Nadolig Llawen oddi wrth Ynys Echni

Shwmae bawb! Sarah sy’ ‘ma, Swyddog Ymgysylltu Cymunedol Ynys Echni, ac rwy’n teimlo’n Nadoligaidd. Dyma’r adeg o’r flwyddyn i ddathlu, ac mae gennym flog arbennig i chi. Yn ystod fy ngwaith mewn ysgolion ledled De Cymru, rydw i wedi gofyn i’r plant anfon post i’r ynys. Mae post yr ynys yn gyfle i blant anfon cwestiynau yr hoffent i dîm Ynys Echni eu hateb.

Rydw i wedi dewis rhai o’m hoff gwestiynau i’w hateb yn y blog isod. Hefyd, cadwch lygad am fideo arbennig gan ein warden Simon, a fydd yn ymddangos ar sianel YouTube Ynys Echni yn fuan!

Pryd alla i symud i fyw ar Ynys Echni? – Kaleb, Ysgol Bro Helyg

Shwmae Kaleb, mae’n wych dy fod eisiau dod i weithio gyda ni! Mae angen i ti fod yn 18 oed i ddod i fyw a gweithio ar Ynys Echni. Mae hyn oherwydd efallai y bydd angen i ti wneud gwaith sy’n cynnwys gyrru’r tractor, torri prysgwydd, neu hyd yn oed ddal gwylanod! Mae’n rhaid i ni aros tan dy fod ychydig yn hŷn cyn y galli di wneud gwaith fel yma. Fodd bynnag, galli di ddod i ymweld â ni ar Ynys Echni ar unrhyw oedran a hyd yn oed aros dros nos yn ein llety.

Beth yw dy hoff fath o aderyn ar yr ynys?  – Lilly, Ysgol Gynradd Dinas Powys

Rwy’n eithaf siŵr y bydd Simon yn ateb dy gwestiwn yn ei fideo, Lilly, ond rydw i am ateb hefyd! Fy hoff adar ar Ynys Echni yw’r gwylanod. Maen nhw’n haerllug a doniol iawn, ac rydw i wrth fy modd gyda pha mor flin maen nhw’n edrych. Fy hoff brofiad yn gwylio’r gwylanod oedd pan welais i wylan yn pesychu selsigen siop sglodion gyfan i fyny i’w chywion. Mae gan wylanod enw drwg oherwydd eu bod yn dwyn bwyd (ac weithiau yn mynd i’r tŷ bach ar ben pobl), ond rydyn ni wrth ein bodd gyda’n gwylanod ar Ynys Echni.

Rhan fawr o waith tîm yr ynys yw gofalu am bron i 2,000 pâr o wylanod cefnddu lleiaf ac ychydig gannoedd o barau o wylanod y penwaig. Mae hyn yn waith mor bwysig gan fod y ddwy rywogaeth bellach ar y rhestr Adar o Bryder Cadwraethol, sy’n golygu, os na fyddwn yn gweithio i’w gwarchod nawr, efallai na fyddant yma yn y dyfodol.

Wyt ti erioed wedi rhoi maldod i gwningen? – Lizzy, Ysgol Gynradd Dinas Powys

Cwestiwn gwych, Lizzy. Mae gennym gannoedd – efallai dros 1,000 – o gwningod ar Ynys Echni ac er eu bod yn edrych yn hynod giwt a chwtshlyd, allwn ni ddim eu hanwesu. Mae’r holl anifeiliaid ar Ynys Echni yn wyllt ac weithiau maen nhw’n ofni pobl. Rydym yn ceisio rhoi cymaint o lonydd â phosib i’r bywyd gwyllt, a gadael iddyn nhw fyw eu bywydau bwni bach mewn heddwch.

Dermestes undulatus

Oes unrhyw ddarganfyddiadau newydd wedi’u gwneud ar Ynys Echni? – Sofia, Ysgol Gynradd Cefn Fforest

Kryptonesticus eremita

Rydw i wrth fy modd gyda’r cwestiwn hwn, Sofia! Rydym wedi gweld cymaint o ddarganfyddiadau anhygoel ar Ynys Echni. Eleni fe wnaethon ni ddarganfod rhywogaeth o chwilen, Dermestes undulatus,sydd heb ei gweld ar y tir mawr ers dros 3 blynedd! Mae gennym hefyd rywogaeth o bry cop, Kryptonesticus eremita,a ddarganfuwyd yn yr ogofâu ar Ynys Echni yn 2017. Nid yw’r pry cop hwn i’w weld yn unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig!  Mae’r Gloronen Aeron Ysgarlad yma hefyd, ffwng coch llachar sydd i’w weld yn Seland Newydd fel rheol, ond sydd i’w weld ar Ynys Echni hefyd!

Un o’r pethau sy’n gwneud fy swydd mor gyffrous yw’r cyfle i fod yn rhan o’r wyddoniaeth a’r darganfyddiadau sy’n digwydd ar yr ynys.  Mae gennym gymaint o ddirgelion nad oes gennym atebion iddynt o hyd, fel a oes mynachlog coll o dan y pridd, a hyd yn oed mwy o bryfed, planhigion a ffyngau i’w darganfod!

Pwy sy’n byw yn y goleudy?

Mae’n gwestiwn gwych, ond yn anffodus nid oedd enw arno! Roedd ceidwaid goleudy yma ‘slawer dydd, a oedd yn byw ar yr ynys. Roedden nhw’n gwneud yn siŵr bod y badell tân glo, a ddefnyddiwyd pan adeiladwyd y goleudy gyntaf, yn cadw i losgi! Yn anffodus gadawodd ceidwad olaf y goleudy yn 1988, pan ddaeth y goleudy’n awtomataidd. Mae hyn yn golygu bod y goleudy yn rhedeg heb fod angen i neb ar yr ynys wneud dim byd – fel robot. Ond cawr o robot! Ac un sy’n goleuo!

Cafodd y goleudy ei wella hyd yn oed yn fwy ym 1997, pan osodwyd paneli solar. Nawr mae’r goleudy’n rhedeg yn llwyr ar ynni solar. Mae gennym hefyd baneli solar eraill ger y Ffermdy a’r Bwthyn Corn Niwl, a dyna lle rydyn ni’n cael pŵer ar gyfer gweddill yr ynys.

Pa deganau sydd gennych chi ar yr ynys? – Ollie, Ysgol Gynradd Dinas Powys.

Hi Ollie, yn anffodus, nid oes gennym lawer o deganau ar Ynys Echni, ond rydym yn cadw gemau bwrdd ar gyfer pobl sy’n aros ar yr ynys. 

Mae yna hefyd lawer o bethau hwyl i’w gwneud yn yr awyr iach ar Ynys Echni. Rhai o’m hoff bethau i’w gwneud yw archwilio’r pyllau glan môr ar y traethau, chwilio am bryfed yn y glaswellt hir, codi boncyffion i chwilio am nadroedd defaid, a gwylio morloi a llamhidyddion. Mae’r wawr a’r machlud hefyd yn anhygoel ar Ynys Echni ac mae’n werth codi’n gynnar neu aros i fyny’n hwyr (tra’n mwynhau coelcerth ar y traeth!).

Ond mae gennym ni un hen ddol… roedd hi’n cael ei chadw yn y storfa arfau ger y goleudy. Nid oes gan y storfa arfau unrhyw oleuadau, a gall fod braidd yn arswydus, felly cafodd rhai o’n hymwelwyr ychydig o ofn wrth ddod o hyd i ddol lawr yno!

Ydych chi’n gwybod enw unrhyw un o’r milwyr oedd yn byw ar yr ynys?  Sut brofiad oedd gweithio ar Ynys Echni yn yr Ail Ryfel Byd? – Nia a Mason, Ysgol Gynradd Cefn Fforest.

Yn Ysgol Gynradd Cefn Fforest, fe wnes i sesiwn arbennig ar yr Ail Ryfel Byd a sut y defnyddiwyd Ynys Echni yn ystod y rhyfel. Roedd Blwyddyn 6 yn ffab – roedd ganddyn nhw gwestiynau arbennig am yr ynys a’i hanes, ac fe wnaethon nhw anfon post gwych i mi mewn côd Morse!

Fe edrychon ni yn archifau Ynys Echni a dod o hyd i’r cofnod hwn gan Ail Lefftenant o’r enw David Benger a leolwyd ar Ynys Echni mewn llyfr o’r enw Flat Holm Bristol Channel Island a ysgrifennwyd gan Bob Jory a’i Ffrindiau. Dyma ddyfyniad o ‘A Night on Flat Holm’.

“At One a.m., the expected happens. We are woken by the wail of the siren mounted on the roof of South Battery Command Post. No time for military formality. I pull on trousers, battle dress blouse and an old pair of flying boots, which require no lacing, seize a steel helmet, and run. Other indistinguishable forms too are racing across the island, stumbling against hammocks. Rabbits and sheep scurry away into the darkness, more scared of us than any enemy bomber. Over on the left, in the centre of the island I hear the sound of the radar diesel generator being hand-cranked – no luxurious self-starters in those day. It is near freezing, the oil is thick and cold and it is taking two blaspheming gunners to turn it, even at half compression. As I listen, it bursts uncertainly into life…’

Gobeithio y cewch chi i gyd Nadolig hyfryd! Byddaf yn ôl yn y Flwyddyn Newydd gyda mwy o chwilod, adar a chychod!

Os hoffech anfon post i’r ynys – byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych chi! Anfonwch e-bost at Sarah: sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk neu postiwch gerdyn Nadolig neu lythyr atom:

Tîm Ynys Echni,
Awdurdod Harbwr Caerdydd,
Tŷ’r Frenhines Alexandra,
Heol y Cargo,
Caerdydd,
CF10 4LY

Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Facebook @Flatholm, ar Twitter @Flatholmers neu ar Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

Byddwn i wrth fy modd yn ymweld â’ch ysgol neu gymuned i adrodd straeon Ynys Echni a rhannu anturiaethau warden yr ynys a’r tîm! I drefnu sesiwn estyn allan, e-bostiwch fi yn sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk

Diolch yn fawr iawn i’n noddwyr yng Nghronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol ac i’r rheini sy‘n chwarae’r Loteri Genedlaethol, sy’n gwneud ein holl waith yn bosibl.

Happy Holidays from Flat Holm

Hi everyone! It’s Sarah, the Flat Holm Community Engagement Officer here, and I’m feeling festive. It’s that time of the year again and to celebrate the season, we have a special blog. During my work in schools around South Wales, I’ve asked the children to send us some island post. Island post is an opportunity for children to send in their questions that they would like to be answered by the Flat Holm team.

I’ve picked some of my favourite questions to answer in the blog below. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a special video from our warden Simon, appearing on the Flat Holm YouTube channel soon!

When can I live in Flat Holm? – Kaleb, Ysgol Bro Helyg         

Hi Kaleb, that’s awesome that you want to come and work with us! You need to be 18 years old to come and live and work on Flat Holm. The reason for this is that you might have to do work that involves driving the tractor, cutting down scrub, or even catching gulls! We have to wait until you’re a bit older before you can do these types of jobs. However, you can come to visit us on Flat Holm at any age and even stay the night in our guest accommodation.

What is your favourite type of bird on the island? – Lilly, Dinas Powys Primary School

I’m pretty sure Simon will be answering your question in his video, Lilly, but I want to answer too! My favourite birds on Flat Holm are the gulls. They are really cheeky and funny, and I love how grumpy they look. My favourite gull watching experience was seeing a gull cough up a full-sized chip shop sausage for its chicks. Gulls can get a bit of a bad reputation because they steal food (and sometimes poop on people), but we love our gulls on Flat Holm.

A big part of the job of the island team is taking care of almost 2,000 pairs of lesser black-backed gulls and a few hundred pairs of herring gulls. This is such important work as both species are now on the Birds of Conservation Concern list, which means that if we don’t work to protect them now, they may not be here in the future.

Did you ever pet a bunny? – Lizzy, Dinas Powys Primary School

Great question, Lizzy. We have hundreds maybe even more than 1,000 rabbits on Flat Holm and despite them looking super cute and cuddly, we can’t pet them. All the animals on Flat Holm are wild and are sometimes scared of people. We try to leave the wildlife be, as much as we can, and let them live their little bunny lives in peace.

Have there been any new discoveries on Flat Holm Island? – Sofia, Cefn Fforest Primary

Dermestes undulatus

I love this question, thank you Sofia! We have had so many amazing discoveries on Flat Holm. This year we discovered a species of beetle, Dermestes undulatus,that hasn’t been seen on the mainland for over 3 years! We also have a species of spider, Kryptonesticus eremita,that was discovered in the caves on Flat Holm in 2017. This spider isn’t found anywhere else in the UK! We also have the Scarlet Berry Truffle, a bright red fungus that is usually found in New Zealand, but is also found on Flat Holm too!

Kryptonesticus eremita

Scarlet Berry Truffle

One of the things that makes my job so exciting is the opportunity to be involved in the science and discoveries that happen on the island. We have so many mysteries that we still don’t have answers to, such as if there is a long-forgotten monastery below the soil, and even more insects, plants and fungi to discover!

Who lives in the light house?

This is a great question but unfortunately there wasn’t a name on it! We used to have lighthouse keepers who lived on the island and made sure that the coal fired brazier that was used when the lighthbouse was first built stayed lit! The last lighthouse keeper unfortunately left in 1988, as the lighthouse became automated. This means that the lighthouse runs without anyone on the island needing to do anything – sort of like a robot. But giant! And that lights up!

The lighthouse was improved even more in 1997, when solar panels were installed. Now the lighthouse runs completely on solar energy. We also have other solar panels near the Farmhouse and the Foghorn Cottage, which is where we get power for the rest of the island.

What toys do you have on the island? – Ollie, Dinas Powys Primary School.

Hi Ollie, unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of toys on Flat Holm, but we do keep board games for people who are staying on the island.

There are also lots of fun things to do outside on Flat Holm. Some of my favourite things to do are explore the rock pools on the beaches, look for bugs in the long grass, lift logs to look for slow worms, and watch for seals and porpoises. Sunrises and sunsets are also amazing on Flat Holm and well worth getting up early or staying up late for (while enjoying a bonfire on the beach!).

We do have one old doll however… she used to be kept in the ammunition store near the lighthouse. The ammunition store doesn’t have any lights and can be really creepy, so finding a doll down there gave some of our visitors a bit of a fright!

Do you know the name of any of the soldiers that lived on the island? What was it like to work on Flat Holm island in WWII? – Nia & Mason, Cefyn Fforest Primary.

At Cefyn Fforest Primary, I did a special session on World War Two and how Flat Holm was used during the war. Year 6 were fab – they had some amazing questions about the island and its history, and sent me some fantastic island post in Morse code!

We did some digging in the Flat Holm archives and found this account from a Second Lieutenant named David Benger stationed on Flat Holm in from a book called Flat Holm Bristol Channel Island written by Bob Jory and Friends. It’s from an account called ‘A Night on Flat Holm’.

“At One a.m., the expected happens. We are woken by the wail of the siren mounted on the roof of South Battery Command Post. No time for military formality. I pull on trousers, battle dress blouse and an old pair of flying boots, which require no lacing, seize a steel helmet, and run. Other indistinguishable forms too are racing across the island, stumbling against hammocks. Rabbits and sheep scurry away into the darkness, more scared of us than any enemy bomber. Over on the left, in the centre of the island I hear the sound of the radar diesel generator being hand-cranked – no luxurious self-starters in those day. It is near freezing, the oil is thick and cold and it is taking two blaspheming gunners to turn it, even at half compression. As I listen, it bursts uncertainly into life…’

I hope you all have a wonderful festive season! I’ll be back in the New Year with more beetles, birds, and boats!

If you would like to send us some island post – we would love to hear from you! Send an email to Sarah: sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk or post us a Christmas card or a letter:

Flat Holm Island Team,
Cardiff Harbour Authority,
Queen Alexandra House,
Cargo Road,
Cardiff,
CF10 4LY

You can also follow us on Facebook @Flatholm, on Twitter @Flatholmers or on Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

I would love to visit your school or community to tell the stories of Flat Holm and share the adventures of the Flat Holm warden and team! To book an outreach session please email me at sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk

A massive thank you to our funders at the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players, who make all our work possible.

Gwylio Adar ar Ynys Echni

Shwmae ffrindiau, Sarah sydd yma eto, Swyddog Ymgysylltu Cymunedol Ynys Echni. Roedd fy nhaith ddiweddaraf i’r ynys gyda hen ffrind a’i thîm o fodrwywyr adar…

Ond yn gyntaf, nodyn bach ar fodrwyo adar. Modrwyo adar yw pan fydd ymchwilwyr yn dal adar ac yn rhoi bandiau metel bach arnynt gyda rhif sy’n benodol i’r aderyn hwnnw. Ychydig fel cod bar aderyn!  Mae ’na lawer o resymau dros wneud hyn, ac mae llawer o’r hyn rydyn ni’n ei wybod am fudo, hyd oes ac ymddygiadau adar wedi dod o’r hyn rydyn ni wedi gallu ei ddysgu o ail-ddal adar sydd wedi’u modrwyo. Er enghraifft, daethpwyd o hyd i’r Barcud Coch hynaf a gofnodwyd erioed yn ddiweddar yn Sir Gaerfyrddin (Red kite found in Carmarthenshire is Britain’s oldest – BBC News). Yn 26 oed, dim ond 5 mlynedd yn iau na fi oedd yr aderyn hwn! Wrth i dechnoleg wella, gallwn ffitio rhai adar â thracwyr GPS a darnau eraill o dechnoleg.  Mae’r BTO wedi bod yn cynnal ymchwil cŵl iawn ar y gog, gan eu tracio wrth iddynt fudo ar draws y Sahara i ddysgu mwy am pam y gallai’r adar hyn fod yn dirywio. Cuckoo Tracking Project | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology. Fodd bynnag, mae rhai adar yn rhy fach i hyn. I’r adar lleiaf, weithiau y ffordd orau o ddysgu amdanynt o hyd yw trwy osod modrwy.
Mae’r ffordd rydyn ni’n ffitio modrwyau ar adar yn bwysig iawn.  Mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud popeth posibl i atal straen neu anaf i adar.  Oherwydd hyn, dim ond unigolion hyfforddedig a medrus iawn sy’n cael dal a modrwyo adar. Mae’r holl drwyddedau a hyfforddiant ar gyfer modrwywyr adar yn dod o’r British Trust for Ornithology.  Mae gwefan BTO yn adnodd gwych i ddysgu mwy am fodrwyo adar neu gymryd rhan mewn ymchwil adar! Welcome to the British Trust for Ornithology | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology

Aderyn Drycin Manaw, Ynys Sgogwm

Mae fy ffrind Aurora wedi bod yn hyfforddi i fod yn fodrwywr adar ers blynyddoedd. Cwrddes i ag Aurora gyntaf ar ynys Sgogwm ar daith ymchwil yn 2019. Ni all unrhyw beth eich paratoi chi ar gyfer y gwallgofrwydd o fodrwyo Adar Drycin Manaw wrth iddyn nhw ymosod arnoch chi ynghanol y tywyllwch, ond dyna’n union rydyn ni’n treulio ein hamser yn ei wneud! Mae gosod modrwy ar aderyn sy’n gwingo gyda dim ond tortsh pen i oleuo eich gwaith yn her, ond roedd Aurora yn athro gwych, ac mae hi wir yn poeni am les yr anifeiliaid y mae hi’n gweithio gyda nhw. Ers hynny, mae Aurora wedi bod yn prysur astudio am ei PhD ar adar cân Amasonaidd, yn rhedeg safle modrwyo ym Mryste, ac yn anadlu bywyd newydd i mewn i grŵp modrwyo Ynys Echni! Mae grŵp modrwyo Ynys Echni wedi bod yn ychwanegu at ein gwybodaeth am fywyd adar Ynys Echni ers dros 40 mlynedd ac wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy wrth fonitro ein nythfeydd gwylanod. Mae Aurora a’i thîm wedi bod yn gweithio i greu dwy ymgyrch fudo yn yr hydref a’r gwanwyn, gan ddod allan i’r ynys i osod rhwydi niwl i ddal adar mudol sy’n pasio.

Wedi cwrdd ag Aurora a’i thîm yn y lanfa, cefais fy nharo gan ba mor debyg mae arbenigwyr mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd ecolegol! Maen nhw’n dod â tunelli o git, ac maen nhw’n dechrau gweithio o’r EILIAD maen nhw’n cyrraedd.  Cyn gadael Bae Caerdydd, roeddem wedi ychwanegu 7 rhywogaeth wahanol o adar at ein rhestr ar gyfer y daith!

Nico

Roedd corhedyddion y waun yn disgwyl y modrwywyr pan gyrhaeddon nhw, dwi’n meddwl – roedden nhw allan mewn niferoedd enfawr. Yn anffodus, dyma’r unig ffordd y gwelem gorhedyddion y waun, gan na chafodd yr un ohonyn nhw eu temtio i mewn i drap, er i’r tîm ddod â chynrhon byw gyda nhw yn arbennig i’r achlysur! Ar ôl setlo ychydig, roedd yn amser cynllunio.  Mae modrwywyr adar yn griw brwd iawn! Roedd y cynlluniau’n cynnwys deffro am 5:30 i osod rhwydi niwl i ddechrau am 6am. Mae’n rhaid gwirio rhwydi bob 20 munud felly roedd hynny’n golygu y byddai tri thîm yn patrolio eu hadrannau drwy gydol y dydd.  Er y gwaith caled a oedd wedi’i gynllunio, roedd y cyffro’n amlwg ac roedd y tîm yn barod i fynd. Cyn mynd i’r gwely, fodd bynnag, roeddem allan eto yn defnyddio tortshis is-goch i chwilio am adar yn clwydo. Cwningod oedd y mwyafrif helaeth o’r pethau y gwnaethom eu darganfod (LOT O GWNINOD!) ond fe lwyddon ni hefyd i rwydo ysguthan a chlywed galwadau pell piod y môr.

Dyw deffro am 5:30 ddim yn rhan o fy nhrefniadau arferol, a dweud y lleiaf, ond rydw i bob amser yn barod am antur newydd. Tra bod y modrwywyr yn gosod eu rhwydi, es i i’r lanfa i wylio’r wawr. Mae’r wawr ar Ynys Echni yn anhygoel! Dychwelais mewn amser i helpu i fodrwyo llinos werdd ifanc, aderyn du a thelor penddu. Mae’n fraint gallu gweld yr adar hyn yn agos a dysgu mwy am eu hymddygiad a’u bioleg.  Dwi ddim yn credu y bydda’ i byth yn fodrwywr, ond roeddwn i’n teimlo’n ffodus iawn o allu dysgu gan grŵp mor brofiadol a gwybodus. Roedd rhai o rywogaethau nodedig y daith yn cynnwys rhegen y dŵr, hutan y dŵr a gosog! Alla i ddim aros i weld beth ddaw i’r amlwg yn ystod ymweliad modrwyo’r gwanwyn!

Ysguthan

A yw’r blog hwn wedi eich ysbrydoli i ddysgu mwy am fodrwyo adar? Ymunwch â ni ar yr ynys y gwanwyn nesaf am dywys-daith bywyd gwyllt arbenigol gyda grŵp modrwyo Ynys Echni ac arddangosiadau modrwyo adar! E-bostiwch fi sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk i gadw eich lle.

Hoffech chi fod yn fodrwywr? Mae Aurora a’r tîm yn chwilio am 2-3 chynorthwy-ydd brwd i redeg ymgyrchoedd mudo’r gwanwyn a’r hydref. Anfonwch e-bost ataf sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk – byddaf yn hapus i rannu eich manylion â’r tîm!

Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Facebook @Flatholm, ar Twitter @Flatholmers neu ar Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

Byddwn i wrth fy modd yn ymweld â’ch ysgol neu gymuned i adrodd straeon Ynys Echni a rhannu anturiaethau warden yr ynys a’r tîm! I drefnu sesiwn estyn allan, e-bostiwch fi yn sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk

Diolch yn fawr iawn i’n noddwyr yng Nghronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol ac i’r rheini sy‘n chwarae’r Loteri Genedlaethol, sy’n gwneud ein holl waith yn bosibl.

Birding on Flat Holm

Hi friends, it’s Sarah again, the Community Engagement Officer for Flat Holm Island. My most recent trip to the island was with an old friend and her team of bird ringers…

But first, a little note on bird ringing. Bird ringing is when researchers catch birds and fit them with small metal bands that have a number which is specific to that bird. A bit like a bird bar-code! There are many reasons to do this, and a lot of what we know about the migration, lifespans, and behaviours of birds has come from what we have been able to learn from recapturing ringed birds. For example, the oldest known Red Kite ever recorded was found recently in Carmarthenshire Red kite found in Carmarthenshire is Britain’s oldest – BBC News At 26 years old this bird was just 5 years younger than me! As technology improves, we can fit some birds with GPS trackers and other bits of tech. The BTO have been conducting some super cool research on cuckoos, tracking them during their trans-Saharan migration to learn more about why these birds may be in decline. Cuckoo Tracking Project | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology. However, some birds are just too small for this. For the tiniest birds, sometimes the best way to learn about them is still by fitting a ring.
The way we fit rings on birds is really important. It is essential that we do everything possible to prevent stress or injury to birds. Because of this, only highly trained and skilled individuals are permitted to capture and ring birds. All licenses and training for bird ringers comes from the British Trust for Ornithology. The BTO website is a fantastic resource to find out more about bird ringing or to get involved in bird research! Welcome to the British Trust for Ornithology | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology

Manx Shearwater on Skokholm

My friend Aurora has been training to be a bird ringer for years. Aurora and I first met on Skokholm island on a research trip in 2019. Nothing can prepare you for the madness that is ringing Manx Shearwaters as they career into you in the pitch blackness, but that’s exactly what we spent our time doing! Fitting a ring to a squirming bird with only a head torch to illuminate your work is a challenge but Aurora was a great teacher, and she genuinely cares for the welfare of the animals she works with. Since then, Aurora has been busy studying for her PhD on Amazonian songbirds, running a ringing site in Bristol, and breathing new life into the Flat Holm ringing group! The Flat Holm ringing group have been adding to our knowledge of the bird life of Flat Holm for over 40 years and have been indispensable for their work monitoring our gull colonies. Aurora and her team have been working to set up two migration campaigns in autumn and spring, coming out to the island to set up mist nets to capture passing migratory birds.

Wheatear

Meeting Aurora and her team at the jetty, I was struck by how similar experts in a variety of ecological fields seem to be! They bring tonnes of kit, and they start work from the MOMENT they arrive. Before leaving Cardiff Bay, we had added 7 different species of bird to our list for the trip!

Juvenile Greenfinch

The meadow pipits seemed to be expecting the ringers when they arrived and were out in huge numbers. Unfortunately, this would be the only way we would see the meadow pipits as not a single one could be tempted into a trap, despite the team bringing some live mealworms especially for the occasion! After settling in a bit, it was time to plan. Bird ringers are an intense bunch! The plans included a 5:30 wake up call to set up mist nets for a 6am start. Nets have to be checked every 20 minutes so that meant that three teams would be patrolling their sections throughout the day. Despite the hard work planned, the excitement was palpable and the team were raring to go. Before bed, however, we were out again using infra-red torches to look for roosting birds. Most of what we discovered were rabbits (LOTS OF RABBITS!) but we also managed to net a woodpigeon and heard the distant calls of oystercatchers.

Wood Pigeon

5:30 wake up calls are not my usual but I’m always up for a new adventure. While the ringers set up their nets, I headed to the jetty to watch the sunrise. The sunrises on Flat Holm are incredible! I got back just in time to help ring a juvenile greenfinch, a blackbird and a black cap. It is such a privilege to be able to see these birds close up and to learn more about their behaviour and biology. I don’t think I’ll ever be a ringer, but I felt very fortunate to be able to learn from such an experienced and knowledgeable group. Some notable species from the trip included water rail, a turnstone, and a goshawk! I can’t wait to see what turns up during our Spring ringing visit!

Turnstone

Has this blog inspired you to learn more about bird ringing? Join us on island next spring for an expert guided wildlife walk with the Flat Holm ringing group and bird ringing demonstrations! Email me sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk to book your place.

Are you an aspiring ringer? Aurora and the team are looking for 2 -3 keen helpers to run their spring and autumn migration campaigns. Drop me an email sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk, I’ll be happy to pass on your details to the team!

You can also follow us on Facebook @Flatholm, on Twitter @Flatholmers or on Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

I would love to visit your school or community to tell the stories of Flat Holm and share the adventures of the Flat Holm warden and team! To book an outreach session please email me at sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk

A massive thank you to our funders at the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players, who make all our work possible.

Calan Gaeaf hapus!

Sarah sydd yma, y tro hwn i ddweud wrthych am ochr fwy brawychus bywyd gwyllt yr ynys!

Fy hoff ran o’r byd naturiol yw’r parasitiaid a’r pathogenau sy’n gwneud eu bywoliaeth oddi ar greaduriaid eraill ond sydd hefyd yn hanfodol i ecosystemau! Fel gwledd Calan Gaeaf, rwyf wedi dewis pum creadur arswydus yr ydym yn rhannu’r ynys â nhw sydd i gyd yn rhan annatod o wneud Ynys Echni yn lle mor anhygoel.

Chwilod sy’n bwyta cnawd

Efallai eich bod wedi gweld erthyglau yn ddiweddar am ein chwilod sy’n bwyta cnawd ar Ynys Echni, sef Dermestes undulatus. Peidiwch ag ofni – nid yw’r chwilod hyn yn bwyta pobl sy’n fyw. Maent mewn gwirionedd yn beirianwyr ecosystem hanfodol, meddwl amdanynt fel criw glanhau’r ynys. Maent yn gallu dadelfennu croen, plu a hyd yn oed ffwr! Efallai nad carcasau sych gwylanod a chwningod yw hoff fwyd y rhan fwyaf ohonom, ond mae’r chwilod hyn wrth eu bodd. Nid D. undulatus yw unig aelod y criw glanhau chwaith, mae gennym hefyd chwilod sexton anhygoel, sydd yn arbenigwyr yn ochr fwy soeglyd y glanhau, ac mae’n well ganddynt garcasau ffres gydag ychydig mwy o gig ar yr esgyrn.

Goresgyniad y cipwyr cyrff

Dyma’r gacynen Slip Du, un o’r cacwn parasitig sydd i’w gweld ar Ynys Echni ac un yr oeddwn yn ddigon ffodus i’w gweld ar fy ymweliad cyntaf! Ond beth mae parasitig yn ei olygu? Organeb yw parasit sy’n byw ar neu mewn organeb arall o rywogaeth wahanol (y gwesteiwr) ac sy’n cael maetholion ar draul y gwesteiwr. Yn yr achos hwn, y gacynen Slip Du yw’r parasit ac mae’n dodwy wyau y tu mewn i’w gwesteiwyr, sef y lindys (Ydych chi erioed wedi gweld ffilmiau Alien?). I wneud hyn, mae gan gacwn benywaidd wenwyn cryf sy’n parlysu’r gwesteiwyr a wyddodydd hir (y darn sy’n edrych fel pigwr!) i chwistrellu’r wyau i mewn i gorff y lindys. Ffaith ryfedd iawn am y gacynen Slip Du yw bod gwenwyn y gacynen yn atal y gwesteiwr rhag aeddfedu, gan ei gadw fel lindys yn barhaol! Mae hyn yn caniatáu mwy o amser i’r cacwn larfaol ddeor a bwyta’r lindys o’r tu mewn allan – Ffiaidd.

Mae’r gacynen slip du hefyd yn rhan werthfawr iawn o’r ecosystem. Heb y parasitiaid hyn, byddai niferoedd y lindys yn llawer uwch ac yn debygol o redeg allan o’u planhigion bwyd. Mae’r cacwn eu hunain hefyd yn ysglyfaeth i lawer o’r rhywogaethau adar anhygoel ar Ynys Echni fel Tinwen y Garn, Y Wennol, a’r Wennol Ddu.

Arachnophobia

Rydym mor ffodus ar Ynys Echni i gael 41 rhywogaeth o bryfed cop! Mae gennym hefyd rywogaeth na cheir yn unman arall ym Mhrydain: Kryptonesticus eremita. Mae’n debygol bod y pry cop yma sy’n byw mewn ogofâu wedi dod o dir mawr Ewrop a gall ei bresenoldeb mewn ogof smyglwyr ar Ynys Echni fod oherwydd smyglwyr oedd yn storio nwyddau o Ewrop yn yr ogofâu hyn. Mae gan K. eremita goesau hir iawn a blewog sy’n debygol o fod yn addasiad i ddod o hyd i’w prae yn y tywyllwch!

Efallai fod y syniad o gwrdd â’r bwystfilod coesau hir yma yn y tywyllwch yn ddigon i roi ias i lawr eich cefn ond mae pryfed cop mor bwysig i ecosystemau. Mae pryfed cop yn rheoli rhywogaethau o bryfed sydd yn bla, maent yn fwyd pwysig i anifeiliaid eraill, ac mae rhai rhywogaethau o bryfed cop yn peillio planhigion hyd yn oed.

Gwylanod Enfawr

Rydym yn caru ein gwylanod ar Ynys Echni. Mae tîm yr ynys yn gweithio’n rhyfeddol o galed i sicrhau bod gan ein gwylanod ddigon o le ar gyfer eu nythod a’u bod yn cael eu cyfrif fel mater o drefn i sicrhau bod eu poblogaethau’n iach. Mae Gwylanod Cefnddu Mwyaf ar restr Ambr o bryder cadwraethol yn y DU gydag ond ryw 15,000 o barau ar ôl. Ar Ynys Echni mae gennym un pâr o wylanod Cefnddu Mwyaf yn nythu.

Gyda hyd adenydd cyfartalog o ryw 50cm a phwysau corff o 1.56kg, mae’r gwylanod hyn yn eithaf swmpus – yn ddigon mawr i fwyta cwningen GYFAN. Fy hoff brofiad o wylio gwylanod oedd gweld Gwylan Gefnddu Fwyaf yn glanio wrth ymyl cwningen ifanc, yn cydio ynddi wrth ei hwyneb a’i llyncu – ei phen yn gyntaf. Profiad nodedig arall oedd gwylio Gwylan Gefnddu Fwyaf yn ysgwyd aderyn drycin Manaw nes iddo droi y tu fewn tu fas. Nid yw gwylio gwylanod yn addas i’r gwan eu calon.

Ffyngau Cyfareddol

Ein darganfyddiad dychrynllyd olaf ar Ynys Echni yw’r ffwng Het Gwrach yma! Fe’i gelwir hefyd yn gap cwyr duol am ei fod yn troi’n ddu wrth iddo heneiddio. Mae’r ffwng yma’n helpu i ddadelfennu deunydd planhigion yn ei amgylchedd, gan ddiferu ensymau traul i’r pridd o’i amgylch. Mae’r ffyngau lliwgar hyn yn anhygoel i’w gweld ond maent hefyd yn hynod seimllyd!

Mae ein holl fywyd gwyllt ar Ynys Echni yn werthfawr, waeth pa mor ffiaidd, echrydus, neu arswydus a gallwch ein helpu ni i’w warchod! I archebu sesiwn ar gyfer eich ysgol neu grŵp cymunedol yn ymwneud â chadwraeth a bywyd gwyllt ar Ynys Echni, anfonwch e-bost ataf: Sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk

Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Facebook @Flatholm, ar Twitter @Flatholmers neu ar Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i’n noddwyr yng Nghronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol ac i’r rheiny sy‘n chwarae’r Loteri Genedlaethol, sy’n gwneud ein holl waith yn bosibl.

Happy Halloween!

Sarah here, this time to tell you all about the spookier side of island wildlife!

My favourite part of the natural world are the parasites and pathogens that make their living off of other creatures, but are also vital to ecosystems! As a Halloween treat, I’ve chosen five creepy creatures that we share the island with that are all integral to making Flat Holm such an amazing place.

D. undulatus, photograph courtesy of George Tordoff.

Flesh eating beetles

You may have recently seen articles about our flesh-eating beetles on Flat Holm, Dermestes undulatus. No need to fear – these beetles don’t eat living humans. They’re actually essential ecosystem engineers, think of them like an island clean-up crew. They can break down skin, feathers and even fur! Dried out carcasses of gulls and rabbits might not be the favourite food for most of us, but these beetles can’t get enough. D. undulatus isn’t on its own on the clean-up crew either, we also have these incredible sexton beetles, who are specialists in the squishier side of the clean-up, preferring the fresher carcasses with a bit more meat on the bones.

The black slip wasp

Invasion of the body snatchers

This is the black slip wasp, one of the parasitic wasps that can be found on Flat Holm Island and one which I was lucky enough to see on my first visit! But what does parasitic mean? A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species (the host) and gains nutrients at the expense of the host. In this case, the black slip wasp is the parasite and lays its eggs inside of its caterpillar hosts (ever seen the Alien films?). To do this, female wasps have a potent venom that paralyses hosts and use their long ovipositor (the structure that looks like a stinger!) to inject the eggs inside the body of the caterpillar. A super weird fact about the black slip wasp is that the venom of the wasp prevents the host from maturing, keeping it as a caterpillar permanently! This allows more time for the larval wasps to hatch out and devour the caterpillar from the inside out – gross.

The black slip wasp is also a really valuable part of the ecosystem. Without these parasites, the caterpillar numbers would be much higher and would likely run out of their food plants. The wasps themselves are also prey for many of the amazing bird species on Flat Holm such as wheatears, swallows, and swifts.

K. eremita

Arachnophobia

We are so fortunate on Flat Holm to have 41 species of spiders! We also have a species found no-where else in Britain: Kryptonesticus eremita. This cave dwelling spider has likely come from mainland Europe and its presence in Smugglers cave on Flat Holm may be due to smugglers stowing goods from Europe in these caves. K. eremita has super long and hairy legs which are lightly an adaptation to finding their prey in the dark!

The idea of meeting this long-legged beasty in the dark might be enough to send shivers down your spine but spiders are so important to ecosystems: spiders control pest insect species, are important food for other animals, and some species of spider even pollinate plants.

great black-backed gull

Gigantic Gulls

We love our gulls on Flat Holm. Our island team works amazingly hard to make sure that our gulls have plenty of space for their nests and that they are routinely counted to ensure that their populations are healthy. Greater black-backed gulls (GBBG) are on the Amber list of conservation concern in the UK with only around 15,000 pairs left. On Flat Holm we have one pair of nesting greater black-back gulls.

With an average wing length of around 50cm and a body weight of 1.56kg, these gulls are pretty sizable – big enough to eat a rabbit WHOLE. My favourite gull-watching experience was seeing a GBBG land next to a young rabbit, grab it by the face and swallow it. Head. First. Another notable experience was watching a GBBG shake a Manx shearwater until it turned inside out. Gull watching is not for the faint of heart.

witches hat/blackening wax cap

Bewitching Fungi

Our final frightful find on Flat Holm is this witches hat fungus! Also known as the blackening waxcap as it turns black as it ages. This fungus helps to break down plant material in its environment, oozing out digestive enzymes into the surrounding soil. These colourful fungi are amazing to see but are also super slimy!

All our wildlife on Flat Holm is valuable, no matter how gross, gruesome, or grisly, and you can help us to conserve it! To book a session for your school or community group about conservation and wildlife on Flat Holm drop me an email: Sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook @Flatholm, on Twitter @Flatholmers or on Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland.

A massive thank you to our funders at the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players, who make all our work possible.

Flat Holm BioBlitz!

Moth trapping and bat surveying at the pub

Hi friends, Sarah here. We were lucky enough to host a team of experts on the island recently, to study the island’s biodiversity. Among their discoveries were some new records for the island, some new records for Wales, and even a species that may be new to science!

Orb weaver

Meeting a literal boat-load of experts (3 seats shy of a boat-load to make room for me and some kit!) was a slightly intimidating task for my second week on the job. As it turned out, all the experts were not only leaders in their fields but also lovely people too. Our dream team consisted of insect, fungi, plant, bat, and marine life experts. Before we could even get on the boat, the team spotted some orb weavers on the jetty!

Castle Rock

The sun was beaming down on us as we raced across the Bristol Channel to Flat Holm. For some of the expert team this was their first trip to the island, and they were raring to go. One of the biggest lessons I learned from this trip is how difficult it is to organise a team of ecologists. You can’t walk very far without them spotting something interesting! They are also impossible to find once they start to explore. Many of the team were on the hunt for rare and elusive species which meant exploring areas of the island I had never been to. I followed experts into sea caves halfway up cliffs, drainage ditches full of elder trees and brambles, and even on a nocturnal excursion into a World War Two bunker to look for clothes moths!

Box moth

Day two was off to a strong start with a 6am wake up call for a jog around the island and moth trapping! To catch and record the moths, the experts set up 5 different traps around the island, some of which were monitored at night and taken down, and some of which were left running all night. From the overnight traps, we caught an amazing array of species including a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) with the most amazing iridescent wings, a first for the island but unfortunately an invasive species. We also welcomed a group of 12 learners onto the island. They followed the experts around the island learning ID skills. Emma, one of our expert team also taught us how, when, and where to look – a skill sometimes more valuable than ID skills! Another takeaway from this weekend for me was how much can be found in the smallest places, from microscopic cup fungi on twigs to tiny moths living inside bracken stems. We ended the evening with yet more moth trapping and of course a visit to the island pub, the Gull and Leek! Our bat expert, Alex, led the learners on a bat walk and recorded the calls of Soprano and Common Pipistrelles.

Some of our experts ready to engage with our learners!

Dermestes undulatus

Day three was a rough start with damp conditions meaning all hands-on deck to empty the moth traps before they became too wet. We were fortunate to still have some amazing finds, such as a Burnished Brass Moth that has the most amazing camouflage. We also had a repeat find of a red false truffle – a real rarity! The day absolutely flew by and before I knew it, it was time to head to the jetty but not before a final incredible find. Two of our experts, while shaking a gull carcass over a tray (as you do), discovered a rare species of beetle, Dermestes undulatus, a first for Wales. It has also not been recorded in England since 2020, meaning our island could be the last stronghold of this species in the UK! These tiny beetles live inside of and feed on carcasses. Dermestes literally means skin eater, alluding to this beetle’s preference for dried out bodies and remains of animals such as skin, fur, and bones. They can be a bit of a pain in museum collections but are incredibly useful in forensic science to help determine how long a body has been in situ! How they got to the island is a bit of a mystery, given that they appear to be completely absent from the mainland now, but it’s possible they were brought by gulls carrying scavenged remains. The questions are endless, this could be the start of some really exciting research!

The beetles on route to an expert

Back on the mainland, the fun doesn’t stop! To verify this amazing scientific discovery, we needed to transport samples of the beetle to an expert for microscopic and genetic analysis. How many people can say they’ve had a rare species in their passenger seat?!? Of course, with a seat-belt on and driving very, VERY, carefully.

Thank you to George Tordoff for his incredible photo of Dermestes undulatus and apologies for attributing it to another photographer!

Burnished brass moth

We’re already planning another BioBlitz next spring and I can’t wait! Want to be part of the team? Join us as one of our learners. Email me sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk for more details and to book your spot!

You can also follow us on Facebook @Flatholm, on Twitter @Flatholmers or on Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

I would love to visit your school or community to tell the stories of Flat Holm and share the adventures of the Flat Holm warden and team! To book an outreach session please email me at sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk

A massive thank you to our funders at the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players, who make all our work possible.

BioBlitz Ynys Echni!

Helo ffrindiau, Sarah sydd yma. Roedden ni’n ddigon ffodus i groesawu tîm o arbenigwyr i’r ynys yn ddiweddar, i astudio bioamrywiaeth yr ynys. Ymysg eu darganfyddiadau roedd recordiau newydd i’r ynys, recordiau newydd i Gymru, a hyd yn oed rhywogaeth a allai fod yn newydd i wyddoniaeth!

RRoedd cwrdd â llond cwch o arbenigwyr (wel 3 sedd yn llai na llond llwyth cwch er mwyn gwneud lle i fi a fy offer!) yn dasg eitha’ heriol i fy ail wythnos yn y swydd. Fel y digwyddodd, yn ogystal â bod yn arweinwyr yn eu meysydd, roedd yr holl arbenigwyr yn bobl hyfryd hefyd. Roedd ein tîm delfrydol yn cynnwys arbenigwyr pryfed, ffyngau, planhigion, ystlumod a bywyd morol. Hyd yn oed cyn i ni allu mynd ar y cwch, gwelodd y tîm wehyddion orb ar y lanfa!

Roedd yr haul yn disgleirio arnom wrth i ni rasio ar draws Môr Hafren i Ynys Echni. I rai o’r tîm arbenigol, dyma oedd eu taith gyntaf i’r ynys ac roedden nhw ar dân eisiau mynd. Un o’r gwersi mwyaf a ddysgais o’r daith hon yw pa mor anodd yw trefnu tîm o ecolegwyr. Allwch chi ddim cerdded yn bell iawn heb iddyn nhw sylwi ar rywbeth diddorol! Maen nhw hefyd yn amhosibl dod o hyd iddynt ar ôl iddyn nhw ddechrau archwilio. Roedd llawer o’r tîm yn chwilio am rywogaethau prin ac anodd eu gweld a oedd yn golygu archwilio rhannau o’r ynys nad oeddwn i erioed wedi bod iddyn nhw. Dilynais arbenigwyr i ogofâu môr hanner ffordd i fyny clogwyni, ffosydd draenio yn llawn coed ysgawen a mieri, a hyd yn oed ar daith nosol i fyncer yr Ail Ryfel Byd i chwilio am wyfynod dillad!

Dechreuodd yr ail ddiwrnod yn dda gyda galwad deffro am 6am i loncian o amgylch yr ynys a dal gwyfynod! Er mwyn dal a chofnodi’r gwyfynod, gosododd yr arbenigwyr 5 magl wahanol o amgylch yr ynys, gyda rhai ohonynt yn cael eu monitro yn ystod y nos a’u tynnu i lawr, a rhai wedi’u gadael trwy’r nos. O’r maglau dros nos fe ddalion ni amrywiaeth anhygoel o rywogaethau gan gynnwys Gwyfyn y Pren Bocs (Cydalima perspectalis) gyda’r adenydd gwynias mwyaf anhygoel, y tro cyntaf iddo gael ei weld ar yr ynys ond yn anffodus mae’n rhywogaeth ymledol! Gwnaethon ni hefyd groesawu grŵp o 12 o ddysgwyr i’r ynys. Dilynon nhw’r arbenigwyr o amgylch yr ynys i ddysgu sgiliau adnabod. Fe wnaeth Emma, un o’n tîm arbenigol, ein dysgu sut, pryd a ble i chwilio hefyd – sgil sydd weithiau yn fwy gwerthfawr na sgiliau adnabod! Rhywbeth arall a ddysgais o’r penwythnos hwn oedd faint sydd i’w weld yn y mannau lleiaf, o ffyngau cwpan microsgopig ar frigau i wyfynod bach sy’n byw y tu mewn i goesynnau rhedyn! Gorffennon ni’r noson yn dal mwy fyth o wyfynod ac wrth gwrs gydag ymweliad â thafarn yr ynys, y Gull and Leek! Arweiniodd ein harbenigwr ystlumod, Alex, y dysgwyr ar daith gerdded ystlumod gan recordio galwadau Ystlumod Soprano ac Ystlumod Lleiaf!

Dechreuodd diwrnod tri yn anghyfforddus gyda thywydd llaith gan olygu bod rhaid i bawb helpu i wagio’r maglau gwyfynnod cyn iddynt fynd yn rhy wlyb. Roedden ni’n ffodus i wneud darganfyddiadau anhygoel fel Gem Pres Gloyw sydd â’r cuddliw mwyaf anhygoel! A darganfyddiad ailadroddus o gloron ffug coch – prin go iawn! Aeth y diwrnod heibio’n hynod gyflym a chyn i mi wybod, roedd hi’n amser mynd i’r lanfa ond nid cyn darganfyddiad anhygoel olaf. Gwnaeth dau o’n harbenigwyr, wrth ysgwyd carcas gwylan dros hambwrdd (peidiwch â gofyn!), ddarganfod rhywogaeth brin o chwilod, Dermestes undulatus, y tro cyntaf iddi gael ei gweld yng Nghymru. Nid yw wedi’i chofnodi yn Lloegr chwaith ers 2020, sy’n golygu y gallai ein hynys fod yn gadarnle olaf y rhywogaeth hon yn y DU! Mae’r chwilod bach hyn yn byw y tu mewn i garcasau ac yn bwydo arnyn nhw. Ystyr Dermestes yn llythrennol yw bwytäwr croen, gan gyfeirio at ddewis y chwilen hon o gyrff sych a gweddillion anifeiliaid fel croen, ffwr ac esgyrn. Gallan nhw fod yn dipyn o boen yng nghasgliadau amgueddfeydd ond maen nhw’n hynod ddefnyddiol mewn gwyddoniaeth fforensig i helpu i benderfynu pa mor hir y mae corff wedi bod yn ei le! Mae sut cyrhaeddon nhw’r ynys yn dipyn o ddirgelwch, o gofio eu bod nhw’n hollol absennol o’r tir mawr erbyn hyn, ond mae’n bosib iddyn nhw gael eu gludo draw gan wylanod yn cario gweddillion wedi’u fforio. Mae’r cwestiynau’n ddiddiwedd; gallai hyn fod yn ddechrau ymchwil gyffrous iawn!Darganfu dau o’n harbenigwyr, wrth ysgwyd carcas gwylan dros hambwrdd (fel y gwnewch chi), rywogaeth brin o chwilen, Dermestes undulatus, y cyntaf i Gymru, ac nid yw wedi’i chofnodi yn Lloegr ers 2020 chwaith, sy’n golygu y gallai ein hynys fod yn gadarnle olaf y rhywogaeth hon yn y DU! Mae’r chwilod bach hyn yn byw y tu mewn i garcasau ac yn bwydo arnyn nhw. Ystyr Dermestes yn llythrennol yw bwytäwr croen, gan gyfeirio at ddewis y chwilen hon o gyrff sych a gweddillion anifeiliaid fel croen, ffwr ac esgyrn. Gallan nhw fod yn dipyn o boen yng nghasgliadau amgueddfeydd ond maen nhw’n hynod ddefnyddiol mewn gwyddoniaeth fforensig i helpu i benderfynu pa mor hir y mae corff wedi bod yn ei le! Mae sut cyrhaeddon nhw i’r ynys yn dipyn o ddirgelwch, o gofio eu bod nhw’n hollol absennol o’r tir mawr erbyn hyn, ond mae’n bosib iddyn nhw gael eu gludo draw gan wylanod yn cario gweddillion wedi’u fforio. Mae’r cwestiynau’n ddiddiwedd, gallai hyn fod yn ddechrau ymchwil cyffrous iawn!

Yn ôl ar y tir mawr, nid oes diwedd i’r hwyl! I ddilysu’r darganfyddiad gwyddonol anhygoel hwn, roedd angen i ni gludo samplau o’r chwilen i arbenigwr ar gyfer dadansoddi microsgopig a genetig. Faint o bobl all ddweud eu bod wedi cludo rhywogaeth brin ar sedd yn eu car?!? Wrth gwrs, gyda gwregys diogelwch arni a minnau’n gyrru’n ofalus iawn, IAWN.

Diolch i George Tordoff am ei lun anhygoel o Dermestes undulatus – edrychwch ar waith anhygoel

Rydym eisoes yn cynllunio BioBlitz arall y gwanwyn nesaf ac rwyf i ar bigau’r drain! Eisiau bod yn rhan o’r tîm? Ymunwch â ni fel un o’n dysgwyr. E-bostiwch fi sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk am fwy o fanylion ac i gadw eich lle!

Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Facebook @Flatholm, ar Twitter @Flatholmers neu ar Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

Byddwn i wrth fy modd o ymweld â’ch ysgol neu gymuned i adrodd straeon Ynys Echni a rhannu anturiaethau warden yr ynys a’r tîm! I drefnu sesiwn allgymorth, e-bostiwch fi yn sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk

Diolch yn fawr iawn i’n noddwyr yng Nghronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol ac i’r rheiny sy‘n chwarae’r Loteri Genedlaethol, sy’n gwneud ein holl waith yn bosibl.

Ymweliad Cyntaf ag Ynys Echni

Helo ‘na!

Sarah ydw i a fi yw’r Swyddog Ymgysylltu Cymunedol newydd ar gyfer prosiect Ynys Echni: Cerdded Drwy Amser. Fy ngwaith i yw rhannu straeon ynglŷn ag Ynys Echni – ac mae ‘na gymaint! Ynys llawn hanes dynol a naturiol yw Ynys Echni.  Dw i wedi cael dechrau anhygoel i’m swydd newydd ac wedi ymweld â’r ynys arbennig i ddysgu mwy am ei bywyd gwyllt, ei threftadaeth a sut brofiad yw byw a gweithio ar ynys fechan ym Môr Hafren.

Mae’n bosib na ddylwn i rannu hyn gyda chi, ond un o rannau gorau ein hymweliad oedd y daith gwch. I gyrraedd yr ynys fe deithion ni ar gwch RIB. Gall y cychod hyn gyrraedd cyflymder uchaf o tua 56mya ond mae’n teimlo’n llawer cyflymach gyda’r gwynt a’r môr yn tasgu yn fy wyneb wrth hedfan dros y tonnau! Sgipio dros y tonnau a chadw i fyny â gwylanod fyny fry yw fy hoff ffordd newydd o deithio. Mae wir yn teimlo fel dechrau antur. Ar ôl i ni gyrraedd yr ynys, cawsom ein cyfarch gan y gwirfoddolwyr hynod gyfeillgar sy’n byw ac yn gweithio yno. Mae’r gwirfoddolwyr yn gwybod cymaint am yr ynys ac yn hapus i ateb fy holl gwestiynau. Ar ôl paned o de cyflym a dod i adnabod pawb, roedd hi’n bryd archwilio.

Colourful Dog Whelks

peth sydd mor drawiadol yw pa mor wyllt yw’r ynys. Cyn gynted ag y cyrhaeddwch chi, cewch eich amgylchynu gan gaeau o gennin gwyllt a llysiau’r gingroen, sŵn y gwylanod, rhincian y criciaid, a mwmian y gwenyn. Mae arogl y môr ac arogl cynnes rhedyn a llystyfiant llaith yn eich amgylchynu wrth i chi grwydro dros draethau cerrig neu drwy’r glaswellt hir ac fe welwch gwningod a chywion gwylan yn gwibio allan o’r isdyfiant. Fy narganfyddiad y dydd oedd y wenynen slip coch, sef gwenynen feirch barasitig sy’n dodwy ei hwyau ar lindys. Nesaf cawsom daith o amgylch yr ynys gyda Simon, y warden ar Ynys Echni (fe’i methwyd bron ar ôl i’r wenynen ddiddorol dynnu ein sylw). Dywedodd Simon gymaint wrthym am dreftadaeth yr ynys, o ddarganfod bwyell o’r Oes Efydd i adeiladu barics y fyddin yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd. Fy hoff adeilad o bell ffordd oedd yr ysbyty colera Fictoraidd anhygoel, sydd heddiw bron fel sgerbwd o frics yn edrych dros yr ynys. Cawsom gyfle hefyd i grwydro’r twneli storio ffrwydron o dan yr ynys. Wedi’i ddylunio fel na fyddai matsien sy’n cael ei thaflu’n ddiofal yn llosgi’r ynys gyfan, mae naws digon annifyr i’r twneli helaeth hyn, lle perffaith i adrodd straeon ysbryd am drigolion blaenorol yr ynys!

Black Slip Wasp

Gorffennon ni ein diwrnod cyntaf ar yr ynys gyda choelcerth ar y traeth lle wnaethon ni dostio malws melys a gwrando am alwadau piod y môr oedd yn hedfan uwch ein pennau. Daeth ein torshis pen yn ddefnyddiol iawn wrth grwydro’r traeth yn ystod y nos ac ar gyfer hela crancod mewn pyllau glan môr. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o rywogaethau crancod yn nosol, felly yn aml dyma’r amser gorau i’w gweld.

Ynys Echni Lighthouse

Roedd yr ail ddiwrnod ar yr ynys yn lawog a diflas, ond nid yw hynny’n atal tîm o wirfoddolwyr Ynys Echni. Fe dreulion ni’r diwrnod yn clirio’r ardal bicnic o flaen yr ystafelloedd cysgu oedd yn llawn llysiau’r gingroen ac ysgall. Cawsom lawer o help gan ddefaid Boreray yr ynys a ddechreuodd bwyta’r glaswellt a’r gwreiddiau. Mae’r defaid hyn yn rhywogaeth sydd mewn perygl a chawsant eu cyflwyno i’r ynys i helpu i greu safleoedd nythu newydd ar gyfer gwylanod trwy fwtya’r llystyfiant sydd wedi gordyfu. Wrth siarad am wylanod, ni fyddai sôn am ymweliad ag Ynys Echni yn gyflawn heb gyfeirio atynt! Ymwelon ni ym mis Awst, pan roedd y rhan fwyaf o barau gwylanod eisoes wedi gadael, ond roedd digon ohonynt i’w gweld o hyd. Mae dros 2,000 o wylanod yn nythu ar Ynys Echni, sy’n cynnwys gwylanod cefnddu lleiaf, gwylanod y penwaig, a dau bâr o wylanod cefnddu mwyaf. Roeddem yn ddigon ffodus i weld dau gyw gwylanod cefnddu lleiaf y tu allan i’n hystafelloedd cysgu, yn cael eu gwarchod gan oedolyn ewn iawn. Mae’r cywion yn hynod giwt a fflwfflyd ac mae ganddynt guddliw anhygoel sy’n eu helpu i weddu i’w cynefin arfordirol creigiog. Gwelsom hefyd lamhidydd oddi ar ochr ogleddol yr ynys! Fy hoff beth bywyd gwyllt y dydd oedd y nadroedd defaid oedd yn byw yn yr ardd. Mae nadroedd defaid ar Ynys Echni yn fwy trwchus na’u cymheiriaid ar y tir mawr ac mae gan y gwrywod gennau glas llachar yn ystod y tymor bridio. Y rheswm dros y gwahaniaethau hyn rhwng y nadroedd defaid ar yr ynys a’r tir mawr mae’n debyg yw gan nad oes ganddynt ysglyfaethwyr naturiol ar Ynys Echni a gallant fforddio bod ychydig yn fwy lliwgar.

Cholera Isolation Hospital

Ar noson yr ail ddiwrnod, fe wnaethon ni fachu blancedi a swatio yn yr ardal gyffredin gydag ychydig o siocled poeth. Wnaethon ni chwarae gemau bwrdd a darllen llyfrau tan hanner nos, yn aros am gawod meteor Perseid! Aethon ni i’r lanfa gyda’n fflachlampau pen dibynadwy i geisio gweld seren wib. Nid yw gorwedd ar y traeth cerrig yn ofnadwy o gyfforddus, ac yn sicr mae angen gwisgo’n gynnes, ond Ynys Echni yw’r lle delfrydol i syllu ar y sêr, gan fod y diffyg goleuadau artiffisial yn golygu mai ychydig iawn o lygredd golau sydd, ac mae’n rhoi golwg heb ei hail i ni o’r gawod meteor – profiad anhygoel!

Sea Thrift

Roedd ein diwrnod olaf ar yr ynys yn chwerwfelys. Roeddwn yn drist i adael mor fuan ond yn edrych ymlaen at ddychwelyd am antur arall. Gwnaeth morlo llwyd ddod i’r golwg wrth i ni adael i godi’n calon a gwibiodd gylfinir dros yr ynys wrth i ni aros am ein cwch ar y lanfa. Alla i ddim aros i ddod yn ôl!

Byddwn i wrth fy modd yn ymweld â’ch ysgol neu gymuned i adrodd straeon Ynys Echni a rhannu anturiaethau warden yr ynys a’r tîm! I drefnu sesiwn allgymorth e-bostiwch fi ar sarah.morgan5@caerdydd.gov.uk

Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Facebook @Flatholm, ar Twitter @Flatholmers neu ar Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

Os hoffech chi gael eich antur eich hun ar Ynys Echni, cysylltwch â’n tîm archebu: prosiectynysechni@caerdydd.gov.uk Neu ffoniwch ni ar 029 2087 7912.

First Day On The Job!

Psyched to be on Flat Holm!

Hi there!

I’m Sarah and I’m the new Community Engagement Officer for the Flat Holm: A Walk Through Time project. My job is to share the stories of Flat Holm – there are so many! Flat Holm is an island rich in both human history and natural history.  I’ve had an incredible start to my new job with a visit to the amazing island to learn more about its wildlife, its heritage, and what it’s really like to live and work on a tiny island in the Bristol Channel.

Brightly Coloured Periwinkles

I’m probably not meant to say this, but one of the best parts of our visit was the boat trip. To get to the island we travelled by RIB (rigid inflatable boat). RIBs can reach a top speed of about 56mph but with the wind and sea spray in your face, as you’re flying over the waves, it feels much faster! Skipping over the waves and keeping pace with soaring gulls is my new favourite way to travel. It really feels like the beginning of an adventure. Once we reached the island, we were greeted by the super friendly volunteers who live and work there. The volunteers know so much about the island and were happy to answer all my questions. After a quick cup of tea and getting to know everyone, it was time to explore.

Black Slip Wasp

One thing that is so striking is how wild the island really is. As soon as you arrive, you are surrounded by fields of wild leeks and ragwort, the calls of gulls, the chirping of crickets, and the humming of bees. The smell of the sea and the warm smell of bracken and damp vegetation surround you as you explore, crunching over pebble beaches or swishing through the long grass as rabbits and gull chicks dart out of the undergrowth. My wildlife find of the day was a black slip wasp, a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs on caterpillars. Next up was a tour of the island (which we nearly missed after being distracted by a cool wasp), with Simon, the warden on Flat Holm. Simon told us so much about the heritage of the island, from the discovery of a Bronze Age axe to the building of army barracks in World War Two. My favourite building by far was the amazing Victorian cholera isolation hospital, which today is almost like a brick-work skeleton looming over the island. We also explored the ammunition storage tunnels under the island. Designed so that a carelessly thrown match wouldn’t blow up the entire island, these extensive tunnels have a pretty creepy vibe, a perfect place for telling ghost stories of island inhabitants past!

Flat Holm Lighthouse!

We finished our first day on the island with a bonfire on the beach where we toasted marshmallows and listened for the calls of passing oystercatchers. Our head torches really came in handy for nighttime exploration of the beach and for crab hunting in rockpools. Most crab species are nocturnal, so this is often the best time to spot them.

Cholera Isolation Hospital

Day two on the island was pretty rainy and miserable, but that doesn’t stop the Flat Holm team of volunteers. We spent the day clearing the picnic area in front of the dormitories which had become overgrown with ragwort and thistles. We had a lot of help from the island’s population of Boreray sheep who nibbled away at the newly exposed grass and roots. These sheep are an endangered species that have been introduced to the island to help create new nest sites for gulls by munching the overgrown vegetation. Speaking of gulls, an account of a visit to Flat Holm would not be complete without mentioning them! We visited in August, when most of the breeding gull pairs have already dispersed but there were still plenty to see. There are over 2,000 nesting gulls on Flat Holm, which includes lesser black-backed gulls, herring gulls, and two pairs of greater black-backed gulls. We were lucky enough to have two lesser black-backed chicks right outside our dormitory being protected by a very feisty adult. The chicks are super cute and fluffy and have an incredible camouflage which helps them to blend in with their rocky coastline habitat. We also spotted a porpoise off the north side of the island! My wildlife spot of the day was the slow worms living in the garden. Slow worms on Flat Holm are chunkier than their counterparts on the mainland and males are more brightly coloured with bright blue scales during the breeding season. These differences from the slow worms on the mainland are likely because they have no natural predators on Flat Holm and can afford to be a bit flashier.

Castle Rock

On the evening of day two, we grabbed some blankets and got cozy in the common area with some hot chocolate. We played board games and read books until midnight, waiting for the Perseid meteor shower! We grabbed our trusty head torches and headed for the jetty to try and spot a shooting star. Lying on the pebbly beach isn’t the most comfortable, and you definitely need to wrap up warm, but Flat Holm is an ideal spot for star gazing, as the lack of artificial lights means there is very little light pollution giving us an unparalleled view of the meteor shower – an amazing experience!

Sea Thrift

Our final day on the island was bitter-sweet. I was sad to be leaving so soon but excited to come back for another adventure. A grey seal made an appearance as we were leaving to cheer me up and a curlew flew over the island as we waited for our boat on the jetty. I can’t wait to come back!

I would love to visit your school or community to tell the stories of Flat Holm and share the adventures of the Flat Holm warden and team! To book an outreach session please email me at sarah.morgan5@cardiff.gov.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook @Flatholm, on Twitter @Flatholmers or on Instagram: @FlatHolmIsland

If you would like to have your own Flat Holm adventure, please get in touch with our booking team: flatholmproject@cardiff.gov.uk or give us a call 029 2087 7912.