Today was another scorcher! We can’t seem to catch a break from the searing heat despite today’s gentle northerlies, but I’m sure we’ll be wishing it back when the wind and rain inevitably arrives… George was out before sunrise to conduct his Breeding Bird Survey, starting with the South End section today, largely counting singing Wrens.

The census’ produced an increase in Blackcaps and Willow Warblers at Nant, and a few Spotted Flycatchers too. Stonechats are in abundance at the moment due to the recent fledglings that are springing up everywhere. Solfach produced one summer plumaged Sanderling and Turnstone that will be heading north on migration, they need to get a move on at this stage, it won’t be too long before we have a passage of waders returning from northern breeding grounds.

The House Martins are nest building at the lighthouse, as usual. But there is also a pair nest building on the side of Plas, which is good news for the species. Some of the Swallows have chicks now and George went to check the nests today in order to see what stage they are all at. These chicks will be fledging in just over two weeks, and shortly after, the parents will be starting on a second brood.

Male Swallow caught in Steve's house today, the tail length makes this a male, although its not possible to do this in the field unless its a very obvious individual.

The Afternoon was spent at the East Side, checking more Chough nests and counting and ringing breeding seabirds. Great fun as always to get in amongst the auk colonies. There are large age differences in some of the chicks, with some looking old enough to fledge in a few days, and some having just hatched, or still in the egg stage… The site that was visited today was really rather quiet, nowhere near the amount of breeding activity that was seen just last year, which is a bit concerning, perhaps the stormy weather in the last couple of weeks washed out many small chicks and eggs? A bit of a mystery, but quite concerning none-the-less.

Three Shag chicks were darvic ringed, and a few adult Razorbills and Guillemots were ringed and re-trapped which was nice to see. As well as that we were largely ringing the auk chicks, of course. But it’s definitely far from all being about the ringing, and our biggest priority was counting the breeding seabirds, starting with the gulls at the North End and going down the East Side, counting the hidden Shag and Fulmar nests, before arriving at the auk colonies.

George climbing into 'The Hole' a guano ridden area at Bae Felen where auks like to nest... Sam 'supervising'

Adult Guillemot

Razorbill ring - because Guillemots and Razorbills walk on their tarsi (their 'legs') along rocks, conventional circular rings would quickly wear to the point where the number can't be read or the ring falls off. So they have special rings with the number on both sides and a flat section that sits on the rock.

Razorbill at the point of hatching