With the late July period, comes the opportunity to ring storm petrels. European storm petrels have returned from their epic migration off the southern tip of Africa, and the end of July/ early August time window, offers the best opportunity to safely capture these diminutive ocean masters.
Away from the usual historic trapping sites, I opted to test the end of my road, just by the shore on the inlet diagonal from our house. With the net up at midnight, I planned for just an hour to see if any storm petrels would arrive. I was pleasantly surprised to catch 4 European storm petrels, before the real unexpected surprise, as a Leach's storm petrel went into the net too!
Not a bad return for a small net in a speculative area. All safely checked and wearing their own distinct identification ring they were sent on their way into the night to flutter masterfully over the ocean. Quite an experience. The following night with the ringing group at a usual historic site, we captured 95 European storm petrels and 3 Leach's. One of the storm petrels a Norwegian ringed bird.
The working week consisted of finishing off some of the practical work from the previous week, as well as completing some of the last Red necked phalarope surveys of the year. Numbers are starting to drop, with many birds beginning to leave their breeding sites, and prepare for their migration. Soon they will be sipping cocktails on the coast of Peru (minus the cocktails I'm guessing).
A journey North again following on from surveys, I had the fortune post work to embark on an incredible overnight trip to one of our scarcely visited sites- an off-shore uninhabited island, where we were able to confirm the presence once again of occupied Leach's petrel burrows. A superb experience.
Prior to setting sail, I spent a good 30 minutes with this charismatic otter at the Yell ferry terminal in gorgeous sunshine.
Obviously you don't hear about the days of meetings, planning and reports side of my role, but I thoroughly enjoy the balance and being able to see the direct benefits of our conservation work.
Evenings and days off, consist of day trips out to enjoy our new home. (Nearly a year now).
A truly stunning place.
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