The day began wet and drizzly, with low cloud and a damp breeze, but gradually brightened into a more pleasant afternoon. 

Despite the slow start, bird activity picked up nicely. The highlight was the Willow Warbler count, with 70 individuals logged, which is quite impressive for late July in recent times. In days gone by, numbers could be in four figures following a lighthouse attraction! 

A juvenile Cuckoo was also seen – the first of the autumn. A single Crossbill was also noted again.

Another notable arrival was a Spotted Flycatcher trapped at Nant.

Spotted Flycatcher © Bethany Wilson

Seawatching was productive, with a steady passage of Manx Shearwaters – 1,200 were logged. Two Fulmars and 31 Gannets were also seen along with and 27 Sandwich Terns. Thirty-two Shags and two Cormorants were present along the coast. 

Wader counts included 16 Oystercatchers, six Dunlin (one of which was trapped and ringed overnight), one adult Sanderling, three Curlews, one Whimbrel, and four Common Sandpipers.

Gull totals were lower again and included 930 Herring Gulls, 84 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 35 Black-headed Gulls, and eight Mediterranean Gulls. Kittiwakes totalled 400 mostly on Carreg yr Honwy and the West Coast.

Inland sightings included 23 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 27 Rock Pipits, and 12 Pied Wagtails.

Among the other passerines, 30 Wrens, seven Stonechats, and 11 Wheatears were active. There were also four Dunnocks, four Robins, and two Blackbirds.

Warbler totals included one Sedge Warbler, one Whitethroat, and one Chiffchaff in addition to the Willow Warblers.

Raptors were quiet, with just one Sparrowhawk and two Peregrines noted.

Butterfly records included 24 Red Admirals, 21 Meadow Browns, 19 Green-veined Whites, three Small Coppers, three Painted Ladies, one Large White, one Common Blue, and one Small Tortoiseshell.

A full low tide count recorded 240 Grey Seals, along with three Risso's Dolphins observed offshore.

Sunset © Steven Stansfield