We certainly received the storm-force winds and rain that had been predicted, but the worst of it had passed by dawn, leaving us with a stunning sunny day and an impressive swell off the West side of the island. Huge white horses rolled against the coastline, and it certainly made a change from the mirror calm sea we've gotten used to recently!

It was otherwise a day to continue monitoring and mapping the island's breeding birds, many of which are now feeding chicks. There's huge disparity in the progress of Swallow broods across the island. Two pairs at Ty Pellaf are already feeding well-grown chicks whilst pairs further up the island have only laid one or two eggs so far.

The Wood Warbler decided to weather the storm on the island and was still present this morning, singing and showing well in the Plantation. Otherwise, bird interest included four Fulmars, 2390 Manx Shearwaters riding the waves early in the morning, 114 Gannets, a Grey Heron, a Curlew, a Collared Dove, a Little Owl, six Stonechats, eight Wheatears, two Sedge Warblers, a Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, two Chaffinches and 15 Linnets.

The dense vegetation of the Plantation gave the Wood Warbler plenty of shelter from which to give off its distinctive 'trilling' song.

We were able to ring a brood of five well-grown Swallow chicks this evening.