Well it's pushing mid March now so I thoughts it high time I got round to completing the review of 2013! Apologies for the delay -we are in a busy period at the moment as Lisa and I get the island ready to welcome visitors from 1st April. The fine weather of late has been very timely and makes all the outdoor jobs much easier and more pleasant!
October 2013
The visitor season drew to an end and the weather was it's usual unsettled self in October meaning quite a few sailing days lost due to strong winds. For the first time in 8 years we failed to get to Grassholm to cut free gannet chicks that become tangled in marine debris through the season. We tried our best and even got as far as the island itself on one attempt but despite Tim and Beth's (from Venture Jet) best efforts the swell was just too big to land safely.
The pupping season slowly came to an end with the total for the year standing at 656 pups born - the 4th highest on record. A relatively calm September, when most pups are born, meant pup survival to weaning age was good in 2013.
The weather wasn't all bad though and Dewi and I enjoyed some classic autumn sunrises from the top of Carn Llundain as we logged migrant birds passing overhead.
Derek our goods delivery contractor ordered himself a shiny new boat (from his son who owns Robust Boats) - in the meantime he borrowed another boat to ensure deliveries to the island were not interrupted. Here he is on the versatile aluminium RIB 'Storm Sparrow' bringing us the first of our winter delivery 'stock up the cupboards' order!
November
With less sheepwork in the winter months it is important to keep Dewi on his toes (and myself!) so we spend time reinforcing his training techniques.
The main reason we keep sheep on the island is to benefit chough, which are never far away. The sheep provide short grass to help the birds feed. Their dung is usful too as it provides habitat for invertebrates such as dung beetles which are an important food source.
The ringed bird (known as 'double white') shown below has featured in blogs in the past as he has been a troublesome character over the years. It was pleasing to see him settle down again in 2013, find a new partner and fledge 3 young from a nest on the north coast
Just when we thought they had finished another pup was born! This one proved to be the last one of 2013
The month was a mixture of sunshine and showers.....
With the odd storm thrown in - a sign of things to come
The RNLI have got a new Tamar class lifeboat and until they have built their new boathouse (the existing boat house was built for the smaller Tyne class) it needs to be kept on the water at St Justinians. They were looking for a second mooring when periods of strong SW and NW winds made St Justinians unsuitable. The RSPB offered a berth on our patch of leased seabed on the sheltered east side of the island so the boat spent several spells over the winter sitting just off The Waterings.
RNLI crew at Ramsey coming to pick up the new Tamar lifeboat from her temporary mooring
In return for 'keeping an eye' on the boat Dai and Mike did some shopping for us which was much appreciated!
Derek got his new boat in November and brought her across on her maiden voyage....with more supplies for us!
These aluminium boats are worth their weight in gold. Rock solid, versatile and dependable they are ideal for island life
As the month drew to a close Lisa and I began putting out some of the Manx sheawater nest boxes that our volunteers had made over the summer. It is hoped we can establish a small study population on the NE coast. The design was based on those used in New Zealand for Fluttering shearwaters. Many thanks to Shane from Matiu/Somes Island Charitable Trust in Wellington for sharing the design with us on our visit in 2012
December
Not much to report from December. For the first time in a while we left the island for Christmas and spent it with family. Before we went we gathered the sheep in one more time to check them over then turned them out onto some rested pasture with mineral blocks where we knew they would be fine for a few weeks.
Then it was over to the mainland and beer and chips at the Farmers Arms! We spent a bit of time in St Davids with friends and took the chance to explore the local coastline, something we don't have much time for in the season.
Looking back at Ramsey from St Davids Head in late afternoon light - December 2013
So as we approach a new visitor season we hope you've enjoyed this brief look back at 2013. Thanks to all the visitors who came, all the volunteers for their hard work and good company, the staff and crew of Thousand Islands Expeditions and all the help and support we get from local residents and friends.
See you all very soon!