I am a month into my six-month post as a long-term volunteer on Ramsey Island and have begun this blog to share my experiences of what it is like to work and live on a remote Welsh island.
Ramsey Island has been lambing for the first time this spring and has been very successful - with 190 lambs born to 220 ewes. Two orphaned lambs had to be hand-reared in the process - three-week-old 'Ruby' and week-old 'Molly'. The older and more boisterous lamb Ruby dwarfs the minuscule Molly who is one of triplets.
Hand-rearing lambs has required many late night and early morning feeds resulting in some tired out, bleary-eyed RSPB staff.
A dramatic cliff rescue was required one day to retrieve a lamb that had fallen over a cliff onto the beach below. Surprisingly, the lamb was completely unscathed despite its 100-foot fall and was rescued by boat by a slightly damp warden, local shepherd and sheepdog 'Lassie'.
When not looking after sheep, bird monitoring surveys have been carried out of the seven breeding pairs of chough and five breeding pairs of lapwing that are beginning to incubate eggs on Ramsey Island.
Highlight this month: a pod of 10 harbour porpoises spotted in Ramsey Sound.
Rebecca Pitman, People Engagement Officer, Ramsey Island