The glorious sun continued to shine upon the island throughout the day, some would call it bliss, the wardening team would call it sunburn. Following this good weather was another wave of migrants eager to reach their breeding grounds. A dapper male Common Redstart found in the Lowlands was the first of the year, along with a Tree Pipit in the Withies, and a flava Wagtail that flew over the Wetlands. A male Common Whitethroat on Pen Cristin was exceedingly early; only one day off Bardsey’s earliest ever record and one of only four in the UK reported so far. Equally surprising was the male Yellowhammer caught in the Helgoland trap in the morning. This delightful bunting breeds just a stone’s throw away on the mainland yet remains a rare bird here. The last bird to be ringed on the island was way back in 1991!

Yesterday’s female Bullfinch and Hen Harrier were still at large on the island whilst 98 Wheatears was easily the highest count of the year (mostly comprising Greenland race birds). Five Ring Ouzels still fed on the mountainside and an additional female was found in a mist net at Cristin. Other sightings from around the island include one Curlew, one Black-headed Gull, five Sandwich Terns, 20 Sand Martins, 77 Swallows, two House Martins, 234 Meadow Pipits, 17 White Wagtails, one Fieldfare, three Song Thrushes, two Redwings, 26 Blackcaps, 50 Chiffchaffs, 139 Willow Warblers, four Goldcrests, one Greenfinch, two Siskins, 14 Goldfinches, and eight Lesser Redpolls.