A good covering of cloud is often very helpful for bringing migrant birds to the island, and so, with a promising layer of altocumulus hanging over the island, the early morning census was undertaken with a certain optimism. A sizeable increase in the number of Chiffchaffs – at least 80 were present – was the most obvious sign of an arrival, as other passerine counts were similar to the previous couple of days: 15 Willow Warblers, four Whitethroats, three Grasshopper Warblers, two Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler, five Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, a Whinchat and six Goldcrests were counted. The first Lesser Whitethroat of the autumn was at Nant, a/the Lapland Bunting was seen several times and a Starling flew south. Early morning visible migration included 19 Grey Wagtails, 178 Meadow Pipits and five Tree Pipits, while 35 White Wagtails were on the beach. A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was a surprising arrival on the Narrows, and three Eiders heading south were also unexpected. A Lesser Black-backed Gull amongst the roosting gulls on Carreg y Honwy showed characters of the continental race intermedius, the Little Stint on Solfach was joined by a second bird, and other waders included three Knots, a Ringed Plover, three Dunlins and 64 Turnstones.

A fair selection, but the day’s star bird did not appear until late afternoon. In the unlikely, unvegetated location of the North West fields, a Paddyfield Warbler was found feeding along the fences and banks, and before long had been seen by every birder on the island. This is the third record of Paddyfield Warbler for Wales, and the second for Bardsey following the one here last autumn.

Paddyfield Warbler (c) Steve Stansfield