Wednesday 13 June 2018

The predicted rain and wind didn't set in until late this evening, and it was otherwise a perfectly calm and dry day for finishing off counting Lesser Black-backed Gull nests around the east side of the island before the bracken completely grows up and covers them. In total we've tallied 134 Apparently Occupied Nests (AON) containing a mix of well-grown chicks, newly hatched chicks and freshly laid eggs which is up on 119 AON recorded last year but still down on the 141 AON recorded in 2016. 

Back at the observatory, a stunning Wood Warbler took up residence in the garden for the best part of the day, showing well and giving bursts of song on occasions (a short recording of the song is attached below). Other birds logged today included two Fulmars, three Gannets, a Grey Heron, a Whimbrel, a Collared Dove, a Sand Martin, 16 Swallows, 13 House Martins, a Stonechat, three Wheatears, two Sedge Warblers, two Chaffinches, two Siskins and 11 Linnets.


Today's Wood Warbler is a new addition to the year list and the first since one at Nant on 22nd August 2017. They're always a special passage migrant to see on Bardsey, rarely turning up more than a handful of times in any one season.

The Sheep's-bit is starting to add some more blue to the East Side cliffs now that the bluebells and Spring Squill have almost completely gone over.

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