So, with Becky off to start a new job in conservation, it falls to me to keep you informed of events here on the island. I am the Assistant Warden on Ramsey and have been living and working on this most beautiful of RSPB reserves for the last 3 years. My updates will essentially be extracts from the island diary and the answers to questions I have been asked over the last few weeks by visitors to the island and to the website.
Most of September has been filled with planning for the winter months, when the island is closed and the warden and I are here on our own. (Greg is also my husband, before any rumours start!) It has been the usual procession of deliveries; gas, diesel, flour and food for the human and animal residence. It was just typical that with the biggest gas delivery of the year half way across Ramsey sound, our formerly reliable winch decided to blow up, meaning the whole delivery had to be lugged from the boat by hand. I commented that it was surely stamina building, which was meet with some rather derisory looks from my companions! So we are almost set for our forth winter, bulk-buying for a whole 5 months definitely seems to get easier with experience and just think of all that saved packaging.
Despite having passed peak season, we have had a late surge in the number of grey seal pups born in the last few days. 4 skinny yellow newborns have appeared on the harbour beach, giving day visitors unrivalled views from the footpath. The 7.5 metre spring tides this week are also causing some interest. Every 12 hours an array of different pups, some fully moulted and independent, wash up in the harbour. Some end up high and dry on the cliffs as the tide recedes. These mischievous juveniles also cause our boatmen a bit of a headache, as they seem to think that the Gower Ranger is a giant, blue and white 'rubber duck' to be prodded, poked and played with. Still, nobody seems to mind the return trip from Ramsey being slightly delayed by their antics.