The very early hours of today saw George heading down to the Narrows to try and dazzle a few waders. Despite the very bright conditions caused by the clear night, he caught two birds - a Ringed Plover, which is a pretty much guaranteed bird on an annual basis, and another which is far from this, a Knot! And what's more, it was in stunning Summer Plumage. This is the 77th Knot ringed on Bardsey, with most of these being caught at 'Lighthouse Attractions' when the light used to be a rotating prism. In more recent times, it has been changed to a red flashing LED, and such attractions are a thing of the past - this Knot is only the sixth to be dazzled on Bardsey, so quite impressive.

A summer plumaged Red Knot, a really stunning bird, and a treat so see one like this in the hand.

Adult uppertail coverts (with red bars) coming through 

More adult feathers coming through on the mantle and the scapulars. (This bird was aged as a EURING age code 5, meaning it hatched last year)

An adult male Ringed Plover, the thick all-black mask and breast band makes this bird an adult, and a male at that.

Later on, at a more sensible hour, dawn broke on another beautiful Bardsey day. Sam was up at the crack to open the nets in the garden and George headed out to do census. It was calm, but still cool with a very slight breeze from North - later in the day, the breeze dropped completely and it was very pleasant indeed in the sun. 

George made his way to Nant, the Whitethroat was still singing near Carreg Bach, so presumably he will stay here now and hold territory until he manages to find a female. There was a Sedge Warbler singing in Ty Capel garden, and another two Whitethroats were singing above Nant Withy, with a female skulking promisingly in the Withy below. 

The North End held fewer Wheatears than it has done recently, though the male of the resident pair was spending a lot of his time displaying to the female, and he chased off a competitor who came in for a brief look. A male Pied Wagtail was also singing on the clifftops, but no females were seen nearby, hopefully he'll manage to pair up before long, if he hasn't already. 

a rather dapper male Pied Wagtail

The Withies were again alive with Sedge Warbler song, Blackbirds carrying food, Meadow Pipits parachuting from every fence-line in sight and swallows cutting through the Willow bushes, picking off insects as they go. They are really one of the main hives of activity at the moment, along with the Narrows, which today was particularly busy. 

Small Coppers are becoming a regular sight around the Withies, Nant and the Obs Garden.

On Solfach, there was a reasonably sized mixed wader flock. Nine Ringed Plovers, 11 Dunlin, eight Turnstones, one Sanderling and a Knot made up the group, an impressive sight. Most were actively feeding on the tide line, no doubt trying to fatten up in preparation for their long Northbound journeys which are still yet to come. Two White Wagtails were also present again, these and the Turnstones seemed to favour the piles of Kelp washed up further up the beach, which were obviously bursting with Sand-hoppers. 

part of the Wader flock containing Ringed Plover and Dunlin

Summer Plumaged Knot

Summer Plumaged Dunlin

Other birds of note today included: four Cormorants, 13 Shags, one Grey Heron, one Sparrowhawk, four Whimbrels, one Curlew, 350 Guillemots, 150 Razorbills, two Puffins, one Cuckoo, 45 Swallows, four House Martins, 18 Rock Pipits, one Robin, 14 Stonechats, one Song Thrush, one Grasshopper Warbler, nine Sedge Warblers, five Whitethroats, 10 Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs, five Willow Warblers and two Goldcrests. 

Ringing at the Obs produced: Goldfinch 2, Blackcap 7, Sedge Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 2, Dunnock 1 and Song Thrush 1. Total 19 birds of 7 species.