On the whole, it was a very damp and rather dull day. In the absence of virtually any wind for most of the day, a large rain storm sat right over the island persisted well into the late afternoon, giving a deluge of 7mm precipitation. Temperatures remained mild, although a stronger north wind picking up in the evening lead to a small drop.

There was not a great amount to report in avian terms, partly due to the conditions making field observations a bit tricky at times. A handful of migrant Willow Warblers about the island totalled seven individuals, whilst a single Blackcap, four Chiffchaffs and three Sedge Warblers were also recorded. A Lesser Redpoll toured around as usual, but was unaccompanied by any other fly-overs. Wader figures comprised a Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, three Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, 25 Curlews, four Redshanks and three Turnstones.

Day-flying Lepidoptera was understandably hard to come by, but some good numbers in the heath traps included about 150 at Nant. This included a Dot Moth, which it the island’s second record, Narrow-winged Pug, Yellowtails, Dotted Clay and Silver Y.

The two juvenile Peregrines are still being fed by the adults, mostly with adult Manx Shearwaters

Wren chicks continue to appear all over the island, with some broods of five or six juveniles. 

Swallow fledglings are appearing in dribs and drabs, with a couple of recently-fledged broods at Ty Pellaf and one imminent at Cristin

These somewhat vicious-looking beasts are Labyrinth Spiders (Agelena labyrinthica). They spin a wide web around vegetation a few feet above ground level, which leads back into a little tunnel. The sits ominously in wait at the entrance to the tunnel for flies and other insects to become caught in the web. There are a good number of these awesome anthropods along the trackside at the moment

Spot the Grayling!

Lacuna Moth (Celypha lacunana)