After the gale force south westerlies, coupled with spring tides, over the last few days it was a relief to find the majority of our guillemots and razorbills appear to have survived unscathed. Our friends and neighbours on Skokholm and Skomer have been reporting storm losses in some sub-colonies. The advantage Ramsey has is 100+m cliffs meaning most of our birds don't breed below around 20-30m, safe from the 9m swells of Friday and Saturday. Kittiwakes look to have fared less well but we will know for sure over the coming weeks when counts are carried out
All appeared normal on the main guillemot cliffs today (but we won't know for sure till counts are carried out over coming weeks)
While over on the stunning west side of the island it was impossible not to take some photos of the flowers that survived the battering. Here are a selection below:
Pink thrift (Armeria maritima)
Spring Squill (Scilla verna)
And from the east coast on way back, a fine display of gorse with Carn Llydi in the background
It would also appear our 3 pairs of peregrine came through the gale ok as all were busy on territory this afternoon. The one pair with a somewhat exposed SW facing nest was of concern but the female was still sitting tight today, apparently incubating small chicks. Chough sites will get checked this week again too as some of those would have felt the full force of the gale. Despite being tucked up inside caves it it not unheard of to lose sites out here during summer storms - fingers crossed
To finish a photo of Ronnie, the red kite that has been with us for the whole of May, occasionally he/she is joined by a second bird. If only we had some trees for them to breed in!