Copeland Island Work Party

Last Saturday 11 members of the Copeland Island Observatory made a working trip over to the Island.  These are photographs taken as the day unfolded.  Weather was good although quite cold, crossing calm.  Phillip, the skipper of the Donaghadee Lifeboat took us over on his own boat.  Everything has to be taken on the  island as there is no electricity or gas. 

 

 

 

 

 

We took over gas bottle, 2 lawnmowers, roofing material and tools to do the jobs necessary on this occasion.

 

 

This is the first view we have of Big Copeland Island as we leave the harbour.  There are 3 islands altogether and the Observatory is on what we call 'Bird Island' or really it is Lighthouse Island however that island does not have a lighthouse now, but the small island called Mew Island does.

 

 

Looking back this is a view of the small town of Donaghadee.

 

 

Just thought the light coming in through these clouds was gorgeous.

 

 

It was a bit misty however this photos (not good) is men on Big Copleland in a shooting party for Pheasant.

 

 

 A lone Great Black backed gull with a Cormorant and some sheep.

 

 

 

 These are some of this years seal pups.

 

 

 Below is a view from the house to Mew Island.

 

 

 We are now on our island, safely landing from one of two new jetties that had been erected in March of this year.  This had been quite a feet of engineering and very hard work for 2 members who volunteered and 2 workmen.

 

 

 These were members gathered together for some sustenance before heading out to either help fit a new roof on the Ringing Laboratory or be part of the party who lifted litter from the shoreline.  Before starting work, we had fun guessing what piece of litter would be the most numerous.

 

 

 There was a small leak in the main house that this guy is fixing.

 

 

 This is David Galbraith, who was a Duty Officer on this trip, on the roof of the Ringing Laboratory, fixing these metal sheets to the old felt roof.

 

 

As the "Litter Lifters" moved round the western shoreline we also had time to see what birds there were around.  There were 3 Magpies playing around with each other.

 

 

 

 

 

Adam, on the left who was only 13 years old, had the biggest find and the heaviest.  A gas bottle!

 

 

 Seven members clad with work gloves and collecting bags set off to scan the western shoreline. (that me in the middle kneeling)  It wasn’t long before Wesleys’ choice was found, a Lucozade bottle followed by my guess of a coke bottle.  However, the person who won was Peter as he had guessed water bottles.  Cotton buds and burst balloons were the most numerous things found although these 2 things had not been guessed by anyone.  The oddest things lifted was a workman’s mast by Brenda and a plastic clothes peg by myself.  There were also 7 good tennis balls which Adam took home for his Granny’s dog to play with. 

 

 

 Other birds seen were Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Eider, Curlew, Greylag, Heron, Pied Wagtail, Teal, Scoter, Redshank, Skylark, Guillemot, Pheasant, Hooded Crow, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull and the Water Rail was also heard.

 

 

Mew Lighthouse

 

 

 Young Adam exhausted after litter lifting.  David had put on a lovely fire for us all.

 

 

 Here are the Litter Lifters with their rubbish!

 

 

 These are the Scottish mountains in the distance.

 

 

All in all, we had great weather, marvellous company, all work completed in good time, safe and calm journeys and 24 birds seen and 1 heard. 

What more could a person ask for?

 

I hope you enjoyed hearing and seeing about my trip  to Copeland Island.

 

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments.