| |
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
Friends of Hilbre
Annual General Meeting
7.30 p.m. 27th May 2009
West Kirby United Reformed Church Hall*
Meols Drive, West Kirby
AGM
You are invited to attend the AGM to hear about the work of the Friends of
Hilbre over the past year and to have the opportunity to ask the committee
questions. You can also renew your membership on the night. In the
interval light refreshments will be available and there will be display
stands about Hilbre. Our guest speaker this year is John Huthnance who is
presenting a talk on ‘Marine Science in Liverpool’.
As usual, FOH members will be eligible to elect the committee members for
2009 to 2010. There are three executive officers (Chair, Treasurer and
Secretary) and seven committee members. Should the need arise, it is also
possible to co-opt a further three committee members during the year.
Nominations for committee members should be submitted to the FOH Chair on
our e-mail address to be received by 25th May at the latest.
TREASURER
– NOMINATIONS
We are putting out an urgent call for nominations for the position of
Treasurer. Our outgoing Treasurer is willing to support/assist the
incoming Treasurer in their new role. If you think you can help, please
contact the Chairman on our e-mail address:
thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com
Back to 'Inside this
issue'.
Notes on a Former Keeper
The Buoy Keeper’s House {left} was
built in 1850; the southern rooms of
Telegraph Cottage {centre} may have been part of the old inn on the
island;
the Telegraph Keeper’s Cottage {right} was built 1841-2 and is now
occupied by the Hilbre Ranger.
Peter Bailey and his wife,
Barbara, were resident in Telegraph Cottage in the 1960s and 1970s. A
former teacher at Calday Grange Grammar School, Peter was interested in
the outdoor life, the wild animals and plants of Hilbre and running
practical tasks for young people to carry out. Many local people have
happy memories of working under supervision on Hilbre, cutting bracken,
painting walls and restoring bits of buildings.
Peter built a Minoan style wind mill in the back paddock, not to generate
electricity, but to try raising water from the old well. He was helped in
this by some local students. The water in the well often went dry and when
there was some, it was salty, so the experiment did not continue. No one
knows when the well was cut into the sandstone. It could have been done in
monastic times, or later in the period when Hilbre was a small shipping
out port of Chester, and briefly housed a salt boiling works. The
Victorian keeper and Buoy Master used water from the house roods, stored
in new underground tanks, as did the Bailey family.
Peter owned goats, which ate their way through a fair quantity of the
Hilbre plant life. Their milk kept the family supplied, along with the
visitors, such as school study parties staying overnight in the barn or
the cottage. The Rangers now sometimes use Manx Loghtan sheep to keep the
long grass in order, without damaging the fragile turf.
Peter’s children went to school in West Kirby. This meant fitting in with
the tides, some times riding their pony, which was put in a field near the
station. At other times, they travelled by boat. His son later trained as
a marine biologist.
During the Bailey’s time on Hilbre, Prince Philip visited three times as a
guest of the annual bird watching party, with Dr Lewis McAfee, the
photographer Eric Hosking and the retired field marshal Lord Allenbrook.
Under conditions of great secrecy, the Prince and his equerry were driven
to Hilbre, watched the wading birds from canvas hides, spent a few nights
in the simple accommodation of the Buoy Master’s House, and then flew off
by helicopter, piloted by Prince Philip himself.
Peter and Barbara moved to the West Indies, where they ran a sailing
school. They keep in touch frequently with the Friends of Hilbre and hear
our news. We send them our best wishes and look forward to their next
visit to Wirral.
Sue Craggs
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
Biological Research on
Hilbre
Several Projects have been run in recent years. There
is continuous monitoring of birds by the Hilbre Island Bird Observatory,
in connection with the national network of observatories and ringing
stations. Their work has established migration patterns and has enabled
conservation projects to protect bird species in Britain and other
countries. Natural England, the government-linked body which monitors wild
life and its management, surveyed the reef worm Sabellaria alveolata, on
the shore and found that the colonies were thriving and plentiful around
Hilbre. Research continues into the populations of cockle beds, Cardium
edule, as part of measures to protect the sustainable fishery in the Dee.
Left: Sabellaria Reef.
Left: Tortoiseshell Butterfly Right: Short-tailed Field Vole
Searches for the Hairy Millipede, Polyxenus lagurus,
have shown that its location, recorded in 1980 in a reed patch, needs to
be reassessed. It was found there because that was where the researchers
looked for it! This minute, hairy beast has since been found in other
places too. It is still rare and should not be captured. Butterflies and
moths are easier to identify and monitor without catching them, or by
disturbing them in other ways such as trampling on their food plants.
Visitors are encouraged to stay on the paths and dogs should be kept on a
lead at all times of the year. Even if the Hilbre species are not
different from those on the mainland (for example the Field Vole Mictotus
agrostis, which is typical of Wirral voles in size and tooth formation)
the effect of removing a few individuals from the gene pool could do a lot
of damage.
Sea Thrift and Birds-foot Trefoil.
Plants are protected by law. No plant, seed or bulbs
may be removed from the wild. Identifying plants should be done on the
spot, using a plant identification guide. So many people visit Hilbre that
it is better to leave the detailed identification to trained botanists and
zoologists, to avoid removing specimens from the breeding pool. Plant
counts are done from time to time, to confirm that the species list
published in 1982 is still a good guide to Hilbre flora. Rock Sea
Lavender, Limonium binervosum, has increased in numbers and distribution.
Heather Erica cinerea and Ling, Calluna vulgaris, are more vulnerable,
possibly after several dry periods and warm winters. Sea Thrift, Armeria
maritime, flowers best after a really cold winter, so has not given us
such a show in May in recent years.
Hilbre is not far enough from the mainland for a truly isolated island
community to develop. Human influence has been quite important too. C.
Felton found that the species of spiders are typical of a domestic
setting, probably because earlier inhabitants of Hilbre brought spiders
over in their luggage and furniture. Hay carts will have brought small
mammals such as mice and voles. Foxes and even hedgehogs have been seen
crossing the sand at low tide. Birds fly in, of course. A colony of House
Sparrows, studied by J Craggs in the 1950s, left when the Hilbre keeper
replaced his horse with a car. The insects and larvae feeding on horse
manure have been shown in other research to be a vital part of the
sparrows’ diet, as well as corn taken from the keeper’s hen run.
Sue Craggs
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
Tribute to Peter Williams
Chairman of Hilbre Bird Observatory 1982-2009
Peter Williams outside the Hilbre bird Observatory
Regretfully we inform our members of the death of Peter Williams, a
popular local ornithologist, who collapsed and died on 7th March 2009 aged
65 whilst out walking near the Dungeons, Heswall, Wirral – with Doreen,
his wife of 43 years.
Peter developed an interest in birds as a boy and made his first visit to
Hilbre Island as a five year old - he would continue to visit the island
for the next 60 years. Peter’s ornithological finds and achievements were
many, his avid enthusiasm for birds and all aspects of natural history
were to take him on quests all round the world with his family and
friends. Children and adults alike reaped the benefits of Peter’s
experiences, knowledge and humour - which he would willingly impart.
Peter joined the recently formed Hilbre Bird Observatory group in the
early 1960s and in 1982 he became the Chairman of the Bird Observatory.
Under Peter’s leadership, the group thrived, members built a new
sea-watching hide in 1988, moved into new premises in 1989 at the south
end of Hilbre, and built {and continually re-build} three heligoland
traps. Members, under Peter’s guidance, continued with the production of
the Hilbre Bird Observatory’s Annual Report until the present day {an
Annual Report has been produced since the Bird Observatory’s foundation in
1957}. In 2006/7 Peter organised and oversaw the celebrations of 50 years
for the Bird Observatory, and, the North West Ringing Conference. Hilbre
Bird Observatory achieved official bird observatory status with
accreditation from the Bird Observatories Council in 2008.
Under Peter’s tuition many bird-ringers succeeded in becoming C Permit and
A Permit holders and some of his trainees are now trainers in the UK and
around the world. Peter also ringed birds all round the UK, Holland
{during the 1990s} and in Hong Kong {2001}.
In addition to being a birder and ringer Peter had a great love and
knowledge of many aspects of natural history including mammals,
butterflies, other insects and wild flowers. Peter’s respect and joyful
enthusiasm for the natural world was generously shared with many folk.
Peter was also a talented photographer and lecturer and an enthusiastic
filmmaker - the DVD he made of Hilbre included numerous species of birds
and the emotive photography of the island is wonderful.
Peter’s family and friends will sorely miss his effervescent personality.
The esteem in which Peter was held was reflected in the large numbers of
folk who attended his funeral - including fellow birders from across the
region and country. Peter’s wife Doreen, his two sons - Steve and Chris
{both are birders and ringers} and other HiBO members, thankfully continue
with their work at the Hilbre Bird Observatory. Hopefully Peter’s
grandchildren will also continue in the family tradition.
Valerie Burnett
Seal Watching Training Day
Five FOH members attended the Seal watch training afternoon in March, led
by June. It was a very windy afternoon, which was a bit of a challenge for
the telescope but, an enjoyable and interesting time was had by all.
It is hoped that the new trainees will join our enthusiastic Seal Watch
Team who enable visitors to learn more about the seals and to have the
opportunity to view them through the telescope.
June Task and Lunch {Friends of Hilbre Members Only}
If volunteers want to attend this task on Hilbre Island (with lunch
provided by the FOH), it is essential we know how many people to cater
for.
If you would like to come, please e-mail Barbara between 5th May and 20th
June for details and to confirm your attendance on:
thefriendsofhilbre@hotmail.com
Words From Our Chairman
Any organisation of volunteers relies heavily on support from the
membership and, we are no exception. The members of the Committee are
grateful for the support which comes from all our members in various
forms. I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone just for
being a member and thereby making a contribution.
On occasions there are people with particular skills who make a special
contribution. We were recently given the benefit of some very specialised
knowledge when we needed to update our Risk Assessment methods. One of the
members - Charles A. - led a small group and almost single handed produced
a document worthy of any organisation, big or small. Special thanks are
due to him.
I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to attend the AGM to
launch us into our ninth year.
Allen Burton
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
For Your Interest
Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Oyster Catchers and Herring Gull
Hilbre Bird Observatory publishes an Annual Report which is due out soon:
Hilbre Bird Observatory and Ringing Station Report 2007, Editor: Steve
Williams.
Please send a cheque made out to ‘Hilbre Bird Observatory’ for £5.00 {inc.
p & p} to:
Hilbre Bird Observatory, c/o 129 Ennisdale Drive, Newton, West Kirby,
Wirral, CH48 9UG
Hilbre Bird Observatory also has daily sightings on:
www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
Do you have any MEMORIES or stories about Hilbre Island?
We would love to hear from you - please send your contributions to:
SAFETY NOTICE
Always check the tides before going
out to Hilbre. Tides change each day. Use the safe route, it is dangerous
to use any other route. For full details of when to cross safely and the
safest route to Hilbre see our
Planning your visit to Hilbre Island page.
PLEASE RESPECT THE WILDLIFE ON HILBRE ISLANDS LOCAL NATURE RESERVE
PLEASE NOTE: All articles and photographs in this web site are
© COPYRIGHT of Friends of Hilbre unless
specifically otherwise stated.
Back to 'Inside this issue'.
|
