My wife and I have just returned from a week volunteering for the RSPB at South Stack in Anglesea.
For those who are not familiar with the reserve, apart from being one of the RSPB's premier sites for breeding seabirds, it also affords views of some of the most breathtaking coastline anywhere in the UK.
From April through until early August it is home to some 4000 Guillemot, 1000 Razorbill, 20 Puffin, 200(ish) Fulmar and 100 Kittiwake. In addition there are impressive numbers of Gull (HG,LBBG and GBBG), Cormorant, and Rock Pipit. Raven, Chough and Peregrine also nest on the cliffs.
Apart from the cliffs, the reserve is also an important heathland environment that support good numbers of Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Skylark and Adders.
Our duties in the two visitor centres were mainly to liase with the visitors answering general queries and showing the birds to them with a view to creating an interest in the birds, with the ultimate aim of recruiting them to the RSPB. It was both challenging, enjoyable and I believe we met with some success, I think between my wife and I we managed to recruit 8 new punters of varying ages. It was most gratifying to see just how much interest there is in the birds, and the range of questions that we received clearly demonstrated the concern that there is for the future of nature in general and the welfare of birds in particular.
The most common question of the week was always : "Can you show me a Puffin, I've never seen a Puffin!" followed moments later by the "Puffin Moment" which goes : "oooohhhh, aaaahhhhh, oohh, ohh, look!! Aren't they cute!!! I've never seen a Puffin!!!" statement(or a statement thereof). One lady from Bolton asked me if it was possible to get hold of one as a pet!
We were able to get out to see the "Welsh Ospreys" and see how well they are doing, and also get to Cemlyn Bay(sp?) which has a marvellous tern colony with Sandwich, Common and Arctic terns.
Volunteering for the RSPB really is a wonderful experience that BF members should consider. It is basically the cheapest birding break you will ever go on. The accommodation is free, all you have to do is get yourself there and feed yourself. This is the third year we have done this and it is always my birding highlight of the year.
Long may it continue.
Below is a list of birds seen, the (R) indicating seen on or from the reserve.
Fulmar(R)
Manx Shearwater(R)
Gannet(R)
Cormorant(R)
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose(R)
Shelduck
Mallard(R)
Red-Breasted Merganser
Osprey
Red Kite
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Peregrine(R)
Coot
Moorhen
Oystercatcher(R)
Ringed Plover
Turnstone
Dunlin
BHG
HG(R)
LBBG(R)
GBBG(R)
Kittiwake(R)
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Ternm
Puffin(R)
Guillemot(R)
Razorbill(R)
Feral Pgeon(R)
Wood Pigeon(R)
Collared Dove(R)
Swift
Green Woodpecker
Skylark(R)
Sand Martin
House Matrin
Swallow(R)
Rock Pipit(R)
Meadow Pipit(R)
Pied Wagtail(R)
Wren(R)
Dunnock(R)
Robin
Wheatear(R)
Stonechat(R)
Blackbird(R)
Common Whitethroat(R)
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Great Tit(R)
Blue Tit(R)
Jackdaw(R)
Chough(R)
Carrion Crow(R)
Magpie(R)
Raven(R)
Starling(R)
House Sparrow(R)
Chaffinch(R)
Linnet(R)
Goldfinch(R)
Greenfinch(R)
The star of the week was undoutedly Junior (see photo), closely followed by his mum (Doris). The biggest downer of the week was watching two GBBG's kill (and eat) two Guillemots, but, hey! That's nature!
Thats an impressive list Paul-what did you see on the 2nd day ? It really is a fabulous place isn't it. As you know my wife and I go there every few weeks-we take the same coastal walk virtually every time and it never fails to amaze us. Hope you don't mine I have attached another view of Doris & Junior together with another view of South Stack.
Dave
I was there last week Paul, for the first time. Spent three days on Anglesey (13 lifers!) with South Stack being the highlight, what a wonderful place! The Guillemots and Razorbills were an amazing sight and the Choughs too right outside Ellin's Tower.
As you say, Cemlyn Bay is fantastic for Terns and the Ringed Plovers and Dunlin on the shingle were a joy to watch so close by. Did you not pop to see the Black Guillemots in the harbour?
Volunteering does sound like a good experience but I think I need to learn more first. We spoke to RSPB volunteers at SS and at the Glaslyn Ospreys (who persuaded me to join!) and they were very helpful in locating various birds and suggesting other places to visit. A very enjoyable few days!