A sunny but windy day produced a good arrival of migrants with our first fall of wheatears arriving through the morning. A total of 84 were recorded across the island with a smattering of individuals of the Greenland race. We also had our first Ring Ouzel of the year with a female turning up at the top of Pen Cristin this evening. The Ouzel was one of a small arrival of thrushes dotted across the island with four Fieldfare, two Redwings and four Song Thrushes being recorded.

Greenland Wheatear (C) Ewan Turner

Two Black Redstarts also turned up today with one on the west coast and another perched on a fence post behind Plas Withy. A single Swallow and Sand Martin also passed through and two White Wagtails were on Solfach, but warbler numbers were low with only four Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs recorded.

25 Chough were recorded today with many of them on the east side, a Grey Heron was in the Wetlands, a Kestrel on the Mountain and two Merlins were seen on the South End and West Coast.

Another glorious sunny day with breezier conditions. Despite the fine weather overnight some migrants had been grounded with 29 Willow Warblers, 23 Chiffchaffs, 20 Wheatears, three Swallows, two each of Sand Martin and White Wagtail plus a Black Redstart around the Lighthouse being the notable highlights. The Reed Bunting from yesterday was still loitering around the Wetlands and a perched Lesser Redpoll in Cristin Withy was slightly unusual. A lone Redwing was also an indicator of some outward migration still occurring. 

The view of the island from the South End (C) Greg Lee

 On the sea there was an uptick in Auk activity, with several flocks of Guillemots and Razorbills passing offshore. The four Canada Geese were around the North End.

Today was the first calm day for a while but it was still fairly quiet on the bird front. However 17 Willow Warblers was the highest count of the spring so far, nine of which were in Crisitn Withy. 

Aside from the Willow Warblers there was little else of note today, seven Chiffchaffs were recorded across the island along with two Goldcrests, one Siskin and nine Goldfinches. One of the Goldfinches was trapped and ringed making it the first of the year.

Goldfinch (C) Ewan Turner

Elsewhere there were four Gannets, six Shelducks, a Sparrowhawk and a Merlin recorded. A Redshank and two Turnstones were on the Narrows.

The north-westerly wind persisted in the morning before calming and turning into a pleasant spring day. A few migrants had managed to make their way through with seven Willow Warblers around the island, they will be coming into peak passage in the first half of April, five Goldcrests and eight Wheatears. A Purple Sandpiper was in Henllwyn on the high tide and an impressive 32 Choughs were counted whilst the local Peregrine gave a splendid flying display over the Observatory. A Green-veined White enjoying the sunshine at Cristin in the late afternoon was our first butterfly sighting for a few days.

Willow Warbler (C) Greg Lee

Another wet and windy day halting migration. A White Wagtail remained on Solfach and three Wheatears were recorded on the island. These, along with a single Blackcap and eight Chiffchaffs were the only other migrants recorded today. 

However, our first returning colour-ringed Lesser Black-Backed Gull was seen near the North End gull colony. It was ringed on the island as an adult male at the end of last July. 

Returning ringed Lesser Black-Backed Gull (C) Ewan Turner

A few waders were also seen today, with 100 Oystercatchers seen today, most of which were in Henllwyn. A single Snipe, Redshank and our resident Whimbrel were also seen. Singles of Merlin, Peregrine, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, along with a Teal and six Shelduck, were the other notable sightings of today.

The chilly and strong westerly winds persisted into the day, although unlike yesterday, we were treated to some sunshine. Despite the difficult conditions, there were birds about with our first White Wagtail of the year on the beach at Solfach, two Swallows over the Observatory, five Wheatears, two Willow Warblers in the wetlands and a Black Redstart on the rocks at Henllywn. 

Black Redstart (C) Greg Lee

White Wagtail (C) Greg Lee

A Fieldfare near Pen Cristin was possibly the bird seen sporadically on the island during the past week and the Merlin remained around the South End. In the evening, a Moorhen was caught and ringed.

Today was a wet and windy day with constant misty rain! So it was no surprise that the birding was a bit quiet. However the first Black Redstart of the year was seen briefly flitting over the roof top in the courtyard and the Shags were undeterred in their nest building. Four Wheatears were on the Narrows and a total of only three Chiffchaffs and three Willow Warblers were recorded across the island. Two blackcaps were also seen including one caught in the Heligoland trap at the Obs.

Male Blackcap (C) Ewan Turner

Two Redshank were on the narrows, three Teal were in the Wetlands and eight Puffins were viewable from Pen Cristin, along with 9 of the 13 choughs seen today. The young Peregrine is still hanging around and seems to give chase to just about anything the moves!

A quieter day all round with a thick mist surrounding the island first thing. A single Willow Warbler and three Chiffchaffs dotted around the island made up the totals of Phylloscopus warblers. A new Goldcrest was squeaking around the pines at the Observatory, as was a single Blackcap. Five Purple Sandpipers each at Solfach and Carreg yr Honwy were the first sightings for a couple of days.

Willow Warbler (C) Greg Lee

In the evening, two Jack Snipes, four Teals and a Woodcock were in the Wetlands whilst overhead, a flock of Wigeon and a movement of Redwings was noted.

 A misty start to the morning highlighted by a Great White Egret flying north over the island, representing the thirteenth island record. Small numbers of migrants trickled through with three Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs and nine Willow Warblers recorded, including one willow warbler with a single white secondary on the right wing! Seven Wheatears were also recorded.

Great White Egret (C) Greg Lee

Willow Warbler with a white secondary! (C) Ewan Turner

A brief trip to he mainland with Gareth gave Steve the chance to have a look at the seabirds on the East Side this morning. Many have already returned including 850 Guillemots, 400 Razorbills, 22 Puffins, 316 Herring Gulls 24 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, 24 Fulmar and 23 Shags. 

26 Choughs were also recorded on the east side along with three Ravens, one of which is this years chick that has already fledged! Eight Shelduck were on the narrows this morning, a Merlin on the Mountain and another on the south end. A Snipe was in the wetlands and two Teal were in the Wetlands again.

A reduction in the winds was most welcome after yesterday. The change in weather brought our first double figure count of Wheatears this season with 11 in total across the island. One of these included a ringed male, who was singing well for Greg as he stepped out of his hut in the morning. 96 Meadow Pipits were also present around the island, with the majority of birds around the South End. Chiffchaffs saw an slight uptick from the previous day with 16 and three Blackcaps were still around the Observatory, taking a fancy to feeding on the ground. 

Two Teals, a Snipe and a Fieldfare were at the Wetlands. A visting Buzzard in the afternoon was given a welcoming committee by the local Ravens, Great Black-backed Gulls and Carrions Crows. 

View of the South End from the Mountain (C) Greg Lee

The island felt a bit less active this morning with a brisk northerly wind causing most things to bunker down. Although, we did have some migrants pushing through with the first two migrant Whimbrels of the year turning up on Solfach. Two Wheatears were on the south end along with two Redwings and there were two Blackcaps and six Chiffchaffs recorded across the island. 

Wheatear (C) Ewan Turner

Yesterdays Stock Dove remained and was seen flying over the lighthouse this morning, a Skylark was on the South End and 4 Manx Shearwaters were battling the wind out at sea. Other sightings of note include four Shelducks on Henllwyn again, three Peregrines on the mountain, a Merlin was chasing Meadow Pipits near Nant and there are now two Teal in the Wetlands.

Peregrine (C) Greg Lee

We spent the rest of the day tidying out the tool shed and getting it ready for the season. We can actually move around in there now! Now we have to try and keep it that way!

 

It was a cold start to the morning before developing into another pleasant spring day. The initial consensus indicated that there had a been a clearout of migrants rather than an arrival on the overnight southerly winds with a single Wheatear at the South End, ten Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler at Nant being the main talking points of the early censuses. 

As the day grew on though, birds began to appear with the first Blackcaps of the season turning up in the nets at Cristin with six in total recorded around the Observatory along with another Willow Warbler. 

Blackcap (C) Steven Stansfield 

A flyover Siskin and a Stock Dove were notable sightings, the latter being a fairly irregular bird on the island. 

Elsewhere, the regular Merlin at the South End was worrying the Meadow Pipits, the Teal was in the Wetlands and yesterday's Fieldfare was again seen near the Observatory along with a Song Thrush and a Redwing. 

Despite the winds starting to pick up into the night, the first dazzling session of the season was undertaken yielding a Jack Snipe and a Woodcock in the Wetlands. A further two each of Jack Snipe and Snipe were also seen but not ringed along with a Water Rail. The Manx Shearwaters were unperturbed by the deteriorating weather conditions with a continued increase in vocal birds around the island. 

The first Woodcock of the season this evening (C) Greg Lee

Jack Snipe (C) Steve Stansfield 

Away from bird workEmma continued cleaning in the office, Ewan and Greg countinued with preparing bird bags and cleaning bird feeders, whilst Steve got messy with filling the gaps above the new window with expanding foam

Once set the excess foam will be trimmed off with a knife and new plasterboard fitted over it.

Well we've only been on the island a short time but our first scarce bird of the season has already turned up! A Hoopoe was nicely picked up by Steve as it was calling away in the willow tree next to the courtyard. He had a brief view as it flew behind the obs but unfortunately that was the last seen or heard of it!

Hoopoe call and song from today - photo from archive

Spring migrants are trickling through with 35 Chiffchaffs recorded across the island today, the first Willow Warbler of the year turned up on the track between the obs and Ty Pellaf, and one was later trapped and ringed in the garden Heligoland trap. Two Sand Martins flew north over the lighthouse this morning and two Wheatears were also on the south end. 61 Meadow Pipits were recorded across the island and Firecrest was seen with four Goldcrests at Nant this afternoon. 

First Willow Warbler ringed of the year! (C) Ewan Turner

Finches seem to be moving in small numbers with two Goldfinches, three Siskins and two Redpolls seen overhead. The resident Bullfinch is still in the obs garden and has been since the 18th!

Manx Shearwaters are beginning to arrive with a few heard calling on the island the past few night, including one straight behind the obs.

Other sightings of note include three Shelducks on Henllwyn, a Teal in the Withies, two Sparrowhawks at Nant, a Merlin on the West Coast and a second one on the South End. Our resident Whimbrel is hanging around on the West Coast, with two Curlews and a single Turnstone being the only other waders recorded. A Collard Dove was at Nant and the last of the winter birds are still clinging on, with a single Fieldfare over the obs this morning.

Merlin (C) Greg Lee

Today, saw another arrival of Chiffchaffs, with 32 counted. A Swallow was the first of the year, and a sign that spring is on its way. A Wheatear was on the West Coast, whilst a. Fieldfare was in the Observatory garden at dawn. A Rook was the first of the year too. Four Goldfinches were seen, along with three Redpolls and the Bullfinch

After Census, Greg and Ewan worked on the net rides and got the nets errected at Cristin. A few birds were trapped but the star of the show was this third calendar year male Sparrowhawk 

 

Sparrowhawk (C) Steven Stansfield

Sparrowhawk (C) Steven Stansfield

Over the past few days, I have been working with our internet provider to try and get the island's internet system working properly - almost 50 emails later and we have a good speed coming down now! The system is still a little unstable and we may well need a new part too.

Quicker than most mainland broadband!

Emma spent some time filling the gaps under the window with lime mortar in preparation of the sink unit being refitted.

Our internet has still been palying up, and as a result updates have not been coming as readily as we would have hoped.

Thai said, we have been busy again over the past few days....

On Monday 18th, we had a visit from Paul Sandham to help us get the internet sorted. Paul is a complete computer geek (wizard!) and had us up and running again. Over the past weeks we have had many mant emails andd messages trying to get to the bottom of the issue with the internet. Paul brought his pal Noel (and his wife) who is a solar geek. Noel, Colin and I fixed the solar panels back on to the frame, they were forciably removed by Storm Darragh in December!!

Paul, with a bit of help from me, fitted the new bridge between the mainland and the island.

The white square above Paul’s head had blown! Possibly a lightning strike.

Noel and his wife fixed the solar panels back onto the frames.

Panels all fixed and good to go

Our new Assistants Greg and Ewan arrived on Monday evening, and after their unpacking on Tuesday 18th, and doing their census, they set about cleaning the ringing lab. Everything came out, walls were cleaned and painted where needed. All the rings, bags, boxes and books were checked and sorted. They did a sterling job!

Highlights of census were: two Merlins, a Water Rail in the Wetlands, a Collared Dove at Nant and a female Bullfinch at Cristin.

Whilst Ewan and Greg were in the ringing lab I was removing the sink unit from the Lodge as we were having a new window fitted in the kitchen the following day.

Whilst dismantelling the water filter under the sink I discovered the ballast (the electrical controller) on the UV water filter in the obs was broken. Ok order a new one….  Two hours of web surfing and I gave up. I could have one shipped from Australia… by MAY !!  Or buy a whole new UV filter unit to be here by Friday! So we will have a whole new UV filter to fit when it arrives.

In the afternoon, I was required to become a star of the big screen again! A film crew doing a documentary about 'Spring on the farm' wanted to do a piece with me about farming and conservation. Gareth was the main star of the show of course. This will be aired on Channel 5 sometime later in the year.

Whilst filming on the Narrows, four Canada Geese flew over and headed south. 

Mark Carter, our former AW had been on the island since the previous Saturday helping Mari and Emyr. He had a couple of early Wheatears, a pair of Gadwalls and a Hooded Crow and a Painted Lady.

Gadwalls (C) MG Carter 10/3/25

Hooded Crow (C) MG Carter 13/3/25

Painted Lady  (C) MG Carter 13/3/25

Yesterday (Sat 15th) there were a few Chiffchaffs arrived and another couple of Wheatears today. 

Over the winter the WiFi connection bridge to the mainland broke, so we have had no WiFi - hense updates were sporadic until it was fixed.  

Monday the new staff (Greg and Ewan) arrive with Lynda and Mike (we hope).

2025 - A new year and a new team!

 It’s been a while since we posted here. 

Emma and I met up with Joe Brownlie (remotely) along with Greg (remotely) our new Assistant and Ewan (who came to our house in Norfolk. We did our staff inductions and got ready for working together.  

Emma (mostly) and I got our house in Norfolk ready and I finalised lots of the documents for the start of the season and completed the report to NRW. 

We eventually left Owlwood Cottage on 9 March, a bit behind schedule as we had both been quite ill in February (so much so we had to cancel meetings and a presentation in the midlands). 

Then we dashed through Rotherham and spent a day with my mum and took her out for a spot of lunch on Monday.We hoped to get to the island on Wednesday 12th. Lots of food was collected in Southport the following day, but the weather blew up and we had to cancel until Friday!

Lots of food was collected in Southport the following day, but the weather blew up and we had to cancel until Friday!

We left Southport and headed to Aberdaron over the Mersey bridge on a glorious morning.

Eventually getting on the sea about 2pm 

We arrived home 20 minutes later

Colin has done lots of work to Benlli over the winter and it has a new pink bottom!!

When we arrived back we found a tree had fallen and just missed the shed behind our house

Lots of unpacking and cleaning in our barn which had wintered very well, but we had a water issue! 

So into the heavens I went to find the problem. Ela standing on the ladder to save me from certain death!!

First night home and I realised how much I miss these sunsets!

Then, a wonderful welcome home meal with Meriel and Gareth and Ela - Diolch!