Day 1 (April 11)

Day 1 (April 11)

Arrived yesterday on a sunny and windy day.

Settled in to the cottage together with Wendy, after a tour of the island with Alison, our manager, who has lots of interesting information on the history of the island. Saw seals in the harbour.

We cooked up a nice communal meal in the cottage. After that we went to the pub in the village and had a nice round of Irish beer.

Today it’s quite cold, especially as a strong westerly wind is blowing. I started the day with a run, though part of the track was too rough to be able to run. There are violets and primrose in flower. After breakfast I cycled up to the bird centre, where we have to start up everything before the visitors arrive. There are big flasks for coffee and the bus drivers keep us supplied with buns and muffins!

The staff for the visitor experience is headed by Alison who has been here for 16 years. Then there are Rick and Hazel who are her assistents and will be here all summer. And currently three residential volunteers: Matt, who has been here for two weeks already, and Wendy and myself.

Before the first visitors arrive, Matt and Rick give us a round of the lighthouse and the viewing platform to explain everything. Our first visitor walks in around 10 already, she has come in on the first ferry. More visitors arrive towards 12, when the first bus arrives. As we all wear the RSPB gilet, visitors ask all of us questions, and I answer as far as I know and point them to Rick for the more detailed questions. As the day progresses and new visitors arrive, I can point out the raven’s nest and show the peregrines in the telescope, as well as give other information.

The viewing platform is exposed to the west and it gets quite chilly at the bird centre. But no rain, fortunately. We’ve had quite a few visitors coming in. Disappointingly for them, the puffins don’t seem to enjoy the weather and have returned to the sea. None of the other auks* are here yet (guillemot, razorbill), but expected soon – wait for a sunny day!

But there are other interesting birds to watch: fulmars and kittiwakes on the cliffs, pairing up and preparing to nest probably soon. There is a raven’s nest which already has 3 chicks in it, and the parents can be seen often, circling down to feed them. A pair of peregrines can be seen during the day on the cliff opposite the viewing platform and may be nesting close by. Gannets glide past across the cliffs, and some cormorants and shags. Rock pipits nest on the cliff face, and there is a wren singing its head off! A twite visited today.

*not to be mixed up with orcs, though pronounced in exactly the same way ;-)