Finally a dry and calm day meant that Manx Shearwater project work came to the forefront. After the daily census Sam started work on the census of burrows on the East Side. Meanwhile, Stuart took a look at the marked productivity burrows on the Mountain above the Observatory and at Pen Cristin. The majority had eggs though there were signs that a few had been predated.

Manx Shearwater in a burrow photographed using an Endoscope

Stuart shoulder deep in a Manx Shearwater burrow

Similarly to yesterday the majority of birds recorded are most likely residents with the exception being six Spotted Flycatchers and finches including three Chaffinches, seven Siskins and three Lesser Redpolls. Swallows and House Martins are still moving through with some staying to breed. It wont be long before many of the outbuildings have Swallows rushing in and out.

Birds today: 25 Gannets, one Buzzard, one Dunlin, two Whimbrels, four Curlews, eight Turnstones, 24 Swallows, 20 House Martins, nine Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroat, three Chiffchaff, one Willow Warbler, six Spotted Flycatchers, three Chaffinches, seven Siskins, 10 Goldfinches, four Lesser Redpolls