Free Birds.

L-R Sarah , Annie and Bob ringing shearwaters prior to release.

Just getting over a few hectic days and a great game of rugby (argghh so near...) , so sorry not to have posted this earlier.

The picture is of Sarah Allen assisting Annie and Bob Haycock, ringing shearwaters prior to release from the Stena Europe just off The Tusker Rock Lighthouse.  The waters were relatively sheltered there and there were also concentrations of Manxies  nearby.

It seemed that all of them were very healthy and of an optimum weight for migration (at between 350 and 400 grammes) . No need to feed them, no need to clean them and they were certainly as waterproof, as they were ever likely to be. There are no gaurantees but local experts Jean Haines and John Hayes had kept them calm and unstressed until we picked them up and got them on the ship. They were certainly fit and feisty, as our fingers bore the marks of their indignation at the indignity of being handled and ringed but this was minimal. They all flew off safely and we can only hope the brief interruption to their migration south will be the first of many more circumnavigations of the Atlantic.

In Calmer conditions and without the threat of continued storms we would have released them earlier from the ship, but our decision to wait until we reached the lee of the Irish mainland and Tusker Reef seemed to be confirmed by the number of birds already taking shelter there.

The next few stormy days will be a trial for many more migrating birds, lets hope not too many more will end up on the beaches but if they do, With Stena's Help and the expertise of local people we will do our best to get them back to sea as soon as possible. It was great to be a small cog in a team that worked together to help our birds, thanks for all the messages of support! Thanks too to Sea Trust Volunteers Barbara Davies who had to travel back to Burry Port in the early hours of the morning and Jessica  Creak who filmed the release on her i-phone!

If you find any lost manxies John Hayes (daytime number)  is 01646 649 337 if anyone has Jean Hayes perhaps they could supply that too, or call me on 01348 875639.

allthingsgood, cliff