Island life!
So, it is Tuesday today and the weather moved in on us yesterday afternoon. Rob and Sam managed to spot 10 Risso's dolphins yesterday morning off their vantag point to the north end of Bardsey. Two of the dolphins were seen breaching and then joining the rest of the group travelling towards the open sea to the west of the island. There was one very old, very white animal in that group, too!
Rob and Sam spent the rest of the afternoon photgraphing a seal pup which was only 1 day old! The grey seals use Bardsey as a pupping ground ans at this time of year there are lots of seal pups around waiting for their mums to come back and feed them. Just the photo opportunity Rob and Sam were waiting for! (Photos will follow at a later stage, as there is no email on the island).
Life on Bardsey is different from life in the caravan on the Lleyn. Rob and Sam live in the bird observatory, sharing the kitchen and the toilet bucket with some 13 other people who are mostly on the island for its bird life. The generator comes on for 3 hours in the evening, lights go out at 10 pm on the island and then there is nothing else to do than to go to bed.
Everyone comes together in the afternoon to log reports of the day's bird sightings, but I'm sure Rob and Sam get in a bit of dolphin chat, too.
Meanwhile on the main land, the only sighting seen during yesterday's morning survey was a stampeding cow along the country lanes! Thank goodness for our risk assessment... in the event of a stampeding cow... get out of the way. Check.
The storm drew in last night in full force. This meant Bea and Laura had to shelve plans for an evening bouldering round the back of the caravan. Pine cooked up a risotto which left us all warm and sleepy.
We will try some watching later today if the weather allows it. In the meantime, Bea and Charlotte are busy entering their data from yesterday's watch.
WDCS on Twitter
WDCS on Facebook
WDCS on YouTube
But kudos to the people who did their best to save him.