And just like that the 2023 season on Ramsey is finished!
Nia and I leaving the island for the season on the 26th © Padrig Rees.
It was a slightly earlier finish to the season than usual as we closed down and departed the island on the 26th due to the anticipated high winds and swell that were forecast for the following week. We knew if we didn't take our chance to get off we might be stuck on for another few weeks.
The shutdown of the island went fairly smoothly and myself, Nia, Chris, the two sheepdogs Siani & Griff, Sylvie the elderly island chicken, a precious aloe vera plant plus all our bags were picked up by the Gower Ranger after our final visitor day of the year. Thank you so much to Thousand Islands for getting us off safely for the season despite the swelly conditions.
Chris carrying Slyvie down for the boat © Alys Perry.
Myself and Nia waiting with all our bags to be picked up by the Gower Ranger © Chris Jones.
As the season came to a close we focused on finishing the final tasks of the year. We completed our maintenance work on the Manx Shearwater study plot nest boxes and also dug in 5 new nest boxes which will be the start of an additional new study plot near Abermawr.
Nia digging in a new Manx Shearwater nest box © Alys Perry.
The bungalow had a clear out and deep clean ready for when we get back in the spring, the shop and all the stock was tidied and put away. All the field gates were tied up for the winter and the visitor signs brought in. The final biosecurity checks were conducted and wax blocks put out ready for us to check when we return in the spring. Leaving only the last minute jobs to do just before we left.
A biosecurity box with wax chew blocks which will help us monitor rodent activity over the winter © Alys Perry.
In between the showers and strong winds we were treated to some lovely weather for our last week on the island. This rainbow was an amazing sight to see on the 24th.
© Alys Perry.
Weekly wildlife round-up
We conducted our last seal pup count for the season on the 26th with 29 seal pups on the study beaches.
Plenty of birds of prey were still being seen over the last week with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, Red Kite, Merlin, Buzzard and the addition of a Hobby on the Northern end on the 22nd. Hobby's are less than annual on the island and this was the 17th record for the island and the last since July 2019.
A Kestrel sitting on a fence post behind Abermawr © Alys Perry.
Large numbers of thrushes were recorded passing through with some Fieldfare and Redwing stopping over to gorge on the remaining blackberries left on the island bramble bushes.
Passage of Siskin and chaffinches were recorded on a daily basis.
A Northern Diver was spotted flying through Ramsey Sound on the 22nd. This is the 40th record of this species for the island, with the last one being recorded in October 2018.
Along with the usual sightings of Pied Wagtails a Grey Wagtail was spotted along the east coast on the 26th.
A pretty distant shot of a Grey Wagtail at Capel on the 22nd © Alys Perry.
Great Tits and Blue Tits were almost a daily occurrence in the farmhouse willows during our last week. In addition to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds.
Groups of up to 15 Curlew were recorded feeding in the Northern fields throughout the week.
Snipe were a regular sighting as well as Teal and Mallard on the Central ponds.
A flock of Canada Geese were recorded flying over on the 22nd.
In addition to the huge number and variety of waxcaps on the island we recorded a new one for the year on the 21st which was Golden Spindle (Clavulinopsis fusiformis) a species of coral fungus which is inedible. This is only the 2nd official record of this species for the island with the last one being recorded in October 2021.
We would like to thank everyone that has been involved with Ramsey this year and who has helped make it a successful 2023 season. It has been a wonderful year for myself and Nia on the island, with many highlights and we look forward to many more to come. A special thanks to our wonderful volunteers, Derek our island postman and handyman and of course Thousand Islands who we couldn't run the island without! We can't wait to see you all again next year and we look forward to what 2024 may bring.
A couple of Chough on the cliffs above Abermawr on the 25th © Alys Perry.
Until next season!
Alys Perry
Assistant Warden
Assistant Warden Ramsey & Grassholm Island