Meet the Hens!

Sadly it's been another week of fairly rough weather and it looks like the same for the rest of the week with some big swells coming in. So our first landing of the year will most likely be delayed by at least a week! However, in between the rain showers we have been treated to some glimpses of sunshine and the odd double rainbow or two.

View looking South from Carn Llundain © Alys Perry.

Rainbow over St Davids Head  © Alys Perry.

Both ends of the double rainbow © Alys Perry.

Very boggy and flooded fields much like most of the Island right now © Alys Perry.

 This week saw the arrival of 4 new Ramsey residents... the chickens. Our beloved elderly Island chicken Sylvie who came off with us at the end of the season has now returned with 3 new friends. Sylvie spent the winter at Nia's family farm quarantining with the other hens so we thought it was about time she had some company. So welcome Kelpie, Wasabi, and Chee Chee to Ramsey!

The chickens safely stowed in their crate ready to disembark St Justinians on the 22nd © Nia Stephens.

The three new chickens, Kelpie, Wasabi, and Chee Chee © Alys Perry.

Chris and Nia making a new nest box to go in the chicken coop © Alys Perry.

Besides the obvious excitement of the island chickens, we've had a productive week despite the poor weather and lack of landings. We have made the most of the sunny intervals by finishing some outdoor jobs including removing one of the old harbour wooden posts that had started to rot, putting out the trail signs, tidying some of the farm buildings, cleaning the toilets, doing a beach clean of Porth Lleuog, replacing the door on the winch shed and finishing our nest monitoring of the Chough. 

Some of the rubbish that was picked up from Porth Lleuog © Nia Stephens.

The new winch shed door which was built and installed by Chris © Nia Stephens.

Weekly Wildlife Round-Up

Our biggest news of the week is that all 10 pairs of Chough are on territory with 7 showing signs of nest building so far.

A pair of Chough collecting dry grass to build their nest on the 24th © Alys Perry.

It looks like our Ravens are settling down to nest too with at least 4 pairs on territory and nests waiting to be filled with eggs. 

 

A Raven displaying on the South End © Nia Stephens.

Our first arrivals of Blackcap and Willow Warbler were recorded on the 26th. Yesterday appeared to be a good migration day on the Island with 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Blackcap and 10 Goldcrests. Which is a great start to the season. 

A Willow Warbler on the 26th © Alys Perry.

Hirundines made their appearance this week too with a House Martin and Sand Martin spotted on the 20th. Shortly followed by our first Swallow on the 22nd. 

The first Whimbrel of the season made its appearance on the 22nd as well. 

A lovely male Reed Bunting was recorded on the 25th singing away from the Farmhouse willows, another first for the season. Hopefully, a female will appear soon so we can have another breeding pair this year. 

Male Reed Bunting on the 25th © Alys Perry.

Most of our Wheatears already seem to be paired up and there are ongoing battles between rival males over territory.

A Male Wheatear guarding his section of territory © Nia Stephens.

We have been recording large flocks of Pied Wagtails in the fields at the moment with a max count of 17 recorded on the 24th.

A Pied Wagtail perching on a stone wall on the 24th © Alys Perry.

Our first wildflowers are starting to pop up with Lesser Celandines brightening up the place. 

A Lesser Celandine on the 25th © Alys Perry.

Until next week

Alys Perry

Assistant Warden