Marriner's Birding Adventures

Skokholm Island 1/07/2022 - 14/10/2022

Recently I have just got back from one of the best experiences of my life. I spent three and a half months volunteering on Skokholm Island. It was basically heaven, living in a remote area with only a maximum of 20 or so people at a time, birdwatching and ringing all day, whilst also meeting some amazing people and making lifelong friends. This all done under a stunning back drop of wild, rugged Pembrokeshire coastlines and sunsets.

Fulmar Photo bomming the sunset

Map of Skokholm

JULY

July was full of mixed emotions. A mix of childlike excitement, nervousness, and trepidation. Excitement that I had an amazing three months ahead of me but also realising that this was going to be my first time away from home for any length of time and not having anyone to help with daily domestic tasks for the first few weeks. This made the first few days on the island hard, but I soon settled in with the help of Richard and Giselle (the two resident wardens) and Richard Dobbins and Wendy James (who I didn’t realise at the time but were a huge reason why I enjoyed my time on the island throughout the season). On my first day we got straight into the action, trying to find active Storm Petrel nests by using playback into suitable nest crevasses (holes in walls or behind rocks) and listening for a response. We did this over three sites: North Haven, North plain walls, and the Quarry. The problem with this method is that Storm petrels don’t always respond on the first time of asking so we had to repeat this 10 times at each site to get a big enough sample size. This as you can imagine took us a while, but it was great fun being out and hearing these amazing birds! During my first week we were also tasked with looking for Puffin colour rings in the Crab Bay colony, a place which contributes to the adult survival numbers on the island. This was a challenge getting the colour ring combinations the right way around (and they never stand still!!). Whilst Dobbins and Wendy were on the island with their ringing group, we put up a mist net in the colony to catch Puffins so we can colour ring a handful more to keep the ringed numbers up. This was a wonderful experience as although I had ringed puffins on a previous trip, I had never colour ringed a bird, so it was great to learn that. Shortly after Dobbins and Wendy left the island with their group, it was the turn of the Northants Ringing group, one of my local groups. The focus of this week was catching Storm Petrels down in South Haven. I had done this before in a previous visit but still lots of excitement for handling these birds. Although we didn’t catch as many as we would have hoped to it was still great to be so close and handle (and smell!) these birds. During the day, our attentions turned to Gulls where we spent lots of the week chasing young Lesser Black-Backed and Greater Black-Backed Gulls, trying to catch them in the bracken. These were a new species for lots of the group so a bonus to the laughs we had trying to catch them. Also, during the week, we managed to get the Gull trap back operating well by changing the strings to clear stings. This worked really well with 3, 30+ catches in a row of adult gulls. This was a great (albeit painful!) experience seeing these brutes up close. A few days after the Northants group had left, I spent the day with Mr Wheatear (Ian Beggs Aka Beggsy). We were cleaning out 42 of his Wheatear boxes ready for next season. It was fascinating spending the day with him learning loads about one of my favourite migratory birds and how they behave on breeding grounds. I want to thank Beggsy for his help on changeover day, for cleaning the kitchen, teaching me all about Wheatears, pushing the traps with me and for talking cricket. With Beggsy leaving I was then on my own again. This made worse when I was sat on the toilet when a message comes through of a Cory’s Shearwater sat on the sea at the Lighthouse. This rather unfortunate timing meant although I ran the whole length of the island, I was not able to connect with the bird. Luckily, this time I was not partnerless for very long because I was then joined by my new partner in crime Alys Perry. Alys had come in from short notice to help me after getting back from her job in Scotland just the day before! On our first trip round the traps together, we caught a stunning Wheatear and that was a sign of good things to come. The day after a stunning Dark Green Fritillary was feeding on the Beulah outside the cottage. One of my favourite butterflies.

Ringed Juvenile Wheatear

Golden Plover

Cute Rabbit!

Black-tailed Godwit

Puffin

Another Puffin

Adult Storm Petrel

Storm Petrel Chick

Razorbill

August

August started off well with Alys finding this lovely Sedge warbler nest (the first I’ve seen!). We then quickly went round all of our Manx shearwater study plots to see how many eggs had successfully hatched and how many fluffy chicks we had hiding in the burrows. We were pleased to find lots of chicks all healthy and with good weights. This was even more pleasing given the Avian Flu situation. Then on the 6^th of August we got the news all four of us were dreading. Avian Flu had been confirmed on Grassholm Island in its breeding Gannets. This meant that all ringing in sea bird colonies was suspended. This was a blow, but we carried on monitoring the migrants that passed through the island with Willow Warbler numbers starting to pick up. This also gave us the opportunity to start work on the amazing new immersive hide in Crab Bay. We spent most afternoons in August in the “pit of doom.” We needed to dig out the original hole to allow for the builders to start building. This meant filling buckets full of dirt and rocks and walking it up the hill where we piled it up ready for the green roof at the end. Because we were birding in the mornings, this meant that we were in the pit in the heat of the afternoon in one of the hottest years the UK has had. All this aside it was great fun and lots of laughs and singsongs were had in the pit. By the end of it we had convinced ourselves that “there is no hill” and that we had “smashed it” as they became a part of everyday language for us. A week later, on the 12^th of August after hard work from Rich and Giselle, we were granted an exemption to carry on ringing passerines in the trapping area and to monitor Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel and Fulmar study plots with extra hygiene protocols above what we were doing already to keep us and more importantly the birds safe. This was great news for us, and we were excited to get back ringing! We promptly went round all the study plots finding loads of fluffy, healthy chicks. In fact, it was looking to be the best year ever for our study species. We started to see some common migrants trickle through with a Whinchat and a Tree pipit, the first of the autumn. On the 20^th I got an early birthday present, after embarrassingly missing the last Cory’s Shearwater that Richard and Giselle found in July, I was over the moon to find my own bird tearing west off the lighthouse. Unfortunately, I was the only observer as it was soon lost into the sun but what a bird. My first big shearwater and my first description I had to write!! This would mark the start of an increase in migrants moving through. The 21^st was spent lugging four tonnes of cement and aggregate from East Bog to the Pit ready for the new hide. The evening was a lovely mini party with Rich and Giselle joining me, Alys and my family for a BBQ and a bit of a Party as my family would be leaving the next day (my actual birthday). It was a great evening even if I did dip the first Pied Flycatcher of the autumn that dad found! The next day was my 18^th birthday and what a place to spend it. The morning was spent cleaning and getting ready for the guest changeover and saying goodbye to my family. The afternoon was spent checking in on the Fulmar productivity plots, finding that three had fledged! Then the evening was spent at the sea watch hide with a whole island sea watch. This entire day was spent wearing a blow-up pink mermaid float courtesy of Alys! This in turn cost me a Balearic Shearwater but however I was able to get on a stonking Great Skua, so all was well! Log that evening was an interesting one. Safe to say not much happened after the whiskey was brought out!! The next few days were spent moving building materials getting ready for the builders to come on and get started. During this time, we noticed loads of Mediterranean Gulls feeding offshore and this week saw the most recorded to have landed in history, with some showing very well in South Haven. On the 27^th Alys pulled another bird out the bag with a stunning Kingfisher in South Haven, a rare bird for Skokholm with it being just the 15^th record ever. Late August early September is always an exiting time with southern overshoots starting to turn up in the country. The 30^th was one of these days when we first noticed a huge influx of butterflies with Painted Ladies and my first ever Clouded Yellows turning up. Then whilst going to help Alys who was making a Storm Petrel hole in the walls, one of my most wanted birds and lifers popped out the edge of the bracken in front of me – a stunning Wryneck!! If anyone had read Arjun’s blog about our Cornwall trip (Arjun's Blog) you’ll know we have history with these birds. It was so nice to have finally nailed this species and to share the amazing views with the staff and to manage to get all the Island’s guests on it made the moment even better!! What a way to end the month!

Raft of Manx Shearwaters

Young Fulmar

Manxi Vs GBBG

Young Fulmar

Chough

Whimbrel with Grassholm behind

Whinchat

Mediterranean Gull

Pied Flycatcher

Wryneck

My Birthday present being put to good use!

Rare Sarcoplasm found by Alys

Pied Flycatcher

September

September started with a BANG! Alys and I woke to find the trapping area alive with Willow Warblers hopping around everywhere. It was an amazing sight with the bushes looking alive with little lemons in every bush and on every Golden Rod stem. Then came a hard decision with me and Alys finishing off a round of 30 WW and over the Radio, “Hippolais Warbler in North Pond bushes”. We decided to play it cool and do another round before heading out to see it. This turned out to be the right decision with us still connecting with what turned out to be an Icterine Warbler and still completing the round. This was the second lifer for both of us in two days! Come the afternoon it was all hands on deck whilst Willow warbler numbers kept growing, ending up on 176 Willow warblers ringed with at least 227 birds being logged on the island. The day got even better when we opened the Library Net and the Wryneck that had been kicking around found the net which Alys very kindly said I could ring. This just made my connection with this bird even more special being able to see the vivid camouflage so close was a privilege. The library net then struck again then the Icterine managed to find the net in the evening being a ringing tick for Giselle. Again, a real privilege to see these rare birds close up and to understand them more. It was safe to say we had a well-earned beer and an early night ready for tomorrow. The next day started well with about 70 more Willow Warblers ringed in the morning and got even better when Giselle refound a Dotterel found by guests the afternoon before. This was only my second Dotterel but this one by far put on the best show lingering until the 10^th and showing down to small distances!! We then had the exciting job of checking how many boxes in the Petrel Station had been occupied and we were excited to find that FIVE had been used this year being another increase on last year! Then next few days were spent carrying blocks into crab bay which now had foundations ready for the new hide! The 10^th was Dobbins’ birthday so of course we could only celebrate in the Skokholm way with Pied Flycatchers finding the nets and an evening swim with the pink inflatable! We even made him a cake! Unfortunately, the weather turned on the 11^th and it was a dank misty wet day so Alys and I decided that it would be a great day on our hand and knees pulling up weeds from North Pond trying to encourage water to settle again. It was safe to say we go absolutely soaked and plastered in mud but a fly over Turtle Dove that Giselle picked up at the farm made it worth the effort! The 12^th was a busy and exciting changeover day with the work party and team mouse coming back on meaning the larder was the fullest we saw it. The work party got off to a flying start laying out the new Heligoland trap which made all the ringers extremely excited. During the manic changeover, Alys and I had gone for our usual loop from the farm to Crab Bay through East bog down to South Haven and up through the Well. Or at least we had planned to when a Ringtail Harrier showed up hunting over the Gull field, banking around Spy Rock and out to sea over South Haven. The bird immediately struck me as different so radioed it out and managed to get the rest of the staff (Rich, Giselle and Dobbins) and a few of team mouse on it before it headed for the mainland. Luckily Rich and I had managed to fire off a few record shots and the next morning under closer inspection and guidance from experts we settled on it being a Pallid Harrier. If accepted by the BBRC this would only be the second for Wales and the first for the Island. A co-found lifer for Alys and I, and my second since a bird in Royston bird in 2018. What a start for the work party!! Work party day two got even better when a pair of Firecrest made their way into the cottage Heligoland trap, what stunning birds! The next few days were spent making sure the builders had enough materials to carry on building, supporting half the work party who were joining wire for the sides of the trap and digging a hole for the new grease trap. Doing all this whilst covering the trapping area and looking for megas. Although tiring it was one of the funniest weeks with everyone on the work party being an amazing laugh whilst also being provided with the most amazing meals by Shirley and Sam. The 19^th was a very bittersweet day as Colin had found a mystery Crake at Orchid Bog in the morning so come the afternoon it was a staff stakeout in the hide with the Crake only re-appearing once the whole time, just about showing well enough to allow us to see that it was a juvenile Corncrake. This was very unexpected and a shame we couldn’t share it with the rest of the team who had left that morning. It was also a shame not to have been able to share it with Alys who had also gone off that week (who also called it being a corncrake) to start her job on the mainland. I want to thank Alys who gave up her time after just coming back from a job and coming on the island to help us out and probably didn’t get all the credit she deserved for being amazing out here with us. It was a privilege to find birds, check our Fulmars and cook the best meals and cakes with you. You “Smashed it!!” The next day was spent finishing off the Heligoland trap making it Pallas’ proof. Bird wises it was quiet, but a Kingfisher lingered in South Haven. Only the second I saw on the Island after one Alys found in July. This then marked a change in the weather making birding challenging but allowed us to change the wire in the Well Heligoland trap that was definitely not Pallas’ proof! The 26^th was a frustrating day as there were stiff North westerly winds meaning it was almost impossible to stand on the neck – however, I noticed a bird pop out of the bracken which could have been a Red-Breasted Flycatcher. A long stint by the staff in challenging conditions were fruitless and the mystery bird never reappeared. With the weather not improving in the coming days this caused some difficult decisions to be made and it meant that the guests on the island including Team Mouse had to leave early as this would have been the last boat for at least another week if not longer. So, on the 29^th the last boat arrived taking the final cohort of guests back to the mainland leaving just five of us left: Rich, Giselle, Me, Dobbins and Emyr who had come on to rebuild walls and plant trees in the new Heligoland trap. I just want to mention Howard who had been on the island since the end of August doing everything that involved wood or stockboard! Howard was amazing to have around the Obs, always telling witty jokes or having a constant supply of Haribo and Choc-ices that were given out at always the right time!

WRYNECK!

Icterine Warbler

Always Watched on the island!

Dotterel

Another Dotterel

Pallid Harrier

New born Seal

Roof of an artificial Storm Petrel made by Alys and I

October

Similar to September, October started off with a BANG. Dobbins and I were just doing a Heligoland Trap round when I see a bird skulking in the bramble in front of the Wheelhouse Heligoland. We stopped to watch for a bit, and it turned out to be a Common Rosefinch, again another lifer and one we managed to catch, which just added to the experience of this cryptic bird. The Rosefinch lingered until the 3^rd putting on a fine show when seen. We were also joined by a late Yellow Wagtail which didn’t look like the typical British Flavissima but after scrutiny and ringing it we settled on it being typical. With the weather not being good enough for mist nets, pretty much everyday in October we were forced to work the Heligolands hard. This meant that the new Garage Heligoland was working wonders, catching Pipits, Finches, and Wagtails we would not have otherwise ringed. A break in the weather allowed the builders to come back on and finish the structural things on the Crab Bay Hide. This now meant lots of leg work, bringing the soil we shifted back down the hill to put on the green roof. The 11^th was spent moving soil, the pit now feeling rather cold compared to the heat of the summer. Then as if this whole experience couldn’t get any better, on the 12^th when going to twitch a Dunnock, Rich had heard Dobbins on the radio saying, “I’ve got a warbler I can’t put a name on.” I turned and looked at Rich and without saying a word we both started running back up the hill towards the Obs where Dobbins was pointing. We couldn’t see the bird due to the Golden rod so we went round into the courtyard where Giselle had made it up from the well and we could see the bird. After a few mins of us not knowing what the bird was Rich suggested Tennessee warbler which we all agreed on. What an amazing bird and experience for me being around amazing birders IDing a tricky bird in tricky conditions. A moment I will never forget. More about Dobbins amazing find here (Skokholm Blog). Still buzzing from the day before, we got up bright an early to put up the nets and we were then rewarded with a beautiful Yellow-browed Warbler in the Library net. One of my favourite birds and being able to see such stunning little birds close up was amazing. Then the 14^Th was our last day on Dream Island. A sad day after an amazing couple of days to finish off but who could complain.

Fluffy feet of a House Martin

Yellow-Browed Warbler

Common Rosefinch

Garage Heligoland Trap

Yellow Wagtail

Chough

Female Merlin

TENNESSEE WARBLER!!

Purple Sandpiper

Common Rosefinch

I just want to thank Richard and Giselle for giving me this amazing opportunity and allowing me to learn so much from you both. You both allowed us to get on with what needed to be done and the whole way making it all fun and to have a laugh all the time. Alys for making the whole experience amazing and being able to share every moment of the experience with you, the up and downs, has been special. And to Dobbins for not only finding the bird of the trip but for also being supportive when ringing and a great laugh in the stints you came out for. This made up the Autumn 2022 Dream Island Dream Team.