SEA TRUST supporters flocked together last week for a global bird watching event held in Pembrokeshire, Seychelles and Mauritius to raise funds for the Goodwick-based conservation organisation.

Stephen Lucas and his friend Joel Kemp organised a one-day sponsored bird race to raise funds for Sea Trust.

The pair started off on Skomer Island with expert help from warden, Ed Stubbings and then moved on to Bosherston.

"Skomer was absolutely awesome bar none," said Stephen. "It was the best ever location to see different varieties of birdlife in huge numbers just like that. It was magical to see everything."

Stephen's best sighting was one of Skomer's specialties; the short eared owl.

At the same time over 5,000 miles away on a very different island, ex- Sea Trust employee, Hannah Harries, was bird racing with her colleagues on the island of Desroches, Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean.

Hannah is from Newport. After working with Sea Trust for three years she got her dream job with Wise Oceans as a marine educator at The Four Seasons resort Desroches.

"Stevo and Hannah were great friends when she worked with us," said Sea Trust director, Cliff Benson. "It's great to see such a special friendship continuing despite the distance.

"We all keep in touch by email and when Hannah heard about the bird race she wanted to join in and support Stevo."

"Hannah also got colleagues on the island of Mauritius to join in so it's quite an international island bird race with some quite exotic species spotted, such as black winged pratincole and Asiatic plover."

Stephen and Joel spotted 53 species in Pembrokeshire and it is thought that, with the total from the island in the Indian Ocean the total for the Great Sea Trust Bird Race will have reached around 70.

The event has so far raised more than £200 for Sea Trust, with more sponsorship still to come. There are now plans to make the bird race an annual event with Sea Trust's former international interns also taking place.

"Next year we will have to get more islands participating and make it a World Cup," said Cliff.

pics of Stevo and Joel (Ed Stubbings and Hannah Harries (Sea Trust).