Tuesday, 1 September 2020

 The weather is starting to turn, with the wind picking up slightly to 15mph from the south. Not much was moving early on, but as yesterday, Meadow Pipits and Swallows were recorded in decent numbers, 120 and 149 throughout the day, respectively. 

The Heligoand was up on Solfach and two Rock Pipits were caught and darvic ringed in the morning. Unfortunately, no White Wagtails joined them! But there were many White Wagtails around, 63 present around the island today, largely around the Narrows. 12 Black-headed Gulls were in Solfach feeding, and there were waders present, too, including one Sanderling, two Dunlins, two Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks, one Common Sandpiper, 22 Turnstones. 17 Sandwich Terns flew south past the South End early on. And two Yellow Wagtails were seen and heard, one on the Narrows and one over the Obs, lovely birds with a short flutey call. Four Grey Wagtails flew over the South End, these have a sharper, often two-tone call.

Wheatear - one of 20 seen today

Later in the morning, some signs were placed around the Narrows to stop people disturbing the seal pups that are beginning to appear. In any given year there will be visitors that get far too close to the pups, causing stress and preventing the mother from coming ashore to feed.


In the afternoon, work continued on the garden Heligoland trap, it's coming along well now. The catching area needs completing and the roof in some sections. But before too long it will be a functioning trap once again!


In the evening a Chough roost count took place from the top of the mountain, a minimum of 14 was counted. All the birds that could be identified were from birds that breed on Bardsey, including the Seal Cave, South End, West Coast and Black Anvil pairs. 

Sightings today include one Grey Heron, one Sparrowhawk, one Buzzard, 27 House Martins, 46 Rock Pipits, 20 Wheatears, one Sedge Warbler. one Whitethroat, three Willow Warblers and 81 Linnets.

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