The wind whipped around to the north, and despite a good level of census coverage, it was clear that birds were keeping a low profile. Totals were down on yesterday, with five Manx Shearwaters, one Gannet, five Cormorants and nine Common Scoters offshore. Two female Merlins were on the south end. Wader totals came to 83 Oystercatchers, 13 Purple Sandpipers, 12 Dunlins, 8 Snipes, two Curlews, 14 Redshanks and five Turnstones. Other sightings included a Little Owl, the long-staying Great Spotted Woodpecker, 71 Meadow Pipits, 18 Rock Pipits, two Stonechats, two Wheatears, two Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and six Goldcrests. Three Chaffinches, six Goldfinches and five Linnets were the only finches recorded.

Even when the birds aren't necessarily performing, there always seems to be something else of interest to look at. Glittering Wood-moss (Hylocomium splendens) was living up to its scientific name on the mountain. It almost appeared to be glowing amongst the dead heather and grasses.

Glittering Wood-moss

At the other end of the size scale, you have to really squint to notice Tortula cuneifolia growing on the eroded soil banks down by the lime kiln. It may not be spectacular to look at, but this moss has only been recorded from a few other coastal sites in the whole of the UK!

 Tortula cuneifolia 

Tortula cuneifolia habitat

Today's highlight came from the sea, with Mark picking out a smart male Eider as it powered down the west coast just offshore. Otherwise, there was a small but noticeable increase in sightings from yesterday. A Red-throated Diver, nine Fulmar and 33 Manx Shearwaters were spotted during a seawatch, whilst on land there was a good number of waders recorded, with 131 Oystercatchers, 29 Purple Sandpipers (the highest count this month), only the second Jack Snipe of the year, ten Dunlins, two Whimbrels and 18 Turnstones. A Collared Dove was at Cristin along with the Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Blue tit, whilst migrants included a Redwing, 154 Meadow Pipits, eight Wheatears, 17 Chiffchaffs, 12 Willow Warblers, 12 Goldcrests and two Jackdaws. Finches were also on the move, with three Siskin, 11 Goldfinch, three Linnet, a Lesser Redpoll and a Reed Bunting.

Blue Tit caught at Cristin, somewhat of an island scarcity

Lesser Redpoll caught at Cristin

Probably the biggest story of the day is that the picnic benches are back in position in front of the observatory and ready to be sat on for another season. We're probably a little bit biased but this has got to be one of the best spots to watch the sunset on the North Wales coast...

We were greeted to another fine, sunny day albeit with a bitterly cold easterly wind gusting across the island. The highlight was probably a Blue tit which settled at Cristin and quickly discovered the newly filled bird feeders. Although common on the mainland, it remains a scarce annual spring and autumn migrant to Bardsey.

Out at sea a Red-throated Diver, eight Fulmars, five Manx Shearwaters, six Gannets and five Common Scoters were off the south end. On land, a Merlin remained in the vicinity of the Lighthouse. Waders seen around the coast included 98 Oystercatchers, two Whimbrels, five Curlews, seven Redshanks and 11 Purple Sandpipers remained on the Narrows. The Great Spotted Woodpecker commuted between the Withies and Cristin for much of the morning. Migrant passerines were slightly down on yesterday, with totals coming to 70 Meadow Pipits, four Stonechats, four Wheatears, two Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests, one Greenfinch, one Siskin, three Goldfinches and one Linnet.

The first Goldfinch to be ringed at the obs this year

The tranquil weather lingered into today, occasional showers made for a wet census, but a good variety of species were still recorded.

Out to sea the highlighted constituted of 23 Manx Shearwaters and four Common Scoters. A small selection of Raptors culminated to a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Merlin and three Peregrines. Waders saw a boost in numbers today with a good variety recorded, a Knot was still present, 23 Purple Sandpipers were new in, as were a Dunlin, 26 Snipes, a Whimbrel, six Curlews, 11 Redshanks and 15 Turnstones. Inland, Meadow Pipit numbers continued to rise with 110 seen today, five Stonechats were also new arrivals. Scrutiny of the bushes produced four Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers and eight Goldcrests.

A calm weather day allowed us to make our first visit below the mountain and around to the impressive east side where the majority of the island's breeding seabirds reside. The purpose of this visit was to observe the behaviour of colour-ringed Chough pairs around their respective nest sites in an effort to gauge early season breeding progress. There were no obvious signs of nest building, but one pair were settled and feeding on the slopes above their regularly used nest site, perhaps suggesting that nest building has been completed and the adults are now focused on gaining energy before the task of egg laying in April. Further visits during the season will build up a detailed timeline of breeding progress for these colour-ringed pairs.

The first Black Redstart of the year was at Ty Pellaf and a second Firecrest was found at Cristin. Just three Chiffchaffs were noted after yesterday's small influx, whilst four Wheatears and three Stonechats were noted. Raptor interest included a female Merlin, two Buzzards and two Peregrines. A Little Owl remained vocal along the track between the observatory and Nant, and the Great Spotted Woodpecker continued its stay for another day. At sea a Red-throated Diver, eight Fulmars, 12 Manx Shearwaters and five Gannets passed by.

A single Common Quaker was caught overnight in the observatory moth trap.

 The steep-sided slopes and tall cliffs of the east side is a sight not often experienced by visitors to the island. © Billy Dykes

 The island's Razorbill and Kittiwake colonies are restricted to the rocky ledges and boulder fields of the east side. All photos above © Ben Porter

Oystercatchers are a common sight and sound along the tideline at this time of year. Many birds are already paired up with territories established © Ben Porter

It was a morning of heavy lifting for the observatory team, with a flat pack kitchen arriving on the boat and a fresh batch of gas canisters needing to be moved into position ready for the season ahead. Weather wise, it was another beautiful sunny morning, and a fine selection of island scarcities and migrants were picked up during census by a strengthened team of island birders that for the next few weeks include ex-assistant warden Steve Hindes (over to repaint the LSA hut) and island resident Ben Porter (visiting from university before his final exams).

A male House Sparrow was in the obs garden before breakfast (presumably the same bird first seen at Carreg on 13th), and a Stock Dove flushed from the west coast was the first record of the year. There was a Firecrest in Nant plantation and the long-staying Great Spotted Woodpecker continued to tour the island, drumming intermittently. Numbers of common migrants remain low compared to previous years, but three Song Thrushes, eight Wheatears, nine Stonechats, two Willow Warblers and 28 Chiffchaffs hinted that things are starting to get moving. Other birds of note included a Water Rail, 14 Snipes and a Brambling in the observatory garden. At sea, 15 Common Scoters passed by and a summer-plumage Red-throated Diver lingered off the Lighthouse.

The east coast cliff tops are covered in Golden-hair Lichen (Teloschistes flavicans)

It was another stunning day on Ynys Enlli, with the warm sunshine and good visibility making for pleasurable birding. In a similar vein to yesterday, raptors were on the move, with a Red Kite that drifted low over the mountain early in the afternoon the star bird of the day.

Spring migration was once again evident on land, with the first Willow Warbler of the year trapped at the obs. A total of 37 Goldcrests was a noticeable increase on yesterday as was seven Wheatears and 12 Chiffchaffs, whilst a small movement of finches included ten Chaffinches, four Siskins, five Goldfinches, eight Linnets. Two Merlins were present on the south end of the island and a vocal Water Rail was heard several times through the day from the Withies. At sea, the first two Puffins of the year were noted off the east coast, whilst other sightings of note across the island included a Knot, a Whimbrel, the long-staying Great Spotted Woodpecker, 156 Meadow Pipits and the first two Reed Buntings of the year.

 With the milder nights come the moths! Mottled Grey is a common species on Bardsey in early spring. © Billy Dykes

Ciliated Fringewort © Billy Dykes

Mosses and liverworts are often overlooked amongst Wales' flora and fauna, not least because they can provide a tricky identification challenge. With the heather still stunted and the bracken yet to make an appearance, a visit up onto the mountain at this time of year reveals a fascinating world of mosses, liverworts and lichens that will soon be hidden as the vegetation grows back. Ciliated Fringewort (Ptilidium ciliae) is one of the commoner liverworts around the cliff tops of Bardsey, pictured here amongst a patch of purple coloured Stonecrop that will soon outgrow it.

Everywhere you look there are signs that spring is taking hold. Hopefully the Beast from the East is finished with us for the season © Billy Dykes

The calm conditions and clear skies today made it eventually feel undeniably like Spring. The first Manx Shearwater calling from a burrow emphasised this. The heat produced a good variety of raptors today, including a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Merlin and a Peregrine. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was once again present. The first Grey Wagtail of the year flew overhead, whilst four Stonechats, a Wheatear, two Redwings and a Mistle Thrush where seen inland. Some early passage resulted in two Chiffchaffs and nine Goldcrests recorded, a month high of 25 Choughs also made an appearance, as did the years first Hooded Crow. Other migrants included 172 Starlings, 15 Chaffinches and three Siskins.

View over the Sound towards the Llyn Peninsula © Billy Dykes

A mixed day today, it was a windy and overcast start to the day, but the weather improved as the day progressed. The star of the show today was a 1st-winter Glaucous Gull which made a brief appearance on the Narrows before moving swiftly on South. Most of today’s migrants were seen on the land, two Teals were seen on Pwll Cain again. The Merlin lingered for another day. A small selection of Waders were present today, including three Snipes, a Whimbrel, six Curlews and 15 Redshanks. Two Stonechats and a Wheatear were the only migrant chats noted, whilst a Redwing and a Brambling were the only other birds of note seen today.

Conditions were not quite as favourable today, but some migrants were still noted. A pair Fulmars and the first steady stream of 24 Manx Shearwaters were logged today. A Merlin was once again present on the South End.

Two Purple Sandpipers, four Curlews, 11 Redshanks and eight Turnstones made up the waders totals today. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was once again present. A Skylark was new in along with two Chiffchaffs and three Goldcrests.

A calm day today, with minimal cloud cover allowing for pleasant conditions. A small movement was noted out to sea, made up of a Red-throated Diver, six Common Scoters and eight Kittiwakes. Two Teals were present on Pwll Cain, and a small selection of raptors were also seen a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a Merlin. Wader totals culminated to a Knot, a Purple Sandpiper, 12 Curlews, nine Redshanks and 10 Turnstones. On the land little was noted aside from the first signs of migration. The Great Spotted Woodpecker continued it’s stay on the island, a Skylark, 126 Meadow Pipits, two Stonechats, a Wheatear, two Chiffchaffs, five Goldcrests and three Chaffinches were all new arrivals. All in all a quiet day, but showing signs of the beginning of Spring.

Today saw a trickle of new arrivals on to the island as the start of spring migration begins. A pair of Chiffchaffs were present in one of the gardens at Nant, their "huit" calls a nice sign of things to come over the next weeks as their numbers increase. Thrushes continued in a similar vain, two Mistle Thrushes, two Redwings, a Song Thrush and ten Blackbirds making up the counts, as Siskins also made an appearance as three were seen heading south over the Observatory garden.

A decent variety of waders were also  on show further south around the Narrows. The two Bar-tailed Godwits remained, along with a single Knot, five Redshanks, 15 Curlews, three Golden Plovers, 51 Oystercatchers and along the West Coast a pair of Lapwings.

A Kestrel, either a female or immature bird, passed over the Lowlands, the first to be seen for a long period. Elsewhere other additions included five Ravens, 13 Choughs, three Pied Wagtails, 16 Woodpigeons, two Teals and two Shelducks. A brief seawatch didn't yield any vast numbers but some extra species for the day including a Fulmar, three Common Scoters, a Razorbill and 12 Guillemots.

Since the period of extreme weather during the past week most of the displaced birds have moved on, returning the island largely to a normal state of affairs, although early signs of spring were noted.

The first Chiffchaff of the season was seen flycatching amongst the vegetation in the Observatory garden, it later moved into the heligoland trap there and was ringed. A single Goldcrest was also noted close by preferring the spruce trees whilst the "resident" Great Spotted Woodpecker was also spotted commuting between gardens and a female and two male Stonechats were perched close by Carreg Bach, one of the small cottages on the island further north. A Sparrowhawk was seen gliding along the mountainside where a Woodcock was also flushed from cover. Meanwhile over the past weeks Wood Pigeons have slowly been making a return, seven were recorded today. The Shovlers were again present on the island, two drakes and two females had now moved to Pwll Cain, the largest pond on the island in the central lowlands.

A short walk across the North End provided other signs of the breeding season to come as more and more Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls are beginning to occupy the usual colony sites. Before long spring will be in full swing with both migrant and resident species across the island.

The day provided little in the way of change although the spectacle of birds brought in by the weather  was still evident and impressive all the same. The highest count of Lapwings so far, 79 was a great total as well as 182 Golden Plovers still scurrying around the grassy fields. What was three was now four Grey Plovers, again seen around the Narrows, ocassionaly calling. Nearby two Knots, five Dunlins, and good number of Curlews amounting to 37 were also seen. Shovlers were again on Nant Pond, two drakes and a female. A female Stonechat outside one of the small cottages was a nice addition, thrushes were still prevalent, 5 Blackbirds, 20 Fieldfares, two Song Thrushes, 27 Redwings and a Mistle Thrush making up the numbers. A nice group of five Ravens occupied the skies above the island.

Today

Yesterday

Day two of the big thaw continued, clearly have a positive effect on the islands wildlife with species manically feeding and some now starting to leave the island, heading off the North End. Todays out of sorts species came in the form of three Grey Plovers, four Knot, a single Ruff and a Bar-tailed Godwit, again not uncommon to see these species during autumn migrations or even through the winter on parts of the mainland, but on here at this time they were clear signs of birds being displaced by abnormal weather conditions.

Apologies for the poor quality, "phone scoped" images, Ruff

One of three Grey Plovers, not an expected species on the island during these months

Numbers of Golden Plovers today had again risen, whether these was new arrivals or just whether these numbers weren't spotted over the last couple of days although present, another big count of 246 was noted. Lapwings seemed the most eager to leave having fed up as small parties of them moved around the island restlessly, with individuals peeling off and heading north over Bardsey Sound towards the mainland, 31 were present. A Ringed Plover still resided and Purple Sandpiper numbers had increased to 25, a flock of which spent some time wheeling around the Narrows before settling. Dunlins were scattered about the island in small numbers totalling eight and a six Common Snipes, a Woodcock, Whimbrel, two Curlews, three Redshanks and three Turnstones were also seen.

A drake Shovler was on Nant Pond, meanwhile Meadow Pipits were out in some force with a sharp incline in number from the previous day, now 89. Thrush numbers had also increased with mixed flocks taking to the fields, 12 Blackbirds, 29 Fieldfares, 13 Song Thrushes, 52 Redwings and a Mistle Thrush, the totals. Whilst a Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon kept any tired birds on their toes!

Although the island was still currently buried under a substantial amount of snow, the harshest conditions had passed. This provided some much needed respite for the wildlife on the island as the soils, frozen solid the day before, were now softening enough for waders to probe the ground and other species to forage. As the thaw continued throughout the day mixed flocks of species littered fields all over the island. Most prevalent were Golden Plovers and Lapwings again which totalled 143 and 45 respectivly, they were joined by 18 Dunlins, ten Common Snipes and five Woodcocks. Whilst nine Blackbirds, nine Fieldfare, 12 Song Thrushes and eight Redwings were also in the mix. Although some had moved on, four Shovlers still remained and had relocated to Nant Pond at the opposite end of the island.

A smart adult Mediterranean Gull bobbed in the gentle swell of Henllwyn although other gull numbers were much reduced, 14 Black-headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull 112 Herring Gulls and a Greater Black-backed Gull. The resident Grey Heron stood close by with three Shelduck, a Teal and 16 Mallards and other waders noted on and around the Narrows included 23 Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, a nice flock of 11 Purple Sandpipers, 14 Curlews, seven Redshanks and 11 Turnstones.

A female Great-spotted Woodpecker was spotted flitting between gardens, presumably the individual which has been present since last autumn. A small number of Meadow Pipits were noted, 29 in total, possibly the first sign of increasing numbers as we approach the weeks in which they start to arrive and migrate past the island.

As the icy grip of the "beast from the east" took hold on the island, temperatures plummeted lower still and a generous dump of snow on the island overnight and throughout the day made for an interested mornings census. The most bizarre record of the day was seven Shovlers, the 26th record for the island, observed feeding on a small pond in the Wetlands. Although mostly frozen over,  a small area had not quite succumbed to the big freeze allowing them to feed happily as the snow continued to fall. A flock of nine Teals were also present along with ten Mallards added to todays wildfowl count.

A quite unusual record and rare species of Wildfowl for Bardsey Island, seven Shovlers feeding on a mostly frozen pond in the Wetlands

A Merlin had joined the frey, harassing everything in sight as it cruised the island, some Golden Plovers succumbing to its tallons, the remains of which would be found over the coming days. Tallies of Golden Plovers and Lapwings, 60 and 33, had dwindled slightly and as the conditions harshened and the ground firmed up under frost it was clear that a lot of birds were unable to feed and had turned to seeking shelter behind anything they could find. A pair of Ringed Plovers prevailed and were joined by a single Dunlin whilst the most considerable sightings in terms of numbers were the presence of gulls around the Narrows which were clearly gorging themselves on something unknown along the tide line. These included six Black-headed Gulls, 20 Common Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 350 Herring Gulls and two Greater Black-backed Gulls. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were the only other species of note.

The whole spectacle highlights how much at the mercy of the weather living organisms on this planet can be, but equally as impressive is the resilience of species to cope with the worst conditions and still prevail.

The weather continued in the same vein although the full force of the storm and the extreme conditions were still to come in the following days. New birds had been brought west and onto the island although some in fewer totals than the previous days had seen. A stunning Drake Pintail, a decent "Bardsey Bird", was just off shore from the West Coast along with two Shelducks and eight Mallards. Golden Plovers and Lapwings were again seen in good numbers, 128 and 20 respectively. On Solfach three Ringed Plovers scuttled up and down the seaweed at the tide line, again not usually a species seen in these months so a pleasure to see, along with four Purple Sandpipers, four Common Snipesb, a Woodcock 30 Curlews and three Turnstones.

Thrushes were again present but as of yet were still seen in low numbers, a Blackbird, eight Fieldfares, a pair of Song Thrushes and four Redwings.