It has been a quiet start to February with few, if any different birds about. The milder, wetter weather has made it feel a bit miserable at times but, when the sun comes out it has felt as if spring is on the way. The Rock Pipits have begun their parachute-like song-flight around the shore and yet more birds are adding to the morning chorus. The Black Redstart has finally decided to leave, the last sighting was on Tuesday 2^nd although the Firecrest is still amongst the Finches and Tits at Cristin.

Monday 1^st- A Gannet flew by out at sea.

Tuesday 2^nd- 3 Common Gulls and another Gannet was out at sea whilst a Woodock was at Ty-Pellaf withie.

Wednesday 3^rd- 2 Jack Snipe were in the wetlands and a Woodcock was at Nant.

Thursday 4^th- Nothing to report.

Friday 5^th- A single Jack Snipe was in the wetlands.

Saturday 6^th-(A Collard Dove was at Nant, first for the year)

Sunday 7^th- A Golden Plover flew down the west side whilst 4 Jack Snipe were in the wetlands. 2 Little Owls were calling in the night.

Black Headed Gull (C) Ben Porter

Dunnock (C) Ben Porter

Starlings (C) Ben Porter

Curlew (C) Ben Porter

Redshank (C) Ben Porter

With fewer birds around, January finished quietly. Looking back, it has been a mixed month with amazing numbers of  Lapwing, Golden Plover, Woodcock and Snipe, with the odd scarcer bird thrown in, for instance Wigeon, Red-Breasted Merganser and a lovely Little Gull.

This week was perhaps the quietest week of the month, but the numbers of seabirds on the East side continue to rise and more birds are singing in the morning (despite the return to winter temperatures!). I now consider the Black Redstart and Firecrest to be residents as they have been here for a month and a half now. Very high tides towards the end of the week (2^nd highest of the year) did push more Gulls and Waders higher up the beach in Solfach.

Monday 25^th- A Lapwing was in Henllwyn whilst a Mistle Thrush was in the arable fields.

Tuesday 26^th- A Ringed Plover was feeding in solfach with the turnstones and the Mistle Thrush was still about.

Wednesday 27^th- A quiet day with 2 Ring Plover being the highlight.

Thursday 28^th- Nothing to report!

Friday 29^th- Still nothing!

Saturday 30^th- A higher tide pushed 32 Black Headed and 19 Common Gulls into solfach

Sunday 31^st- An even higher tide and stronger winds pushed 24 Black Headed Gulls and 16 Common Gulls close to the hide.

Common Gull (C) Ben Porter

Turnstone (C) Ben Porter

Whimbrel (C) Ben Porter

Buzzard (C) Ben Porter

Merlin (C) Ben Porter

Skylark (C) Ben Porter

BBFO Report Gets Excelent review

The 2008 BBFO Annual report (as advertised here on this web site) has just received an excelent review from record breaking year lister and best selling author Lee Evans on his British Birding Association web site and on the Surfbirds. com web site. The full review is repeated here.

BARDSEY BIRD AND FIELD OBSERVATORY REPORT 2008: Number 52

The latest Bardsey Island bird report for 2008 is a sumptuous affair and like those now published by Spurn Point Bird Observatory, of the highest quality. It is a perfect bound publication - and 168 pages in thickness - with a beautiful female Dotterel adorning the front cover.

Opening the first page leads you to a full Richard Brown spread. depicting the flowering Thrift and the Observatory and island lighthouse. The Warden's Report and Seasonal Summaries follow on pages 7-18 and then the all-important Systematic List. 2008 saw a mammoth 191 species of bird recorded on the island, including the first-ever Paddyfield Warbler, 2nd Pied Avocet and Rustic Bunting, the 5th Nuthatch, the 6th records of Garganey and Marsh Warbler, the 7th Mute Swan, Gadwall and Greater Short-toed Lark and the 8th Greater Scaup.

The Systematic List is comprehensive, fully detailed and very informative, and liberally enhanced by the inclusion of large numbers of black -and-white photographs. The text is easily-readable and the layout first-rate and the graphs and tables superbly reproduced. There was much information that I homed in on, such as the extent and amount of White Wagtail passage and the fact that 76 Winter Wrens were on the island on 7 October. Every single species recorded on the island in 2008 is given ample treatment.

Pages 80-91 are devoted to the breeding birds of the island, detailing the 654 Atlantic Puffin burrows, three pairs of Little Owl and six pairs of Red-billed Chough, with a paper on Manx Shearwaters on pages 92-96 and details of island lighthouse attractions on pages 98-101. A ringing report summaries the details of the 4,600 captured during the year, including an exceptional 53 Long-tailed Tits.

There is a superb 8-page full colour gallery depicting many of the best birds of the year, as well as the moths and other insects, with virtually all never seen before.

Richard Brown provides full documentation of the first Paddyfield Warbler on pages 111-112, with the latter pages of the report concentrating on the wider natural history of the island, including an educational piece on Grey Seals and an exhaustive list of the 143 moth species recorded in 2008.

All in all, this was a brilliant report and a particularly thorough account of the wildlife recorded on this island situated off of the North Wales coast.

For more information about the report and observatory can be found at www.bbfo.org.uk and www.bbfo.blogspot.com

Lee G R Evans
British Birding Association
UK400 Club, Rare Birds Magazine, Ornithological Consultant and Conservationist
Discussion Forum/Email Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK400Club/
Rare Bird Alert: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RareBirdAlertforBritainandIreland_UK400ClubBBA/
Email Address: LGREUK400@aol.com
Website Address: www.uk400clubonline.co.uk
Related Blog Sites: http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.com/ http://rarebirdsinthewesternpalearctic.blogspot.com/ http://birdingamersham.blogspot.com/ http://birdingtringreservoirs.blogspot.com/
http://calvertbirding.blogspot.com/
http://hertfordshirebirding.blogspot.com/
http://buckinghamshirebirding.blogspot.com/
http://birdreportexchange.blogspot.com/

It has been a very quiet week with hardly any birds about. However there have been some noticeable changes as the returning numbers of Fulmar and Guillemot continue to increase and some birds, like the Shag, have already started to pair up. The Black Redstart and Firecrest continue to be resident.

Monday 18th- A fairly quiet day with 2 Golden Plover still around and 2 Woodcock in the Wetlands.

Tuesday 19th- 28 Lapwing remain from the influx along with 3 Golden Plover.

Wednesday 20th- A better day with most of the birds being out at sea, a Red Throated Diver flew past Carreg Yr Honwy whilst 3 Little Gulls were Feeding nearby, a single Ringed Plover was in Solfach and 2 Woodcocks were in the Wetlands.

Thursday 21st- Another quiet day with 2 Woodcock still around.

Friday 22nd- A Mistle Thrush was the highlight feeding in Nant Valley.

Saturday 23rd- The Mistle Thrush was still at Nant and a Pied Wagtail flew past as well.

Sunday 24th- A Very quiet day with one Jack Snipe in the wetlands.

Golden Plover (C) Ben Porter

Shelduck (C) Ben Porter

Curlew (C) Ben Porter

Ringed Plover (C) Ben Porter

Shags (C) Ben Porter

It has been a wetter, windier and milder week, with temperatures typically above 6 degrees. There have therefore been fewer birds about, most of the thrushes, lapwing and Golden Plover have moved on; only a few remain. It has been lovely to hear the Dunnocks, Robins and Great Tits beginning to sing; a reminder that spring is on its way. Although they have probably been around for a few weeks now Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Guillemots have been much more noticeable as having returned to their ledges on the East Side. The Black Redstart and Firecrest are still in their usual places.

Monday 11th- 5 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover were in solfach with a Mediterranean Gull nearby, in the fields 68 Golden Plover and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding on what was now soft ground. An amazing 24 Woodcocks were on the mountain in the bracken.

Tuesday 12th- The usual waders were around with 2 Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin being in Solfach. In the wetlands there were 2 Jack Snipe along with a Teal in Plas Withie. 14 Woodcock were scattered around.

Wednesday 13th- Out at sea a small feeding flock gathered and in amongst them was 1 Little Gull and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. 2 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin were on the beach with a Jack Snipe and 13 Woodcock being in the wetlands.

Thursday 14th- One Mediterranean Gull was present in solfach along with 5 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. On the narrows 27 Golden Plover were flying around. 7 Woodcock and a Jack Snipe were also seen elsewhere.

Friday 15th- A very quiet day with very little around, a Teal was in Cristin Withie with 3 Woodcock being nearby. On Solfach 5 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were feeding.

Saturday 16th- Again a quiet day, but high tides along with very strong winds bought wild seas and 650 Herring Gulls into solfach with only a single Mistle Thrush in the North-West fields, a Teal and a Ringed Plover elsewhere.
Sunday 17th-A single Mediterranean Gull in Solfach was the highlight.

Redshank (c) Ben Porter

Black-headed Gull (c) Ben Porter

Firecrest (c) Ben Porter

Fulmar (c) Ben Porter

Purple Sandpiper (c) Ben Porter

It has been fairly good week with the arrival of lots of birds searching for any food that hasn't frozen solid. The North-Easterly winds have persisted, accompanied by cold temperatures just hovering above freezing, but still no snow! The main characteristic birds of the week have been Lapwing (up to 211 of them!), Golden Plover, an increase in Snipe and various thrushes. The Firecrest at Cristin and the Black Redstart in Henllwyn have now been here for over three weeks! Here is the detail:

Monday 4th saw a variety of waders about, with 2 Knot and a Dunlin in Solfach and 8 Golden Plover in the fields. There were 3 Mediterranean Gulls mixed in with the 300 Black-Headed Gulls.


Tuesday 5th- High tides combined with strong winds brought most of the gulls further into Solfach, feeding just near the breaking waves; the gull flock consisted of 400 Black-Headed Gulls, 7 Mediterranean Gulls, 39 Common Gulls and hidden amongst them was a Little Gull that later on was feeding just infront of the hide! Dodging the waves were 2 Knot. 2 Mistle Thrushes were on the narrows.

Wednesday 6th was a slightly sunnier and calmer day with the feeding flock of gulls still in Solfach- the Little Gull was still there and another was seen later on. There were also 5 Mediterranean Gulls, a Knot and a Dunlin feeding on the beach. In the wetlands there was a Jack Snipe and the 2 Mistle Thrushes were still around.

Thursday 7th- A Wigeon was briefly in henllwyn whilst 2 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean Gulls were in Solfach. 2 Woodcock were seen in the afternoon.

Friday 8th- Calm winds and cold temperatures bought 156 Golden Plover and 211 Lapwing to the island whilst 2 Ringed Plover were present with the 2 Dunlin. Other birds include 7  Woodcock, a Teal, a Jack Snipe and 7 Mistle Thrushes.

Saturday 9th- Again their were many waders about with 148 Golden Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and a Knot. There was a smaller feeding flock out at sea with 3 Mediterranean Gulls amongst them, 4 Wigeon joined the small group of Mallard whilst 15 Woodcock and 11 Mistle Thrushes were seen elsewhere.


Sunday 10th- A quieter day with 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and a Mediterranean Gull in Solfach, 17 Woodcock were on the mountain whilst in the afternoon a Teal was in Cristin Withie.

Lapwing (c) Ben Porter

Little Gull (c) Ben Porter

Common Snipe (c) Ben Porter

Woodcock (c) Ben Porter

Ringed Plover (c) Ben Porter

It has been a better week with more birds about - a good start to the New Year. We have escaped the snow (sadly!) but temperatures have been just above freezing with a strong North-Easterly wind most of the time.The Firecrest in Cristin Pines and the Black Redstart in Henllwyn are still around.

Sunday 27th- Nothing to report.

Monday 28th-The Grey plover was in Solfach and further out there was a Mediterranean gull and a Common Scoter.

Tuesday 29th-The Grey Plover was still in Solfach along with a Dunlin, 4 Mediterranean Gulls were out at sea.

Wednesday 30th-A quiet day with 5 Mediterranean Gulls being the highlight.

Thursday 31st- The Dunlin was again in Solfach whilst a Red-Throated Diver and 3 Mediterranean Gulls were also seen. In the afternoon 2 Mistle Thrushes were in the arable fields.

Friday 1st- New Years day brought some fairly interesting birds with a Dunlin, a Knot and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.A Red Breasted Merganser landed in solfach as well. Other birds included a Jack Snipe in the wetlands and a single Mistle Thrush in the fields.

Saturday 2nd- The Knot and Dunlin were still in Solfach whilst out at sea a Common Scoter and a Mediterranean Gull were seen. A Jack Snipe was on the South End.

Sunday 3rd-There was a large feeding flock of Gulls in Solfach containing mainly Black Headed Gulls but in amongst them were 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull. The Knot and Dunlin were still around. 7 Golden Plover arrived in the afternoon.

Golden Plover (C) Ben Porter

Mediterranean Gull (C) Ben Porter

Knot (C) Ben Porter

Mediterranean Gull (C) Ben Porter

Mistle Thrush (C) Ben Porter

Dunlin (C) Ben Porter

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all a bird filled 2010 from all the staff and council of the OBS

Update of Birdlife for week beginning sunday 20th.

On the whole it has been a quiet week. The Firecrest and Black Redstart are still around and were seen most days.


Sunday 20th- A quiet day with the highlight being 2 Jack Snipe.

Monday 21st- Nothing to report.

Tuesday 22nd-Nothing to report.

Wednesday 23rd-A Grey heron flew down the middle of the island and 2 Gannets were at sea.

Thursday 24th-28 lapwings were the highlight.

Friday 25th- A Shelduck flew along the west side whilst there was a Grey Plover on Carreg yr Honwy.

Saturday 26th-The Grey Plover was still around.

Grey Plover (C) Ben Porter

Peregrine Falcon (C) Ben Porter

Skylark (C) Ben Porter

Mallard (C) Ben Porter

Lapwing (C) Ben Porter

Here is an update of Bardsey's bird highlights for the last week by Ben Porter.

Sunday 13th saw the first Jack Snipe since October, a Red-throated Diver was present near Carreg yr Honwy, there were 4 Mediterranean Gulls amongst a feeding flock of gulls and in the evening we had a Barn Owl in the lambing shed!

Monday 14th was a quiet day, the highlight being 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Tuesday 15th - there was a Black Redstart in Henllwyn, also seen on several occasions later in the week.

Wednesday 16th - nothing to report!

Thursday 17th - a Firecrest was seen in the pine trees at Cristin and there was another Jack Snipe in the wetlands.

Friday 18th - 5 Lapwings seen on the Narrows.

Saturday 19th - A Wigeon was seen briefly in Henllwyn, but didn't stay around for long. There was also a Woodcock in Ty Pellaf withy.

Jack Snipe (C) Ben Porter

Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull and Common Gull (C) Ben Porter

Black Redstart (C) Ben Porter

Barn Owl (C) Ben Porter