(first published in the CBO Annual Report for 1982)
Mr Reggie Hamilton was an enthusiastic gardener at the Mew Lighthouse. Visitors have often been impressed with the extent of the garden and range of vegetables grown. Indeed we have from time to time enjoyed the flavours as well. Gardening as a pastime has been more popular among the keepers since the disappearence of the rabbits due to myxomatosis over 25 years ago.
However several of us have noticed that there seem to have been problems with many crops this year. Reggie has explained to us the reasons. Two types of birds have become increasing pests by eating the vegetables when young. On the mainland sparrows are well known to nibble lettuces when transplanted. On Mew it is Moorhens which are voraciously eating just about everything in sight. The habit having become established seems to have spread as more Moorhens are now invading to taste the wares. This seems to be a problem without an easy solution. If fencing was built, there seems little reason why they would not fly over. Maybe a few good frights would discourage them if combined with fencing. It would be expensive, especially if it failed.
Another source of trouble is the Herring and Lesser-black Backed Gull colony nearby. As part of their territorial defence behaviour, and even their courtship rituals, they pull out tufts of vegetation. It appears that both species prefer to indulge in this behaviour in the garden, presumably because the plants there are much easier to pull out of the well tilled ground than elsewhere. Interesting but very annoying!
There have been compensations elsewhere. Reggie was able to observe a Water Rail at very close range collecting its nesting materials from the typical strewn garden debris. It was unconcerned about him being nearby digging.