Globetrotters will be this summer’s Noss wardens

Two young global adventurers are looking forward to welcoming local and holidaying visitors to Noss for the annual open day next Saturday.

Alex Robbins and Chris Dodd live and work on the island as seasonal reserve wardens for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Noss, a national nature reserve, is famous for its huge variety of birdlife. Visitors will be ferried across Noss Sound for free in zodiac boats for the open day.

The far travelled wardens arrived for their season’s stint on Noss following adventurous trips at either end of the globe. Last year Alex spent months around the coasts of Alaska whilst Chris has returned to Noss for his third summer after spending the winter in the Falkland Islands and St Helena.

This is Alex’s first summer in Noss, which she describes as her “dream job”.

Previously she skirted the coasts of Alaska working on her Masters Degree study into the predation of kittiwake populations there.

She said: “After Alaska I wanted my next job to be here on Noss. This is my first time and its funny being just the two of us on the island but it is living up to my all my expectations. The highlight for me so far has been watching killer whales going through Noss Sound. There’s so much happening all around Noss that I’ve learned to keep my camera and binoculars with me at all times.”

Chris said: “I’m pleased to be back on Noss again although I did enjoy spending time in the South Atlantic. It was a great thrill to be among thousands of penguins and to have close encounters with sea lions fighting and huge elephant seals. St Helena was extra special and during my time on the Falklands I reckon I visited over 50 islands monitoring bird and insect populations.”

Alex and Chris have also been helping Springwatch filmmaker and cameraman Sim on King with local advice on the best locations to capture footage of the massive breeding colonies of gannets on the cliffs at Rumble Wick.