tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19394028378975033642024-03-05T14:08:33.187+00:00The Isle of May NNR blogDavid Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-13012147894501705922014-01-07T13:15:00.003+00:002014-01-07T13:15:50.427+00:00The Isle of May NNR blog is moving to a new site<br />
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The Isle of May blog was Scotland's first National Nature Reserve blog and has been so successful that other National Nature Reserves are following our lead and setting up NNR blogs as well. <br />
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Scottish Natural Heritage would like all the NNR blogs to have the same format and style so the island blog will now move across to a wordpress format. All the content of past posts has been moved across to the new blog so you will still be able to relive past island history by looking at past posts. <br />
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So this is the last post in the blogspot set up and from now onwards all new posts will be in the new blog so if you want to keep following what is happening out on that very special island you will need to follow the link below and set it in your favourites. Many thanks for following us so far, apologies for any inconvenience but I hope you can make the jump <br />
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New Isle of May NNR Blog address is : <a href="http://isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com/">http://isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com</a> David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-80402993065069485992013-12-14T15:14:00.000+00:002013-12-14T15:14:05.292+00:00Red letter day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday was a red letter day form me. I had been out on the island again for a 2 day trip to help the seal guys pack up and help the builders get started again. Heading off with a full boat of seal gear Simon from the Sea Mammal Research Unit mentioned that they had had good views of 2 common dolphins on the way out to the island. This wasn't a surprise to me as it has been a common occurrence over the 4 seasons I have worked on the island that I have always just missed dolphins but never actually seen any, not even any of the bottle-nosed dolphins that regularly patrol the East Neuk coast. But sure enough as we motored along the sheltered east side of the island bracing ourselves for the splashy trip back suddenly we were joined by 2 beautifully streamlined and smooth looking common dolphins. As they surfaced several times we saw their streaky patterned sides looking like boy-racers go-faster stripes and watched them lunging through the wake of the RIB. I couldn't resist a discrete air punch and am hoping that they will be like the no. 17 bus and having waited 4 years to see them once I might get to see them loads of times!David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-18891113008475200012013-11-30T14:14:00.000+00:002013-11-30T14:14:00.573+00:00Celine's latest visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The island's photographer-in-residence for this year, Celine Marchbank, has made her latest visit to the island to see the seal season. She has now seen the island through all seasons from early in the year, peak seabird season, the late summer quiet time and now at the start of the seal mayhem. You can read more about her visit and see some of her photos on her blog:<br />
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Follow this link for her <a href="http://celinemarchbank.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/my-last-visit/">blog posting</a> showing her latest photos <br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-3207833083699536562013-11-26T16:25:00.000+00:002013-11-26T16:25:00.520+00:00Dinner time conversation with the seal crew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dinner time has an vital role in the day to day life of the residents of the May, it is sometimes the only time you will get to see other residents so it is social, it is for information sharing and it is for getting answers to questions, and during the seal season this is no different. On my recent trip it proved to be a lively dinner time and the conversation ranged to many seal topics and beyond. <br />
For instance it seems that many seals have returned to the island for the breeding season in great condition, which for a seal means really fat and heavy. This good as it means that the females then leave in good condition which can set them up well for their moult and the next year. Also the pups get plenty of food which gives them a good start. Indications are that pup mortality maybe down on the previous year which fits in. But why have they come back so fat? Where have they been feeding? <br />
Also why do different seals have different moulting strategies, most moult in early spring but some will moult immediately after weaning their pup. <br />
Then there are all the day to day discussions about which pup belongs to who? which female has pupped and when? and where have certain females gone? This leads onto planning of work programmes about which tagged animals are to be caught and by who? and programming work for the rest of the season. Boat movements are much more difficult during the winter due to the weather and limited landing opportunities on the island so these are all planned around the dinner table. And sometimes things veer towards more unusual subjects like what is the best way to get a skeleton of a seal cleaned up and prepared for use as a student teaching aid. Luckily this had no effect on my appetite and the huge lasagne was just what was needed after a day outside in the field. So good company pondering unknowns, discussing practical science and loads of good food. Just the same as the seabird season. <br />
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David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-45452949587989126082013-11-24T17:00:00.000+00:002013-12-02T19:46:06.907+00:00Studying seals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So why are there 10 people stuck out on a small island for 6 weeks at the rough end of the year? Well these are the seal scientists and they are hardcore. It is hard work carrying out research on the Isle of May and it does take a certain type of person to do it. Most are connected with the Sea Mammal Research Unit based at St. Andrews University who have been carrying out studies on the island since the early 1980's making the Isle of May one of the most important and longest running seal research centres in Europe. <br />
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The work involves a mixture painstaking observations often taken over long hours in cold, wet and very windy conditions and handling animals for samples and measurements to be taken. The later means
getting up close and personal to the seals which is hard physical work, dirty and can be hazardous (seal bites can go very septic very quickly!) but also takes great skill. Believe it or not some of the SMRU team have seal handling skills that are sought after all round the world.
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The research covers a huge range of projects, this year there is working carried out on the island looking at the communications between mothers and pups, between weaners and other weaners and the hormones related to this, the variable heart rates in mothers and what causes the changes in heart rates. This can give an insight into what the effects of human disturbance can have on seals in breeding areas. The mother in the picture below has a heart rate monitor fixed to her back, temporarily, not an easy thing to achieve. <br />
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And then there is Martina who looking at the less cuddly aspect of seal life on the May, what eats the dead ones and which bits first. She is looking at both seal carcasses in the water and on land and is especially looking at the role of gulls is disposing of carrion. The gulls numbers fluctuate on the island during a year and one of the peaks seems to relate to peak pupping season. The gulls are sometimes better seal observers than humans and gulls hanging around a female can indicate that she is about to give birth.<br />
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By dipping into the world of Isle of May seal studies you gain and better insight of what is happening on the island, the seals there are not just lying around but all have complex and very varied struggles with survival. <br />
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David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-26142949618446469922013-11-19T19:18:00.002+00:002013-11-19T19:18:52.579+00:00The Empire of the seals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After several abortive attempt I finally made it over to the island mid week after being away for a month. It was a rough trip over, the south-westerlies have been blowing all week so it was a matter of keeping your head down and taking the spray. But even if I hadn't been looking up i would have know we were getting close to the island because of the smell. 4000+ seals are going to smell and this was a wiff of a mix wet dog and fox poo coming downwind from about 100 yards. Getting on to the island was a bit more difficult than normal, the waves were to rough to get close to the west landing and Kirkhaven had been annexed to the empire of the seals and is not accessible to humans. So it meant a quick jump to some rocks below the Lowlight as it is usually clear of seals. However as we clambered over the rocks to get up to the Lowlight we came face to face with a large female and her newly born pup, in a gully where seals haven't been seen before. <br />
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Once on the island you have to throw out your map of the island that you use in seabird season. The no-go areas during the summer can suddenly become no problem whereas summer access-for-all parts of the island become impossible to get to now. Seals appear in all sorts of places, one this year has pupped all the way up at Burnett's leap - maybe she liked a view. All of Kirkhaven is impossible to get to with a couple of hundred females pupping all over the beaches, jetties, tracks and flat areas. This is why we have to close the island to the visitors from the end of September. <br />
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The noises of pups and adults wafts over the island in the breeze giving it an eerie atmosphere. The smell wafts as well, not eerie but just pungent. So another face of the island is revealed, so very different from the seabird island but just as spectacular. <br />
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This weaner, that is a pup that has been fed by its mother for 21 days and then left to fend for its self was so fat that it was rolling around on the ground and only the face told you which way up it was meant to be. <br />
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Who says seals can't climb? This female was determined to make it up to its pup!<br />
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The Lowlight was looking fabulous. Not to be out done the island was dotted with blackbirds, redwings and fieldfares all having dropped in on their way south. <br />
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David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-53655704124048039092013-11-18T12:01:00.004+00:002013-11-18T12:01:50.942+00:00Seals everywhereI took a trip out to the Isle of May last week and this will ogive you an idea of what I saw -the island has been taken over by seals. More tomorrow about the trip.
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-52175706334609452092013-11-11T17:14:00.001+00:002013-11-11T17:14:35.100+00:00Record breaking year for the May<br />
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I have now done the calculations and added up the numbers and can report that this year the Isle of May received more visitors than any other year in its history as a National Nature Reserve. A grand total of 10 800 visitor made it across to the island, beating the previous record by over 1500.<br />
The May Princess had a phenomenal year bringing just over 9000 visitors over, with the Seabird Centre boat (Seabird 1) and the RIB Osprey also breaking records bring 705 and 863 visitors respectively. The total was supplemented by an amazing 111 kayaks and also a number of small privately owned boats.<br />
So why was it such a good year? Well I think it is down to 3 reasons:<br />
- the fantastic weather for much of the season,<br />
- the increased profile of the island in the media, featuring on news, wildlife, historical and countryside TV programmes through the season and in the BBC Wildlife magazine.<br />
- all the hard work and professionalism put in by the boatowners and crews in improving the way they deal with visitors and working hard to make sure they have a fine day out.<br />
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Of course going back in history there have been busier times on the May. First and Second World Wars would have seen the island being a hive of activity. And going further back documents indicate that when the island was at its height of fame as a pilgrimage destination then it could receive up to 50 000 visitors a year.<br />
Seeing as we only have 2 toilets in our visitor centre currently and archaeologist tell me that the priory had a 10 seater then this gives us an idea of how far we still have to go.<br />
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So if you haven't yet been out to the island and want to see what all the fuss is about why not put it high up your bucket list and make plans for next year.<br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-3469520406866960902013-11-03T21:59:00.003+00:002013-11-03T22:00:37.654+00:00Speak up for Isle of May puffins, the rest of the islands seabirds and the Scottish seas<br />
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The Scottish government is asking your (and everyone elses) opinion about the plan to put some sort of protection on certain areas of the sea around Scotland. But you only have until November 13th to place your comments. <br />
If you are interested in making your views heard then below are a number of links that will give you more idea of what the issues are, what the options are and how to say your bit. <br />
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Firstly Mark Avery, an independent writer on conservation issues (and former head of conservation for the RSPB ) wrote a blog piece with some thoughts. Follow this link: <a href="http://markavery.info/2013/10/28/soc-conference/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=soc-conference">Mark Avery's blog</a> - <br />
<a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-consultation"></a>
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The RSPB have also some hints and ideas that you might be interested in. Follow this link <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/briefing_tcm9-350615.pdf">RSPB's hints and ideas</a><br />
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And the marine Conservation Society also give some advice on how to register your views. Follow this link: <a href="http://markavery.info/2013/10/28/soc-conference/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=soc-conference">Marine Conservation Society</a><br />
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And this is the link to the Scottish government pages on the consultation on the Marine Protection Areas (MPAs), follow this link : <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-consultation">Planning Scotland's Seas</a><br />
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So if you have strong feelings about the Isle of May or other pieces of Scottish coast near to you and would like to see the best level of protection for this special places now is the time to put forward your thoughts and ideas. Go on, you will feel great once you have done it!<br />
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David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-54901335309509043652013-10-31T15:25:00.000+00:002013-10-31T15:25:00.202+00:00Thanks to Jeremy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After 3 seasons on the May, Jeremy has now finished his work on the island today and gone back to work at Loch Leven NNR. So I would just like to say thanks for the work that he has done over that time which has, as is always the case on the island, been very varied and has included amongst other things posing for a calender (see below), introducing new words to the island vocabulary, dealing with celebrities (well Paul Murton and Lucy Versamy),catching tangled seal pups, nearly sleeping through an island <a href="http://isleofmaynnr.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/isle-of-may-mega-tick.html">mega tick, </a><br />
and overseeing a photography project, and of course much, much else. Thanks Jeremy and best of luck with the future. <br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-27368066551132732222013-10-28T10:55:00.003+00:002013-10-28T10:55:35.949+00:00The Isle of May goes to the big smoke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the island took a trip up the Forth and into Edinburgh to give the city folk there a chance to hear some island songs and stories and find out what makes the place so magical. As part of the <a href="http://www.tracscotland.org/festivals">Scottish Storytelling Festiva</a>l, Claire and Fergus McNicol gave a performance of stories and songs at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in the Royal Mile. Claire and Fergus has visited the island many times for open days and stayed a number of nights there so have many stories about the island both from their own experiences and stories passed onto to them. We heard of gull girls, seilkies, Claire's timekeeping and Fergus's muscial tastes and the Isle of May guillemot outfit also made an appearence. Just the head this time but that is scary enough, it looks like a nasty cross between Darth Vadar and Rod Hull's emu. We all got to sing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw4qRtcjAXk">Isle of May song </a>by Ed Millar (check it out) and the magical Karine Polwart helped out with a song inspired by the island. All in all a great gig!<br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-77489287503379631212013-10-23T14:51:00.001+01:002013-10-23T14:51:41.630+01:00What's happening?<br />
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Apologies for lapse in postings, the island is at an in between stage at the moment so this is the state of play at the moment.<br />
Jeremy and I have finished our residential stay on the island for the season though I will be making day trips (weather permitting next week) and occasional night stays through the winter. The bird observatory is only manned for this week and next and then it closes down for the winter. The builders working on the visitor centre have moved off the island as the seals have taken over the building site and the seal season is in full swing with pups being born all over the place. And with the start of seal season comes the seal researchers. So tomorrow, weather permitting 10 hard-core, dedicated and slightly bonkers scientists head out to the island for a 6 week stay. They will be carrying out a whole range of research looking at amongst other things, communications between mother and pup, using close-up remote control cameras to get film of behaviours, find out more about the carrion community that helps dispose of the dead seals as well and the long-term monitoring of the seal population on the May including counting this years total of pups born, over 2000 a year for the last few years.<br />
So though the posts will be less frequent over the winter I will try to keep you up to date on want is happening out there but in the meantime you can always what via the Scottish Seabird Centre <a href="http://www.seabird.org/wildlife/webcams/live-streaming-cam/12/28/60">webcams</a> that are pointed at Pilgrims Haven, why not have a peak? <br />
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They look cute and cuddly but cuddle one of these and you may never play the guitar again. Seals have very sharp teeth and strong jaws and carry a bacteria on their teeth that can cause a serious infection from a bite. So it is a case of let sleeping seals lie.David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-57014558871521571812013-10-15T19:17:00.002+01:002013-10-15T19:17:15.016+01:00Hey Luscinia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There has been plenty of rare birds to the north and the south of us. Unfortunately we have not been seeing many rare birds out here but there has still been plenty to look at. The highlight of the last couple of days has been a pair of Bluethroats including one with a nice blue throat. Normally we see Bluethroats in the spring. They are much less common in the Autumn. It is a bird so synonymous with the island the bird club that they use it as their logo. With over 380 records for the island the two recorded are the latest records for the island.<br />
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Massive counts of Redpolls have been seen around the island giving the ringers a challenge of working out which race they belong too.<br />
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The same with Chiffchaffs around the island. There have been birds from as far afield as Siberia trapped on the island.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-84090251403116228872013-10-13T19:02:00.000+01:002013-10-13T19:02:00.655+01:00Woodpeckers everywhere.Woodpeckers are very scarce on the island. We've already seen a couple this year but that is nothing compared to what we are seeing at the moment on the island. With few trees on here it shows how adaptable these birds are!<div>
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I think the final count was about 12 yesterday. Surely this must be an island record! They were all over the island. Mostly on their own but up to 4 have been spotted together. They are feeding in either the short grass or picking invertebrates out of the rocks and vegetation. These three were at Cornerstone.<br />
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They also are remarkably tame. One in the top garden was destroying the Elder tree at my feet.<br />
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These birds were down at Mill Door. </div>
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It is likely these birds originate from Scandinavia. Birds have been trapped at other bird observatories have been of this race. There are subtle differences between our own birds which include bill structure. At least three have been trapped so far so it is likely origin will be established.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-48127071354123108202013-10-11T07:30:00.000+01:002013-10-11T07:30:01.163+01:00Layers of history<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is this time of year that with the vegetation dying back and with no seabirds to distract your eye you can start noticing the structures left by man from the past. And often they are in layers, one built upon another. Recently waiting for a boat at the north end of the island I had a bit of time to look more closely at some of the structures down there. Above picture is the built up bit of track where the High Road crosses Cable Cleft near to Alterstanes. The visitor doesn't get a good view but there are actually 2 layers of track, one built upon another. My guess is that the first was built at or after the time of the Mainlight was built, i.e.1816. At that time access was required only by horse and cart to Alterstanes to collect deliveries and meet the passengers boats that docked there. However is 1934 the North Horn was built and so better and wider access with less of a gradient was required and the road was built up hence the second layer of track that shows different stone work and less lichen. <br />
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Just to the north is the Rona crossing point. Now there is no bridge across the tidal gap but there are the remains of 2 bridges on either side. The lower, earlier bridge was only wide enough to be a foot bridge and maybe dates to Victorian times. Whereas the bigger bridge which has the air line pipe that went to operate the North Horn must have been built later, maybe as a way of getting machinery and equipment across to Rona to do the actual building. The final bridge across this gap was built in the early 1970's and was dismantled as it was dangerous in 2002 . It was called Nybo bridge but as of yet I do not know why. David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-56763797315568447862013-10-10T22:29:00.000+01:002013-10-10T22:29:11.086+01:00Seal pup under the cameras. Exciting news today when Pilgrims Haven saw its first seal pup born, this is special because it is the part of the Isle of May that is under the cameras linked to the Scottish Seabird Centre. So now you get a chance to see Isle of May seal pups yourself by dropping into the <a href="http://www.seabird.org/">Seabird Centre</a> in North Berwick or if you can't do that then you can look at them from the link on <a href="http://www.seabird.org/wildlife/webcams/12/28">Seabird Centre website</a>. The pup was born in the middle of the day which is unusual, they are normally born at dawn or dusk. And it was born at the north end of the beach which proved to be a bit of a problem as at high tide the sea comes right to the cliff base. By mid afternoon it was getting splashed and occasionally soaked by the incoming tide. High tide was after sunset so we will have to see what happened to it in the morning. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pilgrims haven beach on the west side of the island, sheltered today. </td></tr>
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Meanwhile on the other side of the island it was blowing a force 9 gale from the north-east. For the island this means rough seas and a BIG swell, 3.5 m to be precise (from the wave buoy to the east of the island, you can get the swell height from its website!)<br />
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It was quiet day for birds, a few redwings passing through, some small groups of barnacle geese, a ring ouzel and the very tame skylark.<br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-28767588380861327192013-10-09T22:40:00.001+01:002013-10-09T22:40:17.365+01:00Variety and Contrast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is all about contrast and variety in this job. This morning it was blowing a bit but it was a warm wind and in the lee it was warm enough for at least one red admiral to be on the wing, gently reminding us that it wasn't cold yet.<br />
But as the day went on there were plenty of signs that autumn is upon us and winter not that far away. Taking advantage of the advantageous winds pink feet poured through today, often low over the island taking advantage of every bit of shelter.<br />
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Rain showers seemed to pass us by as the wind picked up, even Edinburgh in the distance could be seen to getting them with the sun breaking through over Arthur's Seat afterwards. <br />
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And the island doesn't look like it normally does in the visitor season. Around Kirkhaven it is a building site and though it takes a bit of getting used to, it just takes a quick reminder of how good it will be to have a new visitor building to remember that we can live with it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nearly time for concreting the footings in. </div>
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A surprise today, a cracking looking male stonechat turned up, not a common bird on the May,. </div>
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But by late afternoon the wind had moved right round from south-west to north-east and a corresponding 10 degree drop in temperature. Time to light the fire.<br />
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At dusk the swell was picking up, the wind whistling round the Lowlight and it was feeling like we had jumped 2 seasons in a day. So plenty of variety and contrast, so what will tomorrow be about? <br />
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David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-11002183286663996332013-10-08T22:39:00.003+01:002013-10-08T22:39:53.676+01:00Seen today - good news and bad news<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see them? Find out what below. </td></tr>
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Well it was good news and bad news as I went round the island today. <br />
Good news, the moth trap had some fabulous moths in it, including the out of this world canary-shouldered thorn (like a bit of winged belly button fluff) and one of my favourite moths the angle shades.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canary-shouldered thorn. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 angle shades. </td></tr>
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Bad news<br />
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The first seal pup casulty of the year was the pup that was born by the North Horn just the end of last week. There is a high pup mortality on the isle of may so this isn't a surprise, over 20% of pups born on the island die before they reach the sea.<br />
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Good news<br />
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As one dies more are born, 2 more pups born in the last few days, one at the Rona crossing and the other beyond the North Horn. . <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New born pup at the Rona crossing. </td></tr>
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The open day pup, pup no.2 was still hanging around but looking a bit different. As it moults its white baby coat, its adult coat is starting to show through, you can see its grey rear flippers and head. It looks a little like it has out grown it's jumper with its flipeprs and head sticking out. <br />
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And on the news - a carrion crow on the TV aerial . <br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-18173846824949995582013-10-07T11:56:00.000+01:002013-10-07T12:15:33.886+01:00A weekend of change in the weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The weather has swung back round to the west. The weather is pleasant and warm but this means that all our star birds from last week have disappeared. </div>
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<div><br></div>There are still a few waders around the island including this Purple Sandpiper.<div><br>
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<div><br></div><div>The Great Grey Shrike left on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hFPfBYsV1EcVJAKsj8lWaWYOsjTa5TuAvCAKlFXXAszUU5BLzu6R3rLqmY4YqaRlCZC-dsF3ItmJPfhi6N5wEe0G-lyht307y0aRJ3CV9Tk9tIRaQJQwNkAejMXShb1kxm5VFXAFqFs/s1600/Picture+4662+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hFPfBYsV1EcVJAKsj8lWaWYOsjTa5TuAvCAKlFXXAszUU5BLzu6R3rLqmY4YqaRlCZC-dsF3ItmJPfhi6N5wEe0G-lyht307y0aRJ3CV9Tk9tIRaQJQwNkAejMXShb1kxm5VFXAFqFs/s320/Picture+4662+(Large).jpg" width="320"></a><br><br>One of 2 Perigrines belting around the island. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OP6Y2t2D7z2zOKCoaTDG1TTW1yrhafkV52q_aFsGDGbhcB1iQcu-wBKOORmCXMaSxcjmyrVGdYpdrW10rpLlgYS_-GKzU_H9nGrcaygL9BPopiTZKXcimsoUApMIc1CbDa-Ku04W7po/s640/blogger-image-890235459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OP6Y2t2D7z2zOKCoaTDG1TTW1yrhafkV52q_aFsGDGbhcB1iQcu-wBKOORmCXMaSxcjmyrVGdYpdrW10rpLlgYS_-GKzU_H9nGrcaygL9BPopiTZKXcimsoUApMIc1CbDa-Ku04W7po/s640/blogger-image-890235459.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>With the weather improving the moth trap has been active. This attractive moth is a Streak.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-I_3QdxNHfPmfSOOTMztHb8mwtE8ax-MLQTb1uV8Sg6tXXEcy-DuwNCy61UxgCvWuM-Kv8yp_j976kTYLVryNaRfD9dCyB_AV9UrLjmBYFiOJNr3cK6x-496C1AyzIs4lk5tE_Jj0jM/s640/blogger-image--1220867849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-I_3QdxNHfPmfSOOTMztHb8mwtE8ax-MLQTb1uV8Sg6tXXEcy-DuwNCy61UxgCvWuM-Kv8yp_j976kTYLVryNaRfD9dCyB_AV9UrLjmBYFiOJNr3cK6x-496C1AyzIs4lk5tE_Jj0jM/s640/blogger-image--1220867849.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>This featured Thorn was trapped on Saturday and Spruce Carpet is a rare moth for the island.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwCerNc-oAY5IjkhyphenhyphenAv_FpLgC9DJGI4qutW5AA5fG_gTguFYJOHSzZlAaKp3e73Lw1Dq59eLGBkQku7sv2h7bEPkT5RK9MfsXumvEi8qDYc4e0XMAHyemOVT7WG4S0Fret0ITTwdL3wI/s640/blogger-image--1613707806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwCerNc-oAY5IjkhyphenhyphenAv_FpLgC9DJGI4qutW5AA5fG_gTguFYJOHSzZlAaKp3e73Lw1Dq59eLGBkQku7sv2h7bEPkT5RK9MfsXumvEi8qDYc4e0XMAHyemOVT7WG4S0Fret0ITTwdL3wI/s640/blogger-image--1613707806.jpg"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-14042063665234847592013-10-07T11:47:00.001+01:002013-10-07T11:47:15.097+01:00Kirkhaven - More like Singapore Harbour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All I've been doing all weekend is meeting boats. With the Lowlight run, Wind farm contractors and building material coming out. Once one boat was away another came in prompting builder Gordon to say 'It's busier then Singapore Harbour out here!'</div>
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You don't see the May Princess in backwards very often. The Princess made 3 runs over the weekend.<br />
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The Forth Linesman came in with another 20 tonnes on board, taking advantage of these big spring tides.</div>
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Colin with the RIB Osprey leave via the false entrance. I hope he is keeping count the amount of runs he made this weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-39823138117991257422013-10-03T21:31:00.000+01:002013-10-03T21:31:00.049+01:00Radde's warbler and other news This bird below might have taken a wrong turn, it normally travels in autumn from southern Siberia where it breeds to south-east Asia and southern China where it winters, but instead has found itself on the Isle of May is pouring rain and a howling wind. It is called Radde's warbler and it is only the 7th island record. Such is the life of the long-distant migrant. The interesting bit is that originally it was thought that birds that end up in the UK have something wrong with their navigation system but now it is thought that actually a small part of the population migrates in the opposite direction to normal as a way of establishing new wintering areas. So this one is really a trailblazer. <br />
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It is a cracking little bird, I know it looks a bit of a funny shape in the picture above but that is the strength of the wind getting under its tail! <br />
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And in other news......despite the appalling weather the builders are pushing on with the works on the foundations of the new visitor centre against a backdrop of Kirkhaven all foamed up. <br />
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Jeremy admiring the waves. </div>
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And meanwhile the seals are getting on with it. Below is the open day seal pup that everyone got to see in the scope, pup no. 2. Today I caught it at the milk bar, and each day it seems to get bigger while its poor Mum seems to deflate. It only has another 4-5 days and then it will be on its own so it is making the best of it at the moment. <br />
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And a new arrival pup no. 6 just born on Rona this morning. <br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-50895583894378995222013-10-02T22:31:00.003+01:002013-10-02T22:31:51.275+01:00Today - shrikes and seas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are getting some "weather" at the moment. The south-easterlies have been picking up since Monday and building a big swell that is thundering onto the island. It makes for some impressive back drops as you get on with everyday tasks on the island. And your eye keeps getting drawn back to the next rolling curler coming in looking to see if it was bigger than the last. <br />
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Kirkhaven harbour closed! Entrance impassable. </div>
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At least someone is enjoying the seas. </div>
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And here on the island easterly winds mean usually migrant birds and often interesting ones. The last few days have been a steady succession of species pouring onto the island, often tired and wet and desperate for food. In amongst them have been some specials, today we had our first great grey shrike of the year - a raptor songbird adapted to eating other songbirds (plus insects, small mammals and ringers).<br />
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Also found was a reed warbler, a rare and hard bird to find on the island and a long way from its normal breeding habitat of reed beds. It is a real skulker and this bird was comparatively speaking a show off, appearing on the side of a bush 2 or 3 times fleetingly. <br />
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Another day of strong easterlies bearing migrant promise before the wind goes round to the south-west, it is enough to get me out in the buffeting gusts early tomorrow morning just to see what has come in next. David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-75004408008067815542013-10-02T15:23:00.003+01:002013-10-02T15:23:44.120+01:00Back door migrantsThis posting isn't about the Tory party conference or even the Daily Mail but instead is about what I saw from my back door yesterday ...a yellow browed warbler flitting amongst the burdock, the first one of the day.<br />
Usually the first thing I do every morning is to open the back door and have a look at what is going on with the day. Yesterday morning this gave me a good clue of the day to come. A chiffchaff zipped out of the fish box vegetable beds and then another joined it on the brae behind. I always reckon if I have migrants by my back door first thing then it is likely to be a good bird day. And as soon as I headed out it proved to be right. Parties of bramblings and chaffinches, redwings and song thrushes whirled overhead and grounded migrants started to appear, a whinchat down at alterstanes, a wheatear at St. Andrews Well. a tree pipit near 3 tarn nick and later redstarts, reed buntings and ring ouzels. By lunchtime more had come in, the species list had lengthened and immediately behind my cottage was not only a yellow-browed warbler but 2 chiffchaffs, a dunnock, a robin and a lesser whitethroat, all being bullied by the resident rock pipits. <br />
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So I do consider myself very lucky to have outside my back door not only a sheltering spot for a range of migrants but also earlier in the year a pair of nesting rock pipits that I watched as I drank my coffee and of course a hillside of puffins, the closest burrow not much more than 20 yards away. As back door steps go this one is pretty good. <br />
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<br />David Pickett, Isle of May NNR Reserves Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14581906927468996321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-55575438712200755322013-10-01T19:07:00.003+01:002013-10-01T19:36:45.525+01:00Migrant birds keep turning up....Here's the scene from Sunday. All the inhabiatants of the island mooching around a corner of the island. This happens from time to time on the island. The reason is that there is a scarce or rare bird on the island. Birds are now arriving in force because of the easterlie winds wich are hitting the coast.<br />
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We've had lots of Yellow-browed Warblers in the last week but very little else. On Sunday birds really started turning up with good numbers of Redwings and Song Thrush. Many of these are turning up from Eastern Europe. <br />
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This time however we were looking at a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a less then annual visitor to the island.<br />
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The flycatcher is feeding in the sun in the South Horn Gully</div>
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Little Bunting </div>
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This slightly less attractive but eqaully welcome visitor was up near the Sheepwell. Another Scadinavian migrant which was present over the weekend. We were also lucky enough to have an Olive-backed Pipit which is a visitor from Asia on the island on Monday</div>
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This Redpoll is from Scandinavia and was really tucking into the dock seeds. We see a few of these every year but they are rarely as tollerant as this. Must be hungrey after the long journey over the North Sea.<br />
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We are now spotting a few Redstarts. This bright youngster was enjoying the sunshine near the Lowlight.<br />
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Look closely you can spot a woodpecker on the wall. This bird is likely to be a Scandinavian migrant. Other birds of this origin have been trapped and ringed along the coast. This bird is grubbing insects out of the short grass near the Tennis Court.<br />
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We'll be out again seaching the island for migrants. You never quite know when the next 'Biggie' will be found but we will keep you posted. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939402837897503364.post-63236769321613528102013-09-29T22:23:00.002+01:002013-09-29T22:38:58.686+01:00What a way to end the season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The puffins may have kicked off the 2013 season but the seals well and
truly finished it. For the last 2 days that visitors could visit the
island this year we made the seals the focus and it was a chance for
visitors to find out a bit more about these special creatures. The weather and the seals themselves helped to make the Seal Weekend absolutely fantastic. With 5 pups born on the island now and the big bulls starting to appear around <u>their</u> beaches the seals are now dominating the island and even Jules reappeared for the visitors on the Sunday after disappearing for a few days. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjbES63O-xK9nLTCvpDWM27vn-oA6gGQsLQuPhgV0w_yogNl9GKYNqCY_kKJQNeZU74BeXF7asrTc3Qrl2WwdSikRQYyaz9jBfXMT7J60mJAJNEbFOjIGIeYp0_8bBa7llzXX4AyNdB4/s400/Picture+4574+%28Large%29.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jules</td></tr>
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Over the weekend over 200 visitors made it across to the island. They heard from some of the seal researchers that spend 6 weeks of the winter living on the island in amongst the seals, the heard songs and stories from Claire in the South Horn and they got to look down telescopes at various vantage points to get better looks of seals and most popular of all seal pup no. 2 who managed to get itself into a position for most people to get a glimpse of him. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pup no. 2 learning to swim.</td></tr>
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And so today the Osprey and the May Princess headed out of Kirkhaven harbour to bring an end to what is likely to be the busiest visitor season in the history of the May. (Well actually in recent times, we do know that in medieval times 50 000 pilgrims a year made it across to the island and we are not at that level ..yet!). <br />
I haven't added all the figures up yet but when I do I will post them but in the meantime many thanks for everyone who came over to the island and made it such and enjoyable season.<br />
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But this isn't the end of the blog so keep following it and we will keep you posted on what is happening out here. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0