOsaYS059W5un4_VvqjqNoD1lWr4xfB4VdZgZu2Kzls5fenjKfyfmb0540rtOfkmLA08mslg7o2ETwwvuwRbGJOE9AVD9DfZcWrD9g5sLet9fzhmn4Hh3yZzh5rD2dZtMQ/w640-h454/20230409_SDA%20team%20photo%20in%20June.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo with Sir David after a long evening filming. L-R: Eve (Skomer LTV 2022), Lisa (Head of Islands and Marine), Freya (Media and Comms Officer), Madi (Digital Fundraising and Comms Officer), Sir David, Gina (Marketing and Development Manager), Sarah (WTSWW CEO), Beth (Skomer VO), Ceris (Skomer Assistant Warden), and Kelda (Skomer LTV 2022) © Alex Board / Silverback Films</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thankfully, the second visit to Skomer, this time an
overnight stay in late August, was accompanied by calm seas. However, filming
Manx shearwater fledglings, which only venture outside of their burrows at
night, brings additional complications.</p><p class="MsoNormal">White light is startling to Manxies, who are at their most
vulnerable when scuttling around on land. When walking around the island at
night, we use red light torches to cause as little disturbance as possible. The
Silverback crew were not an exception to this, with specialist (heavy!) camera
equipment required to film the Manxies under infrared light. Add in frogs and
toads underfoot to the equation and the challenge really is on. The footage,
I’m sure you’ll all agree, is beyond phenomenal. Despite living out here, none
of us on the island have ever seen Manxies under the night sky in this way.
There are no words.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='634' height='527' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzIGw8nZCdGJWD26k1SzhhGrGAoKSnOf1Vp7gHfTR79NJPOvVt_Blho2BNIKqqKfJG1GWDBEl4LunVU4MCREw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our usual view of fledging Manx shearwaters under red light © Skomer VO<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who had a
part to play in ensuring that filming on Skomer went ahead smoothly last year.
From the team at Dale Sailing putting on additional boats, and being their
usual flexible selves; to our fantastic volunteers and researchers, who somehow
continued working as normal, despite a literal national treasure wandering
around the island.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">To the Silverback crew, producers and directors: thank you
for your time, skill, and consideration of our precious wildlife. We may be biased,
we already knew Skomer was a special place, but being able to share it on the
big screen is simply mind blowing.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxjQnYcJLcOSgnrvaM44eeYr9Q0KMmAqhSU9nNVgXvuFZGOJvylC9HZN2CUWggkHo1TaN4Z9WUhVcUGMMP1gqUQESq-9bkzaHehYAGtjMIiionTA5D6GQkxmbvOyluvXzIAqZbi8bnIkP2PpbHaQ8zVT-jffnIUEzbypNGR-x1hAMbAbJRjKRLojQCg/s1024/20230409_SDA%20team%20photo%20in%20August.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of people smiling at a camera. Sir David Attenborough stands in the middle." border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxjQnYcJLcOSgnrvaM44eeYr9Q0KMmAqhSU9nNVgXvuFZGOJvylC9HZN2CUWggkHo1TaN4Z9WUhVcUGMMP1gqUQESq-9bkzaHehYAGtjMIiionTA5D6GQkxmbvOyluvXzIAqZbi8bnIkP2PpbHaQ8zVT-jffnIUEzbypNGR-x1hAMbAbJRjKRLojQCg/w640-h426/20230409_SDA%20team%20photo%20in%20August.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team photo with Sir David in August. L-R: Anna (Skomer LTV 2022), Leighton (Skomer Warden), Beth (Skomer VO), Sir David, Ceris (Skomer Assistant Warden), Bee (Skomer Seal Fieldworker), and Lira (Skomer LTV 2022) © Alex Board / Silverback Films</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks, of course, also go to David and Susie, both of whom
it was a genuine pleasure to meet. It was great to have the chance to share
Skomer’s incredible wildlife with you both, and to chat about the island, its
birds, and life. The kettle’s always on…</p><p class="MsoNormal">Skomer features in episode one (Our Precious Isles) and five
(Ocean) of Wild Isles. You can catch up on the series here: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f0t5dp">BBC One - Wild Isles</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more information on our island home, please visit: <a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/visit/skomer-island">Skomer Island | The
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (welshwildlife.org)</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beth, Visitor Officer.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-8396582508910906032023-03-10T10:30:00.003+00:002023-03-10T10:30:00.154+00:00Back Home for 2023<p>We arrived
back on our island home on 2<sup>nd</sup> March this year, a day later than 2022
only delayed by northerly winds on the 1<sup>st</sup>.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQqZj4kkHHw9Z2YtUgtbGn8ZYia299RaIvo571iYn2xsqEbJhtYC5mdUKjpNrqAMRoldIS1hHYVgnU2-dEuDKCnkt0Sznw4M70M36bvWxzxmCFsHa-mS6zyiDKaSUV4k2-BfU9CLeH5FJRZHt1a_fXJeL_dNslRPIIxfXV8NC4fuvBEVvU6udvRegNw/s4568/20230310_Boat%20crossing_BT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The front of a boat loading with luggage. Skomer is visible in the background." border="0" data-original-height="3418" data-original-width="4568" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQqZj4kkHHw9Z2YtUgtbGn8ZYia299RaIvo571iYn2xsqEbJhtYC5mdUKjpNrqAMRoldIS1hHYVgnU2-dEuDKCnkt0Sznw4M70M36bvWxzxmCFsHa-mS6zyiDKaSUV4k2-BfU9CLeH5FJRZHt1a_fXJeL_dNslRPIIxfXV8NC4fuvBEVvU6udvRegNw/w640-h478/20230310_Boat%20crossing_BT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing over to Skomer on Wave Dancer - thanks Dale Sailing! © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The first
thing to note was that the steps haven’t gotten any easier and we don’t seem to
be able to pack any lighter. Having said that, within two hours we were at the
top, bags and all and heading to the buildings to check for damage and get the
vehicles started (first time for both!).</div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcVHdnxGbqlO27ZYRHc6t3-vu2g7N2_jH-5vlQ4U2cX2oKBjfki9pWKTGys6oA8pvF7e9m0p9NgpXs0MEWhPOR3kSBTiOMbByI0mUego2sYFb8p0Ia8UtlT8KE-oJgC-JK_oLldx12K28TQheDyQizJ9p_4R18yMGgEYUkzxUw9aiCyf6AVkPBj9CBA/s1920/20230310_Moving%20boxes%20at%20the%20steps_LN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two people eating biscuits surrounded by bags and boxes. The shadow of a third person can be seen." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcVHdnxGbqlO27ZYRHc6t3-vu2g7N2_jH-5vlQ4U2cX2oKBjfki9pWKTGys6oA8pvF7e9m0p9NgpXs0MEWhPOR3kSBTiOMbByI0mUego2sYFb8p0Ia8UtlT8KE-oJgC-JK_oLldx12K28TQheDyQizJ9p_4R18yMGgEYUkzxUw9aiCyf6AVkPBj9CBA/w640-h360/20230310_Moving%20boxes%20at%20the%20steps_LN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick biscuit break halfway through moving boxes up the steps © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mNc7a-onUiJahy7syQI3L4Bjx1O4PF4gX03npu73SHAdXmFaCk3sKmeTLyk4Pnf5gPoVnxSI4a8uPPXuT7bkndZby9Y5Nn4YEENMHQ_1EAylpJ8ImkVjN_aEbUedv8loyLYQyGmefA8T7l1qWX-WbjiJuOEc8eAIze2UnaoPPwClfOrU3i7BGoN_jQ/s4032/20230310_Dumper%20Truck_BT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dumper truck loaded with luggage." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mNc7a-onUiJahy7syQI3L4Bjx1O4PF4gX03npu73SHAdXmFaCk3sKmeTLyk4Pnf5gPoVnxSI4a8uPPXuT7bkndZby9Y5Nn4YEENMHQ_1EAylpJ8ImkVjN_aEbUedv8loyLYQyGmefA8T7l1qWX-WbjiJuOEc8eAIze2UnaoPPwClfOrU3i7BGoN_jQ/w640-h480/20230310_Dumper%20Truck_BT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fully loaded dumper ready to head up to the Farm © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Having
spent the winter not in the UK, it’s always pleasing to hear that the weather
hasn’t been too harsh and our buildings are certainly showing signs of having
wintered well. The usual problems with a seized water pump seems to be the
worst casualty of the winter so far – far better than arriving back to part of
the roof missing at North Haven as in 2022. Internally, the buildings are also
drier than usual, although they’re still cold; some things will never change.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FgAz8ARKTkXtO-nB4979AkLJx8IHb6DeKMgC2vSzYEpj1lSSKirmLh6SaMVra6V58SBh7KivvaQ-49nSfDk_KsUzuF9L-2ZYU04WGE0ei2Pe8XTp6QzqWYNS3lriuGirvtl2vx5qsXkF39JW5FWl4oun3Op6cGbKbUV1F1tiKOW5ORVF9k19tnilsw/s4032/20230310_Sunset_BT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FgAz8ARKTkXtO-nB4979AkLJx8IHb6DeKMgC2vSzYEpj1lSSKirmLh6SaMVra6V58SBh7KivvaQ-49nSfDk_KsUzuF9L-2ZYU04WGE0ei2Pe8XTp6QzqWYNS3lriuGirvtl2vx5qsXkF39JW5FWl4oun3Op6cGbKbUV1F1tiKOW5ORVF9k19tnilsw/w640-h480/20230310_Sunset_BT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on our first day back on Skomer © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Walking
around on the first day it was pretty shocking how dry the island is – paths
that are usually sodden and slippery were cracked and parched and there was no
sign of any standing water on the main track. It looked more like a dry August
than your typical March.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On our
second day, the water was covered by auks; from afar resembling an oil slick
with lines almost as far as you can see. Amongst the rafts in South Haven was,
somewhat surprisingly, our first Puffin of the year. This is our earliest ever
record beating three previous records on 6<sup>th</sup> March, most recently in
2019 and seven days earlier than the first of 2022 on the 10<sup>th</sup>
March.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-xGcrkVMlQcfXxtNOLwkBoQFCTp5u2Rv-OgFJU2rdDEMXIdiO7SNFtislMVNsg54JmGNyhSQAV2KdTRlmSURnGRFI1FfWM7-4JB-gHNDgHMBecACDWVECbYbJVokqQszlXsvpu2WA4QxOEqkSR_Vcx_VuMGIaMG-oP11V--yHuiwt2racBSbiC2MKw/s2322/20230310_Auks%20rafting%20in%20South%20Haven_LN.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2322" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-xGcrkVMlQcfXxtNOLwkBoQFCTp5u2Rv-OgFJU2rdDEMXIdiO7SNFtislMVNsg54JmGNyhSQAV2KdTRlmSURnGRFI1FfWM7-4JB-gHNDgHMBecACDWVECbYbJVokqQszlXsvpu2WA4QxOEqkSR_Vcx_VuMGIaMG-oP11V--yHuiwt2racBSbiC2MKw/w640-h426/20230310_Auks%20rafting%20in%20South%20Haven_LN.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first puffin of the 2023 season, rafting with razorbills in South Haven © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Over the
last week we’ve been cleaning and on office work – often in front of the fire
especially during the latest cold snap. On the nice afternoons we’ve been out
re-widening paths, getting ready for the visitor season which is rapidly
approaching.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBIaPUw4owdEiOo1-MqYciJgkNd3cqoz1zNxzfx6tn7Um3QvtVeFsjTEsZdSpecKNzbe-3t9fIPqRf4Me_VvuMQ9dj8rTTm0bSKFpPM56ixrM4zLHu4IdAF23u39h1N7FMEZfC79NiX5DPfOLDdreGQTkh2ye_DW6L6rk6DphrHmVzvBNVeCYDqYzew/s1024/20230310_Cleaning%201_CA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two people in PPE. They are giving the camera a thumbs up." border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBIaPUw4owdEiOo1-MqYciJgkNd3cqoz1zNxzfx6tn7Um3QvtVeFsjTEsZdSpecKNzbe-3t9fIPqRf4Me_VvuMQ9dj8rTTm0bSKFpPM56ixrM4zLHu4IdAF23u39h1N7FMEZfC79NiX5DPfOLDdreGQTkh2ye_DW6L6rk6DphrHmVzvBNVeCYDqYzew/w480-h640/20230310_Cleaning%201_CA.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to tackle the mould... © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VGCF-Af9nu59jM9m5y18rRCBUv8r89na6gPXUzTo7_r9S7jdcIaCehb6b-axlpvZEcjKV4hrEQqS1Hh7UGVTI94K6Evz3TPRv9J7esvXqDP8CbuS6d-P2fFz77J0w7gj9vD17eLN-t4MLZT7cXCZHoe1Jcu7JXgcIpU7cXfWyY3OueRDodYs9fG9iA/s1024/20230310_Cleaning%202_CA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A person kneeling on a worktop painting a wall." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VGCF-Af9nu59jM9m5y18rRCBUv8r89na6gPXUzTo7_r9S7jdcIaCehb6b-axlpvZEcjKV4hrEQqS1Hh7UGVTI94K6Evz3TPRv9J7esvXqDP8CbuS6d-P2fFz77J0w7gj9vD17eLN-t4MLZT7cXCZHoe1Jcu7JXgcIpU7cXfWyY3OueRDodYs9fG9iA/w640-h480/20230310_Cleaning%202_CA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting in the Hostel © Skomer Assistant Warden<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US">L</span><span lang="EN-US">ast night (9th March) was an exciting night when we heard the first Manx shearwaters calling over
North Haven. It’s been a quiet start to the year for shearwaters with the moon
likely playing its part, however, last night was thick cloud and drizzle – the
perfect shearwater conditions! Having been braced by the strong winds and rain
yesterday morning, a warm wind blew from mid-morning which meant yesterdays
temperatures fluctuated between 1</span><span lang="EN-US">˚</span><span lang="EN-US">C and 11</span><span lang="EN-US"> ˚</span><span lang="EN-US">C. Here’s
hoping that the mad-March weather calms down a little and allows the passage of
some migrants – a goldcrest is all we’ve had so far.</span><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='653' height='542' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVQyKGpgBUAgOCcpE_Mi9wUlr4Dga7rZjELXLPxxKMb5Dd0f-pOoBT52Z5z8kZ47VSOwxjuIjOCpffCSaNBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manxies calling and wing beats in North Haven © Skomer Warden<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">In a weeks’
time we’ll be welcoming the first volunteers and work party of the year, so we
better sign off and get things sorted for them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leighton, Skomer Warden.</span></p></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0Skomer, United Kingdom51.7357733 -5.296388100000000626.84535620682761 -40.4526381 76.626190393172379 29.8598619tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-337213658748280872022-11-11T10:30:00.001+00:002022-11-11T11:54:36.061+00:00Welsh Wednesday 2022<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a second year, the Skomer team have been participating in Welsh Wednesday. Introduced in 2021, this year we have expanded from "Welsh bird of the week" to "Welsh species of the week". This change has given us the chance to explore more Welsh words and introduce visitors to some of our lesser-known species.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had great feedback on Welsh Wednesday throughout the year and wanted to provide a summary below. Diolch yn fawr to all who have taken part, for even just the week, in 2022.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In (Welsh) alphabetical order:</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aderyn-drycin y Graig</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzVHfnBGnaO2tlT3479YkP0GndF4_G2anO1_fhl0cSb9V_EDiqmH8WIGC6QQCq5PLdT00NGwJ8RitiodD-UyiX9rpAnPfW3UVbmF3TW4fVsXow2kG2H1_3U5_oX3-rVeiTcK0AeWAMwYw6Gsamo_Nai7gcOnsOy-JCIOrO2NuiNokCR2aLxYuhgVrDA/s2048/202108_Fulmar%20chick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-grey fluffy fulmar chick on a cliff edge. It is sat on grass, with rocks surrounding." border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzVHfnBGnaO2tlT3479YkP0GndF4_G2anO1_fhl0cSb9V_EDiqmH8WIGC6QQCq5PLdT00NGwJ8RitiodD-UyiX9rpAnPfW3UVbmF3TW4fVsXow2kG2H1_3U5_oX3-rVeiTcK0AeWAMwYw6Gsamo_Nai7gcOnsOy-JCIOrO2NuiNokCR2aLxYuhgVrDA/w640-h426/202108_Fulmar%20chick.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fulmar chick nestled along a cliff edge in early July © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Aderyn-drycin y Graig.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Fulmar.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bod Tinwen</span></u></b></p><p><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzTsIlSwMnXV4Vj6GR3zGP3nGyxHz68znF5p9q-r_Z6LnHB8c--tikFAVfiZiQeSqp6DiqdzwNdshnMPXADA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></u></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hen harrier sat on the edge of North Pond © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Bod Tinwen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Hen harrier.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buwch goch gota</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HcKTgfef7DFUTqmQn-AFfOTXw8Tq0tvtAFsQMIreH5UctcNqhObGhkuvrceV8Sf4cdq2k_sIdwL8EuswUxa-hkdPX3j3IB638jkI5_I3XTlDVXNpiQUQS6cPSxfZjKFziGFqvjpZwK3fJ3kmriBckuDaMeh5m6ylJFdi9h8XD02TjtMoy_v_9B8l7A/s1024/20220614_Ladybirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close up of three ladybirds on nettles." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HcKTgfef7DFUTqmQn-AFfOTXw8Tq0tvtAFsQMIreH5UctcNqhObGhkuvrceV8Sf4cdq2k_sIdwL8EuswUxa-hkdPX3j3IB638jkI5_I3XTlDVXNpiQUQS6cPSxfZjKFziGFqvjpZwK3fJ3kmriBckuDaMeh5m6ylJFdi9h8XD02TjtMoy_v_9B8l7A/w640-h480/20220614_Ladybirds.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybirds on nettles © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Buwch goch gota.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Ladybird.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meaning: Small red cow.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Corhedydd y Waun</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr83Rcs4Xkp5bG6h_1CzHVnT-4fjkWb1rZgLh4Y-6mf5--8rHaKC1Pk7tnu87qg3acbTKc87hUZQWrtIgEoOOde-CDNQrzSV80KjpBNkNrwWIFqj3y-H2tFDyY9hFDBQsXJ9WtSPoWiMcTi66EJP8DYe9Aw_g9Zs6FNMHK2MuqTrHtwh4Tcw3rsmyXhg/s1600/202204_Meadow%20pipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meadow pipit sat in shadow. Bright yellow in colour." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr83Rcs4Xkp5bG6h_1CzHVnT-4fjkWb1rZgLh4Y-6mf5--8rHaKC1Pk7tnu87qg3acbTKc87hUZQWrtIgEoOOde-CDNQrzSV80KjpBNkNrwWIFqj3y-H2tFDyY9hFDBQsXJ9WtSPoWiMcTi66EJP8DYe9Aw_g9Zs6FNMHK2MuqTrHtwh4Tcw3rsmyXhg/w640-h480/202204_Meadow%20pipit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow pipit © Eve Sharples / LTV 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Corhedydd y Waun.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Meadow pipit.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clychau'r Gog</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYGDz05-gtuV8PJdlRlXX_XQKebmx2VwIFMYQZ9WlfNUfURINLEqYFZyOuiX-QZ05X58Rs6vTVcLVCHWUAFL2Z2fYK--0emeQaVb7J_1eSmvABfbWOYrstAuqj6OrZy1NdSNGjPYJC-Jbzw8uVwWLQ5DuwAOfBrujPL3GLYEDvaRXiWA3L1ToTh77AA/s4253/20210418_Bluebells_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A single bluebell with five flowers. Background is green and blurred." border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="4253" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYGDz05-gtuV8PJdlRlXX_XQKebmx2VwIFMYQZ9WlfNUfURINLEqYFZyOuiX-QZ05X58Rs6vTVcLVCHWUAFL2Z2fYK--0emeQaVb7J_1eSmvABfbWOYrstAuqj6OrZy1NdSNGjPYJC-Jbzw8uVwWLQ5DuwAOfBrujPL3GLYEDvaRXiWA3L1ToTh77AA/w640-h426/20210418_Bluebells_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebells in the spring © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Clychau'r Gog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Bluebell.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meaning: Cuckoo's Bells.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cwningen</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GCfv8VPBLpSlL9l0k5ynYasZD344XUH2c5dndn7ArdeaULnt8oMA29lqKQt6_x1DDk2-UnNKPPgNe2-Svyy0FEFCyRTh-rSIMNan4aWGZl3U78nCSecOZyBdf6nwld6aTn1oHDbipJgKSAufPRrWJTse1QnF5Y1jQ6AD40bILiCHOdCVFVMX5VBDkw/s6000/20220417_Rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brown and white rabbit sat amongst bluebells." border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GCfv8VPBLpSlL9l0k5ynYasZD344XUH2c5dndn7ArdeaULnt8oMA29lqKQt6_x1DDk2-UnNKPPgNe2-Svyy0FEFCyRTh-rSIMNan4aWGZl3U78nCSecOZyBdf6nwld6aTn1oHDbipJgKSAufPRrWJTse1QnF5Y1jQ6AD40bILiCHOdCVFVMX5VBDkw/w640-h426/20220417_Rabbit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rabbit sat amongst the bluebells © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Cwningen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Rabbit.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dolffin cyffredin</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCic-ZfQ_g5XnhRV1rYCUULrs17KKYh59mhzSbgzXYJWUOnfcwjEKzoylElrOxT3_9STYHd5NRFvuQZUEf8WvELkMUfZYYDXwbidhmibSUY8PLzQEghF-Hvw5sUPraxM_sFcU7zdKgnQHXViJQ5Cf-laNEowcdtuWZfamjjuJKDrFNThAEdg1BeChqFQ/s2048/20220608_Common%20dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two dolphins jumping. The sea is flat calm and showing reflections." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCic-ZfQ_g5XnhRV1rYCUULrs17KKYh59mhzSbgzXYJWUOnfcwjEKzoylElrOxT3_9STYHd5NRFvuQZUEf8WvELkMUfZYYDXwbidhmibSUY8PLzQEghF-Hvw5sUPraxM_sFcU7zdKgnQHXViJQ5Cf-laNEowcdtuWZfamjjuJKDrFNThAEdg1BeChqFQ/w640-h426/20220608_Common%20dolphins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common dolphins off Garland Stone © Skomer Volunteer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Dolffin cyffredin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Common dolphin.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ffesant</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S03nt6IR8VVKl9tf5-GoqUwmhmJoI1Ku3cfNKQZJHXBmzeq4fGoyBSqC76lXexWQSGglBb0299Dnsj1uM9D4vqfLEZJqtVlhS7WLhGV_vkyzypwP4XywImba5h9flMoM9l8vcHvPaxrmVSgKcRWfy0jig2apXNaQGidoDeSYo2W9EsSyT2Q6-VMPbw/s4385/20220906_Pheasant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Male pheasant in breeding plumage against grass." border="0" data-original-height="2923" data-original-width="4385" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S03nt6IR8VVKl9tf5-GoqUwmhmJoI1Ku3cfNKQZJHXBmzeq4fGoyBSqC76lXexWQSGglBb0299Dnsj1uM9D4vqfLEZJqtVlhS7WLhGV_vkyzypwP4XywImba5h9flMoM9l8vcHvPaxrmVSgKcRWfy0jig2apXNaQGidoDeSYo2W9EsSyT2Q6-VMPbw/w640-h426/20220906_Pheasant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pheasant sneaking around the back garden © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Ffesant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Pheasant.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gwellt y Gamlas</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9N97CV1MprFJN2N6XpVmf1bBqqhPh7pA6fQLaRvJpC1rBSEixDxipvodSLThfGQg4DMcCy8gI5jPTxbEQjUyID71K3waSDZ5ik8OVreK0M56CqQJueG17t7RDVh_ucpO8WDGs_2vRuDkuQu5I6wH9Ars59CdQ5JhCo3wc2-mzKXgQA4IPVa9YOtktA/s1080/202207_Eelgrass_BJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green tendrils of eelgrass emerging from below. Underwater shot." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9N97CV1MprFJN2N6XpVmf1bBqqhPh7pA6fQLaRvJpC1rBSEixDxipvodSLThfGQg4DMcCy8gI5jPTxbEQjUyID71K3waSDZ5ik8OVreK0M56CqQJueG17t7RDVh_ucpO8WDGs_2vRuDkuQu5I6wH9Ars59CdQ5JhCo3wc2-mzKXgQA4IPVa9YOtktA/w640-h640/202207_Eelgrass_BJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eelgrass in North Haven © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Gwellt y Gamlas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Common eelgrass.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gwennol</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHxVU4kbWz6yZCwjPVC1_ZB5xWfzrkjF3yPynfh4mnoOh4a9hmDGMwD6l_7dEGKwAtVlV34qcEwzEG6pj_TCx9jJLFnjFSo4lZmhfOm6xifcwBBE9-JZxsG2D5xbox-NHF2H6RoJdjHWeih3_PdPE9LkjNzWkMY1qnd6cZcbCGuiifW9si4qkRBSm0Q/s1024/20220614_Swallows%20and%20martins_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Swallow sat on a roof against a blue sky." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHxVU4kbWz6yZCwjPVC1_ZB5xWfzrkjF3yPynfh4mnoOh4a9hmDGMwD6l_7dEGKwAtVlV34qcEwzEG6pj_TCx9jJLFnjFSo4lZmhfOm6xifcwBBE9-JZxsG2D5xbox-NHF2H6RoJdjHWeih3_PdPE9LkjNzWkMY1qnd6cZcbCGuiifW9si4qkRBSm0Q/w640-h400/20220614_Swallows%20and%20martins_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow at the Farm © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Gwennol.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Swallow.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gwylog</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNd2CZ35TyKUdPJqD8zw_BwyDag5R_4HE_l767FQtXLaAd7okW0SflsZXkIrUJZU7hh6Gjyt_4YnOwspKydz7vhxQCqnblQsFpUJJ6F6Rq4Rs3JDTdPVU9KNmJxZygZMETNS19CXhVn7kUltOsHNxX1FezXlcACi69CW2WwSWV1Uli36qlnB9Msgig/s1600/202105_Guillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white bird (guillemot) sat on rocks. Ocean behind." border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNd2CZ35TyKUdPJqD8zw_BwyDag5R_4HE_l767FQtXLaAd7okW0SflsZXkIrUJZU7hh6Gjyt_4YnOwspKydz7vhxQCqnblQsFpUJJ6F6Rq4Rs3JDTdPVU9KNmJxZygZMETNS19CXhVn7kUltOsHNxX1FezXlcACi69CW2WwSWV1Uli36qlnB9Msgig/w640-h426/202105_Guillemot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guillemot © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Gwylog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Guillemot.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hebog</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_HJlP9v1o0FPbfavF62Vym15_izTMDNiIfYuKpb-4JcuBRRsQi4KSZW6wNAZvSYSLr4iz1lxEMwLj-SsUAIbGN6lWY5tizZvscTymjA9xp14xMdi-RB7wY_IRSWdu03IXQDxYU2KkgKiYe3si0W6V2ipMp4zEzvUm9dE6xTL16qxTHWykPN926pEg/s5472/IMG_0877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peregrine flying from left to right, with a full crop. Against a blue-grey sky." border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_HJlP9v1o0FPbfavF62Vym15_izTMDNiIfYuKpb-4JcuBRRsQi4KSZW6wNAZvSYSLr4iz1lxEMwLj-SsUAIbGN6lWY5tizZvscTymjA9xp14xMdi-RB7wY_IRSWdu03IXQDxYU2KkgKiYe3si0W6V2ipMp4zEzvUm9dE6xTL16qxTHWykPN926pEg/w640-h426/IMG_0877.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peregrine flying with a full crop © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Hebog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Peregrine.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hwyaden Lydanbig</span></u></b></p><p><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFKZh692TdeaDAK_OOaHA348X8I_BR-i1UxTxfGTDYB6wmELOAAfVNH8SZNOLrGiOMTb-p56oq1k9nr9OLdpcwkzeCofbne989hwm_W8CVfMQCWVVbK8qUnJiprZhBQDvGEZ4GaqU4js5lleqjIjGw3iICSOtyNUKooUP40QlSz_O1yZB52lCYkG1lA/s4063/IMG_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duckling looking at the camera furiously. Sat on calm water." border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="4063" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFKZh692TdeaDAK_OOaHA348X8I_BR-i1UxTxfGTDYB6wmELOAAfVNH8SZNOLrGiOMTb-p56oq1k9nr9OLdpcwkzeCofbne989hwm_W8CVfMQCWVVbK8qUnJiprZhBQDvGEZ4GaqU4js5lleqjIjGw3iICSOtyNUKooUP40QlSz_O1yZB52lCYkG1lA/w640-h426/IMG_1235.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoveler duckling on North Pond © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Hwyaden Lydanbig.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Shoveler.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jac-y-Do</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVad9C_RYEb4tGVMfTK1hhgKUjm6-UJ11xz4Ns7EPZdbOd6y_kuUkTDBhUq2QJj0Xl1aSAETl-u8FtpGwlBiIzJu5WLMcVLGJKfeS7ppOWaYJBRYnJsFQ1GGzBe5D8KmlJy5-Di_3OoPdGop47LpdqbB1Zj7G8ckRrmefsEyVkNqm_0_0D6IEEMcxxQ/s4518/20220921_Jackdaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close up of jackdaw. Eye is blue-grey." border="0" data-original-height="3012" data-original-width="4518" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVad9C_RYEb4tGVMfTK1hhgKUjm6-UJ11xz4Ns7EPZdbOd6y_kuUkTDBhUq2QJj0Xl1aSAETl-u8FtpGwlBiIzJu5WLMcVLGJKfeS7ppOWaYJBRYnJsFQ1GGzBe5D8KmlJy5-Di_3OoPdGop47LpdqbB1Zj7G8ckRrmefsEyVkNqm_0_0D6IEEMcxxQ/w640-h426/20220921_Jackdaw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackdaw at Bull Hole © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Jac-y-Do.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Jackdaw.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Llygoden Sgomer</span></u></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='646' height='537' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxDnf6yJrRQBeRkZASFlTCSUcVDhjvo_l_mVjcwPI8DKai0sGwpTum1E0xSGOpYY_v6kWIAgnQo3E4RkRKj1w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skomer vole on the research path near North Pond © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Llygoden Sgomer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Skomer vole.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Magïen</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxgWDIHkXcc6KaRsUfSZYlAkaHDc87G_lzY8DrebRVKra4-4xq7RDN8T_T3IL8MAj9abwHLn9pB6b4_PmCiaWxnTATuJgHuicYMxE9B_4JndXe5bmK6haH7RNWMRl4b2kS5y7ReDD1cStfga8IZkpu15NhiwEgTnRCmyxSdCtVu8tRRGSuSJfBySu7A/s454/20220629_Glowworm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bright green glowing light surrounded by dark." border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="454" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxgWDIHkXcc6KaRsUfSZYlAkaHDc87G_lzY8DrebRVKra4-4xq7RDN8T_T3IL8MAj9abwHLn9pB6b4_PmCiaWxnTATuJgHuicYMxE9B_4JndXe5bmK6haH7RNWMRl4b2kS5y7ReDD1cStfga8IZkpu15NhiwEgTnRCmyxSdCtVu8tRRGSuSJfBySu7A/w640-h640/20220629_Glowworm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glow-worm © Thom Faulkner / LTV 2017</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Magïen</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Glow-worm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meaning: Ember.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mulfran Werdd</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmbs02rrQmmjdwhmzJiSOHllTIzfaWz4_dnGBBeye0juOA37R9zaar86HG8p0_i7wjPpVLW4plD2OqwG5FLn3ETHuHOxklXuBQQnL5AzqplnNzTtgOjCHoa5O5R0evmTLDzcN_-3VBHTGlxJKEi3jAxe460fSxMLjjFVHBfd4-fhXySmxBiiFtYcr2g/s1600/20220817_Shag_LN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dark, dinosaur-like bird with bright green eye." border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmbs02rrQmmjdwhmzJiSOHllTIzfaWz4_dnGBBeye0juOA37R9zaar86HG8p0_i7wjPpVLW4plD2OqwG5FLn3ETHuHOxklXuBQQnL5AzqplnNzTtgOjCHoa5O5R0evmTLDzcN_-3VBHTGlxJKEi3jAxe460fSxMLjjFVHBfd4-fhXySmxBiiFtYcr2g/w640-h426/20220817_Shag_LN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shag © Skomer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Mulfran Werdd.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Shag.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Neidr Ddefaid</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh450BQCRvp-WtPqk6lQkiw_IzQTxHF91kP01zZrzjICGIfCUd2glgGgZOkO-53kHAoI-2qdsVQXzrnlYhFLkAcB8NLhVbst1Hrtq-AOvq4wMdsCLc_5858gkuNnogIusNBouIBvYuXAbH_RdiLAZ_s5fxUhEcyov2Ws2hk_dDnSS1Tz1_jo_5Mo77ADQ/s6960/20220810_Slow%20Worms_TM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="At least three slow worms curled up with one another." border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh450BQCRvp-WtPqk6lQkiw_IzQTxHF91kP01zZrzjICGIfCUd2glgGgZOkO-53kHAoI-2qdsVQXzrnlYhFLkAcB8NLhVbst1Hrtq-AOvq4wMdsCLc_5858gkuNnogIusNBouIBvYuXAbH_RdiLAZ_s5fxUhEcyov2Ws2hk_dDnSS1Tz1_jo_5Mo77ADQ/w640-h426/20220810_Slow%20Worms_TM.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow worms basking under one of our refugia (lifted as part of monitoring work) © Skomer Volunteer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Neidr Ddefaid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Slow worm.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pedryn drycin </span></u></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='644' height='535' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWa9tKVBpQW93a6tSNfawYPMa67kEG4edS7tbpL06r2VBMkHP8O64dWmh-da2f7-XowYA9VAeDuac6uhSu9Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm petrel calling in the boulder fields © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Pedryn drycin.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Storm petrel.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rhegan y Dŵr</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTRmt9tGcANmGVITJBDD6LannFbd-o1uLUPJnhWWpyuDPJKpFpqZCL2ewIdvQbCKR3ETukwGwBAHK9DWYcloPdABNpZgyIEhYqL_e0zAMXBz4krhOpo-TFmpF0m3N64jCV-mQpOsYFgVYbakJwBD-kSXZsM_Ogx_SSAbHPmmN6IBb0fKZ08KBqNPqJg/s6000/20220928_Water%20Rail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grey and brown water rail on the ground. Surrounded by foliage." border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTRmt9tGcANmGVITJBDD6LannFbd-o1uLUPJnhWWpyuDPJKpFpqZCL2ewIdvQbCKR3ETukwGwBAHK9DWYcloPdABNpZgyIEhYqL_e0zAMXBz4krhOpo-TFmpF0m3N64jCV-mQpOsYFgVYbakJwBD-kSXZsM_Ogx_SSAbHPmmN6IBb0fKZ08KBqNPqJg/w640-h426/20220928_Water%20Rail.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water rail at Moorey Mere © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Rhegan y Dŵr.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Water rail.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Siff-saff</span></u></b></p><p><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='658' height='547' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5b_WzxAl0CAR6Qnv0hwDUmIJZF8Vpl5eZehW-X_KChPcPtxFdokaFLTFwClqJh9u_4lXUd7QUELlXA3rE9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></u></b></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiffchaff on a branch © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Siff-saff.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Chiffchaff.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Telor yr Hesg</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzebC1O_38xgCtGVVBVCT2M5iVJHxqC2cvgMmV4wChwe6QJlIWWYCUagKS0ut_ooUUjLsmZ3xqY1ng_HRLWGFTdKxZYJ0LMciBBj42kurimKNwaF5LC0x_VUhZiU1mUBtdkLZpCPemsfqpf1TCzebsvhoP1HVlCtldbXKa5i5-hZHcd6Tu_YepyzWBQ/s3550/20220517_Sedge%20warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sedge warbler perched on top of bright green bracken." border="0" data-original-height="2367" data-original-width="3550" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzebC1O_38xgCtGVVBVCT2M5iVJHxqC2cvgMmV4wChwe6QJlIWWYCUagKS0ut_ooUUjLsmZ3xqY1ng_HRLWGFTdKxZYJ0LMciBBj42kurimKNwaF5LC0x_VUhZiU1mUBtdkLZpCPemsfqpf1TCzebsvhoP1HVlCtldbXKa5i5-hZHcd6Tu_YepyzWBQ/w640-h426/20220517_Sedge%20warbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sedge warbler perched on bracken in North Valley © Skomer VO </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Telor yr Hesg</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Sedge warbler.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tingoch Ddu</span></u></b></p><p><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv1mHeYYTIzfgSAW6Ng1iGAF2wtUY7GuSS4Vbvq2kHF9tC8Cq4-pqf7MObwnsBAwvo-ohCqNkNIKhyq5bCCi6HTI50iTeWB2E4D-wjS7woh2I9ar5H6LS4uXsuqL2D6Q6T1utoOUPK49HdDAulk4ZLYLGdSoDTmxj2x5JbRAZRvXyC56GlH1fjoqbfw/s3415/20220320_Black%20redstart_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Female black redstart (brown in colour with red tail) hidden amongst daffodil stems." border="0" data-original-height="2277" data-original-width="3415" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv1mHeYYTIzfgSAW6Ng1iGAF2wtUY7GuSS4Vbvq2kHF9tC8Cq4-pqf7MObwnsBAwvo-ohCqNkNIKhyq5bCCi6HTI50iTeWB2E4D-wjS7woh2I9ar5H6LS4uXsuqL2D6Q6T1utoOUPK49HdDAulk4ZLYLGdSoDTmxj2x5JbRAZRvXyC56GlH1fjoqbfw/w640-h426/20220320_Black%20redstart_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female black redstart in the courtyard © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Tingoch Ddu.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Black redstart.</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trilliw bach</span></u></b></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFbHAIRm0zefPLYtMr447tlKwhlcmJ2vwUkJParV4W1OnVK69NV54NmQQmyllCJEqVNLqe17Lurn5R-9HDQ-5FU3DVHVx3s_A_YBJVR89sNSQ1Q7VLAzplTnSeO4OFZAoz5PZBut1DzNtvgxM_BW1drO92BhwEln1ChD8yyxpblCIA1qjnM1h383mCw/s2048/202108_Small%20Tortoiseshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Small tortoiseshell butterfly perched on a flower. Background is blurred." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFbHAIRm0zefPLYtMr447tlKwhlcmJ2vwUkJParV4W1OnVK69NV54NmQQmyllCJEqVNLqe17Lurn5R-9HDQ-5FU3DVHVx3s_A_YBJVR89sNSQ1Q7VLAzplTnSeO4OFZAoz5PZBut1DzNtvgxM_BW1drO92BhwEln1ChD8yyxpblCIA1qjnM1h383mCw/w640-h426/202108_Small%20Tortoiseshell.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small tortoiseshell butterfly © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welsh: Trilliw bach.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">English: Small tortoiseshell.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hope you have enjoyed learning a little more Welsh with us this year. <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beth, Visitor Officer</span></span></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-55177682417879539722022-09-26T10:00:00.003+01:002022-09-27T15:32:58.905+01:00Skomer Island Young Birders’ Week 2022<p>Strong
winds, rain, sunshine, starlit nights, and an island empty of visitors. These
are all familiar signs that autumn is just around the corner here on Skomer.
This year, the start of September also marked the beginning of an event the team had been working away at all year – our first ever Young Birders’ Week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="520" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DxXZtnJJZTk" width="627" youtube-src-id="DxXZtnJJZTk"></iframe></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical autumn day. Heading back from seawatching at Garland Stone © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><div>We are all
too aware of the barriers to accessing Skomer. There are the 90-odd steps that
must be climbed on arrival, the (occasionally choppy) boat crossing, as well as
the remote location and limited public transport links. For many, there
are also financial barriers to visiting this National Nature Reserve,
particularly overnight. Young Birders’ Week aimed to address this obstacle,
providing an opportunity for up to thirty two young people, aged 18 – 25, to
visit Skomer, many for the first time, for 3-nights at a reduced rate. </div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The morning
of the 4<sup>th</sup> September seemed to arrive very quickly this year. To say
I felt nervous would be something of an understatement. With heavy rain
forecast for much of the morning, we were crossing our fingers that the weather
would hold off – nothing worse than arriving on an island with a wet sleeping
bag in tow! Thankfully, the rain missed us, and participants and their
belongings remained dry for the first day at least.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIXdHU3KXszUGDAG6AsVeJFGMFiSCHDywFCd8gjgQKeAAgaYrkkRanonwQZy4HcLJywWLoLIKDKoobVfAazhwYh4XeG1JdKF8AQ6JYvziGaQSQsowM6tPzyDoQVHd659P9Wjwl0fGfR59DeZMvNe-gtvPfSYZZV5QlEt51PlnNlS9tMnRvEhNWIkdBQ/s1024/20220925_YBW_5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIXdHU3KXszUGDAG6AsVeJFGMFiSCHDywFCd8gjgQKeAAgaYrkkRanonwQZy4HcLJywWLoLIKDKoobVfAazhwYh4XeG1JdKF8AQ6JYvziGaQSQsowM6tPzyDoQVHd659P9Wjwl0fGfR59DeZMvNe-gtvPfSYZZV5QlEt51PlnNlS9tMnRvEhNWIkdBQ/w640-h480/20220925_YBW_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotting the sunfish at Pigstone Bay © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6b3e71qy5_rmbd4OFy95ji8phev97lRHY6j-nyL6ZswDNV6sQm1LplvAL-gLZ9Qaq1O-vd_a2Y9h6NvsjrG2ta6uIbFazYIL8ZVp2O92T2hdOQYBi1i5EkWupaBDjXNdq3sq7jjvwCPfoifT6cMbKvw-Qml6fMysuVOkFcVUQdr6eECMtDQyktExhA/s496/20220925_YBW_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Convolvulus hawk moth. Large moth with pink stripes on the abdomen." border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="496" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6b3e71qy5_rmbd4OFy95ji8phev97lRHY6j-nyL6ZswDNV6sQm1LplvAL-gLZ9Qaq1O-vd_a2Y9h6NvsjrG2ta6uIbFazYIL8ZVp2O92T2hdOQYBi1i5EkWupaBDjXNdq3sq7jjvwCPfoifT6cMbKvw-Qml6fMysuVOkFcVUQdr6eECMtDQyktExhA/w640-h620/20220925_YBW_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convolvulus hawk moth © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over the
next few days, the group explored the island, assisted with reptile and cetacean
surveys, helped identify moths, and humored us by acting out Skomer charades
before the final Bird Log of their stay. Wildlife highlights included our first
sunfish and first convolvulus hawk moth of the year, as well as a fleeting
glimpse of a knot up at Garland Stone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before we
knew it, it was time to wave goodbye to our first cohort of young birders, with
10 more due to arrive that same morning. With only four day-visitors making the
crossing to Skomer during the second part of the week, the Young Birders very much had the
island to themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXTvspv3R4P36sR-zKW4zHmGj_5stZhT8j6DLaZAbW5zRunsmVO4Jz1Y-sjnCJzkGHM2-yVp_L-B2DOR1GI2uhjqhi98vaVWuBJhvTBMHxwDTGwLM4r3NyNql0zsEEtoYqFQhlHGSN_-QRotU7MnaS7ysOBuC9xQkvxTDmu4BFFMbkG5sEpy4mbhOUg/s1024/20220925_YBW_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXTvspv3R4P36sR-zKW4zHmGj_5stZhT8j6DLaZAbW5zRunsmVO4Jz1Y-sjnCJzkGHM2-yVp_L-B2DOR1GI2uhjqhi98vaVWuBJhvTBMHxwDTGwLM4r3NyNql0zsEEtoYqFQhlHGSN_-QRotU7MnaS7ysOBuC9xQkvxTDmu4BFFMbkG5sEpy4mbhOUg/w640-h480/20220925_YBW_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the battery-powered moth trap! © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Again,
walks were interspersed with sea watches, searching for the ever-secretive
Skomer vole, and a mixed bag of moth traps. A power cut in the middle of the
night threatened to scupper our mothing attempts. Thankfully, we’d set up an
additional (recently repaired) battery-powered trap just a short walk away –
saving us from breaking the news of no moths pre-7am! Wildlife highlights
included black tern, bar-tailed godwit, and a sparrowhawk predating a Manx
shearwater chick a mere stone’s throw away from the hostel window.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShc5-oALkXo-DxbMrKZcqg9fqYzbzLckdHiL_gl4uA67POHJJAdALrkuxCxmyOdTKVGc-Ba0attvhbRdZwT65sKeEXnjJCeXkhVSvmgAuvSc2C9NPtr033J7IotyrhUjfbrIHMbHMEssEQhUTGC1HeuVCNsfw8xlCAFnIDnHrJlMsJIWatNGRLqKeTg/s1385/20220925_YBW_6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1385" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShc5-oALkXo-DxbMrKZcqg9fqYzbzLckdHiL_gl4uA67POHJJAdALrkuxCxmyOdTKVGc-Ba0attvhbRdZwT65sKeEXnjJCeXkhVSvmgAuvSc2C9NPtr033J7IotyrhUjfbrIHMbHMEssEQhUTGC1HeuVCNsfw8xlCAFnIDnHrJlMsJIWatNGRLqKeTg/w640-h480/20220925_YBW_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manx shearwater fledgling up on the surface at night © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Of course,
no overnight stay on Skomer is complete without a night walk to see the Manxies.
Both groups headed out to spend time with our most numerous resident. With
chicks now venturing out to the surface at night, flapping their wings, and
attempting to fly, it was very much a case of dodgems for much of the night. One
such walk per group marked the start of a Bird Race. Participants were split
into teams, and attempting to tally the highest number of species compared to one
another. The eventual winning scores reached a whopping 39 and 51 species
respectively.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H2ORjBbnpLpcRCUI4nCkKD5SEpKauV2VoQd8hudv5rOCtv7NvI9H5kqp7KTREDLda7BcgTjNT_FbCENuQsKZE7skqTGMsEr6Jfj8we7PYAsYdznpQrl54m_HlarVXnSX4TcK71fTBuOtrULz3heU-CDbxaWY7bIgdLgnu7J3hiR9wrvzVA8I1v2CwA/s1024/20220925_Young%20Birders'%20Week_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of twelve young people standing and smiling at the camera. Rather grey and drizzly day/backdrop." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H2ORjBbnpLpcRCUI4nCkKD5SEpKauV2VoQd8hudv5rOCtv7NvI9H5kqp7KTREDLda7BcgTjNT_FbCENuQsKZE7skqTGMsEr6Jfj8we7PYAsYdznpQrl54m_HlarVXnSX4TcK71fTBuOtrULz3heU-CDbxaWY7bIgdLgnu7J3hiR9wrvzVA8I1v2CwA/w640-h480/20220925_Young%20Birders'%20Week_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first group of young birders on their final morning (in the drizzle!) © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm304bYZaUAR5EFyUkUm56N9j9TI-9W4vnV7ePJn9tEyQ56KoGuQY4o7kkVzcjlfSg0YEL4Qyqh6qUZgLjzIOvlw5EQgJTMGVKlShkDxjYGq4Jo-fd_K2E9uPSUwzKQUYikqYMfIYMa6Ju7zQc4zWzmXNvG2vICfy5uku4TDZDgfpIVV_k0ZsPEfXmA/s1024/20220925_Young%20Birders'%20Week_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of ten young people standing and smiling at the camera. Blue skies and sunshine." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm304bYZaUAR5EFyUkUm56N9j9TI-9W4vnV7ePJn9tEyQ56KoGuQY4o7kkVzcjlfSg0YEL4Qyqh6qUZgLjzIOvlw5EQgJTMGVKlShkDxjYGq4Jo-fd_K2E9uPSUwzKQUYikqYMfIYMa6Ju7zQc4zWzmXNvG2vICfy5uku4TDZDgfpIVV_k0ZsPEfXmA/w640-h480/20220925_Young%20Birders'%20Week_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group two getting ready to depart from North Haven © Skomer Assistant Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Undoubtedly,
wildlife aside, the best part of Young Birders’ Week was the people the event
bought together. It was an absolute privilege to meet you all.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’d like
to extend a huge thank you (diolch!) to all of those who attended Young Birders’
Week. We’d also like to thank Dale Sailing for bringing the groups over at a
reduced rate in recognition of the importance of this access event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Planning
begins for 2023!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Beth, Visitor Officer</span></p></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-40576231561271415062022-09-16T11:50:00.000+01:002022-09-22T13:32:52.508+01:00Life of a Skomer LTV: July - September<p><span style="text-align: justify;">Hello everyone, it’s Lira and Anna
here (Jul-Sept LTVs). Our time on Skomer has flown by and with only a few weeks
left we thought we’d do a little update blog about what we’ve been up to.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It’s been really enjoyable to
welcome day visitors onto the island, sharing wildlife sightings during our
morning talks and chatting to people at the end of their day. We’ve also
assisted with the regular changeovers of hostel guests and volunteers; it’s
always a good morning workout getting involved with the ‘chain’ to carry bags
up to the top of the steps!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKmxEU67nygxPO6pVMlCEnbUJVO2r4OeKlxpfHtH8q0mxPugbgZiNUUjFnY7VQ79EtfluF2maM2YHMD6Y8hl09dcDylR5_YCWiZyszMJWzgUDJW_l53Pp8OAW_xZsjitb_Alapa87KYgilLVXFxX7hESbw0SWsMKNvdO3yebCneg5vlJ9fS0O1m9YKA/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A young woman kneeling on the ground behind a bench lying on its side. Lira is holding a drill and mending the bench" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKmxEU67nygxPO6pVMlCEnbUJVO2r4OeKlxpfHtH8q0mxPugbgZiNUUjFnY7VQ79EtfluF2maM2YHMD6Y8hl09dcDylR5_YCWiZyszMJWzgUDJW_l53Pp8OAW_xZsjitb_Alapa87KYgilLVXFxX7hESbw0SWsMKNvdO3yebCneg5vlJ9fS0O1m9YKA/w296-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_2.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lira working on the landing bench</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile we have both been
getting stuck into a range of maintenance tasks. The end of summer, once the
busy seabird counting is over, is a great time to catch up with odd jobs around
the island. We’ve repaired a bench at the landing (the perfect way of getting
to grips with using a saw and drill), repaired and polished up signage, and
have painted some rocks for footpath markers in some of the areas with lots of
burrows close by. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_bf-rIvcjOJhNZel18SgqOPFdXl-SwMsBamx7fcMtzWRmYssEa2_kbG0GW81RbXXdXEieraJQd7RP-oTUKInbU_DgQmGa0bAZ3u1vycTTwNBBfiwL13LyH03Uy2cWbmUEO4QdnpxgdA_XSOM7Lf4N5oFzhD2OFP-zEwDOxzpnPvAQXmtt8OQtXflSg/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A landscape of a path bordered on either side by bracken in various stages of green, brown and orange, with blue skies beyond" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_bf-rIvcjOJhNZel18SgqOPFdXl-SwMsBamx7fcMtzWRmYssEa2_kbG0GW81RbXXdXEieraJQd7RP-oTUKInbU_DgQmGa0bAZ3u1vycTTwNBBfiwL13LyH03Uy2cWbmUEO4QdnpxgdA_XSOM7Lf4N5oFzhD2OFP-zEwDOxzpnPvAQXmtt8OQtXflSg/w296-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_1.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bracken is starting to turn a beautiful orange</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We’ve also helped to clear bracken along various paths around
the island. Gradually now we’re starting to see the bracken change to a more
orangey brown colour – some patches of bracken had been scorched so much during
the heatwaves that it turned a beautiful yellow colour, and it appeared almost
rainbow-like in combination with the oranges and greens.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd9pn35FhfoYeZswglgwzsg8EaJ_9fpx_p3O6BnSJKyCcFNJen4vPQHjtNSv39045Lekau-ncu6BXIk7tJOwsC9MZcnJFW58LapstQSLMuokVrKrJVi2yULDr2oHWpUbgDQkQsewzvDzEPAShutXhV7wR9x5cUcKyUAAX_RKhDWmzA1nmSl_uY-hqyw/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A small seal pup in the dark lit up by red light looking over its shoulder back at the photographer" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd9pn35FhfoYeZswglgwzsg8EaJ_9fpx_p3O6BnSJKyCcFNJen4vPQHjtNSv39045Lekau-ncu6BXIk7tJOwsC9MZcnJFW58LapstQSLMuokVrKrJVi2yULDr2oHWpUbgDQkQsewzvDzEPAShutXhV7wR9x5cUcKyUAAX_RKhDWmzA1nmSl_uY-hqyw/w296-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_5.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the seal pups in the aptly named Seal Hole</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The end of August is an exciting
time of year as it’s the beginning of the Grey Seal pupping season. Before the
pupping started the team managed to get down to the Wick and South Haven to clean the beaches. A lot of plastic had washed up and it was important to remove
as much as we could. Now that the seals are pupping we are busy with regular
seal surveys around the main island. This involves monitoring seals at major
haul out areas and beaches during low tide. As we write this we have a couple
of new pups around the main island and look forward to seeing how the season
progresses. It's incredible to see how quickly the pups grow, with visible
size changes on consecutive days (they can put on up to 2kg a day from the
female’s very fatty milk!). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm7nao9NzXKrMhq7RgnRQ4qSxevJ7xIRspoBe-r1VPqI4ZWy6bxh6O7PBPLpsCKbiXyzQOCIDS9m6ZEGiKfSwvctg04QhuA51-_8Wq8EXsdq-Vcs6MZeAgwSgX8BIiaQWGEn-k6FMcnrEwNcGgdiy4swHQVRWsFjo3EEyfA3vzKTOpnJIcgSGOGLSYg/s1288/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph from above of two women in helmets climbing down a steep rocky slope into a cave" border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipm7nao9NzXKrMhq7RgnRQ4qSxevJ7xIRspoBe-r1VPqI4ZWy6bxh6O7PBPLpsCKbiXyzQOCIDS9m6ZEGiKfSwvctg04QhuA51-_8Wq8EXsdq-Vcs6MZeAgwSgX8BIiaQWGEn-k6FMcnrEwNcGgdiy4swHQVRWsFjo3EEyfA3vzKTOpnJIcgSGOGLSYg/w296-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_3.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee (left) and Lira (right) climbing down into Seal Hole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWL5518gA854NI4dRyAXX_vGY53JJaVF17JbkXpB1yt8Jw7CV8HREiH-_3Fno6czCFSkGNUCKIo9FY6y4A-PgpGPKhqApSUbOHRnekURFKWshkj-gnxuUSbcX86S_pz2wuj8jOmvC4jTU-9Xz-7aVn023fN6eDE3nQcFYEl9mocn1pdvjx8jT4LpJyA/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image from behind of two people entering a cave. They are both wearing helmets." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWL5518gA854NI4dRyAXX_vGY53JJaVF17JbkXpB1yt8Jw7CV8HREiH-_3Fno6czCFSkGNUCKIo9FY6y4A-PgpGPKhqApSUbOHRnekURFKWshkj-gnxuUSbcX86S_pz2wuj8jOmvC4jTU-9Xz-7aVn023fN6eDE3nQcFYEl9mocn1pdvjx8jT4LpJyA/w480-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed (left) and Anna (right) scrambling into Seal Hole</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the highlights of our time here has been assisting
with the seal surveying on The Neck, with the chance to go down into one of the
caves – ‘Seal Hole’. After a scramble down the cliffs, we climbed down into the
cave (guided by Bee and Ed) to see if there were any pups.
The sound of the seals howling in the caves creates a chilling, but exciting
atmosphere and it is really special to be able to see them in this way! Two
openings to the cave mean that the adult seals can exit through the other way as we enter. Once inside we were able to assist with spray painting a coloured
dot just above each pup’s tail; this means individuals can be distinguished and
monitored throughout the season. It was an experience we will both remember
for a long time!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxulETqpY8vxBdQxWZCalUsTVlzS5NzJOCICrkdyTqj6fFoNGqa2-SREy28nyOe7luFnI_ACfqMR5-Pft1jYhohmCphRek8iA6HIDkeVKBqG14FzbcZkc8LmhNJD4XeoNST_gTs-UwtDkKlQthCjS_YXX7v6hlBO4C9aM5B9S8GXN4M7rKOAuyVMuA/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph of a bright orange sunset, with a strip of dark land in the foreground, then a slim strip of sea, and some clouds above with silver linings" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxulETqpY8vxBdQxWZCalUsTVlzS5NzJOCICrkdyTqj6fFoNGqa2-SREy28nyOe7luFnI_ACfqMR5-Pft1jYhohmCphRek8iA6HIDkeVKBqG14FzbcZkc8LmhNJD4XeoNST_gTs-UwtDkKlQthCjS_YXX7v6hlBO4C9aM5B9S8GXN4M7rKOAuyVMuA/w640-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Skomer sunsets</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In our free time we love to
explore the island and its wildlife and have been enjoying some beautiful
sunsets at the end of the day. Raven numbers have really increased and it’s awesome
to see groups of up to 40 dancing around in the sky. You never know what you
might see drop in bird-wise this time of year too; we’ve been lucky enough to
see a Wryneck that hung around the farm for a couple of days, Bonelli’s
Warbler, Pied Flycatcher (Anna’s first) and a Sparrowhawk take a Shearwater! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt11-0vPLpjio9jdU4BRb9mmoi3xfg0qch7JvoGqm8S9YU1SU8W7aqs1JYHizWVqAJdC6DcDdej412tbb7I7zyPizN-4wJ3HS-I0nB3xo93ejIXcWcGa7Z65tg5LKVn6qZNoI1_ImXg3nWI4UzSUrX9PiCvfFaakZOWpDM2XO0XYAOkjReCAdk6lB8yw/s2048/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph of a young woman lying in a hammock laughing and raising one foot to show off a newly crocheted sock" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt11-0vPLpjio9jdU4BRb9mmoi3xfg0qch7JvoGqm8S9YU1SU8W7aqs1JYHizWVqAJdC6DcDdej412tbb7I7zyPizN-4wJ3HS-I0nB3xo93ejIXcWcGa7Z65tg5LKVn6qZNoI1_ImXg3nWI4UzSUrX9PiCvfFaakZOWpDM2XO0XYAOkjReCAdk6lB8yw/w296-h640/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_8.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lira modelling our crochet sock and glove on the hammock!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">On
rainier days we’ve kept busy with lots of baking, improving our breadmaking
skills, and also have some crochet projects on the go – Lira making a glove and
Anna a sock (we’ve yet to complete the other half to make a pair of each!!).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidVO3eiOrAW-5a4BC9TCcvhuWVa9J_z_6JZd8yNr2AT1aVtDOnF8KVJ3sDAGidoyDhZGmR4VSqqL2-189FCF7ZjHB2ZW_f0zIOj2q61DCROx9XIlm6nS9Nmd1qBY-BhayxQixYms1ACgis9ooDmtIGOJMqpmAcX-KZbL_IO_hS_6dgKTRNIjTzkxAsQ/s1024/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph of a young woman in a fenced off area next to a stone building. She is standing in the middle distance, smiling, and holding a clipboard. It is a bright sunny day and she is wearing a cap." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidVO3eiOrAW-5a4BC9TCcvhuWVa9J_z_6JZd8yNr2AT1aVtDOnF8KVJ3sDAGidoyDhZGmR4VSqqL2-189FCF7ZjHB2ZW_f0zIOj2q61DCROx9XIlm6nS9Nmd1qBY-BhayxQixYms1ACgis9ooDmtIGOJMqpmAcX-KZbL_IO_hS_6dgKTRNIjTzkxAsQ/w640-h480/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna surveying in the exclosure</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We’ve been working on our
personal projects too: a study on visitor experience and where people have
travelled from (Lira) and a BioBlitz of the rabbit grazing exclosure (Anna).
We hope to share our findings here on the blog once complete. In the meantime,
thank you Skomer for such a wonderful past 2 months and we look forward to
making the most of our last few weeks as LTVs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVRy7jRFmnuQ5GhIQiwtfZq7MLeD1wMzjrp-U3pJ3Hi6dNm9lhNiTjmy8wjbtNw_cnTV60J6r1leemlmwGj9eeAkAmbQNw33ctS_1b_0zafebjThb29efjo8TuQgneaBS5A2e2mh086BrLKSzaZbAgV4CT0r3f1nJgLWtVo9wcX3GukyhLDA8-s-rRg/s1024/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph taken from the sea of two young women sitting on the bottom step going down to the water. Both are smiling and one is dangling a foot in the water." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVRy7jRFmnuQ5GhIQiwtfZq7MLeD1wMzjrp-U3pJ3Hi6dNm9lhNiTjmy8wjbtNw_cnTV60J6r1leemlmwGj9eeAkAmbQNw33ctS_1b_0zafebjThb29efjo8TuQgneaBS5A2e2mh086BrLKSzaZbAgV4CT0r3f1nJgLWtVo9wcX3GukyhLDA8-s-rRg/w640-h480/20220914_Anna%20and%20Lira%20Blog_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna (left) and Lira (right) enjoying a break on the landing steps</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-68884040812932518982022-08-23T07:00:00.000+01:002022-08-23T07:47:47.663+01:00OxNav update: the secret lives of Manxies<p><span style="text-align: justify;">Hey everyone!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Today’s blog has been written by
OxNav, who are a group of student researchers based on Skomer, studying the
ecology and navigational strategies of Skomer’s hidden gems, the Manx
shearwaters! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For those who may be unfamiliar
with Manx shearwaters, or Manxies as we fondly call them, they are a species of
Procellariform seabird which spend the majority of their lives out at sea, but
return to burrows on islands around the UK, such as Skomer, during their summer
breeding season to reunite with partners, lay eggs, and raise their chicks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Skomer Island is home to the world’s
largest colony of Manxies, an impressive<b> </b>350,000 pairs, which makes up
40% of the world’s population! Here at OxNav we study breeding pairs in one of
the densest parts of the island, North Haven. For those of you who have visited
Skomer, you have likely gazed across our study colony without realising, we
face out of North Haven bay, where the boats land, and our colony spans the
hills all around the warden’s house, with hundreds of burrows marked and
hatched for easy access into the nesting chamber.</p>
<p class="MsoCaption" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4QPK3ekyn3aTQ9a7tDMuM_7fzZy82rACOXnQURaIyE7l5laC4tnqSZUXOcEUMPBi9xQEwu_HsK419pHSNuk6CsAJtI5GBus9loDUnToqXToYIxgUizRAyCtZQcJHYUl7PMPpcew9Da-H8fQI6nfWHWNKRk3qkc-w9LKegtvibt3Smzy_N_HaK9lBUw/s1373/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Top: black and white photograph of a Manx shearwater at night. Bottom: two well-wrapped up people lying on the ground with their arms down burrows, surrounded by white and green burrow marker posts" border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1373" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4QPK3ekyn3aTQ9a7tDMuM_7fzZy82rACOXnQURaIyE7l5laC4tnqSZUXOcEUMPBi9xQEwu_HsK419pHSNuk6CsAJtI5GBus9loDUnToqXToYIxgUizRAyCtZQcJHYUl7PMPpcew9Da-H8fQI6nfWHWNKRk3qkc-w9LKegtvibt3Smzy_N_HaK9lBUw/w640-h558/Picture1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above: An adult Manx shearwater sat on the surface at night. Below: Lewis and trusty friend Alice checking study burrows for the arrival of an egg.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoCaption" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">This year, we arrived on Skomer with the Manxies, all the way back in the beginning of April, when the
first adults returned from their grand migration to Argentina to reunite with
their partners. However, getting here as early as we did this year revealed
that perhaps these pair-bonded seabirds aren’t as loyal as we once thought they
were! We found that many birds would spend the night cwtched up in a burrow with
a bird other than their usual partner, only to then go back and recouple with
said partner later in the season, I guess the grass wasn’t greener in the other
burrow for these birds! But this posed an interesting theory, how can a male
ensure that he is the father of the chick he raises? Do perhaps males with a
greater drive to defend their burrows (and in-turn their partner) have a
greater chance of being the biological father? Sounds to us like a job for
Jeremy Kyle…</p>
<p class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8m8ZmMzFoF0mNG7w8vL0U6YTygz0bpZ0CzsThy_Rb57fYO7zxaXI0ovE4LVsTMInbt7o2sqmV9YarJVJ4SEZ2cITAcT0lQbXa8LL6gQ5SGJ3GfQfzYhSZXCT3zW5m90qXHMEtU34-rptIvxmTyln7Dorndbc0YR7xtWUwUayK7XIO4mGnZWLvaBBVg/s487/Picture2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black and white photo taken from a burrow camera video in an artificial burrow. Two Manx shearwaters are in the breeding chamber, the head of the left hand bird resting on the back of the right hand bird." border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="487" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8m8ZmMzFoF0mNG7w8vL0U6YTygz0bpZ0CzsThy_Rb57fYO7zxaXI0ovE4LVsTMInbt7o2sqmV9YarJVJ4SEZ2cITAcT0lQbXa8LL6gQ5SGJ3GfQfzYhSZXCT3zW5m90qXHMEtU34-rptIvxmTyln7Dorndbc0YR7xtWUwUayK7XIO4mGnZWLvaBBVg/w640-h485/Picture2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">A breeding pair of Manx shearwaters spending the night together in their burrow.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">Once these dramatic revelations had passed and eggs had been laid, we turned our attention to our incubation tracking
campaign! We attached small GPS loggers weighing only 10g to the backs of adult
Manxies (picture a little computerised backpack) to track their movements
during their at-sea foraging trips. These excursions can last over 10 days,
with the birds covering incredible distances in search of food to fuel their
next stint of incubating the egg! From these GPS tracks, we can uncover so much
about these speedy seabirds: where they go to forage, when and how they make
the decision to return home, how they do this with such accuracy, and how all
of these wonders vary between individuals.</p>
<p class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q786CEfqFa0sbdJmk4URq6oodwQh0u14YKH-uJFlygO7468oy-hZ9kbKzGL49eY4u_PhjWluVnfE9Z7khT_GoD-3M4w_J6UoUvHlHqIykiqCFKd9v7HtBPKm-BcHGVPrWI88FKqls4Lv994uOi_vDs1MqE8MQAuT_FQumqp-yNn1oPvXT6ObqWIiOw/s496/Picture3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A map of the UK and Ireland, with different coloured lines showing the migration of different incubating Manx shearwaters. Most foraged within the Irish sea, but some headed further North, with one bird going beyond St Kilda into the Atlantic Ocean" border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="496" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q786CEfqFa0sbdJmk4URq6oodwQh0u14YKH-uJFlygO7468oy-hZ9kbKzGL49eY4u_PhjWluVnfE9Z7khT_GoD-3M4w_J6UoUvHlHqIykiqCFKd9v7HtBPKm-BcHGVPrWI88FKqls4Lv994uOi_vDs1MqE8MQAuT_FQumqp-yNn1oPvXT6ObqWIiOw/w640-h640/Picture3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">GPS tracks from incubating Manx shearwaters. Each colour shows a different bird, with one heading far North out into the Atlantic Ocean!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Now, the moment you’ve all been
waiting for… fluffy chicks! From lay to hatch, the parents will incubate an egg
for around 51 days, before a bundle of cuteness and downy feathers cracks its way
out of the small, white egg. Here at OxNav we are lucky enough to monitor a
subset of our colony’s chicks, weighing them every day to gain insight into
general colony productivity, potentially revealing seasonal variations in food
availability, or perhaps how well the parents are performing in their
baby-feeding strategies. Of course this chick monitoring has great scientific
value, but personally we love the opportunity to watch these fluffy chicks grow
and develop, from a small 50g peeping nugget, to a 650g sacks of flapping wings
and teenage angst.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Pictured below is our personal
favourite, Megan thee Shearwater, affectionately named after the hip-hop
sensation, Megan thee Stallion, representing strong female shearwaters, and all
the trouble they go through in producing and laying the egg, you go girls!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX-vqRoolks7IlAfAjUXDrprCRf1zm6QgEQfH1PuNARkV8tO_LbZEo9AQ1MhdHD2tDnKWYfae2YIrUqkBxc1Y1zBsZwAXjnGvammFJmiW9dUJaMOwjWgME18l292x-a9MvrcSk4Q6yZYmuOM14jjl70Ok0qY00GZ83pfor07sUiMSh4QLRVJSZKUGVQ/s1393/Picture4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1393" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX-vqRoolks7IlAfAjUXDrprCRf1zm6QgEQfH1PuNARkV8tO_LbZEo9AQ1MhdHD2tDnKWYfae2YIrUqkBxc1Y1zBsZwAXjnGvammFJmiW9dUJaMOwjWgME18l292x-a9MvrcSk4Q6yZYmuOM14jjl70Ok0qY00GZ83pfor07sUiMSh4QLRVJSZKUGVQ/w640-h326/Picture4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">From left to right, we see our lovely long-term volunteers: Eve, Kelda, and Lira & Anna, helping to weigh Megan as she grew throughout the season!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the past few months, when not cuddling
chicks (for science of course), we have been deploying more GPS devices to gain
insight into their shorter, more frequent chick-rearing foraging trips. This
year we have synchronised deployments across the islands of Skomer, Skokholm,
and Ramsey, to see if these colonies overlap in their foraging grounds, or
perhaps all occupy separate areas! We also piloted a future study for one of
our new PhD students, Lewis (that’s me, hello!), where we displaced GPS-wielding
adults to other locations around the island, such as the Mew Stone and Garland Stone,
to investigate whether their short-scale navigation is as impressive as in
their long-range movements. Here's a little sneak peek for you… it’s looking
like the answer is yes! We had birds which seemed to understand their release
location very well, knowing the optimal route around the island (since they
prefer not to fly over land), and returning to the colony in less than three
minutes, now that’s a bird with a built in SatNav if I’ve ever seen one!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlkhSu6Gm7aqrKDASDWFpWRsly8aI2DAsE3C91RoNQAMiTcRv3VcMCn_kFTpUGB2tTChN5SGSKfpMYSAnweKOBqVbWEfEPwp40NJL3k2vYrIG0Penj3Hixyxu8y_O9b-MbvIAIYNXf7JQ7oYdnM-shHELksMzmI6vFBh1axrEzeombQNZxAA91x5fQA/s425/Picture5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A photograph of a hand holding out a Manx shearwater. The photographer is using a red light torch so the picture is all in red and black, except for a bright blue light on the back of the bird, which is the GPS flashing." border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="425" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlkhSu6Gm7aqrKDASDWFpWRsly8aI2DAsE3C91RoNQAMiTcRv3VcMCn_kFTpUGB2tTChN5SGSKfpMYSAnweKOBqVbWEfEPwp40NJL3k2vYrIG0Penj3Hixyxu8y_O9b-MbvIAIYNXf7JQ7oYdnM-shHELksMzmI6vFBh1axrEzeombQNZxAA91x5fQA/w640-h424/Picture5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoCaption">A Manx shearwater
mid take-off during one of the displacement studies. You can see the GPS
flashing as the bird is released.</p><p align="center" class="MsoCaption"><br /></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: justify;">The chicks will now
be fed and raised until September, when they will de</span><span style="text-align: justify;">part for their winter
grounds in the seas off Argentina! Our masters student, Alana, has spent many of her
evenings sea-watching at Garland stone, recording information on the rafting
behaviour of Manx shearwaters, seeing how long they sit on the water, in what
numbers, and if the locations of these rafts is consistent over time! This has been a
great excuse to head out of North Haven, picnic in hand, to watch the sunset and
take in all the other nature that Skomer has to offer, even if Manxies are our
particular favourites.</span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We hope you’ve enjoyed reading
about our work! We love chatting about Manxies (if you couldn’t tell) so drop the team a message through these
accounts if we’ve piqued your interest: Instagram - @Lewisthezoologist, Twitter
- @LFisherReeves</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lewis & Alana<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgUDaw4IUkglvEWB0h6bUxuRar41WdKO61EKZ1wRg96m_HE0UWI3TZCvD64i-Ru5xMZyprGgjCGOzJqH_XeUOOipM_GYyaRabX4LLzkYrQfMqP1lkuR4BUsNlmpBf2tjvZmew_-Ja_gHA7iJlK6v5WWM5Jg-8ck5pud2dOTeFYIy195hUq-TOP1KfXg/s564/Picture6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A picture of three smiling people against a background of a sunset above the sea." border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="564" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgUDaw4IUkglvEWB0h6bUxuRar41WdKO61EKZ1wRg96m_HE0UWI3TZCvD64i-Ru5xMZyprGgjCGOzJqH_XeUOOipM_GYyaRabX4LLzkYrQfMqP1lkuR4BUsNlmpBf2tjvZmew_-Ja_gHA7iJlK6v5WWM5Jg-8ck5pud2dOTeFYIy195hUq-TOP1KfXg/w640-h482/Picture6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoCaption">Team Chick-rearing
2022! Alana, Trina, and Lewis, enjoying the sunset together.<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Just to note:</i> With the
increasing risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to our seabirds, it’s worth mentioning that all
handling pictured was carried out in the months prior to the rising cases. OxNav and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales have been closely monitoring the situation and abiding by guidance from leading bodies. Unfortunately, all bird handling on Skomer has now been suspended until further notice. </p></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-62677277885847762112022-08-02T14:48:00.001+01:002022-08-02T14:51:00.063+01:00Introducing Anna and Lira: our new LTVs<p>Hello everyone and welcome to our first blog! We are the new
LTVs (long-term volunteers) Anna and Lira and we are super excited to keep you updated about
everything we get up to on the island!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ1FdcrZo9u80xfxUhG6bidZgPse_hrf2_9AIHy3T6Bc1midQWGrbwGcvOK4h0svcS9CUuYOVAe79-JxC_chl6wbWJAcAGoNowYRVxcR5thx0Df-sD9qW8mtapCCIjcJc1UuvmtHY1qm0Nru49JT2RjDdVzey0a79VxiPMHHUzoQNBkY65Sws5xiWKA/s1376/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1376" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ1FdcrZo9u80xfxUhG6bidZgPse_hrf2_9AIHy3T6Bc1midQWGrbwGcvOK4h0svcS9CUuYOVAe79-JxC_chl6wbWJAcAGoNowYRVxcR5thx0Df-sD9qW8mtapCCIjcJc1UuvmtHY1qm0Nru49JT2RjDdVzey0a79VxiPMHHUzoQNBkY65Sws5xiWKA/w640-h360/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are on our first early morning gas run to Martins Haven, Anna (left) and Lira (right).</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We both arrived early July and will be staying on the island till October - so
we will be involved in lots of different tasks, from daily welcome talks to
helping out with research around the island. Can’t wait to keep you all updated
<span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";"><b><u>Lira</u></b></span></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";"><b></b></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Hi
everyone, my name's Lira and I’ll tell you a little bit more about me and how
I’ve ended up on Skomer Island, it’s been a complete rollercoaster! I’m the
first generation in my family to be born in the UK as we are originally from
Latin America (Colombia and Chile) but my parents moved to London as children
and have lived in London ever since! Against the odds, I have always felt a
huge sense of connection to nature and from a young age I knew I wanted to work
with wildlife. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7OJ_hmt0biB5eEh6xpAujOgAzvr22CQfhBBADWJuN8Kn3hcKtCBWkRBfVLLQv4yxOlFM6J5NqdHtRvY4QnzCbMoeTGPJkKFrku7SD6ul9acNfhw-NLfJDTtWB5v61nBpIUoj2ijynu-Fcb27XLq-ITdMHtRbh8zHFZZZ00U1ab_W6jYAjgCADvJokQ/s1600/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7OJ_hmt0biB5eEh6xpAujOgAzvr22CQfhBBADWJuN8Kn3hcKtCBWkRBfVLLQv4yxOlFM6J5NqdHtRvY4QnzCbMoeTGPJkKFrku7SD6ul9acNfhw-NLfJDTtWB5v61nBpIUoj2ijynu-Fcb27XLq-ITdMHtRbh8zHFZZZ00U1ab_W6jYAjgCADvJokQ/w360-h640/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_2.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I enjoy birding in my free time.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Growing up, I never really saw people like myself in green
spaces and definitely didn’t see anyone who looked or sounded like me on the
nature programmes which was a huge challenge growing up as someone wanting to
pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Living in London also provided some
challenges as there aren’t many opportunities for people seeking experience in
conservation, and getting an office job in the heart of London is what most
people in the city aspire to do (and what is actually encouraged in schools). I
decided I would stick with my dreams of working in the field and although I was
told that becoming a vet is the best option for an animal lover in London, I
went to study Zoology at the University of Reading. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After graduating,
unfortunately I started to believe that maybe conservation wasn’t for me. I had
the passion but I just couldn’t get my foot in the door with experience.
Volunteering away from home wasn’t an option either as I just couldn’t afford
it after university. I simply gave up
for about a year and got a ‘normal’ 9-5 job. Although the pandemic was a scary
and lonely time, it really put things into perspective for me and reminded me
what was truly important to me. Wildlife. Nothing makes me feel more whole and
happier than wildlife. I spent the months of lockdown applying for conservation
roles and creating wildlife opportunities for myself. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbJ3hoYHKlQfViOrJYEPaoGSmZGWesmaz11adN0hd3PdCc36MoIT-1HbY8UVUI6V4qjaqNjYHLlZSOSzPEdOrCxFodpS_gHsmFzPAoqrpThJUPZJNFXkiN4QDtan__QNWlyjZgirB5J4f1ah7Se1_FsbR4jx4j9QQGlZ3V6gK59qRwYc_HVrY6ddvhA/s1024/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbJ3hoYHKlQfViOrJYEPaoGSmZGWesmaz11adN0hd3PdCc36MoIT-1HbY8UVUI6V4qjaqNjYHLlZSOSzPEdOrCxFodpS_gHsmFzPAoqrpThJUPZJNFXkiN4QDtan__QNWlyjZgirB5J4f1ah7Se1_FsbR4jx4j9QQGlZ3V6gK59qRwYc_HVrY6ddvhA/w640-h480/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me giving a welcome talk to visitors arriving on the island.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A few months into
lockdown I got offered an opportunity with BirdLife Malta as a nature reserves
assistant and ringing assistant. I couldn’t believe it! Since then, I’ve also
completed a traineeship with the London Wildlife Trust and now I am at Skomer!
Since arriving, I’ve held welcome talks, helped with habitat management,
assisted in bird ringing and much more! I have encountered so much wildlife already
and feel super lucky to have seen the last of the puffins before they head out to
sea. Everyone, from the staff to the volunteers, have been incredibly welcoming
and have really made me feel at home. Very important when living on such a
small island! With every day being so different to the last, I should have
experienced tons by my next blog and can’t wait to tell you all about it! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Thank
you for reading and stay tuned! Love lira x</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Anna</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Hello! I’m Anna. I’m really
excited to be a long-term volunteer on Skomer. I have been really enjoying my
time here so far, keeping busy with welcome talks, brush cutting, maintenance
tasks and lots of refreshing evening swims in North Haven (it’s been a very hot
first few weeks!). I’ve also been lucky enough to help out with some of the
ringing and weighing of the island’s seabirds, including Gulls, Manx
Shearwater, and my new favourite – the tiny Storm Petrels! I love how each day
is so varied here. It’s also great meeting so many lovely people; Skomer is a
busy place as weekly volunteers and researchers come and go.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1zhn11o7UC35ksJPmcNHnBceiHTsrnE1ZezGDq4YBM94m63NoZdTlVOr_Dos7RlV__er9Q-wXF4VBkDUJcGUfdiuAPA7JRh82m-Fs_9SHl_6IvDAkkXU70H1bgb5dPMXUelxTYeqMji4ScV3-tPf5C-nLlJvvEwvwhsuvyDdR6fMhb4-DRIZhdYM5g/s1647/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1zhn11o7UC35ksJPmcNHnBceiHTsrnE1ZezGDq4YBM94m63NoZdTlVOr_Dos7RlV__er9Q-wXF4VBkDUJcGUfdiuAPA7JRh82m-Fs_9SHl_6IvDAkkXU70H1bgb5dPMXUelxTYeqMji4ScV3-tPf5C-nLlJvvEwvwhsuvyDdR6fMhb4-DRIZhdYM5g/w368-h640/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_4.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Enjoying a Skomer sunset with the puffins.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Before coming to Skomer
in July I had never been before and was really excited to see what island life was
really like. This June, I completed my undergraduate Zoology degree at the
University of Sheffield. I chose to study Zoology after hearing that such a
course existed whilst volunteering at the Birdfair in Rutland during my summer
holidays. I have always enjoyed watching and learning all about wildlife but
going along to Birdfair really opened up the world of conservation to me and I
realised it was something I could make a career out of. During uni I put this
passion for nature into volunteering with the conservation society at weekends. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After my 2<sup>nd</sup> year of uni I did a year long placement at the Wildfowl
and Wetlands Trust in Washington (North East England). During this year I
learnt so much about what it takes to manage a nature reserve from practical
habitat management and species monitoring to visitor engagement, I was in my
element! My placement also allowed me to really develop my wildlife
identification skills and I started to really enjoy identifying plants and
wildflowers – something I will continue to work on here on Skomer. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ053DIqGbjwkAtyAapXyXUVPIsJ0BvoizIS_nbjL37ha6D_-WK0z6KhLaFAtg8Qlak4V1lRjHKCKBFE9WxceWuN8qj6bk450y8yQwgY5bEAGKfWXnDNIGBvOChrwx1qiDInwby-1NE5yOnyPlaRrdYGjakD4IZyzxv9dgPehVnzv7yZmGC9qo5dKzw/s1600/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ053DIqGbjwkAtyAapXyXUVPIsJ0BvoizIS_nbjL37ha6D_-WK0z6KhLaFAtg8Qlak4V1lRjHKCKBFE9WxceWuN8qj6bk450y8yQwgY5bEAGKfWXnDNIGBvOChrwx1qiDInwby-1NE5yOnyPlaRrdYGjakD4IZyzxv9dgPehVnzv7yZmGC9qo5dKzw/w640-h480/20220726_Anna%20and%20Lira_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my spare time I love to go off on camping adventures.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Whilst at
uni and back home (North Yorkshire) I spend much of my free time out and about
walking, quite often with my life packed into my backpack, off on yet another
camping adventure!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Spending my summer on Skomer is a
dream come true and I can’t wait to get stuck into even more over the coming
months. I look forward to updating the blog!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Anna <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></p><br />Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-51088550222448164662022-07-27T07:00:00.000+01:002022-08-02T14:49:02.293+01:00Under the sea: exploring Skomer's marine life <p>For much of the spring and summer, Skomer is a hive of
activity with over a million seabirds filling the cliffs and burrows, many of
them busily raising chicks. The sights, smells and sounds of this breeding rush
are hard to miss, from puffins diving into burrows with beaks full of sandeels
to the cacophony of calls from the cliffside colonies. This abundance of life,
however, is only the tip of the iceberg; equally impressive natural wonders reside
beneath the waves.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mGdTWJ6TwGCxyOg_1tE-YkFZaQGkx7RfsCDY60-Lx-uKJkHL68IYd1yJ9BUnr7_dTYg1tmobJMzTPQXlrBA3ecfd0Ip44_cJ-n2J9P5xwPu93nQoDHPGBhawe6MRYZfKkkjSByZip2nVsTEFmajCXSDIwOiRvizBIqRbBqFD1i5DAn0oMlhrOmOmCw/s1440/IMG_20220617_112923_484.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mGdTWJ6TwGCxyOg_1tE-YkFZaQGkx7RfsCDY60-Lx-uKJkHL68IYd1yJ9BUnr7_dTYg1tmobJMzTPQXlrBA3ecfd0Ip44_cJ-n2J9P5xwPu93nQoDHPGBhawe6MRYZfKkkjSByZip2nVsTEFmajCXSDIwOiRvizBIqRbBqFD1i5DAn0oMlhrOmOmCw/w640-h640/IMG_20220617_112923_484.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Shanny © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v6iqUHgUGk0If5OKg1fOSe2ft62TFU5JXlKQYQg1yC7Z72k9ruMKx4IfWu3ho8Rk2iVUUOdjyXAoqa5XkgovZ654bKf0fFCa3cNDDlBLwQArWRLjVHZ3rHCPoQqqWd6t4sv5EOLZ3i6_4Npopr6LSvIIXVBIurGPXOEh_EAffn_4WbPq6p7iExNOtg/s754/IMG_20220717_220256_398.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="754" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v6iqUHgUGk0If5OKg1fOSe2ft62TFU5JXlKQYQg1yC7Z72k9ruMKx4IfWu3ho8Rk2iVUUOdjyXAoqa5XkgovZ654bKf0fFCa3cNDDlBLwQArWRLjVHZ3rHCPoQqqWd6t4sv5EOLZ3i6_4Npopr6LSvIIXVBIurGPXOEh_EAffn_4WbPq6p7iExNOtg/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_220256_398.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Blue jellyfish © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlVOwehtTyZ4vU5HMADn-RSFx5-ZMK_OeexQxVIZvDZiuaXZQzVXYteOO991NopDHEZSlmsnx6GaO1hVvKxkOFggSsMN-M3WTsJkis0o-OkV-s7-mCxe056wCspgrepnTGWTGlsUXR91K_om97ywRq4QYqJNu7aFSARkTe7TmWH_XKGZfFpz1gxHEDw/s852/IMG_20220717_221054_186.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlVOwehtTyZ4vU5HMADn-RSFx5-ZMK_OeexQxVIZvDZiuaXZQzVXYteOO991NopDHEZSlmsnx6GaO1hVvKxkOFggSsMN-M3WTsJkis0o-OkV-s7-mCxe056wCspgrepnTGWTGlsUXR91K_om97ywRq4QYqJNu7aFSARkTe7TmWH_XKGZfFpz1gxHEDw/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_221054_186.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Moon jellyfish © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Dive in and take a moment to recover from the shock of the
chilly Atlantic waters. Once your breath has slowed and your eyes adjusted, a
multicoloured world awaits. Seaweeds in all shades of brown, red and green rise
from the seabed, keeping time with the wash of the waves. Splotches of bright
pink encrusting algae coat the rocks beside cushions of vibrant orange
breadcrumb sponge and clusters of lemon-yellow dogwhelk eggs. A pulsating
rainbow appears before you as a translucent comb jelly propels itself through
the water, beating rows of combs scattering the light in all directions. On
encountering a tasty morsel (friends and family included), this seemingly
featureless creature yawns wide and engulfs their prey in a flash. Smaller and
more spherical but equally as alien, sea gooseberries trail two long tentacles,
fishing on the go. There’s life everywhere you look.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UVpx97gb7jzl4OMXjNz8xEiTRfMLP_VO73qk07hweIlpZpeDpyRiT9lXULE_2XpjPVpYXGYClg5L2C1Ez8HOlHhXtxtL9w_NY3VXVIDIIOVtQ3OzI85tmIoyKQYZMkPNP2y7XtSTP3ehv9IaFD4qXN0Z3tZaimGoAyVmNP8KoUcFiJMcfKut7CcPw/s929/IMG_20220717_222435_766.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="929" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UVpx97gb7jzl4OMXjNz8xEiTRfMLP_VO73qk07hweIlpZpeDpyRiT9lXULE_2XpjPVpYXGYClg5L2C1Ez8HOlHhXtxtL9w_NY3VXVIDIIOVtQ3OzI85tmIoyKQYZMkPNP2y7XtSTP3ehv9IaFD4qXN0Z3tZaimGoAyVmNP8KoUcFiJMcfKut7CcPw/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_222435_766.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Comb jelly © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The seas around Skomer are so rich in marine life they’ve
been protected by a Marine Conservation Zone since 2014 and were recognised as
a Marine Nature Reserve for 24 years before that. The incredible biodiversity
here is due to the variety of habitats found around the island, the strong
tidal flows, and the influence of warm and cold currents. Steep and exposed
cliffs, wave-swept rocks and sheltered bays provide a multitude of homes for
many different species, the strong tidal flows deliver food and nutrients, and
oceanic currents bring warm-water species from the south and cold-water species
from the north. You’ll find bright red multi-armed sunstars from the north living
alongside scarlet and gold cup corals and yellow trumpet anemones from the
south in a colourful cocktail of marine life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two metres tall and with broad brown blades, kelp is a giant
among seaweeds. What’s more, it’s an ecosystem engineer creating habitat and
boosting species richness by providing shelter, habitat and food for a whole
host of marine species. In North Haven, spider crabs shelter amongst the kelp,
clutching at the stipes or lumbering slowly across the seabed on their long,
long legs. Wrasse briefly emerge from the kelp canopy whilst, if you have the
patience to look for them, tiny blue-rayed limpets cling to the blades. These
miniature limpets, with electric blue stripes on their fingernail-sized shells,
graze the algal film found on kelp fronds. What’s more, kelp also absorbs and
stores carbon dioxide, improves water quality and helps buffer the shoreline
from stormy seas – a real champion of our oceans.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0XtpHy2bHbkY5aBS9uuQZDsbC7rV1wXJtd2MRy8a8tRrxJJQK05SA4Q6-nWh5H9YV2oVy5pOUZA2MrBCRXOuVmDo925pVH9Ls58x5R5yvHR_w0HIIAgkkyUs9BvFMdbzVlBas1ereRicN8xeFYQjgXi59oUEFTaLaXjRWo-SzabeLj36NBqluQlwMA/s2876/IMG_20220602_210213_761.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph from above of a spider crab with very long legs" border="0" data-original-height="2876" data-original-width="2876" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0XtpHy2bHbkY5aBS9uuQZDsbC7rV1wXJtd2MRy8a8tRrxJJQK05SA4Q6-nWh5H9YV2oVy5pOUZA2MrBCRXOuVmDo925pVH9Ls58x5R5yvHR_w0HIIAgkkyUs9BvFMdbzVlBas1ereRicN8xeFYQjgXi59oUEFTaLaXjRWo-SzabeLj36NBqluQlwMA/w640-h640/IMG_20220602_210213_761.jpg" title="Spider crab" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider crab © Becci Jewell </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDmnmDRIQO-IOuYpyx0W6xO5rGqzL9dMXeUvGHppxVvki-FBJFC4gBwe7gogxyiunbm8h3lpU1uq8-nh8daNooLnrpL7db0mLpxUFkDGqqnF6eYaecw2DDEqiixNUe7RHTstGdw43-b6RwfOvyvgr8kN0RHNMHNw-xnvlp3FfVsvAO6DlBDHkwAB9bA/s1440/IMG_20210923_190224_558.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photograph of a blue-rayed limpet with three horizontal blue stripes along its body" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDmnmDRIQO-IOuYpyx0W6xO5rGqzL9dMXeUvGHppxVvki-FBJFC4gBwe7gogxyiunbm8h3lpU1uq8-nh8daNooLnrpL7db0mLpxUFkDGqqnF6eYaecw2DDEqiixNUe7RHTstGdw43-b6RwfOvyvgr8kN0RHNMHNw-xnvlp3FfVsvAO6DlBDHkwAB9bA/w640-h640/IMG_20210923_190224_558.jpg" title="Blue-rayed limpet" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-rayed limpet © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1vakMIAySPfxNXz076e5IIhx6gvbGZbxp9l-VbkIvU2tacWrYsjbLq9gS2w7knuJL0IedGBL8s7M3gjYOkfgyGyRr_gqu-CyKPNkzLx4zsGNxsX6VjRIBaVwC49vSjCpqjb2cQc0WHTJA5R0evk-MZOCLQjJHhRC_Q-cQlmJ7Aoi93vWnK-ApGtMQ/s1440/IMG_20220529_194536_827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green-brown kelp against blue water" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1vakMIAySPfxNXz076e5IIhx6gvbGZbxp9l-VbkIvU2tacWrYsjbLq9gS2w7knuJL0IedGBL8s7M3gjYOkfgyGyRr_gqu-CyKPNkzLx4zsGNxsX6VjRIBaVwC49vSjCpqjb2cQc0WHTJA5R0evk-MZOCLQjJHhRC_Q-cQlmJ7Aoi93vWnK-ApGtMQ/w640-h640/IMG_20220529_194536_827.jpg" title="Kelp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp forests © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">There’s more. North Haven is home to seagrass (also known as
eelgrass), the only underwater species of flowering plant found in Britain, and
it’s another ecosystem engineer. Its roots stabilise the sediment in which it
grows, in turn improving water clarity. It provides food and shelter to many species,
and it absorbs and sequesters carbon. Perhaps most importantly though, seagrass
beds are important nursery grounds for a huge number of species including the
juveniles of many commercially important species of fish. Seagrass is very rare
in Wales and is now being actively restored all around the UK, including in
nearby Dale. With such an impressive skillset, it’s little wonder.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5zd1-73n-_zvwZWLNVF1c_G5s0iDtqjTyNrI65NCWI6-Cj7sk-owPQ7Bro_r3-jtuwXmUz5CwCawBzrZ65jBLXiNuC2mK_Xtn5N2l8LEnMtDTptOzNn0hnhPCMAu5Od5wmSeuvQ-hy6IZiY1ld_xKBx5S1GhjGmS9uVJjbKbBewWhjw7DeJp9BFcgQ/s1080/IMG_20220717_223450_702.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5zd1-73n-_zvwZWLNVF1c_G5s0iDtqjTyNrI65NCWI6-Cj7sk-owPQ7Bro_r3-jtuwXmUz5CwCawBzrZ65jBLXiNuC2mK_Xtn5N2l8LEnMtDTptOzNn0hnhPCMAu5Od5wmSeuvQ-hy6IZiY1ld_xKBx5S1GhjGmS9uVJjbKbBewWhjw7DeJp9BFcgQ/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_223450_702.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Eelgrass © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGoAQrJu2ouXgvL4h0Q-CtAzAQfa172ZoivmO9FyPoT78rYPSVvBPldS4Vpj8oHr9M6VOOkvac13hkV9iLdSMPgm_ngSz4IEGpLxUQvMKIJImHj5aU3YY7TZsWr88ncVAvH5cCPPQ8376hO4_Q6itIRs7oO1S_Xz-6kloFiPHldXTzj_PcCEnIP9-xA/s767/IMG_20220717_223450_647.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGoAQrJu2ouXgvL4h0Q-CtAzAQfa172ZoivmO9FyPoT78rYPSVvBPldS4Vpj8oHr9M6VOOkvac13hkV9iLdSMPgm_ngSz4IEGpLxUQvMKIJImHj5aU3YY7TZsWr88ncVAvH5cCPPQ8376hO4_Q6itIRs7oO1S_Xz-6kloFiPHldXTzj_PcCEnIP9-xA/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_223450_647.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Eelgrass © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL3RvAjpdpxdF0yc6rZD90n1H8mXTkJo3kDl85hwnU3LhkQoYU8DI4FWG7mUplq23jq0zjpqtJocMX0xKft_lfFtiYh3nKob7caXQumdcGJzV1cqbLEhPT3C-EvmlBWpmPkMTi-ikl8iMloOIyaIyEfcI5Z0XgQXT8Vi9LjxDzmd7oSr03YZFbSjx9w/s813/IMG_20220717_222435_675.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL3RvAjpdpxdF0yc6rZD90n1H8mXTkJo3kDl85hwnU3LhkQoYU8DI4FWG7mUplq23jq0zjpqtJocMX0xKft_lfFtiYh3nKob7caXQumdcGJzV1cqbLEhPT3C-EvmlBWpmPkMTi-ikl8iMloOIyaIyEfcI5Z0XgQXT8Vi9LjxDzmd7oSr03YZFbSjx9w/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_222435_675.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Sea Gooseberry © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo7fnGMAa73-LetCd9TNAGmJOFSdLwZOlEPVvMJDJ7XuoLnKhm-Qim0n5y1F8hm6SWBBqri3ALuB-lKrIlgQ3WdSXSUo9igisaxAs7bd7mriurtR3gvz5TYc0AYcTEC2HdQTEMD9WokuFLO77dMGcpFs56Wbp-wgAnDtqsLT_rw1_RR1fuI7FGclXXw/s960/IMG_20220717_222435_421.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo7fnGMAa73-LetCd9TNAGmJOFSdLwZOlEPVvMJDJ7XuoLnKhm-Qim0n5y1F8hm6SWBBqri3ALuB-lKrIlgQ3WdSXSUo9igisaxAs7bd7mriurtR3gvz5TYc0AYcTEC2HdQTEMD9WokuFLO77dMGcpFs56Wbp-wgAnDtqsLT_rw1_RR1fuI7FGclXXw/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_222435_421.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Comb jelly © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The range and breadth of marine species that inhabit and depend
on the waters around Skomer is vast. From the tiny Cornish sucker fish
sheltering beneath boulders as the tide retreats, to the much feared (but
incredibly beautiful) jellyfish, the summer schools of mackerel, the seals that
haul out on the beaches, and the squid-scarred Risso’s dolphins that visit the
Sound. All play their part in the dynamic marine ecosystem, the very same
ecosystem on which Skomer’s seabirds depend. Let’s show them some appreciation
on our next visit to Skomer and keep doing all we can to save our seas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZtSHc9Zv_5TgDjxccRka8CsCam4qdqrDd3r-nt0wST0xm0SFKeIiJFFy3sW0PvFn-VHl4XjrJ01OLqy9F9GRerxOR6KSr-tjRRxl4yb1Jw-J6LiNHvUOb4U7_NzOI0nCxZ_IxlWiulH7s1KzSHVx4vPDYIkqRBwDEQQurkPKRDW4ieFPqkF0QdMHPw/s1111/IMG_20220529_201534_940.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1111" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZtSHc9Zv_5TgDjxccRka8CsCam4qdqrDd3r-nt0wST0xm0SFKeIiJFFy3sW0PvFn-VHl4XjrJ01OLqy9F9GRerxOR6KSr-tjRRxl4yb1Jw-J6LiNHvUOb4U7_NzOI0nCxZ_IxlWiulH7s1KzSHVx4vPDYIkqRBwDEQQurkPKRDW4ieFPqkF0QdMHPw/w640-h640/IMG_20220529_201534_940.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Cornish sucker fish © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnnVq1AqwXMzSeodjQD4G834Zc1-PcCw6tU7_MWd84zLuS5sEwVj2CHguR9bPUhdptiqeO65oqYVGIgEDbaGiaTkGi3pF3Aoqtty0hZvkzNNW4HNzgYi3wflmqGCvf2ZfW9ooT_i-szW1jh6KuYp2eb1OkYvhaMdASoG1b0HSDi4ZdepAP4yX8zrzxQ/s754/IMG_20220717_220256_482.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="754" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnnVq1AqwXMzSeodjQD4G834Zc1-PcCw6tU7_MWd84zLuS5sEwVj2CHguR9bPUhdptiqeO65oqYVGIgEDbaGiaTkGi3pF3Aoqtty0hZvkzNNW4HNzgYi3wflmqGCvf2ZfW9ooT_i-szW1jh6KuYp2eb1OkYvhaMdASoG1b0HSDi4ZdepAP4yX8zrzxQ/w640-h640/IMG_20220717_220256_482.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Blue jellyfish © Becci Jewell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> - Becci Jewell, Skomer Volunteer</o:p> </p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-46770827078745708362022-07-02T14:24:00.001+01:002022-07-02T15:36:13.113+01:00Burrow walking and biscuit breaks: June on Skomer<p>Bull Hole, for those who don’t know it, is the largest
colony of razorbills and guillemots on Skomer – a seething vertical seabird
city that emanates waves of croaky cries and guano aromas – and counting the
auks there was my very first task as Seabird Monitoring Volunteer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With my unpacked bags and food for a month stacked at the
farm, Ceris gave me a whistle-stop tour of auk counting as the daily 4pm
deadline crept closer. She subdivided the cliff into sections and talked me
through the boundaries with chat along the lines of “you see the crack in the
cliff face that looks like a lightning bolt”. Once we were sure we were looking
at the same area and were counting the same species, we were off with
binoculars raised and thumbs poised at our clickers.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP65UJHAsCgqMKenOTHKgkz9EoxdpfZNZxfyIX-1z9dO07FhcsPA4XZfGAmOx90AOvUEYP6Ar6UFQkGLuePKhRoLJLZzW2c_x3ZeGv10hE80zr4aweTas9LHieBP2sEeJmHskLqbjGl3o1s5qHcT_K5zezaTuAHzbyKwpps0YkSlqsGzh8-20thD-MuA/s1151/Guillemot%20with%20chick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1151" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP65UJHAsCgqMKenOTHKgkz9EoxdpfZNZxfyIX-1z9dO07FhcsPA4XZfGAmOx90AOvUEYP6Ar6UFQkGLuePKhRoLJLZzW2c_x3ZeGv10hE80zr4aweTas9LHieBP2sEeJmHskLqbjGl3o1s5qHcT_K5zezaTuAHzbyKwpps0YkSlqsGzh8-20thD-MuA/w400-h400/Guillemot%20with%20chick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for every guillemot you see... © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2ho0YqmZ0X9smBa-HN6M_g3y_t4TD6uSH4pxHIl1PIct2ulBIJ4qORnxoUGHXNMa1pko2AYcqQR1tXaK4yrbif7mIEM-_VDPX4hOMsn6MKCtxbY9LcnLApquBozm7ni-AGtOMjtf57bBCQE6_kYxSKPRNfCemV0j6QYM4FaJYmhzQNL2EgJec-0TzQ/s1145/Guillemot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1145" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2ho0YqmZ0X9smBa-HN6M_g3y_t4TD6uSH4pxHIl1PIct2ulBIJ4qORnxoUGHXNMa1pko2AYcqQR1tXaK4yrbif7mIEM-_VDPX4hOMsn6MKCtxbY9LcnLApquBozm7ni-AGtOMjtf57bBCQE6_kYxSKPRNfCemV0j6QYM4FaJYmhzQNL2EgJec-0TzQ/s320/Guillemot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guillemot © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next followed a period of eye-wateringly intense
concentration as I stared at the mass of auks huddled on the ledges, heads
bobbing and squabbles erupting. Were the birds standing three or four deep on
that bit in the shade? Had I already counted the group on the ledge above, and
were the birds on the lower ledge breeding there or just loafing? Now where had
I got to on the main ledge? Finally, when I was as confident as I could be that
I’d counted each and every individual and, crucially, had counted them only
once, came the scary moment of revealing my final tally. Within 10% of Ceris’
count and all was well. Outside 10% of Ceris’ count and we were back to the
beginning, counting again. This mix of beautiful setting, breath-taking
wildlife and intense concentration tinged with fear set the scene fantastically
for my month of seabird monitoring on Skomer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of the seabird colonies can only be counted from the
sea and if I thought counting seabirds from land was hard (which I did and
still do), counting them from a boat was a whole new level of difficult. Even
on fair-weather days, strong tides scour the island creating waves, swirls and
eddies that jostle and spin the boat. Craning our necks up at the cliffs,
keeping track of where we were counting just got much, much harder. Slowly but surely,
we got there though, helped by a run of excellently timed good weather. As my
dodgy tan lines and knowledge of ABBA lyrics grew, the list of sections left to
count shrunk until, finally, the auk counts were done for another year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr331NcGIkEMz1JEGANhNFCfN0gBeKpVLL9tAhi8v-EMjYaLpGiASabIuNvLFicXXELTus2wYRJfIjsQE9ObZwegbOm1qu52wc3-TRzJKX90udQyuGkWRAobsGbQbHryPT7IKEZ0W2T_v5FjSMlVnZ2I0IZptn5pKHDQlJPLQhSfOB-LDHuFUd274QMw/s1280/Kelda,%20Eve,%20Becci.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr331NcGIkEMz1JEGANhNFCfN0gBeKpVLL9tAhi8v-EMjYaLpGiASabIuNvLFicXXELTus2wYRJfIjsQE9ObZwegbOm1qu52wc3-TRzJKX90udQyuGkWRAobsGbQbHryPT7IKEZ0W2T_v5FjSMlVnZ2I0IZptn5pKHDQlJPLQhSfOB-LDHuFUd274QMw/w400-h300/Kelda,%20Eve,%20Becci.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelda, Eve & Becci </td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the good weather came to a rainy and blustery end, we
started the Manx shearwater counts at the first of 18 plots around the island.
There are approximately 700,000 Manx shearwaters on Skomer between March and September
yet it’s entirely possible to visit the island without seeing any of these
nocturnal birds. Breeding pairs lay a single egg usually in May, from which
point one of the pair remains in the burrow to incubate it whilst the other
bird forages in the productive waters of the Irish Sea.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRQfT1tClAO_WwRIlkRDQhvxNZUHI5IJ5ONNNLFnhW7Aiq2m1PYEySnlqHNTvZd2iT10Jl5eiq81k9_xnc1cLSLuE1e-gF-clrEFaSxeVPr7wGN0wkIb4cY7dW_Mk5683xbT2PgJxTOJ65gtOsm_XUpBynlP1RC0IrRH46DbpRUmwS2A6nsRY_LO6wg/s589/Manx%20shearwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="589" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRQfT1tClAO_WwRIlkRDQhvxNZUHI5IJ5ONNNLFnhW7Aiq2m1PYEySnlqHNTvZd2iT10Jl5eiq81k9_xnc1cLSLuE1e-gF-clrEFaSxeVPr7wGN0wkIb4cY7dW_Mk5683xbT2PgJxTOJ65gtOsm_XUpBynlP1RC0IrRH46DbpRUmwS2A6nsRY_LO6wg/s320/Manx%20shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manx shearwater at sea © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Manx shearwaters produce a garbled and quite spooky call,
usually at night, but can also be tricked into calling during the day by the
sound of another Manx shearwater. So, at each of the 18 plots, we gently
crawled around on fragile burrowed ground, poking a small speaker into the
entrance of every burrow and noting whether the recording prompted a reply from
the bird on egg incubating duty. Going burrow to burrow, we crawled through
dense bracken, tussled with stinging nettles and bum-shuffled down steep
clifftop slopes in bright sunshine, pouring rain and everything in-between, clutching our speakers and clickers. Regular biscuit breaks were instrumental
in maintaining morale and focus, particularly on the days when incessant rain
crept into our hoods and seeped up our sleeves.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy9z__LnyjTcCbQ0w7ahFgfkPJPnWZ-jyCGR6XjV7S3-9eu_Db54kuYAqzbzEs9uv1ShhsLHnE6fBf3Zdrn2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the weather allowed, we switched to counting kittiwakes and fulmars around the island, again some from land and some from the
boat. Instead of counting individuals (as we did for razorbills and
guillemots), we counted nests (for the kittiwakes) and sites (for the fulmars). These counts were an epic whole-island effort as
we set off in different directions to cover all sections of the island, ticking
them off as the end of the four-week seabird counting window approached.
Brilliant teamwork saw the kittiwake and fulmar counts done with a few days to
spare and our efforts returned to the final four Manx shearwater plots which
were finally completed by a tired team running on tea, cake and determination.
With faces caked in wind-blasted soil, we checked the last burrows before handing
in our clickers and gingerly tiptoeing back to more solid ground.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIno5PJ3QCZtbvV_98e5myBRQCqSD-7VnJJLL7gd2_hMS40QCR1x7whh6gMWIKTRU4e3tFDA8t0mXHwC4b2jyag29eAsegKurJRQY9EAue0EcUvGz2FKOQC0xvCNYgc6YCj8wYraLfxQ6KJtspv8CgRWi1F1ENLG081ncjf1lXIV8dF-IZaVRKcjg6w/s2304/Shearwater%20counting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIno5PJ3QCZtbvV_98e5myBRQCqSD-7VnJJLL7gd2_hMS40QCR1x7whh6gMWIKTRU4e3tFDA8t0mXHwC4b2jyag29eAsegKurJRQY9EAue0EcUvGz2FKOQC0xvCNYgc6YCj8wYraLfxQ6KJtspv8CgRWi1F1ENLG081ncjf1lXIV8dF-IZaVRKcjg6w/w400-h300/Shearwater%20counting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last Manxie plot © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvI8vjCDYKIqf7gt-e0bznW_6M6TXDwn5rHMdvgAHoarNEPE3FtlfgX0EM7oJmDYfrS8095-I_EmNyNEXBVLrFNWHl7a0mkXJvTgEaulvlFDz8UI9yxAz1fLmKUljSnvXojvYEGCYNqpM6yfVtIQrapaxoMhLKRF-7Aflntp3R23t4vrb9kAd62lA4Q/s1280/Last%20Manxie%20plot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvI8vjCDYKIqf7gt-e0bznW_6M6TXDwn5rHMdvgAHoarNEPE3FtlfgX0EM7oJmDYfrS8095-I_EmNyNEXBVLrFNWHl7a0mkXJvTgEaulvlFDz8UI9yxAz1fLmKUljSnvXojvYEGCYNqpM6yfVtIQrapaxoMhLKRF-7Aflntp3R23t4vrb9kAd62lA4Q/w400-h300/Last%20Manxie%20plot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A grubby but happy team!</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">The days were long, the weather unrelenting and the birds
not always cooperative. Plus, I often couldn’t quite make out the crack in the
cliff that looked like a lightning bolt. I’d not swap a day of it though,
working with a great team of people on an island teeming with life. As well as
learning how the seabird counts are carried out, I was lucky enough to join
some of the researchers on the island and assist with the weighing of chicks
and the ringing of adults, learning more about the seabirds that depend on
Skomer and the surrounding seas. I’m extremely grateful for all the knowledge
shared and memories accumulated. From the seabirds that fill the burrows and transform
the cliffs, to the harbour porpoise that sweep by with the tide and the glow worms
that illuminate the bracken, Skomer is a truly special place.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsB1HMUFGu6dHfDLmtrnG032jPy6mdI44IwytumjCx1MqNiPsxGGnqQmoSJFkV3gU7tVw2xOGGdKP9fVG_R8lXsda-5kCh1MN0We1fGkFQwmKpSqdlBQZAfHa2C9RpgKAj8oUKo6fC2N-iOSp4SGUIkX1AQs3PkjX0jzs5JqXslwPjp7SVPDjPG2nvQ/s2048/Becci%20with%20Razorbill%20chick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsB1HMUFGu6dHfDLmtrnG032jPy6mdI44IwytumjCx1MqNiPsxGGnqQmoSJFkV3gU7tVw2xOGGdKP9fVG_R8lXsda-5kCh1MN0We1fGkFQwmKpSqdlBQZAfHa2C9RpgKAj8oUKo6fC2N-iOSp4SGUIkX1AQs3PkjX0jzs5JqXslwPjp7SVPDjPG2nvQ/w300-h400/Becci%20with%20Razorbill%20chick.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becci with razorbill chick </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0h0Eay8FYyS8e_u5UVZE5iMTXxv6nDR3euLySQ6skCdJPw21tQhcqwP2UnjIgGgDJXGehazEDDzNBg1MjS5TEpI5Ze-cTYAAysoin5LvAzuUqcl9XYlNF-Sm50ioVfUBfarRmTvt5VCY7wkLxZsdz8-olRcs2WOHx--ECPb-mU11IRyLz4AiHpwDkQ/s1330/Glow%20worm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1330" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0h0Eay8FYyS8e_u5UVZE5iMTXxv6nDR3euLySQ6skCdJPw21tQhcqwP2UnjIgGgDJXGehazEDDzNBg1MjS5TEpI5Ze-cTYAAysoin5LvAzuUqcl9XYlNF-Sm50ioVfUBfarRmTvt5VCY7wkLxZsdz8-olRcs2WOHx--ECPb-mU11IRyLz4AiHpwDkQ/w400-h400/Glow%20worm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glow worm © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2lbFZD5pkuvABFO5wENWBM4zIGwTp1f4H5HzmEXmmRnxbg9GnvwABRpYqM2QHSTzrW70Q8rLA3dQb6gXOlSsUHsQpUtWdGbQpsM9IxY5Cv31vhG1KPtHeLm3kywNNjTVOEXK_OE_Z69eip9asScoKx38e6cQ-e5q5PKqzldKZiQYG7DykQkYPPj-tg/s2016/Sunrise%20at%20the%20farm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2lbFZD5pkuvABFO5wENWBM4zIGwTp1f4H5HzmEXmmRnxbg9GnvwABRpYqM2QHSTzrW70Q8rLA3dQb6gXOlSsUHsQpUtWdGbQpsM9IxY5Cv31vhG1KPtHeLm3kywNNjTVOEXK_OE_Z69eip9asScoKx38e6cQ-e5q5PKqzldKZiQYG7DykQkYPPj-tg/w400-h300/Sunrise%20at%20the%20farm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise from the Farm © Becci Jewell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-56478523912635657712022-06-22T18:42:00.000+01:002022-06-22T18:42:15.515+01:00Come on your very own island retreat!<p>Nestled at
the very heart of Skomer Island lies an old converted farm building. Those of
you who have visited Skomer will be familiar with the courtyard – complete
with large picnic benches, and a burrow-free expanse (perfect for games of
frisbee!). However, few will have ventured inside the buildings that our staff,
volunteers, researchers, and overnight guests call home.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WXeyKAB21N7xgBvHG67XuiaD8jWd2Kly-PUOzsC388mBZSgVaQV5dE-g6syXHnEdX2EQQPevQ0nNl_zSqfE66tB3ouLyyIpD2Z_q_m80QMxclZho-19dEyomRB-VG0qW2fxv6lb1gAnWLOGQYFJmIZQRZh052i1mysw74FiyGOvb9RT1MtVHIzGkmw/s1080/20220617_Hostel_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WXeyKAB21N7xgBvHG67XuiaD8jWd2Kly-PUOzsC388mBZSgVaQV5dE-g6syXHnEdX2EQQPevQ0nNl_zSqfE66tB3ouLyyIpD2Z_q_m80QMxclZho-19dEyomRB-VG0qW2fxv6lb1gAnWLOGQYFJmIZQRZh052i1mysw74FiyGOvb9RT1MtVHIzGkmw/w640-h426/20220617_Hostel_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Farm © Skomer VO / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span lang="EN-US">Staying
overnight on Skomer is a magical experience – ce</span>rtainly not one to miss out on.
At the time of writing, we currently have <b>2-night and 3-night stays</b> available
throughout <b>August and September</b>. Sometimes referred to as ‘the shoulder
season’, this period is undoubtedly a favourite for many of our residents.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQqNVfxgEV2XsUPfCDdbI-TMH7vvsyFjemo5GhZcqhtLkKnVa9cILOuhM1--Q6YiWya3uTjXnlFHWzxVGNzzT52oXOupL76NSP2Q39l_abXTgOOrwN-EFxcSYWmpNH3C4PIkcNFEQe7esrzfmYv7JrmylQuhoethZxZP0oSHFOb8DP9eE9S63AK2SxQ/s4608/20220617_Sunset_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQqNVfxgEV2XsUPfCDdbI-TMH7vvsyFjemo5GhZcqhtLkKnVa9cILOuhM1--Q6YiWya3uTjXnlFHWzxVGNzzT52oXOupL76NSP2Q39l_abXTgOOrwN-EFxcSYWmpNH3C4PIkcNFEQe7esrzfmYv7JrmylQuhoethZxZP0oSHFOb8DP9eE9S63AK2SxQ/w640-h480/20220617_Sunset_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peaceful evening at Garland Stone © Skomer VO / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Regardless
of the time of year, a visit to Skomer provides the perfect chance to get away
from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a maximum of just
16 overnight guests, there's always a quiet place or amazing wildlife encounter
just round the corner. But just what might you see once puffin season comes to
an end?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wildlife</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTF0e821p3C-BM86h_Huf6WwJRwhf5465q0XN-P1ZslWYJbk0VmQQY5CVSWiChPMelcwH5wYD3PBsxEgMR_tHRkongINFMcqhT4Uf1RTKHKNENfBHNeF4Q4dZXhS8UbK-iemDgWC5OI-mRgF2xogGiVfLLXdJ0LpTvXrYXR0Onlkz8PbWRdAdQKfl_A/s4582/20220617_Butterfly_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3054" data-original-width="4582" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTF0e821p3C-BM86h_Huf6WwJRwhf5465q0XN-P1ZslWYJbk0VmQQY5CVSWiChPMelcwH5wYD3PBsxEgMR_tHRkongINFMcqhT4Uf1RTKHKNENfBHNeF4Q4dZXhS8UbK-iemDgWC5OI-mRgF2xogGiVfLLXdJ0LpTvXrYXR0Onlkz8PbWRdAdQKfl_A/w640-h426/20220617_Butterfly_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small tortoiseshell butterfly © Skomer VO / WTSWW<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZDA6w2kPPkjdnnKxXICjYrhWXROsoZP0cvrDJtMNT_j1CNipZMj-M-5VpjbQpC9TLp3ivG26RrB1_ZuCecJOHOmnfLuTAtlrdXDcfqxMzdUFiBi9asK2Zhtziw8lVH1S43WUIsWeum3b5ONOX69SjAK_jzeP47GXYCkbAbpXEzrEcjWA5Motn3uTGA/s1152/20220617_Seals_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1152" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZDA6w2kPPkjdnnKxXICjYrhWXROsoZP0cvrDJtMNT_j1CNipZMj-M-5VpjbQpC9TLp3ivG26RrB1_ZuCecJOHOmnfLuTAtlrdXDcfqxMzdUFiBi9asK2Zhtziw8lVH1S43WUIsWeum3b5ONOX69SjAK_jzeP47GXYCkbAbpXEzrEcjWA5Motn3uTGA/w640-h426/20220617_Seals_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal pup and mum on one of Skomer's coves © Seal Project Officer / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Throughout
August, butterflies and bees flit amongst the bracken, providing vibrant
flashes of colour wherever they wander. Along the coast, Atlantic grey seals
can be seen hauled out at low tide, seemingly bathing themselves in the late summer
sunshine. Several, you will notice, appear much rounder than those surrounding
them… it won’t be long until these seals are accompanied by bright-white pups,
who begin to appear on our beaches and coves from mid-August. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWfzetssz0KnP82tClYN8XQ6m53NHlzx3It17jquKWGo3ZZ5vgFqs7Q86Q0Vy8f_SxHVvLQWkOEkCPtMBM3_xUvNhJPCDVstEiYeqeRgSRCWEF0sbUfpYDoSL5_pVgr41BWAeIO9a-vp__GMzzqI4ELhYiPfezUF_WKkeZulqywtlQgKRg2hgpqvsMw/s2048/20220617_Fulmar_5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWfzetssz0KnP82tClYN8XQ6m53NHlzx3It17jquKWGo3ZZ5vgFqs7Q86Q0Vy8f_SxHVvLQWkOEkCPtMBM3_xUvNhJPCDVstEiYeqeRgSRCWEF0sbUfpYDoSL5_pVgr41BWAeIO9a-vp__GMzzqI4ELhYiPfezUF_WKkeZulqywtlQgKRg2hgpqvsMw/w640-h426/20220617_Fulmar_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fulmar chick nestled along a ledge in North Haven © Skomer VO / WTSWW<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ2gf75U-ZapnQFj92eX5zLiluEAf_63KK9bcbEzKSVVAbOSy-AWe4v7A0WOfFxK8Qw5ux7IOGhyRQEbdwBx3VxQuoEBLphcv_9B0ZkeVshnPlSdf_ZBKnceUJlRBPTDIYv0qb_8cOPjns2htzg3xjnHimbYOPFqpPWmaMh5L6PnQs7vttuDqUy9IjA/s4741/20220617_Lizard_6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3160" data-original-width="4741" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZ2gf75U-ZapnQFj92eX5zLiluEAf_63KK9bcbEzKSVVAbOSy-AWe4v7A0WOfFxK8Qw5ux7IOGhyRQEbdwBx3VxQuoEBLphcv_9B0ZkeVshnPlSdf_ZBKnceUJlRBPTDIYv0qb_8cOPjns2htzg3xjnHimbYOPFqpPWmaMh5L6PnQs7vttuDqUy9IjA/w640-h426/20220617_Lizard_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common lizard sunning itself near the Farm © Skomer VO / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On the cliffs,
fluff-ball fulmar chicks can be seen nestled along the ledges while their parents
swirl and soar in the winds close by. You may well have keen enough eyes to spot slowworms and common lizards
basking in the sun or darting among the vegetation and paths – who knows, you may even spot the elusive Skomer vole!</div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='636' height='529' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwCsQjWUma1Ymqniyk6k0OzChtc-WvswdLGe5PSoIcO9_mTlubm1ZzMATiUJJvCZMe_99XvBkKAvKyPGhKcVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Manx shearwaters calling on a particularly loud night © Skomer Warden / WTSWW</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we move
to September, the mournful calls of seals echo around the cliffs during the
day. The night, however, is very much owned by Skomer’s most numerous (and noisiest!)
resident: the Manx shearwater. Manx shearwaters are present on Skomer from
March until the end of October. This latter part of the year however (from
late-August onwards), is arguably the most exciting time to see these night-time
wanderers – in particular the fledglings. Adult Manx shearwaters raise a single
chick, which spends much of its young life hidden underground, nestled in the
safety of its burrow. As the chicks continue to grow, so too does their confidence.
As they approach fledging, Manx shearwater chicks begin to emerge from their
burrows at night, to practice flapping their large wings – building muscles
that will be vital in carrying them all the way to the seas off South America!
There is something very special about seeing a Manxie chick finally fledge,
knowing full well that it will not touch ground again for at least 5 years,
when it will hopefully return to Skomer to breed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyv73Vs1ewgyxfpTBHOC1zjRsK9HU33PEKif_20jEdLsU06lHcX0Bzrc6hgrtXg8oD7nE8I3ZaRmO2QoEqE9kZU4t9JtpeZiFs-i0LRVNQD1SXSu7vFP6p3vzFp8EMEsgoB322zeg66KV3j55lLT2TvnCwtm5mb45KwDuchvU9T3tF6cfvy85syRnQQ/s1536/20220617_Raven_8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyv73Vs1ewgyxfpTBHOC1zjRsK9HU33PEKif_20jEdLsU06lHcX0Bzrc6hgrtXg8oD7nE8I3ZaRmO2QoEqE9kZU4t9JtpeZiFs-i0LRVNQD1SXSu7vFP6p3vzFp8EMEsgoB322zeg66KV3j55lLT2TvnCwtm5mb45KwDuchvU9T3tF6cfvy85syRnQQ/w640-h426/20220617_Raven_8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven numbers soar in September © Skomer Volunteer Warden / WTSWW<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJow5jyE-c0hcS7VK-9eG2pyKmVq3zBQUeqXMSMNm-mpHNYrn7q-LtwYxhySi6zIQi0-p3FOlGZKED8srRADu4G193zUWsKGNYnyYlIM8UVGXLgkLx6zsLarwrPQS3gKvYL2wL8DBJOWZsOrvaV31kfG_w_2d8-eKC6zR5ojOETbWX1wjOGHxRjIHlg/s2048/20220617_Spotted%20flycatcher_9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJow5jyE-c0hcS7VK-9eG2pyKmVq3zBQUeqXMSMNm-mpHNYrn7q-LtwYxhySi6zIQi0-p3FOlGZKED8srRADu4G193zUWsKGNYnyYlIM8UVGXLgkLx6zsLarwrPQS3gKvYL2wL8DBJOWZsOrvaV31kfG_w_2d8-eKC6zR5ojOETbWX1wjOGHxRjIHlg/w640-h426/20220617_Spotted%20flycatcher_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted flycatcher perching near the Farm © Skomer VO / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Throughout September, we also see (and hear!) huge flocks of ravens; as well as good numbers
of migratory birds moving though, including wryneck, redstarts, and pied
flycatchers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This time
of year is truly magical, and not something to miss out on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Facilities<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGFl45BIKeF5vR01eoFSpt4gPvwwqjHIDX2zYWqgtxbE37kT4hoDLcmOXRGFLvlm9tV9RcYLZPYiHBXVET2JS0yS5h3W32TjDSdcAZ1aTLGu7nBv4qX8VIIOevGIBEkHuF9QmWUDJtwBEq-5rWKP_5txzilcBMTn8g_YQyCL58N2zYb9ab9YNGPHQxg/s896/20220617_Hostel_9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGFl45BIKeF5vR01eoFSpt4gPvwwqjHIDX2zYWqgtxbE37kT4hoDLcmOXRGFLvlm9tV9RcYLZPYiHBXVET2JS0yS5h3W32TjDSdcAZ1aTLGu7nBv4qX8VIIOevGIBEkHuF9QmWUDJtwBEq-5rWKP_5txzilcBMTn8g_YQyCL58N2zYb9ab9YNGPHQxg/w640-h480/20220617_Hostel_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Farm © Skomer Assistant Warden / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our hostel
sleeps a maximum of 16-overnight guests, spread over 5 private rooms. Although
basic, the hostel has everything you will need for the duration of your stay,
including:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Kitchen
– fully equipped with gas ovens, a large chest fridge, sinks, pots and pans, and
crockery and cutlery.</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Bathrooms
– there are two bathrooms in the Hostel, complete with shower, sink, and
flushing toilet!</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Lounge
/ Dining Room – spacious and comfortable. Here you will find tables and chairs,
sofas, and a log burner.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How to
book<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUlt6GmsEQbo7_-dD-PkOiHxh_dXT1zvPOnL3ZQds_0REHJxFkSqnFI_8DChKyF1Gs7YBdxTftJ_g7Svq55h3UHMFsM6ftCnC-tiNYjFPxR4KyS--P0SC0X8U4Vc26d2VzVZGzFW5dkwFfLj_PYDZRyYWjWglLgs2C48Ffvw028fIhzBCGPHePncrzw/s1024/20220617_Sunrise_10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUlt6GmsEQbo7_-dD-PkOiHxh_dXT1zvPOnL3ZQds_0REHJxFkSqnFI_8DChKyF1Gs7YBdxTftJ_g7Svq55h3UHMFsM6ftCnC-tiNYjFPxR4KyS--P0SC0X8U4Vc26d2VzVZGzFW5dkwFfLj_PYDZRyYWjWglLgs2C48Ffvw028fIhzBCGPHePncrzw/w640-h480/20220617_Sunrise_10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise from the Trig Point © Skomer Assistant Warden / WTSWW</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To book, or
for more information, please call our Bookings Team on 01656 724100. Please
note, the phone lines are only staffed between 10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday. Alternatively,
please email: <a href="mailto:islands@welshwildlife.org">islands@welshwildlife.org</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For more,
please visit - <a href="https://www.welshwildlife.org/skomer-island-overnight-stays">https://www.welshwildlife.org/skomer-island-overnight-stays</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Beth, Visitor Officer</p></div></div>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-74572932627571599702022-05-31T12:30:00.010+01:002022-06-04T07:49:10.208+01:00May Mayhem <p>It’s a
glorious sunny morning here on Skomer – mae’n bendigedig. Two wrens are having
a sing-off across the farm courtyard, swallows are chattering as they flit in
and out of the visitor centre, and Visitor Officer/ Chief Dumper Wrangler Beth is
tightening the ratchet straps on the dumper for another hostel changeover.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In between finishing
my second-last Breeding Bird Survey of the season and setting off to morning boats
to meet oncoming visitors, time for a whistlestop update on the month that was…
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The past
fortnight has been dominated by seabird counts. Visitors to the island might have
noticed members of the team variously perched on rocky outposts staring down
scopes, or out on the boat trying to keep binoculars steady as we survey the
cliffs. We’ve been joined by ever-enthusiastic seabird volunteer Becci, who as
well as being a dab hand at the tiller seems to have a knack for always knowing
the right moment to offer a biscuit.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vZYDUb9vioDgh5f9JRs6YOTRMQb6mRV4iHUeC-tDpY6WDLALGsS9b6SCx3huM52Z3hxuEYHcL8c9qGazYicgkuZHneDagEn8UqAVsJ3MdvGBAOrU5t319NeOPP4UWyAf1cQ-5TK8DG4eY6xBjCqL9OnCwhV_0z9VkQMmve8v2EWORFe3UhBaUmszAA/s2016/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vZYDUb9vioDgh5f9JRs6YOTRMQb6mRV4iHUeC-tDpY6WDLALGsS9b6SCx3huM52Z3hxuEYHcL8c9qGazYicgkuZHneDagEn8UqAVsJ3MdvGBAOrU5t319NeOPP4UWyAf1cQ-5TK8DG4eY6xBjCqL9OnCwhV_0z9VkQMmve8v2EWORFe3UhBaUmszAA/w400-h300/IMG_0289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becci at the helm</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq2wLxhgXwwBctX26g8wfSdCxHaPP7p4sT7y1OYDJ8ZrBLQbUiHApeyMOO_fzWE5XOxv8iOINwr34goAxO_E-pJm6yBZlHqjUOQrlmQKtU6NNGxGF8nwX5hsTDEEfuKEVJr90MrkH5PsGcO3rJPKy1d2uUA4_7Wit4kPdbi0pNyckh_GlQGQAmjwyTQ/s1280/IMG_0303.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq2wLxhgXwwBctX26g8wfSdCxHaPP7p4sT7y1OYDJ8ZrBLQbUiHApeyMOO_fzWE5XOxv8iOINwr34goAxO_E-pJm6yBZlHqjUOQrlmQKtU6NNGxGF8nwX5hsTDEEfuKEVJr90MrkH5PsGcO3rJPKy1d2uUA4_7Wit4kPdbi0pNyckh_GlQGQAmjwyTQ/w400-h225/IMG_0303.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beth counting guillemots</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX499MnNWFdhtgDV53YfqpVy_MUEy3gqbkE1PJ-bOkdK3A0OhXL64rcgSR0iFTcI0K9k1dI8t9HZEdngsbvCJ_OOTxdP4JBftrqpEHFv9bXKaGkExr8Z9FqtvE0aR-CxsQVDnY63EnwFy9dHbBsl0P-yoeA8_juKMjTgszJxhMS8IgFweKVM1Ed8GmQ/s2016/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX499MnNWFdhtgDV53YfqpVy_MUEy3gqbkE1PJ-bOkdK3A0OhXL64rcgSR0iFTcI0K9k1dI8t9HZEdngsbvCJ_OOTxdP4JBftrqpEHFv9bXKaGkExr8Z9FqtvE0aR-CxsQVDnY63EnwFy9dHbBsl0P-yoeA8_juKMjTgszJxhMS8IgFweKVM1Ed8GmQ/w400-h300/IMG_0459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skomer from the sea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvPeASrGkoE_RORjp7qm3xBoV386MS2WIjIiUMFQTZ9KxBi_JfuaOEJNqq_j1bi4NqTc9lyqybrslY2ZoOUmP4zfFpKf8LuofBDgL26hgx5lfEavmnoo3BnTdG_AdorwhalIkADOZpUrU9Aw3WaoA8wrG2giwj0vo_NWCUoSMb8gBLxBeUf2ePZevoA/s2016/IMG_0464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvPeASrGkoE_RORjp7qm3xBoV386MS2WIjIiUMFQTZ9KxBi_JfuaOEJNqq_j1bi4NqTc9lyqybrslY2ZoOUmP4zfFpKf8LuofBDgL26hgx5lfEavmnoo3BnTdG_AdorwhalIkADOZpUrU9Aw3WaoA8wrG2giwj0vo_NWCUoSMb8gBLxBeUf2ePZevoA/w400-h300/IMG_0464.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leighton and Kelda </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In previous
years, we’ve counted all cliff-nesting species from 1<sup>st</sup> June,
completing two full counts within three weeks. A recent change in the
methodology moved the start date for guillemots and razorbills to the median
guillemot egg-lay date: this year, the 17<sup>th</sup> of May. We hope this
will more accurately reflect the numbers of auks breeding on Skomer’s cliffs. Unfortunately,
the weather was not particularly obliging to begin with, with strong winds and
then thick fog scuppering many of our initial attempts. As of yesterday though,
we’ve officially finished the first count (to our great relief!). Now for count
2… <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEeoLsrFZ04d2QqldG8AncbvbuRGoI6NQx6fOaFgbZjV82e2Dpju6odr3h_5R3atfDTlLgCVSuY0hWNmLrxPyKXlPN02_PJkBX1_Dpcb9RowGLSJY5KfIziSUEIzLq1hun10f-t5Uqf2kJjYteRJj1s9UqYUzLhke-685U5jDMHFBAe9SF9yi3mOMvA/s2016/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEeoLsrFZ04d2QqldG8AncbvbuRGoI6NQx6fOaFgbZjV82e2Dpju6odr3h_5R3atfDTlLgCVSuY0hWNmLrxPyKXlPN02_PJkBX1_Dpcb9RowGLSJY5KfIziSUEIzLq1hun10f-t5Uqf2kJjYteRJj1s9UqYUzLhke-685U5jDMHFBAe9SF9yi3mOMvA/w400-h300/IMG_0496.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using our new Leica scope to count South Stream</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbMkzffqQBoruP1W8JbOHkDdCR6cBhlaGmJL2Hmr31U0nlOYd8AwYbAV8kwmOAalFGcg7MilP-tV4MkVAFbwMFwuQohxagpkZZ4lTXqRgL357Hik-JmcumeX7V_WKew02D3zTHS6gjKgUADA_4ny1_qGUC2TR0Or6UWumGgpVNMfWUCT-H0WQk1XcA/s2016/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbMkzffqQBoruP1W8JbOHkDdCR6cBhlaGmJL2Hmr31U0nlOYd8AwYbAV8kwmOAalFGcg7MilP-tV4MkVAFbwMFwuQohxagpkZZ4lTXqRgL357Hik-JmcumeX7V_WKew02D3zTHS6gjKgUADA_4ny1_qGUC2TR0Or6UWumGgpVNMfWUCT-H0WQk1XcA/w400-h300/IMG_0561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moment of triumph - first count of Bull Hole</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ve also
been finishing our final round of Breeding Bird Surveys, which allow us to map
breeding activity across the island. We follow the same transects four times
from April to early June – this year, a spell of good weather in March meant we
also did a preliminary survey. It’ll be interesting to put all the maps
together – it’s a bit like piecing together a jigsaw. Whilst sorry to farewell
my transects for the year, I confess to some relief that I can leave the gull
colonies undisturbed – for their sakes and my own. Their aim is improving, and
I only have so many clean clothes…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDibTrcrSWuykSTMHdGFlw0tvWdfYotDHNxiJMW6IJSFTYjH5-3PqtaWCyUwF5dfE_gvqp_SyZIWjsoR2kULy0S6fHULCz2i5GoShZ7DVsJMzE-Gmj8Hh0YfDrFk5qz6RoLSQEBClWHEPHpRDmXdylNBE4woaJw2_IKuvMTSIHW53u03oEWIM7IkpyQ/s1831/IMG_0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="1831" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDibTrcrSWuykSTMHdGFlw0tvWdfYotDHNxiJMW6IJSFTYjH5-3PqtaWCyUwF5dfE_gvqp_SyZIWjsoR2kULy0S6fHULCz2i5GoShZ7DVsJMzE-Gmj8Hh0YfDrFk5qz6RoLSQEBClWHEPHpRDmXdylNBE4woaJw2_IKuvMTSIHW53u03oEWIM7IkpyQ/w400-h330/IMG_0589.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulls with good aim!</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Their
increased territorial behaviour can be put down to parenthood – there are
chicks everywhere on the island just now, from our now quite well-grown moorhen
adolescents at Moorey Mere to brand new razorbill chicks, to the fluffy
dinosaurs that are great black-backed gull chicks. Our hearts were in our
mouths this week when we discovered eight unaccompanied mallard ducklings
huddled together near the boat shed at North Haven. Fortunately, mama duck eventually
appeared, leading her small brood out to sea. A perilous journey – but who
knows? They might just make it… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_21TF6YQ-yQXrHDd5EF7arxcY6Esg5kleMqtBprhH6jBhqExqxjnirw7QGG2Oknk7kFxhA8ceSsd53Z6dcLVl33WlMv_nT8sERz139_TAxH9CkI0UxegrKjDVPrEqCpmbtMFkDzaYN09dHFOIkPxw1eTm7-ZYDD7-Z38_mwbcMpAAv9zQM4oq321FQ/s1600/fee400b6-75f8-4182-8ade-43585204a39e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_21TF6YQ-yQXrHDd5EF7arxcY6Esg5kleMqtBprhH6jBhqExqxjnirw7QGG2Oknk7kFxhA8ceSsd53Z6dcLVl33WlMv_nT8sERz139_TAxH9CkI0UxegrKjDVPrEqCpmbtMFkDzaYN09dHFOIkPxw1eTm7-ZYDD7-Z38_mwbcMpAAv9zQM4oq321FQ/w400-h276/fee400b6-75f8-4182-8ade-43585204a39e.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Razorbill chick by Simon Davies</td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio05-fMjyp8ifrJPvf8-SvvStd119CupLa_pSFduHqgkcCraG2KkKM8EkIZgOK_Nno_N7LWDaeylV0SXqM1oEaJ48bebxLdgKg5uk7qzXHHWTmfH8W4PYVlPlYzIiyIyeeF61JkoNTfTaVysmSDEQ_VZ3KMjhQw6qyDLo7mcHMz9Palo36wKwSWbKSCA/s2016/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio05-fMjyp8ifrJPvf8-SvvStd119CupLa_pSFduHqgkcCraG2KkKM8EkIZgOK_Nno_N7LWDaeylV0SXqM1oEaJ48bebxLdgKg5uk7qzXHHWTmfH8W4PYVlPlYzIiyIyeeF61JkoNTfTaVysmSDEQ_VZ3KMjhQw6qyDLo7mcHMz9Palo36wKwSWbKSCA/w300-h400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser black-backed gull chick</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bird
highlights of the month included two shrikes in two days – a smart red-backed
shrike near the farm (18<sup>th</sup> May), spotted by a sharp-eyed hostel
guest, and then a very obliging woodchat shrike (19<sup>th</sup> May), who
settled in for a few days near the Moorey Mere hide. Warden Leighton then spotted
a nightjar being mobbed by rock pipits in North Haven on the 24<sup>th</sup>.
Yellow wagtails were seen on the 13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> May, and
pied flycatcher and whinchat on the 15<sup>th</sup> May, along with good
numbers of spotted flycatchers throughout the month. We’ve had a few cuckoos
coming through as well, with one calling two nights ago in North Valley – my
first of the year, and always a delight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7DhW3xqTU2S6y2M8STrMpXl140W-VnnrHzNypiLJbAmDUPlM0A3UCJMZDIq_8nOiyqvTMro5mw9HKvwCkU2JM-oV5RaDAz_EGDXgDnZIB6HKfTVVE3tjbCpYfXuGgsiPXZgOaVBO9Tuua0r2LQvp_cE37gBgQgDMxfcJyRjmugbq_Njcp5jStUDzVg/s1024/fff56a8f-2ec9-425c-803a-efac2bec35ef.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7DhW3xqTU2S6y2M8STrMpXl140W-VnnrHzNypiLJbAmDUPlM0A3UCJMZDIq_8nOiyqvTMro5mw9HKvwCkU2JM-oV5RaDAz_EGDXgDnZIB6HKfTVVE3tjbCpYfXuGgsiPXZgOaVBO9Tuua0r2LQvp_cE37gBgQgDMxfcJyRjmugbq_Njcp5jStUDzVg/w400-h266/fff56a8f-2ec9-425c-803a-efac2bec35ef.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchat shrike and half of a bee</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Meanwhile,
Skomer’s weekly volunteers have been busy keeping the island ticking over. In
addition to the usual fare of cleaning, helping with boats and walking and
talking to visitors, they’ve been scything paths, whipping up shelves, spotting
cetaceans and assisting with yard clearance. Many thanks to them all – we’d be
quite lost without you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For now,
time to pick up the VHF radio and head to morning boats – with hopes to be able
to write more soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ceris,
Assistant Warden <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rCPjoDiaSpXKuTQWt7SOledjsoL1fQFvb8CfTANeOBhxQXQ6RwfScsBth7WvMmLE8C3wZ8odeXvBSA2JMN5Az7S7XY5qK7C_e-a4EshA0Qb1PWALSN789MsptdoDewKlwsCso8ujU3aoDF0frqKsU7HlyYCXnwoEYoSBeutLKF99-FLhd2Mn7UHyAQ/s2016/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="A headland with pink sea thrift on it, with a background of grey seas and skies" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rCPjoDiaSpXKuTQWt7SOledjsoL1fQFvb8CfTANeOBhxQXQ6RwfScsBth7WvMmLE8C3wZ8odeXvBSA2JMN5Az7S7XY5qK7C_e-a4EshA0Qb1PWALSN789MsptdoDewKlwsCso8ujU3aoDF0frqKsU7HlyYCXnwoEYoSBeutLKF99-FLhd2Mn7UHyAQ/w400-h300/IMG_0358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skomer Head turning pink with sea thrift</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHdTicbieTdr9qcqYwNistnM1-p94LxemQ9Q_XvqrnWYWPo1ffJkci3eagPddgc-vaLbO5AKNLP66xBDNy6xbDxL8VvSS7FitaT8EUSk6htUiiemh5gBR7RWyxBmQcgB3fnIrTt9lZ41vvSMqgIOF6Xy896hOzq3eQSSeccSK9_sgcxFKZVH3oUT2Cg/s2016/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHdTicbieTdr9qcqYwNistnM1-p94LxemQ9Q_XvqrnWYWPo1ffJkci3eagPddgc-vaLbO5AKNLP66xBDNy6xbDxL8VvSS7FitaT8EUSk6htUiiemh5gBR7RWyxBmQcgB3fnIrTt9lZ41vvSMqgIOF6Xy896hOzq3eQSSeccSK9_sgcxFKZVH3oUT2Cg/w300-h400/IMG_0498.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Stream from above</td></tr></tbody></table>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-91700179862393115432022-05-04T20:00:00.006+01:002022-05-04T20:00:00.165+01:00Spring has sprung...<p>It’s a time of firsts over here on the island: first chicks,
first wildflowers, and the first days digging out the long-buried suncream!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzoaWgh5ehtmWl1LeiGhv3hrKYeeS2WluIOKh6NrVgIxj1781-x5kVvLl6y5bwJdh9QjyMH902jwj5ruB-7gcwKn_K18wtU1F5Nf_bxPEoNBlQAxzGrP2wkjfv_MkdpPihuD32VKdEQq9-WK0B9Y-NiRAc9dvw9y1f7ZMjNWKZdekx91JolP5JMokOQ/s6960/20220419_Raven.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzoaWgh5ehtmWl1LeiGhv3hrKYeeS2WluIOKh6NrVgIxj1781-x5kVvLl6y5bwJdh9QjyMH902jwj5ruB-7gcwKn_K18wtU1F5Nf_bxPEoNBlQAxzGrP2wkjfv_MkdpPihuD32VKdEQq9-WK0B9Y-NiRAc9dvw9y1f7ZMjNWKZdekx91JolP5JMokOQ/w640-h426/20220419_Raven.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raven carrying food (in this case, a Manx shearwater) back to the nest © Skomer Volunteer Warden</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our earliest breeding birds, ravens, were already building
their nests when we returned to Skomer back in March. Now, two months on,
adults ferrying food back-and-forth to feed their hungry chicks has become a
familiar sight, particularly across North Valley. We’ve also seen signs that
some of our smaller passerines may now have chicks, with blackbirds and rock
pipits having been seen carrying food in the past week. Meanwhile on Moorey Mere, a
plump (the collective noun!) of moorhen chicks have been spotted trailing their
parents amongst the vegetation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG0B3-yN00grDYx95FtTaomr4HmDgjho41-39Zz9C5qBjJUpeLy5pOI2p1-rWeEr3aZeNzfiyzeasvJBpF40U38PRqnJP3grjlFIdrU7P50kPXwglP5jlIOTwa24BObu_pra1GYZHUMM873Mf9VTsCjyW8oea4zn_BO5PxNUuPmothvrIMXt7PRs3bw/s4030/20220413_Mating%20razorbills.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2687" data-original-width="4030" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG0B3-yN00grDYx95FtTaomr4HmDgjho41-39Zz9C5qBjJUpeLy5pOI2p1-rWeEr3aZeNzfiyzeasvJBpF40U38PRqnJP3grjlFIdrU7P50kPXwglP5jlIOTwa24BObu_pra1GYZHUMM873Mf9VTsCjyW8oea4zn_BO5PxNUuPmothvrIMXt7PRs3bw/w640-h426/20220413_Mating%20razorbills.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Razorbills mating at the Amos © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On the cliffs our first guillemot (21.04.22) and razorbill
(25.04.22) eggs have been laid, spotted by eagle-eyed fieldworkers Kirsty
and Freya. Research also continues by <a href="https://www.oxnav.org/">Oxford Navigation Group</a> down at North
Haven, who discovered our first Manx shearwater egg of the season last Monday
(25.04.22).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlDP8Jy3MbvkJ6ztuVtltWrg44EsbUuf80tOcL0JBHioA-Qv5IyAIUwA4dQqhx04XBiEKi2s8CpZCgnSrTmeqSussRbSh0PUgZDr_22vfXGfvWWsRbLoL1rY7gvBscETW8Irm1rQ992fa4IYekPoQT0J98W4wed0xbsrmgycHNxtRPP5ttMA5pBGVHg/s3883/20220424_Chough%20monitoring.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="3883" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlDP8Jy3MbvkJ6ztuVtltWrg44EsbUuf80tOcL0JBHioA-Qv5IyAIUwA4dQqhx04XBiEKi2s8CpZCgnSrTmeqSussRbSh0PUgZDr_22vfXGfvWWsRbLoL1rY7gvBscETW8Irm1rQ992fa4IYekPoQT0J98W4wed0xbsrmgycHNxtRPP5ttMA5pBGVHg/w640-h480/20220424_Chough%20monitoring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chough monitoring near the Amos with our new Leica scope © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Monitoring work also continues with our more elusive
species. Chough continue to evade us at various sites around the island. Four
pairs have now been seen quivering and feeding one another, a good indicator of
breeding. A further three locations are being carefully watched, after
individuals were spotted carrying sticks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='636' height='528' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzyjqjcEB-8AWQGmXwwR6MgwOlJp-408Y9gwAaAYSmAvygSFlN2INuEdQFLsndQV70OgbgMqJsobzvy50QTYg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew calling over North Pond, one of the suspected territories for 2022 © Skomer Assistant Warden<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Towards the centre of the island, our curlew (the last
breeding pairs in Pembrokeshire) have been seen divebombing crows and gulls, as
they defend their precious territories. Close by, skylarks have been filling
the sky with their beautiful song – now noted on three consecutive breeding
bird surveys. If successful, this will be, excitingly, the first time skylarks
have bred on Skomer since 2017.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDIGgpAmyAeMC77-3RPbWZh0VWHU2qKL5Cix2Xoyu-k3yod9_LodpnyQULxBCqHc_jGj1kxDfLdK4iq6hdtWMEsYStOwokTl6VnQ--Q2I0Rzkmv8X8hCw_C1bMLB_2OKdvisrZo9eYdczDpWn6phpkkL2w1F8WWagZ3OWAWQnakzqTOQOW_lhf8A2Vw/s6000/20220420_Sea%20Campion.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDIGgpAmyAeMC77-3RPbWZh0VWHU2qKL5Cix2Xoyu-k3yod9_LodpnyQULxBCqHc_jGj1kxDfLdK4iq6hdtWMEsYStOwokTl6VnQ--Q2I0Rzkmv8X8hCw_C1bMLB_2OKdvisrZo9eYdczDpWn6phpkkL2w1F8WWagZ3OWAWQnakzqTOQOW_lhf8A2Vw/w640-h426/20220420_Sea%20Campion.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea campion at High Cliff © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4zSGVsEPz4_eoxolnchN7XPgacA---HmPO9t0xSZ0U5B48jKsYMiZR9vcG9IbhNXRm_9nQ1WP9oL7gFq07qACjrEtEQPl2nJRCraUt8uZ1dhUQW2mmJwPwU1ngRRv44BiL0Gsd_q6rubVJuTGqXfcTpYqxrscX5r_zqHRV7W75d0AgEfUS_K-P-3Jg/s4149/20220427_Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="4149" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4zSGVsEPz4_eoxolnchN7XPgacA---HmPO9t0xSZ0U5B48jKsYMiZR9vcG9IbhNXRm_9nQ1WP9oL7gFq07qACjrEtEQPl2nJRCraUt8uZ1dhUQW2mmJwPwU1ngRRv44BiL0Gsd_q6rubVJuTGqXfcTpYqxrscX5r_zqHRV7W75d0AgEfUS_K-P-3Jg/w640-h426/20220427_Bluebells.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebells blossoming over North Valley Rise © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Closer to the ground, Skomer’s wildflowers are coming into
full bloom. The south side of the island, particularly near High Cliff, has
been covered in a carpet of sea campion since mid-April – quite the sight (and
smell) to behold. However, to the north, what was initially a few specks of blue
/ purple is now becoming an expanse, with bluebells covering much of North
Valley Rise.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU-8MM6VdxQSgWuMGlRX8YXfLYBOLUOanLk3EEku88P7V60sQG3OQJ7YjkiF4EWNNkXYfYxDWxNNasl8c33a_Ny6myvOEhlURnTm8iyZQxghxqPGjmYsrKZ243Sdz00IZ6vAtqF2-0GJW343Wv72Lu0vHFe6yIu4YE9VcuthVRJiu6y7GaI2kWcCmgw/s4608/20220415_Sunset%20at%20Garland%20Stone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU-8MM6VdxQSgWuMGlRX8YXfLYBOLUOanLk3EEku88P7V60sQG3OQJ7YjkiF4EWNNkXYfYxDWxNNasl8c33a_Ny6myvOEhlURnTm8iyZQxghxqPGjmYsrKZ243Sdz00IZ6vAtqF2-0GJW343Wv72Lu0vHFe6yIu4YE9VcuthVRJiu6y7GaI2kWcCmgw/w640-h480/20220415_Sunset%20at%20Garland%20Stone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from Garland Stone © Skomer VO<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsyzEDWoLwM06TRwYB21FmLmLZ1x-teCKnMDC7P_pLmrcHt3ANTlhYI_2jcK5QIFV2T0IgNQQQKtm8YQOPP3jnD8WvGxGaZPrt_0rFE4524N6akJ7MXdWw_jTHBnzsYHfVQb9Ex0leGwCDeB__0n0YVsBsCti78_pt4fwpoeccCjitC1UhWfZtH9gNw/s3266/20220426_Wick%20sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="3266" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsyzEDWoLwM06TRwYB21FmLmLZ1x-teCKnMDC7P_pLmrcHt3ANTlhYI_2jcK5QIFV2T0IgNQQQKtm8YQOPP3jnD8WvGxGaZPrt_0rFE4524N6akJ7MXdWw_jTHBnzsYHfVQb9Ex0leGwCDeB__0n0YVsBsCti78_pt4fwpoeccCjitC1UhWfZtH9gNw/w640-h480/20220426_Wick%20sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wick sunset with puffins, after our monthly rabbit counts © Skomer VO<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">With the weather improving, and wildflowers blooming
everywhere we look, it is very much beginning to feel like the start of summer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4T6ur5bgM3eXAEdkcmQadNs1eiUAN_wuip4wz4ab2PgSa_E6cFiZQnlVVpJ0QflDWwpNXfx2IcaSZRTF6nmOzxsfcGB0NvgWC6796FZ08mTRHpn-4QP-g_1pFNX12RH7PKWhKiAkvGDLmW2NWI0wD8TOmXP-EqKM_kGHwG6A4NTTo-uidUZe3RHE7A/s4032/20220407_Path%20widening.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4T6ur5bgM3eXAEdkcmQadNs1eiUAN_wuip4wz4ab2PgSa_E6cFiZQnlVVpJ0QflDWwpNXfx2IcaSZRTF6nmOzxsfcGB0NvgWC6796FZ08mTRHpn-4QP-g_1pFNX12RH7PKWhKiAkvGDLmW2NWI0wD8TOmXP-EqKM_kGHwG6A4NTTo-uidUZe3RHE7A/w640-h480/20220407_Path%20widening.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers (L-R: Karen, Jean, and Aline) path widening at South Stream © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NaKLCwrCoh-IwCW2bPDH5n0czDzhbfcHpctaBL-u8DIAwpYIAPa7rjfLLO2ub45981JQ-JViTkjxQ1lSgnjBeLOaPvzOm7JG5iuzl3HJR2wWF3aO0UnzKo1y4GMme4ulWNRHuhw42z0vH8LJM0lNHiWfZ8S1zQKhdUmydKLjYRK7YhPnXzZBhGFkBg/s4032/20220408_Archive%20work.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NaKLCwrCoh-IwCW2bPDH5n0czDzhbfcHpctaBL-u8DIAwpYIAPa7rjfLLO2ub45981JQ-JViTkjxQ1lSgnjBeLOaPvzOm7JG5iuzl3HJR2wWF3aO0UnzKo1y4GMme4ulWNRHuhw42z0vH8LJM0lNHiWfZ8S1zQKhdUmydKLjYRK7YhPnXzZBhGFkBg/w640-h480/20220408_Archive%20work.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archiving work in the library (L-R: Gruffydd, Lynn, and Martin) © Skomer VO</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been
over to visit us so far this season, and in particular to our Weekly Volunteers.
With mixed weather, tasks have varied from painting to path widening. This spring
there has also been a focus on <a href="https://www.library.wales/">archiving</a> and cataloguing the many photo albums which
have been collecting dust in the library. A real window into the past, it’s
been wonderful to see how much (and indeed how little!) Skomer has changed over
the years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until next time. Wela i di wedyn!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beth, Visitor Officer<o:p></o:p></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3205519621804704628.post-21696897025320034502022-04-22T20:00:00.000+01:002022-04-22T20:00:00.170+01:00Introducing Kelda, new Skomer LTV 2022<p>Cyfarchion Gan Sgomer!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My name is Kelda and I am one of the
long-term volunteers for the spring season (March – July 2022). I am 25 years
old and grew up in London, so coming to Skomer for the first time in March was
quite the change! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNDab8LaJsLv_ujD4whsGV8K10NG8SuehLFz0AMhC90ZzHqIMWEWjh-oqt_0yFPil0PzdU0ecu3e9Bvi1040Txe0qaskYdWAKtdFawFm5eslPW7MAJDakRUA9lFFNgEPCzHzrq6-LTY9LQECpmbWbxExrLJopFJu8AtpGbhtdwdTJMh-SH9a3fAHArA/s1024/Kelda%20BBS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNDab8LaJsLv_ujD4whsGV8K10NG8SuehLFz0AMhC90ZzHqIMWEWjh-oqt_0yFPil0PzdU0ecu3e9Bvi1040Txe0qaskYdWAKtdFawFm5eslPW7MAJDakRUA9lFFNgEPCzHzrq6-LTY9LQECpmbWbxExrLJopFJu8AtpGbhtdwdTJMh-SH9a3fAHArA/w640-h480/Kelda%20BBS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Myself on my first Breeding Bird Survey.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I graduated from the University of Sussex
in 2019 with a degree in Zoology where I had some great opportunities to travel
and see some amazing wildlife along the way. I spent 8 months in Iceland on an
exchange year and after seeing my first breaching humpback, pair of minke
whales, and the puffins on the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), my love for
cetaceans and seabirds was born. Eventually, this grew to include all birds
which ultimately led me to Skomer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Since graduating I have largely been
involved in public campaigns and community engagement work tackling plastic
pollution. I came to Skomer with the aim of improving my bird identification
and practical conservation skills. With help of the supportive team here, I can
safely say I feel confident in distinguishing between the different calls of
the birds found around the island including the blackbird, wren, meadow pipit,
dunnock, curlew, oystercatcher, kittiwake and peregrine.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifDytXzWk_sKIcoBu6ppW78w5UFE1JrX91iLgJ1MxPOzEYoVz2_d3ZnVmzgJQqYH2a_QSwlsml34YOGL7yyJZFBFzT6RffATfw4_A5ovNUxzlYcJLlEntGVD2SmvcMWMqnGn6w0OI8rAOC_X6P_0yzngtM6sAZwbyQL3gR6zrxTvi0XePq4okkJ05TQ/s1600/Sunset%20KM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifDytXzWk_sKIcoBu6ppW78w5UFE1JrX91iLgJ1MxPOzEYoVz2_d3ZnVmzgJQqYH2a_QSwlsml34YOGL7yyJZFBFzT6RffATfw4_A5ovNUxzlYcJLlEntGVD2SmvcMWMqnGn6w0OI8rAOC_X6P_0yzngtM6sAZwbyQL3gR6zrxTvi0XePq4okkJ05TQ/w640-h480/Sunset%20KM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Sunset on Skomer across South Field.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Upon arriving on the island on a beautiful
sunny morning, we were greeted by a couple of curious seals and the first
puffins slowly checking out and returning to their burrows. As an ocean lover,
I was incredibly excited to see harbour porpoise at the Garland Stone,
surrounded by diving gannets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So far I have spent my evenings watching
the short-eared owl swooping along North Valley just behind the farm and trying
to catch a glimpse of the common dolphins occasionally seen in the surrounding
waters. For the chiller evenings, I have bought along my stash of wool and have
set myself the task of knitting a hat, scarf and jumper, hopefully before the
start of next winter…</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWjawtIXQVN3KlTGjdaVVA4puV5OeMjsKxSRpx8Q_9BOTVVkmje74JflwePUpJ_91twwFmO6iwG_Yh4UuTnZJShgxgOi84EJNZDf8gqg06pEyiHmx65V5vYbCaBMmqDsyq292zeL039Yrcsplza-80b9yJIKeeKYFfSHaagQUPDtFFlqPYjVSTEOviQ/s1024/Painting%20sticks%20KM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWjawtIXQVN3KlTGjdaVVA4puV5OeMjsKxSRpx8Q_9BOTVVkmje74JflwePUpJ_91twwFmO6iwG_Yh4UuTnZJShgxgOi84EJNZDf8gqg06pEyiHmx65V5vYbCaBMmqDsyq292zeL039Yrcsplza-80b9yJIKeeKYFfSHaagQUPDtFFlqPYjVSTEOviQ/w640-h480/Painting%20sticks%20KM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Painting!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A personal highlight of mine so far has
been actually seeing Manx shearwater appearing from their burrows at night, as
I have only ever heard them before, and of course driving the gator! I have
also enjoyed meeting and working with other volunteers, and hearing about
everyone’s backgrounds and stories about Skomer.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig41P7dc43HQAegCzJ-D5RwWzxEMPwb9YwF2mavmT-jiz6L4DUqor2PlJLBRgPDX3nyd9DbvZWh9JeZNbS3I47Peu3CdfuHZVOuUJQ7cRHCZjWzPhUDu1Vi-Izhwx79Jq_gp-PdbNuODHZ-G5l9pK81qnXfR_sk6TVoqpyrG1uuX6PGPkhH-cFKOJDHg/s1600/Buff-tail%20KM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig41P7dc43HQAegCzJ-D5RwWzxEMPwb9YwF2mavmT-jiz6L4DUqor2PlJLBRgPDX3nyd9DbvZWh9JeZNbS3I47Peu3CdfuHZVOuUJQ7cRHCZjWzPhUDu1Vi-Izhwx79Jq_gp-PdbNuODHZ-G5l9pK81qnXfR_sk6TVoqpyrG1uuX6PGPkhH-cFKOJDHg/w300-h400/Buff-tail%20KM.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />Buff-tailed bumblebee on willow flower by Green Pond.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am keen to get started on my personal
project that will look at the different species of bees found on the island and
compare this to previous records going back to the 1930s. By completing bee
transects I will also look at flower preferences and see if this changes
throughout the season with different flowering plant species dominating the
landscape.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Looking forward to writing again soon </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">☺</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">- Kelda</span></p>Skomer Islandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16426374163955281631noreply@blogger.com0