The Bardsey Beacon is the newsletter of the Friends of Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory. All pictures by Steve Stansfield unless otherwise statedRegistered Charity No. 249790. The Observatory is a member of the Bird Observatories Council.Bardsey BeaconGolau EnlliThe newsletter of the Bardsey Bird and Field ObservatorySef cylchlythyr i aelodau Gwylfa Maes ac Adar Ynys EnlliPhoto: Bob NormandIssue 181 - December 2025Director of Operations spring reviewWe’re now well into autumn, in fact, winter is almost upon us on Bardsey, and the island has settled into its quieter rhythm after what felt like a non-stop spring and summer. All the BITL guests have departed, and we’re into the final week of the BBFO season as I write this. The Lodge is still full of birders, and the last couple of weeks have been decent. We are making the final few edits to the 2024 annual report Bardsey’s Wildlife, and we hope to have it distributed with this newsletter. We have less than a week left of staff and guests on the island, and then it will be just me and Emma… as Gareth and Meriel, Lois and Aron, and Mari and Emyr will have all left along with all our guests, staff and Connor, leaving Emma and me to pack up the Lodge for the winter months. In the last newsletter, I gave a brief overview of the earlyseason preparations and the Bangor Uni student week in April. This time, I’ll pick up from there and take you through the rest of the spring, some of the highlights from the main season, and a look at the work we managed to get done.With most of the 200 guests and volunteers now gone and the days drawing in, it feels like the right moment to look back on what was a truly memorable spring. From the first Wheatear in March to the last of the Spotted Flycatchers in June, it was a season full of movement, colour and more than a few surprises!Spring – a season of arrivals, rarities and no less than six Hoopoes!Things kicked off on 10 March with a single Wheatear, three Goldcrests and two Chiffchaffs. A Hooded Crow appeared on the Narrows on 13th, and by mid-month, the first Manx Shearwaters were back. The first Swallow of the year came in on 20th, along with a Fieldfare, a Rook and three Lesser Redpolls. A male Sparrowhawk was caught at Cristin that day as the nets were being put up. Another arrival of 32 Chiffchaffs also took place.Then, on 21st, a Hoopoe sang briefly in Cristin garden before vanishing — the first of what would become a remarkable run of six birds this spring, including one that was trapped and ringed in May. That day brought another 35 Chiffchaffs, two Sand Martins, two Wheatears, 61 Meadow Pipits, the first Willow Warbler, a Firecrest and a handful of finches overhead. Dazzling after dark brought a Woodcock and a Jack Snipe into the ringing room.Jack Snipe – Steven Stansfield The first proper arrival of Wheatears came on 24th with 11 logged, alongside 96 Meadow Pipits and 16 Chiffchaffs. A Great White Egret flew north on 25th, and the first Black Redstart of the year appeared at Cristin on 27th. Great White Egret - Greg Lee
Page 2 bbfo.org.ukA White Wagtail showed up on 28th, and by the end of the month, Willow Warblers were starting to appear in better numbers — 17 were logged on 31st, along with a Siskin and a Reed Bunting.April opened with an arrival of 29 Willow Warblers, 23 Chiffchaffs and 20 Wheatears on 1st. The 2nd brought 84 Wheatears, including Greenland birds, and a female Ring Ouzel on Pen Cristin. Two Black Redstarts were also logged, along with a small thrush movement. The 5th was one of those Bardsey days to remember — three Hoopoes were on the island with one at Henllwyn/Tŷ Pellaf, one at Cristin, and another near the Schoolhouse, these were joined by two Barnacle Geese, a Hooded Crow, a Jackdaw, and the first Tree Pipit and House Martin of the year. That day also saw 49 Wheatears, 25 Blackcaps, 31 Chiffchaffs and 22 Willow Warblers.The 8th brought a notable fall: 102 Willow Warblers, 24 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackcaps, 22 Wheatears, five Black Redstarts (including one ringed), two Grasshopper Warblers, a fine male Redstart, and two Common Crossbills overhead. A Red Kite drifted over, and a Ringed Plover and two Whimbrels were on the Narrows. The first Marsh Harrier of the year was over the Wetlands on 9th. As ever it’s not all birds, there were plenty of other things happening. Equipment Disasters!This spring lots of things went wrong or broke… The TV in the gift shop was one of them that suddenly gave up the ghost, so a new one had to be bought. Broken TV! Note the vertical line on right hand side.Guided walks are a large part of the Observatory’s education programme as well as bringing in funds to pay for our second Assistant. The spring saw a good number of guests join Greg on his weekly walks around the island, being shown seabirds and seals, moths and lichens.A Firecrest was at Nant on 12th, and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose dropped into Henllwyn. The same day saw 117 Willow Warblers, 17 Wheatears, 11 Blackcaps and 13 Chiffchaffs. A Blue-headed Wagtail was on the Narrows on 14th, and four Hooded Crows flew south on 15th. A pair of Gadwalls and a pair of Teal were also logged mid-month.Visitors being shown Golden-hair Lichen – Steven Stansfield The first Whitethroat of the year arrived on 17th, along with 67 Willow Warblers, 31 Chiffchaffs, six Blackcaps, a Tree Pipit and a Grasshopper Warbler. Hirundine passage included 93 Swallows and 19 Sand Martins. The first Arctic Skua of the year was offshore on 18th, and the first Pied Flycatcher arrived on 19th.Golden-hair Lichen – Steven StansfieldThen came 20 April: the first day of the Bangor Uni Student week. A stunning male Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll was found feeding with Linnets on the Narrows whilst guiding the students around the island - the first Welsh record of this massive redpoll. It lingered into the next morning beforevanishing.Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll - Steven StansfieldThe same day also brought a Greenshank, three Grasshop-
bbfo.org.uk Page 3per Warblers, the first Sedge Warbler of the year, and a Firecrest still at Nant. Late April became all Mediterranean like!The last week of April brought the first Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler on 25th. The first Arctic Tern of the year was seen on 27th along with the first Sanderling. The 29th was a cracking day that began with a Nightingale singing at Cristin which was later trapped, a rather smart Woodchat Shrike was at Tŷ Pellaf late morning, yet a another Hoopoe (the 5th of the year! was in the north west fields, and a Red-rumped Swallow dashed north over the island with 105 Swallows, eight Sand Martins and 11 House Martins in the late afternoon. That dayalso saw 49 Whimbrels (including several that were trapped and colour-ringed. Nightingale – Steven Stansfield (upper)Woodchat Shrike - Greg Lee(lower)April closed with the Hoopoe still present and ringing in the morning saw the first Pied Flycatcher and the first few Spotted Spotted Flycatchers of the year, three of which were trapped and ringed, with nine seen in total.May opened with yet another Red-rumped Swallow at Tŷ Pellaf and the Hoopoe was still present on Pen Cristin. There were yet more Mediterranean vibes when a Bee-eater flew over Cristin and Tŷ Pellaf on 4th. A Little Ringed Plover dropped into Solfach on 5th, and on 7th our sixth Hoopoe of the spring was trapped in Cristin Garden.Hoopoe - Steven StansfieldThe 10th brought a real shock as a Black Stork flew north along the West Coast and over the Sound to the mainland during the introductory talk to the oncoming guests!. This was a new species for the island. Black Stork – Ewan TurnerOn 11th three Crossbills were at Nant, whilst a smart Grey Plover was on Solfach, along with two Ringed Plovers, six Sanderlings, eight Dunlins and nine Turnstones. In the morning, a Blue-headed Wagtail was particularly mobile on the Narrows. Other notable sights included a Swift moving through the wetlands, a Tree Pipit at Tŷ Pellaf and two ReedWarblers in the withies.Whimbrel - Ewan Turner
Page 4 bbfo.org.ukEven though there seemed to be birds everywhere, birding duties took a back seat during quieter afternoons, as we, joined by volunteer Dylan, turned our attention to the formidable task of constructing the new “poo-pit.” Progress was anything but smooth: broken drill bits, mismatched fittings, and a few minor injuries slowed things down, not to mention the occasional pause to admire passing birds. Despite the setbacks, the team persevered, and the final result is a neatly levelled, smart-looking structure that we hope will stand the test of many years to come. Installing the poo pit – Steven StansfieldOn the 12th a Black Kite soared over the island with a Buzzard, thermalling high before drifting off north. Common Buzzard left and Black Kite right Emma StansfieldA male Orange-tip butterfly was seen at Nant on 18th. A Dotterel flew over the Observatory at dusk on 19th and Cinnabar moth was seen on 20th.The island was fully in bloom at this time of year with Thrift and Spring Squill making the place look amazing. A singing Common Rosefinch was at Nant on 4th. On 5th, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler was singing in the Cristin garden and was later trapped and ringed. The bird was a very accomplished mimic, with over 30 species in its repertoire including Quail, Green Sandpiper, Wood and Yellow-browed Warblers, Marsh Tit and Grey Heron!Cinnabar Moth - Steve StansfieldJune opened with a Red-backed Shrike at Ty Pellaf on 3rd, which lingered into the next dayRed-backed Shrike – Steve Stansfield
bbfo.org.uk Page 5Blyth’s Reed Warbler – Steven StansfieldA Melodious Warbler also appeared on 6th, singing in Cristin garden and occasionally at Plas.Melodious Warbler – Ewan TurnerThen, on 14th, a second Blyth’s Reed Warbler was found singing in the same garden — a remarkable double for the island!All in all, it was a spring to remember — not just for the rarities, but for the sheer variety and volume of birds moving through. From the first Wheatear in March to the last of the Spotted Flycatchers in June, it was a season full of energy, colour and surprises.Landbird breeding season – a mixed picture in 2025The 2025 breeding season brought a mixed bag for Bardsey’s landbirds. Some species held steady or improved, while others declined or failed to breed altogether.Mallards produced ten broods across eight sites — slightly down on last year but still well above the longterm average. A minimum of 58 ducklings were seen, though survival was poor, with just 11 immatures noted by the season’s end.Woodpigeons held firm at 15 territories, and Moorhens remained stable with eight pairs, though productivity was low. A real highlight came from Nant, where Water Rails bred for the first time on record — a pair held territory from late March, though no fledged young were confirmed.Oystercatchers dropped to 80 pairs, but clutch size remained good and at least 14 chicks fledged. Sparrowhawks held territory at Nant but failed, and Little Owls were absent again.Magpies reached a new record of 17 pairs, producing 24 juveniles. Carrion Crows increased to ten pairs, with at least 12 fledged young. Ravens bred for the fifteenth year running, fledging one chick. Swallows dropped to seven pairs, but all managed two broods, producing at least 42 fledged young. House Martins bounced back with nine pairs and 21 fledged young — the third highest total on record.Choughs held steady at seven pairs, matching 2024. That’s just below the ten-year mean, but still nearly 49% above the long-term average. Four pairs fledged eight young, giving a productivity of 1.14 — down 50% on last year and 40% below the ten-year mean.Passerine diversity was down. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats all failed to breed — the first time since 2018 for the first two, and since 2008 for Whitethroat. Chiffchaffs held two territories, with one juvenile seen. Sedge Warblers bred for the eighteenth consecutive year, with three pairs and five fledged young.Goldcrests bred again, with three juveniles seen at Nant in August. Song Thrushes remained at one pair. Dunnocks increased by five pairs, Meadow Pipits rose by 11, Robins dropped to five pairs, and Wrens declined slightly but still recorded their third-highest total - more than double the long-term average.Seabird breeding season – a good one despite stormy setbacksThe 2025 seabird season was shaped by persistent high winds through much of May and June, which limited access to many colonies and reduced opportunities for ringing and monitoring. Despite this, we gathered a solid set of data across Bardsey and the Gwylan islands. Encouragingly, there were no signs of HPAI or other disease outbreaks in any of the colonies.Razorbills had a standout year, with 2,280 pairs counted - up 68% on the ten-year mean. Guillemots fell for the second year in a row, from their best ever year in 2023 when 2321 AOLs (Adults on ledges) were seen, this year there were only 2,085 AOL, but this is still 24% above the ten-year average and 265% greater than the long-term mean. Puffins continued their increase, with a new record of 329 pairs at Pen Cristin. The colony has expanded southwards and has also become noticeably denser, especially in the northern section of the east side.
Page 6 bbfo.org.ukPuffins on Bardsey – Steven StansfieldKittiwakes had a strong season, rising from 294 to 408 pairs, another new island record. Productivity was excellent, with 1.08 chicks per pair recorded in sample plots. Shag numbers dropped back to more typical levels after last year’s spike, with 66 nests recorded. Productivity was high, with 169 fledged young giving a figure of 2.5 chicks per pair.Herring Gulls declined to 352 pairs, while Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped to 159 AON. Productivity for Herring Gulls at the North End was 0.70 chicks per pair. Lesser Black-back Gull productivity couldn’t be reliably assessed due to the bracken growth and weather. Great Black-backed Gulls held steady at five pairs, fledging five young.Fulmar numbers rose slightly to 23 AOSs, though only one chick was confirmed. Manx Shearwater productivity dipped to 0.54 chicks per pair — a small drop from last year and still below the ten-year mean.Guillemots – Steve StansfieldGwylan seabirdsA single visit to Ynys Gwylan Fawr on 19 June gave a snapshot of breeding activity there. Razorbills did well, with at least 52 eggs or chicks found. Guillemots were down, with 35 AOL and 18 chicks of fledging size.Puffins were estimated at 1,053 AOBs across both islands — a drop from 2024 but still well above the tenyear mean, though no counts were possible on Ynys Gwylan Bach this year.Great Black-backed Gulls numbered 37 pairs on Ynys Gwylan Fawr, fledging at least 23 young. Herring Gulls held steady at 77 AONs. No Lesser Black-backs bred. Shags increased to 100 pairs, producing 152 large chicks. Cormorants were harder to assess, but at least 15 chicks were seen.Shag and Cormorant Chicks on Ynys Gwylan Fawr – Steve StansfieldProject work….It has been an exceptionally busy year, with numerous projects running in parallel. We began our involvement in the Darwin Tree of Life project, adding an exciting new dimension to our work, while continuing the longterm Manx Shearwater tracking studies.Our colour-ringing projects on Whimbrel, Shag and large gulls have progressed well, and we have been added to an international Little Bunting colour-ringing project – not that we have trapped any yet! We also collaborated with other ringers on wader and Stonechat projects, we continued feather sampling for DNA analysis to help confirm species identities and maintained our involvement in the Yellow-browed Warbler project – more on this in the next newsletter. We have also become involved with another DNA sampling project. We are working with Dr Joe Wynne a research fellow at the University of Liverpool working on the genomics of bird migration. Over the last 18 months, Joe has been working on a project attempting to determine the breeding location of Yellow-browed Warblers caught on Helgoland in Germany and he has got this narrowed down quite nicely to an area in western Siberia. Joe did this using genetic information, matching the
bbfo.org.uk Page 7genomes of European-caught birds to the genomes of birds from across the breeding range. Over the next few years, he is hoping to expand this project to look at samples gathered across Europe; the Bird Observatories Council is collaborating on the project and I have been helping with organising sampling efforts across the UK. We are also collecting samples from Siberian Chiffchaff, Pallas’s Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Little Bunting – more on this in the next Beacon too!In addition, the Bardsey Marine Mammal Project has gone from strength to strength, further broadening the scope of our research and education – see later.Colour Ringing projectsOver the past few years we have been moving more and more towards putting coloured plastic rings, some engraved, others just a combination of coloured bands, on birds in addition to the metal BTO rings. This enables us to monitor birds’ movements without trapping them again.A full report is in preparation for publication soon, but we have had some interesting sightings of our birds around Europe and into North Africa. Two Lesserblack backed Gulls that were ringed in summer 2024 visited a Bird Observatory in the Gambia during the winter, and a Whimbrel that we ringed this spring went to Dawlish Warren in Devon after the 2025 breedingseason was over.Our Shag in Aberdeen being 'greeted' by the local gulls!Hundreds of darvic rings waiting to be fitted to birds…– Steve StansfieldMarine Mammal Project – year 2The Bardsey Marine Mammal Project has continued to grow in scope and impact, with significant achievements in education, outreach, research, and volunteer engagement. A key strength of the project remains its close and productive partnership with Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau SAC, with whom we continue to collaborate on community, educational, and conservation initiatives.Education Pack – A Landmark achievement for the Observatory’s WorkA major highlight has been the creation and launch of the Tir a Môr education pack, developed in partnership with Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation team and the Observatory. The pack contains sections themed around Wildlife Recording and is deeply rooted in the long-term work of the Observatory. It draws extensively on data and expertise provided by me and Emma, and includes dedicated sections on seabirds such as Manx Shearwaters, as well as marine mammals. It is full of fact sheets and activity guides for both teachers and students to use.The Wildlife Recording section provides teachers with bilingual accessible resources on species identification, survey techniques, and the importance of long-term monitoring. Activities such as Guess the Marine Mammal and Dolphin Detective have already been used in wider engagement events and school sessions by Laura, our community officer.Over 500 packs are being distributed to primary schools across Gwynedd and Ynys Môn (Anglesey), and to partner organisations across Wales and beyond. The pack is also available online at www.tiramor.cymru, ensuring broad accessibility and long-term educational value. Many of the resources are also available on the PLAS website here: www.penllynarsarnau.co.uk/topic/sea/wildlife-recordingBardsey-ringed Whimbrel on its holidays in Devon –Lee CollinsOne of our Shags is currently in Aberdeen and many of our Herring Gulls are being reported weekly! Many thanks to Andy Lawrence for doing the admin for the projects and contacting all the folk who report ringed birds to us and sending the ringing details on to them.
Page 8 bbfo.org.ukProject Video – Reaching ThousandsOur ‘virtual visit’ video introduces the project, the island and the marine mammals and is narrated by Iolo Williams and has become a flagship outreach tool. Available on YouTube, it introduces viewers to Bardsey’s marine life and conservation work. With nearly 6,000 views already, the video has been widely shared via social media and the SAC website. https://tinyurl.com/BMMP-YTFurther videos are in development, including one on watching Grey Seals and another on the biology of Risso’s Dolphins, reinforcing the project’s commitment to public education and marine awareness.Scientific Research and International RecognitionOur Scientific Officer Phoebe Moss returned to Bardsey in June for the summer and has been actively involved in surveys and engagement with visiting groups. She presented the project’s work at the European Cetacean Society Conference in the Azores in May, and co-authored a paper with Mark Simmonds, Mick Green and Laetitia Nunny on Risso’s Dolphins which was published in British Wildlife magazine in September. From Gwynedd Councill Facebook pageA paper on the project’s work is completed and will be published in the next edition of Bardsey’s Wildlife.The project also hosted a Wales Marine Mammal Meeting in February 2025 at Aberystwyth University, bringing together researchers from across the country.Student Week and Volunteer TrainingThe first Bardsey Marine Mammal Volunteer Week was a sell-out success, with ten students receiving hands-on training in marine mammal research, career guidance, and field techniques. While details are kept brief here, the event marked a significant step in youth engagement and capacity building.On the mainland, the Shorewatch programme element of the project, run in partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), has trained 33 volunteers and established three watch sites: Mynydd Mawr, Bwlchtocyn, and Porthdinllaen. Volunteers have already completed 92 watches, contributing valuable data to national databases and strengthening community involvement.Community Engagement and Media CoverageThe project has engaged with over 365 pupils and teachers through school visits, and delivered workshops for GISDA and the Enlli Young Ambassadors. It has been featured in local newspapers, Abersoch Life
bbfo.org.uk Page 9magazine, and on BBC News and BBC Radio Wales, helping to promote the marine code and conservation efforts to a wider audience.Social media engagement continues to grow, with posts reaching thousands and collaborations with partners such as BITL and NWWT. The hashtag #bardseymarinemammals is helping to build a strong online presence.Darwin Tree of Life ProjectIn May Ava Jenkins from The Darwin Tree of Life project visited us in order to take DNA samples for the project.The Darwin Tree of Life Project is a bold initiative aiming to sequence the genomes of 70,000 eukaryotic species found across Britain and Ireland. By bringing together experts in biodiversity, genomics and data analysis, the project is transforming approaches to biology, conservation and biotechnology.Through the use of genomic data, the project seeks to uncover the evolutionary history behind life’s diversity, explore the biology of organisms and ecosystems, support conservation efforts and develop innovative tools for medicine and biotechnology. It forms part of a broader global endeavour—the Earth BioGenome Project—which aims to sequence all complex life on Earth. The focus on Britain and Ireland reflects the exceptional depth of biological knowledge built up over centuries of study in these regions.All living organisms share a common thread: the DNA sequence of their genomes. The DTOL Project will systematically collect specimens from each species, apply advanced DNA sequencing technologies to produce high-quality genome data, and use cutting-edge computational tools to interpret how these sequences give rise to the vast diversity of life.The project will sequence animals, plants, fungi and protists, and will make all data freely available for research and practical applications. During the initial two-year phase, the genomes of 2,000 species will be sequenced. This will help build the expertise required for the broader task, generate reference genomes for roughly one third of the families found in Britain and Ireland, and demonstrate the value of genomic data for both scientific and applied purposes.Whilst Ava was on Bardsey, three species were sampled and their genomes added to the ever-growing dataset – these were Chough, Manx Shearwater and Sedge Warbler.Ava Jenkins with choughs - the one on the left became “THE” chough - Steve StansfieldMembers’ Weekend and AGMOur Members’ Weekend and AGM took place in midJune in North Wales, and it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable gathering.Things kicked off on Friday 14 June, when a small group of us met in Porthmadog for an evening meal at the Golden Fleece. The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful, and it was a great chance to catch up over good food and a few drinks.
Page 10 bbfo.org.ukThe Golden Fleece–Steve StansfieldThe following day, we held the AGM at Canolfan Prenteg, where we covered the formal business of the Observatory and shared updates on recent work and future plans.AGM meeting–Steve StansfieldA particularly special moment came when Alicia Normand was formally thanked for her incredible 37 years of service on the Council and Board of Trustees. As she stepped down, she was presented with a bouquet and a well-chosen “liquid gift” from the Observatory in recognition of her long-standing dedication, for which she was also presented in 2024 with the Observatory’s Award for Outstanding Contribution.After the formal business of the meeting we were joined Laura Hughes from The Marine Mammal Project to give us an update on her role as Community Officer, and then we had a video presentation from Phoebe, the project’s Science Officer about her work in 2024. The meeting was then rounded off with my annual presentation about the 2024 season on Bardsey.In the evening, we all reconvened at the Porthmadog Tandoori for a fantastic curry night. The food was excellent, the conversation flowed, and the evening rounded off the weekend perfectly.New shop stockOnce again Emma and I spent time sourcing and designing things for sale in the Observatory shop. New mugs were sourced and designed, along with lots of other items, such as badges, keyrings and even socks with a lighthouse on! These have gone down a storm with day visitors and long stay guests alike.
bbfo.org.uk Page 11Manx Shearwater tracking updateLauren Evans This summer marked my second season based on Bardsey where I continued my PhD research at Bangor University tracking Manx Shearwaters. At the start of the breeding season, I recovered 18 tiny light-level geolocators (each just 1 gram in weight, attached to a custom leg ring) that had recorded the birds’ incredible journeys to their wintering grounds off the coast of Argentina.This is the first time Bardsey’s breeding shearwaters have been tracked over winter, and we’re thrilled to start exploring what the data reveal about their longdistance migrations.Throughout July and August, I fitted 38 adult birds with GPS tags to find out where they travel on feeding trips while raising their chicks. The work involved nearly eight weeks of night shifts but was well worth the effort—some birds were recorded foraging south of Iceland, and one even ventured as far as Orkney! I also collected diet samples from adults and chicks to complement the tracking data and together these results will help us understand what the birds are eating on these epic journeys north. A huge thank you to the Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory team for their continued support with this work.2025 Shearwater tracks from Bardsey, including one that went into the Pentland Firth, south of Orkney – the first of our birds to have done thisManx Shearwater section from the education pack
bbfo.org.ukContact Information: www.bbfo.org.uk• Chair Dianne Charles2 Regent Close, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 [email protected] 01212 490490• Hon. Secretary Andrew Lawrence14 Jack Haye Lane, Light Oaks, Stoke on Trent, ST27NG. [email protected] 01782 253502.• Director of Finance Dianne Charles2 Regent Close, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 [email protected] 01212 490490• Bookings Administrator Emma [email protected]• Membership Officer Dianne Charles2 Regent Close, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 [email protected] 01212 490490• Newsletter Manager Alison Hill57 Exeter Road, London E17 7QZ,[email protected] 07963 522637020 8520 8985• Director of Operations Steve StansfieldBBFO, Cristin, Bardsey Island, Aberdaron Gwynedd,LL53 8DE. [email protected] 07855 264151• Boatman Colin Evans 07971 769895Book your holiday to Bardsey in 2026Emma [email protected]’t forget to give yourself time to restore, recover and re-wild this summer whilst meeting some wonderful and fascinating people on the island. The gift of a week’s experience at the Observatory makes a very unusual birthday or Christmas present for a special person, and we can offer a personalised e-gift card for them.As ever we are booking up fast, so get in touch to ensure you get a place for this coming year.Visit: bbfo.org.uk/staySimply choose your week from the availability charts and get in touch to let me know when you would like to come.