Today was the calmest day since we arrived with only a very slight breeze from the South. These are ideal conditions for migrants to be able to make their way to Bardsey, so we all had our fingers crossed for a good day!

As in recent days, it was clear that there had been another arrival of birds as Phylloscopus warblers were already fly-catching on the lawn at Cristin before the sun had even come up. Nets were opened both in the Obs garden and in the Plantation at Nant as the benign weather conditions are ideal for ringing.


There was a lot of movement around the garden with 50 Chiffchaffs, 20 Goldcrests, 10 Blackcaps, 10 Willow Warblers and yesterday's Black Redstart still present and foraging on the Obs Track. At Nant, the story was much the same with fewer Chiffchaffs; however, a new Black Redstart had turned up at Ty Capel - very nice to have another one of these gorgeous birds on the island, the second of the day.

Willow Warbler

Gareth Roberts, the farmer on the island, messaged to let us know he also had a Black Redstart in his garden at Ty Pellaf - the third of the day! We then received a message from Mari Huws, one of the Island Trust wardens, to tell us she had seen a Hooded Crow on the West Coast, a new addition to the year list!

During the morning's ringing session at the Observatory, a Robin was caught which had already been ringed. On closer inspection, it was noted that it was wearing a ring branded with "Zool Museum. Denmark". The ring number was recorded and will be sent off to the BTO, we should then get the details of when and where exactly the bird was ringed, very exciting.

'Continental' Robin

The evening saw both Sam and George head down to the Wetlands to set a net to try and catch Snipe in the early morning tomorrow. After that, a quick walk around the Narrows in the last of the day's light produced only a few Redshanks and Oystercatchers in Solfach.

The nights recently have been very dark and starry, this is ideal for Manx Shearwaters to come ashore and they are beginning to do so in increasingly large numbers.

looking North at Cristin

Other sightings today included: one Jack Snipe, nine Common Snipes, one Curlew, 111 Meadow Pipits, two Robins, five Stonechats, seven Blackbirds, 16 Blackcaps, 106 Chiffchaffs, 15 Willow Warblers and 42 Goldcrests.

Ringing Totals: Chiffchaff 23, Goldcrest 12, Willow Warbler 7, Blackcap 9, Chaffinch 4(1), Goldfinch 2, Dunnock 1(2), Wren 1, Robin 0(1). Total 59 birds of 9 species. 

A cold and clear night meant the moth traps produced only one Common Quaker.