A busy day

After no boat for nearly three weeks due to constant winds from the south and west, the long awaited arrival of Colin on Benlli III at 9am was very welcome. However, it was also tinged with sadness as all the Observatory staff were leaving the island for their Christmas break with family and friends.

On the boat coming to take them away were some day visitors though; a film crew with rather a lot of equipment for just a three hour stay (they kept their energy up by mainlining Jelly Babies I noticed) and the vet. One of the Welsh Black cows is in calf and the farmers were worried that she might not be able to deliver herself so the vet was called in, and an hour later Poppy arrived, safely delivered by caesarean section. Poppy had been lying in a breach position and it would have been an exhausting labour for all concerned so the break in the weather was a great relief.

Also on board was some post; it was like Christmas morning for a while with a couple of large sackfuls being delivered around the island to the remaining residents. Jim has been especially lucky as he has some new binoculars to play with (all the better to spot the birds with) - I was more than happy with some new knitting yarn and a rather splendid supply of chorizo sausage and chocolate – life’s little essentials!

The remainder of the day was spent visiting the new mother and calf and unpacking our shopping, also delivered by the boat in the morning from the local Spar in Aberdaron. With potentially such large gaps between food deliveries we have tended to order plenty of fruit, veg and fresh meat, so it takes quite a bit of squirreling away in various freezers and cupboards to keep it fresh until the boat comes again..

So, a very busy day.

Elaine

We are not alone

A scurry of tiny feet, a rustle in the cupboard, telltale signs of activity. We have some furry visitors.

The first sign was a liquorice allsort in Jim’s boot when he put it on in the morning – fine, except he doesn’t usually keep his sweets there. And the allsorts had been in a dresser in the adjacent room. Next we heard packaging being nibbled in the evening, in the mouse proofed cupboard. All was not well. As the days have got cooler and shorter the woodmice have been visiting the houses to supplement their diet; with our carbohydrates.

However, as you can see from the picture, they are very creative and indeed artistic. Little darlings!

Elaine

Solfach hide

Step 5 - Painted & ready for watching. Now about that topping out ceremony . . .

Step 4 - Carpentry completed.

Step 3 - Fitting the new skin.

Step 2 - Hide stripped & recycled floor joists in place.

Step 1 - Stripping off the old skin & seeing what can be salvaged.

One of first jobs we have undertaken has been the refurbishment of the hide on Solfach. We started a couple of weeks ago and have been working on it most days, weather permitting. Jim had calculated what materials and tools we would need on a trip we made to Bardsey in August, and quite a large amount of what arrived with us in October was lined up for this and other jobs we plan to carry out through the winter

Any of you who have visited the island recently will have seen the state of the hide; there wasn’t much left standing. So the first job was to clear what could not be re-used and get back to basics, which turned out to be roof and the posts which had been concreted in and were sturdy and reusable.

Our large sheets of 18mm and 12mm plywood were soon being man-handled down the slope, at one point I’m sure Jim and I nearly took off in the wind, and being measured and cut up on the beach with the use of a generator and lots of muscle power.

Initial progress was quite rapid and dramatic; doing the base was a tour de force with so many angles, none of them square, to be measured, marked and cut; the sides, too, made a vast difference.

Once it was all constructed the finishing off tasks seemed to take quite a while; fitting the doors and windows, the bench and the all important foot rest all required a great deal of fiddling and, in one case, beach combing to find just the right piece of driftwood.

Then painting, a couple of coats to keep the rain out, and it was open for business. Already some good bird watching & photography has taken place, and we hope that a great many people will enjoy the hide for many years to come.

Elaine

Ringing at Cristin

(c) Steve Stansfield

(c) Richard J Else

At this time of year, the opportunities to open the mist nets for ringing in the garden at Cristin, where we are staying for the winter, are limited on account of the wind rarely abating. However, today was one of those calm days you get every couple of weeks here. So, it was a case of being up before dawn and getting the nets open. This was well rewarded with 40 plus birds ringed, including thrushes, finches, the fourth Black Redstart of the autumn and a stunning Wryneck which was migrating very late in the year.

Jim

Pumpkins & bonfires

Whilst we were moving house last Sunday some of the other island residents were enjoying the chance to indulge in some beautiful creative artwork – competitive pumpkin carving. One was traditional but scary; two were island inspired; there was a three-dimensional one and finally, the winner, was an amazingly detailed lobster. The following day we all had lunch together with soup made from all the pumpkin carvings, fresh bread and butter made at the farm.

Of course it wasn’t too many days before bonfire night came round; it was a bit too windy on Thursday but by Sunday we were promised a rare calm evening and it only took an hour of hard work to construct an amazing fire from old gates, the beach hide, fencing posts and anything else we could lay our hands on. The night was clear but cold and we had fantastic views of Jupiter and various constellations. As dusk fell we gathered on the beach and enjoyed an evening of a very warming fire, sausages freshly cooked on the embers and a few glasses of wine. By morning there was little left, although Jim and Steve spent quite a while clearing up the various bits of metal and glass to make the beach safe again.

Elaine

Moving on day

(c) Elaine Lennon

After two weeks at the Lloft, during which time we began to feel quite settled, it was time to move on. The season’s visitors have left for home and we are now moving the hundred yards or so with all our stuff to take up residence at Cristin, the Bird Observatory, for the winter.

The really wet morning was not very encouraging but by the time everything was packed and loaded onto the trailer the day had cleared and it was soon being unpacked again into its new home. As you can see the shelves were groaning under the weight of all that food. But, will it last us eight months?

Elaine