Friday, 1 June 2018

Today's morning census was completed under a thick layer of fog that rarely lifted to reveal much of the island. The mist and fog did little to subdue the heat. Combined with an almost complete lack of any breeze it was uncomfortably hot at times. Speaking to some of the longer-staying island residents, apparently they've never known weather like this!

Despite not being able to see five metres ahead at times, we still managed to clock in on some fantastic birds. A Marsh Warbler that spent the morning giving off a mesmerising array of mimicry in Cristin Withy before being finding its way into the mist net was yet another fine bird to add to an ever increasing list of scarcities recorded this spring. After the last individual found singing at Ty Nesaf on 15 June 2016, this will become the 12th record for the island.

A Greenish Warbler that started singing in the garden at 05:50 this morning was assumed to be the bird from two days ago until it too was trapped and ringed. Upon closer inspection, it had a more prominent left wing-bar and a weak right wing-bar. The bird from a few days ago had a prominent right wing-bar and a weak left wing-bar. Differences in colouration on the lower mandible suggest that this is a second individual Greenish Warbler!

The best of the rest included 180 Manx Shearwaters, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Ringed Plover, 19 Dunlins, two Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, a Redshank, seven Turnstones, 13 Kittiwakes, a Collared Doves, a Sand Martin, 29 Swallows, five House Martins, four Sedge Warblers, a Blackcap, six Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, three Chaffinches, a Siskin, two Goldfinches and 13 Linnets.

28 Silver Y and a handful of Diamond-back Moths hinted at a decent movement of moths onto the island, whilst a Pale-shouldered Brocade in the moth trap at Cristin and a Common White Wave in Mark's trap at Ty Nesaf are both island scarcities.

In the hand, the Marsh Warbler exhibited a lovely olive-green tinge on the mantle that isn't really done much justice in the photos.

The second Greenish Warbler of the spring and the first to be ringed on Bardsey since 16th June 2016.

Several of the Chough broods are now ready to be colour-ringed.

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