It was the warmest day of the year today, which combined with calm southerly winds made for fantastic t-shirt birding conditions and a fine selection of migrants recorded. The most tantalising bird of the day was a possible male Bluethroat heard giving snippets of song on several occasions during the morning by two different observers, first at Ty Nessaf and later at Nant Withy. It was clearly elusive, vocalising from deep vegetation on both occasions, but despite searches throughout the rest of the day it was never seen. Knowing that there could be a mesmerising male Bluethroat on the island is both exciting and frustrating, so we're all keeping our fingers crossed that it resurfaces and can be pinned down in the next couple of days!

Elsewhere, highlights included the first Grasshopper Warbler of the year at Ty Pellaf, two Black Redstarts at the Lighthouse and Plas respectively, a Hooded Crow that flew north over the island and two late Fieldfares that toured the island during the course of the morning. Numbers of common migrants were again on the up; the Cristin mist nets were manned all morning as it soon became apparent that Blackcaps, Goldcrests and Goldfinches were moving through the observatory garden at a considerable rate. Other birds included four Fulmars, a Gannet, two Sparrowhawks, two Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Merlin, two Peregrines, three Water Rails, the first Ringed Plover of the year, two Whimbrels, one Curlew, 14 Redshanks, 13 Turnstones, 265 Razorbills, three Collared Doves (including a singing bird), a Little Owl, five Stonechats, four Wheatears, 14 Blackbirds, 63 Blackcaps, 65 Chiffchaffs, 22 Willow Warblers, 87 Goldcrests, two Firecrests, 12 Chaffinches, 15 Siskins, 56 Goldfinches, 71 Linnets and three Lesser Redpolls.

 A busy morning in the ringing hut!

Blackcap fresh in resting on the rocks around Traeth Ffynnon

A gulp of Cormorants loitering in Henllwyn

Willow Warbler feeding in the Wetlands