2011 Trip report.

Having now returned to civilisation and a normal 'day-time' here is the report of this year's trip.
In the end a team of seven made the journey, with two newbies. The travel up was uneventful and the customary combined Saturday night evening meal was well received - as usual. The crossing required two trips and the wait witnessed the only outside rain - a spell of rain a day or so later was 'inside-rain' as shelter was available.

Sunday night we worked the maze, a section of gently sloping grassland above the cliffs, which is easy on both the eyes and legs. 160 foot of net produced 396 new birds, 18 controls and 13 retraps, although this total was made with a price - it was a warm and windless night and midges were into full-time party mode.

Monday night saw us more hazardly placed on 'the slabs' - a section of undulating, hole ridden, leg sapping rock. Although darker (in terms of light available) than the maze the off-sea breeze keeping biting midges at bay was very welcome. This site, near a breeding colony, produced 343 new birds on one 60 foot net with 15 retraps including four controls.


Tuesday we were back over near the maze in what we call the maze gully. This is a site on steepish ground near a rocky headland cliff - which houses another breeding colony. The night started slowly as it was a case of island-mist rolling into the sea followed by sea-fog enveloping the island (see photo). It was a damp start - literally. At some point this all dissipated to reveal a wonderfully starry night with Saturn like a beacon, the Milky Way resplendent and a host of intermittent shooting stars. On 100 feet of net we caught 279 new birds, and 31 retraps (14 controls).

On Wednesday, for an easy night, we pitched 120 foot of net at the lower-campsite venue. Ringing on this night is always governed by many things - drivers wanting to get to bed early, others generally tired, and totals providing some sort of target. Targets won, very closly followed by the weather. We called a halt to ringing at about 2am when we had reached a visit total of 1116 new birds, 56 retraps and 24 controls (all British). The weather nearly won as, although eyes were open, the amount of available light made it appear as if they weren't! It was a very very dark night.

Elsewhere during our stay we ringed one new Bonxie and retrapped three others - their breeding season was very poor this year. The island was the driest it had been for years and this probably resulted in little evidence of breeding within other species too - no swallows, no wagtails, and virtually no other passerines present except for Rock Pipits. Fulmars appeared to have done poorly too, although the terns had nested well, as had the shags, and their was evidence of breeding Kittiwakes.





Back home and analysis of the retraps indicated:
2011 - 31; 2010 - 10; 2009 - 6; 2008 - 3; 2007 - 2; 2006 - 1.
2002 - 1; and 1996 - 2 (birds at least 12 years old).

Andy, Bob, Emily, Jedda, Kenny, Liz and Tony.


P.S. This photo is the 'old-man's face' after his trap (looking much like a fire-guard and baited with fish, eventually caught by Andy and Jedda) suceeded in catching a bonxie.