A decent week of birding, with 105 birds caught, mainly young from this year, though a few adult Whitethroat caught, suggesting a late arrival? A very late Bluethroat was also notable. This adult male had an almost bald rump with the tail feather bases being clearly visible. In the lab it was noted to have many lumps, possibly tumours, on its belly. The bird was lively and within normal weight parameters, a hardy chap!!
Most of the nest boxes are now checked, with just one left to do at the end of the month. Within the totals ringed this week was a brood of seven Pied Flycatcher chicks, ringed by Liam and Kay, Liam, the Observatories Chairman, was out for most of the week and helped out with some of the tasks that need more than two pairs of hands. In particular it was good to get some of the old boardwalk timbers replaced with planks salvaged from the property renovation. A few more of these to do and then all of them will have been replaced.
The old timbers have been stood upright to dry off a bit before being taken off site for burning. When we do this we will be taking the other timbers that have been left near net rides for years as part of a programme of making the area tidier - it is after all a Nature Reserve.
Big news of the week is that, after 28 years as an inhabited Observatory, the building finally has a toilet. Roger and his team have done a great job on the bathroom, the new floor, electrical work and pipework are very neat, while the window, walls and ceilings are looking great after several coats of paint by Kay & Chris. It's been worthwhile all the extra hours of labour we have put into helping Roger. Only the shower to fit in place now, should be done by next weekend. A pleasure to be sitting here watching the rain against the window, knowing the cycle ride to the harbour, or trip out to the P*** bush is a thing of the past!!!!
Mid-summer was celebrated on the island on Saturday, with many of the young girls decking themselves out with traditional wreaths of wild flowers on the their heads, and dancing round the pole in the village - an event we sadly missed as we were still checking nest boxes. Made it down to the village in time to chat with those we know and to have an ice-cream in the baking hot sun.
I can feel a lazy day coming on, just the small matter of preparing my lecture notes for the programme of 18 lectures that start on the 4th July - no panic!!!
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