The 16mm of rain the other day now feels like a distant memory with the ground seemingly as cracked and dried as it was after 6 weeks of no rain. More rain is forecast for this week but we need something a bit more substantial and prolonged please (I know I'll regret saying that!).
Keeping the buildings and visitor infrastructure in good working order is an important annual task. And just because we can't share the island with you at the moment doesn't mean those tasks go away. The environment out here isn't kind and if things sit still for long enough they will seize up (and that's not just the machinery!) If wooden benches go untreated for a season they soon pay the price of the harsh salt air. Normally a job for our band of loyal volunteers I dusted off my overalls and set to work on the task of treating all the the visitor benches that so many of you will have enjoyed a post walk cup of tea on. I'm sure my handiwork won't be up to that of the usual experts but hopefully they will approve when they return!
Approach this man with caution!
A Saturday afternoon walk to catch up on the seabirds on the west coast was made all the better by the sunshine. Until all eggs are laid they can be a bit 'hit and miss' in terms of attendance at this time of year and so it proved with barely a third of auk numbers present on the big cliffs. A few guillemots look to have laid eggs judging by the way they are sitting tight and facing inwards but the majority are yet to lay. Below is a quick 'play around' with some new video editing software I am getting used to. Hopefully I'll be able to bring you better footage of the seabirds as the season progresses
Walking back I noticed a few Manx shearwater burrows being taken to the extreme in terms of location! No doubt these birds get a nice safe passage to the sea every night but hitting the right spot when coming in to land must take some skill! I might set the trail camera up on it to see how they do it!
Above: close up of burrow clearly in use by a Manx shearwater given the guano outside. Below: wide angle of where this burrow is located!
My watch tells me I did 20,000 steps today and Dewi the border collie was at my side for all of it. Not bad for a 12 year old so it's no wonder he took a well deserved rest in the garden when we got back. Looks like the rabbits were following suit!