In the small hours, as a sunny day dawned, a Common Quail was heard calling near Cristin, and not too long later, another one was discovered on the South End. The first bird sang again in the afternoon but remained hidden in the long grass, evading all attempts to flush it. A Whinchat was near the lighthouse, and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew north over the lowlands in the morning.

The avian highlight of the day though, occurred just after noon. A local contact on the mainland telephoned to inform us that lots of Red Kites were moving over the LLyn, and – before he had even finished speaking – one had already materialised, soaring high over the observatory. A few minutes later a further three kites had joined the first bird, all drifting slowly over the assembled group of people in the obs garden.

Additional birds seen during an enjoyable day included a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Garden Warbler, two Common Whitethroats, three Spotted Flycatchers, a Common Kestrel, a Eurasian Siskin, a Ringed Plover, 11 Eurasian Collared Doves and an evening assemblage of 42 Common Swifts high over the island.

It was the day of the national Painted Lady count, and over 100 were counted passing through the back garden of the observatory during the survey hours of 1100 and 1300. At least 800 were seen during the course of the whole day.

Painted Lady 30 May 2009 (c) Richard Brown

Four Red Kites 30 May 2009

(c) Steve Stansfield

A record breaking four Red Kites were seen together over the mountain in the afternoon. This is the first multiple record for this species on the island. The best shot of all four together