Over the past two weeks, we have had some fairly changeable weather which has meant many of our fieldwork plans being put on hold. Despite the changeable condition and last minute changes of plans we have still managed to keep on top of our visitor and habitat management work.
View of the Bitches on the 8th © Nia Stephens
From the 24th of June to the 1st July we welcomed Barbara, Agnes, and Rhiannon to the Island for a week of volunteering. They all got stuck into bracken bashing, engaging with visitors, painting plastic puffins, making biosecurity molds, conducting chough feeding transects, checking reptile tiles, along with everything else. It was wonderful to have 3 eager volunteers who got stuck in and joined us for after-work sea swims. Sadly their time on the island was cut short because of bad weather but we look forward to welcoming them back next year.
Here are a few photos of their highlights of the week.
Agnes making some biosecurity wax molds © Alys Perry.
Rhiannon and Agnes painting plastic puffins © Barbara Mathewson.
Barbara, Rhiannon, and Agnes scything bracken in the Central Fields © Nia Stephens.
Barbara, Rhiannon, and Agnes having a last selfie before they left on the 30th of June.
Russell and Sally joined us from the 2nd of July to the 6th after being delayed by the weather. They also got sent home early because of a large swell and strong winds. However, Russel & Sally both quickly settled into island life and got involved with all tasks they possibly could. We really enjoyed their enthusiasm and laughter and were gutted they had to leave sooner than expected. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Pembrokeshire before heading home. We look forward to more island laughter next year.
Russell and Sally departing on the Gower Ranger © Alys Perry.
One of the tasks over the last few weeks other than bracken bashing has been to put up fencing posts in many of the fields. Derek delivered the fencing posts earlier in the season so it was great to finally be able to put them in.
Nia putting in the final nail of a newly put up fence post © Chris Jones.
Myself and Nia took the plunge last week and trimmed the kelp off the gutter. It was getting particularly long and the Gower Ranger was struggling to come in safely at low tide as all the kelp fronds were getting in the way. So we got our swimming costumes and shears out and cleared a nice pathway for the boat to come in. It was definitely one of the weirdest tasks we've done on the island but as we are both water babies we actually really enjoyed it.
Myself and Nia trimming kelp off the gutter © Chris Jones.
We welcomed another school group from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi on the 5th of July. It was brilliant to have them here, the children were very excited and couldn't wait to tell us what they had seen on their walk. Thank you so much to Pad at Thousand Islands for organising it all and for giving them a free voyage back and forth to the island.
© Sally & Russell.
Weekly Wildlife Round-up
Russell & Sally found our final pair of Chough fledglings on the 3rd of July. Bringing our total up to 8 successful pairs for the year. This pair were very delayed because they moved nest site early in the season meaning they were later laying than the other pairs. So this year we have had 19 Chough chicks fledge from Ramsey!! This is compared to 20 in 2022 and 16 in 2021.
Our House Martins in the farmhouse nest boxes are starting to fledge now.
A House Martins fledgling who had a slight crash landing while exiting the nest box for the first time © Nia Stephens.
Our Manx Shearwaters in our study plot are starting to hatch and are looking incredibly fluffy!
© Alys Perry.
We had our first sightings of the year of a glow worm in the farmhouse garden.
Female glow worm on the 26th of June © Nia Stephens.
Our first hummingbird hawk moth appeared on the 28th of June and several have been seen since feeding on the scotch thistle.
Now that it has started to warm up we have had a lot more records of slow words and common lizards underneath the reptile tiles.
Slow Worm © Rhiannon Tate.
We now have 3 red deer calfs bringing our total Red Deer numbers up to 28.
© Rhiannon Tate.
Two of our Peregrine Falcon pairs have now fledged chicks.
One of our Buzzard pairs on the West Coast has now successfully fledged chicks.
The guillemot chicks are starting to fledge with several being seen jumping into the seas from the cliffs.
Red kites are almost a daily sighting on Ramsey now and are often seen feeding on the rabbits on the Northern end of the Island.
A nice series of photos showing an aerial battle between a Red Kite & Greater Black-backed Gull over a dead rabbit. As you can see the Red Kite was victorious this time!
Until next week!
Alys Perry
Assistant Warden
Assistant Warden Ramsey & Grassholm Island