Bird Sightings

Census went well with highlights including a small, but steady burst of Swallows, 7 Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps making up the migrants for the morning. Others reported the Hooded Crow in Tillage, as well as a pair of Merlin, with our overwintering female gaining a male now.

 

I used my porridge-and-fresh-fruit breakfast to study one of the many bird guides I found on the book shelf of our accommodation and to contemplate my first days on the island.

 

When the showers had passed, I went out to look for the rope access team that is here for a few days to remove Rhododendron on the steep slopes of the East Coast between Quarry Beach and Landing Bay.

 

Sheltered from the wind I was able to watch them doing their hair-raising job - well secured but still... dangling from the edge and abseiling down steep slopes covered in brambles. For a second I thought: I'm glad this isn't my job. 

 

After lunch I met Emma and Simon in the kitchen of the volunteers' accommodation to prepare new wax blocks that will allow us to see if any rats have found their way back to the island. For this, we melted candle wax, added a bit of baking cocoa powder and poured the mixture into silicon molds to let it set. Just before the wax set, we put holes through the center of the blocks and left the blocks to set fully. Once set out in the buildings we will be able to tell from potential dental marks and imprints which animals have happily nibbled the provided "snacks".

 

Emma and I used the next hour to complete the recycling task she had started the day before with Greg.

 

I spent the evening helping in the kitchen of the Tavern, where my job was to wash and clean up the dishes to make sure that the kitchen and service teams have enough space and utensils to work. A well-deserved late dinner concluded the day and after having shared updates with the rest of the team some stayed for the infamous karaoke night while others preferred to enjoy some peaceful sleep.