A bit of a North Pembs birding mooch starting at Porthclais National Trust car park. A ptetty innefective padlock and a "No Entry" sign on the gate which barred the way to what has in the past a birding hotspot. It would have been easy enough to sneak through but despite being strongly tempted I resisted my strong inclination to do so.
Trefiddion was next but apart from some Widgeon nothing much to see there, although it was not easy to see much of the marsh from the road.. Down the adjacent road to the old Lifeboat Station carpark, for a quick look at Ramsey sound which was equally uninspiring with only a distant Diver (sp) of any note. Simmilarly
Penberi Pond next and its lovely little Dabchicks, but little else than gulls. Then on to the Dowrog with little expectation, as it was just gone midday several hours before roosting time. We stopped at the western cattle Grid scanning the coarse grassy scrub, corvids crowed and gulls screamed and then wonder of wonders over to the southern edge, a male harrier heading towards the airfield.
I became sillhuetted despite the poor light and with nothing more than a brief rear view, all i could reliably ascertain was that it was a male Harrier and not a Marsh Harrier . Could it have been the elusive Pallid? who knows! We motored over to the track thet offers some parking with a view over the main moor, Fran walked the dog a nd i half heartedly scanned around and then well beyond the willow carr another grey Harrier too distant for further identification. It seemed unlikely they were both the same birds but although they were brief inconcusive views they brightened up a dull day!
I was saddened to hear of Steve's passing I was lucky enough first meet up with Steve and Anna when they were Skomer Wardens. I was also fortunate to spend time on Skokholm with Steve a couple of times and otherwise would bump into him and Anna here, and there, last time being at Dowrog about a year ago. Their dedication to the islands over the years was epic as has been decribed by Bob. My thoughts are with Anna and family for their loss.
I first met Mike during my Cambrian Bird Holiday days with Graham Walker back in the late 1970's. On a very foggy day the mercurial Skomer boat man, Terry Davies, skippering the "Arklow", decided conditions were OK, then misjudged our whereabouts until we accidentally ventured into South Haven. Possibly smarting a little due to his obvious and somewhat erratic navigation in the thick fog, Terry manouvered us next to a flatter piece of the rocky shoreline.and told us to jump off the boat. Being young and limber (45 years ago) i took him at his word and leapt from the Arklow onto the rocks. Two elderly American ladies also leapt and i just managed to catch them.. And then from somewhere above, a loud voice boomed out of the fog, "Get off my F*%* island!"
Terry was making the boat ready for a second landing, for the others to get off, ignoring Mike the warden. I was in a quandry; who did i need to obey and what consequences would occur for either option? I quickly decided that the warden could ban us from ever landing on Skomer again, whereas Terry was obviously in the wrong. As Terry edged closr towards the rock we were standng on again I told the ladies to jump back on the boat where the other members of our party caught them, I then hopped back on board.the Arklow much to Terrys annoyance. Terry was annoyed and probably not wanting to do the return journey back around the island or back through the notorious Jack Sound in the fog.. He dropped us off at the Remy Slip a small cove on the deer Park, Marloes, where he left us heading off for Milford Haven. We had to wade ashore, piggy backing the elderly ladies and the scramble up the side of the cliff!.You dont forget days like that!
Later talking to Mike on a subsequent visit, explaining what had happened, we had a bit of a laugh about it. Terry never mentioned it again! It should also be mentioned that after the Sea Empress oil spill, Mike and a team of volunteers, (probably including Steve?) cleaned up the Wick on Skomer, a herculean effort and just in time for the safe return of the Puffins etc!
The knowledge and experience of both these Pembrokeshire naturalists will be sorely missed, along with the likes of Ian Bullock, David Saunders, Graham Rees, Jack Donovan, Stewart Devonald and Peter Tythcot, all legends in their way and people i was privelidged to have known. RIP all.