A light southerly wind at F4 held throughout the day, with a sea state of two and poor visibility. Mist turned to light drizzle during the morning but completely burned off by midday. The temperature reached 13 °C.

The team with some freshly made "flags" © Steven Stansfield

Joel took Cameron and Saffron around the East Side and made great progress counting the burrows in a dense square on the North face, surpassing 600 burrows in a 100m square. Using flag they also marked out squares for the rest of the week.

Two Humming‑bird Hawk‑moths were recorded with one each at Cristin and the East Side.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth enjoying a some Rosemary nectar © Joel Tragen

Two Shelduck were at the South End. A total of 7 Mallard were recorded with three at the Wetlands, two on the East Side, and two at the South End.

Two Sparrowhawks, a male and a female, were at Cristin and a Peregrine was seen over Cristin.

Two Purple Sandpipers were at Henllwyn and a Redshank was at Solfach. Two Whimbrel were at the Narrows and four Curlews were recorded, all fly-overs. A Sandwich Tern was seen off the South End. 

Three Racing Pigeons were recorded, as usual coinciding with the bank holiday weekend.

A Swift was seen over the Mountain. A total of 47 House Martins and 16 Swallows were recorded.

A Reed Warbler was heard in the Wetlands. Other warblers across the island included: seven Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats, 15 Chiffchaffs and three Willow Warblers. Six Spotted Flycatchers were recorded with five at Nant.

A Hooded Crow was seen around the Mountain.

Three Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin were recorded flying over. A Chaffinch was at Nant. 27 Linnets were recorded on the island.

A southerly wind at F4 held throughout the day, with a sea state of two and moderate visibility. No precipitation fell, although mist and drizzle were in the air for a short period during the morning. The temperature reached 15 °C.

A total of 188 Atlantic Grey Seals were recorded around the coast of the island during the low tide seal survey.

A strong arrival of Painted Ladies with 24 across the island included 16 in the north‑west fields, along with 11 Silver Ys. A Humming‑bird Hawk‑moth was feeding on the Rosemary in Cristin garden. 

A Grey Heron and the Gadwall pair were at Pwll Cain.

A Hobby was seen briefly from Cristin, eventually disappearing over the Mountain. It was later seen dropping into Nant to roost. A male Sparrowhawk was seen at Cristin, where a Peregrine was also seen over.

Hobby settling in to roost at Nant © Joel Tragen

A Dunlin and Redshank were at Solfach. Five Whimbrel and a Curlew were recorded around the coastline.

Seven Swifts were recorded across the island and plenty of hirundine were recorded too, with a total of 81 Swallows and 91 House Martins. A Tree Pipit was again at Nant. 

A Reed Warbler was singing at Cristin. Other warbler recorded included: five Sedge Warblers, nine Whitethroats, 15 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher © Joel Tragen

A big arrival of Spotted Flycatchers today with 32 present, included nine trapped and ringed at Nant.

Four Lesser Redpolls were recorded with two each at Cristin and the Withies. Three Chaffinches were in the Plantation at Nant. Other finches across the island included: eight Goldfinches and 16 Linnets.

A southerly wind at F5 held throughout the day, with a sea state of three and poor visibility. Showers persisted through most of the morning, and the temperature reached 15 °C..

A Humming‑bird Hawk‑moth was seen in the North-West Fields. Along with a small handful of butterflies.

Three Shelducks were recorded with one each at Henllwyn, Solfach, and the South End. A total of 7 Mallards were recorded and the Gadwall pair were at Pwll Cain.

Male Shelduck © Joel Tragen

A Sparrowhawk was at Cristin and a Peregrine was at the North End.

One each of Ringed Plover, Redshank and Turnstone were heard from Cristin. Six Whimbrels were recorded around the coast.

Three Swifts were at the South End. A total of 28 Swallows and 13 House Martins were recorded. A Tree Pipit dropped into Nant plantation.

Again a Mistle Thrush was seen at Nant, this time disappearing North around the East of the Mountain.

A Reed Warbler and five Sedge Warblers were recorded, along with two Whitethroats and five Chiffchaffs. Nine Spotted Flycatchers were present with seven at Nant.

A female Chaffinch was at Nant and a Goldfinch was at Cristin. Nine Linnets were present across the island.

A south‑westerly wind at F6 held throughout the day, with a sea state of five and moderate visibility. Temperature reached 14 °C.

A Grey Heron was at the Wetlands and the Gadwall pair were at Pwll Cain. Two each of Sparrowhawks and Peregrines were recorded, with both of the latter being females over Cristin.

Three Sanderlings dropped onto the rocks at Henllwyn, whilst three Turnstones were at the South End along with a Whimbrel was at the South End..

One Sand Martin was seen over the Wetlands and three House Martins were recorded elsewhere. A total of 40 Swallows were recorded across the island. There were two White Wagtails recorded with one each at Henllwyn and Solfach.

Two Sedge Warblers, four Whitethroats, four Chiffchaffs and one Willow Warbler were the warblers recorded today. Ten Spotted Flycatchers were recorded with seven at Nant.

Spotted Flycatcher "fresh-in" at Treath Ffynnon © Joel Tragen

A female Chaffinch was at Nant and a Goldfinch was at Cristin. 17 Linnets were recorded.

A southerly wind at F6 held throughout the day, with a sea state of four and moderate visibility. Some light showers passed through, and the temperature reached 13 °C.

The Gadwall pair were at Pwll Gareth again and the male Sparrowhawk was at Cristin.

Wader passage has really slowed down with only three each of Turnstones and Whimbrels recorded today.

Woodpigeon sat on the migration bench © Joel Tragen

A Swift flew through the South End early morning. Small numbers of hirundines were present with only nine House Martins and 15 Swallows recorded. Along with the Turnstones on Solfach, a White Wagtail was feeding in the strandline.

Three Whitethroats, one Sedge Warbler, two Willow Warblers and six Chiffchaffs were recorded.

Goldfinch © Joel Tragen

A female Chaffinch was seen at Nant before it flew over to the pines at Tŷ Nessaf. Other finches included two Goldfinches and 36 Linnets were recorded, a Siskin also flew over.

A southerly wind at F3 held throughout the day, with a sea state of two and good visibility. Light rain began at 16:00 and became heavier as the afternoon progressed. The temperature reached 13 °C.

With the wind dying down, Joel took Saffron and Cameron around the East Side to start the Manx Shearwater Census. This year, we aim to census the whole of the East side with the help of our volunteers. The square took the team down to the colonies, allowing for some ring reading of the gulls and Razorbills.

Razorbill amongst the Thrift © Saffron Forester

A Grey Heron was at Pwll Gareth. The Gadwall pair were on the twin pond.

The male Sparrowhawk was at Cristin whilst a female Peregrine was seen above.

A Turnstone was at Solfach and seven Whimbrel were recorded.

A Swift flew through the South End. Two Sand Martins were over the Wetlands. A total of 69 Swallows and 12 House Martins were recorded.

Sedge Warbler retrapped at Cristin © Joel Tragen

A Hooded Crow and Jackdaw flew over Cristin accompanied by a Carrion Crow. Five Ravens were on the Mountain, a pair and their three freshly fledged young.

Six each of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls were noted, mostly fly-overs. Other finches recorded were four Chaffinches, 15 Goldfinches and 15 Linnets.

A south‑westerly wind at F6 held throughout much of the day, with a sea state of three and moderate visibility. Showers passed through during the afternoon, and the temperature reached 13 °C.

The Gadwall pair were at Pwll Gareth and a Water Rail was in the Tŷ Pellaf reedbed.

The male Sparrowhawk was seen at Cristin. Two Peregrines were recorded with a female hunting Oystercatchers in Henllwyn.

A Ringed Plover and two Sanderlings were at Solfach. A Turnstone was at Henllwyn and nine Whimbrels were recorded across the island.

Cuckoo sat in Oak eating hairy caterpillars © Joel Tragen

Five House Martins and a total of 59 Swallows were recorded. A male Cuckoo was at Nant and a Mistle Thrush flew from Nant to the pines Tŷ Nessaf.

Mistle Thrush disappearing away towards Tŷ Nessaf © Joel Tragen

A Garden Warbler was at Cristin. Other warblers seen were: eight Sedge Warblers, five Whitethroats, 12 Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers.

Three Siskins and five Lesser Redpolls were recorded, mainly fly-overs. Two Chaffinches, 13 Goldfinches and 32 Linnets were present.

A south‑westerly wind at F4 held throughout the day, with a sea state of three and good visibility. Light rain fell very sparsely throughout the day, and the temperature reached 11 °C.

Today we said goodbye to Harry who has been a great help over the past week and a half but welcomed Saffron and Cameron, who've come to volunteer for the next two weeks. They'll mainly be focused on aiding Joel with the Manx Shearwater Census on the East Side when the weather allows.

Two Sparrowhawks, a male and a female, were at Cristin, possibly the pair.

Two Turnstones, nine Whimbrel and a Curlew were the only waders present today.

Five Sand Martins were seen drinking at Pwll Gareth. A total of 33 Swallows and 65 House Martins, including 50 House Martins feeding low over Henllwyn.

The first Spotted Flycatcher to be ringed this year © Joel Tragen

Eight Sedge Warblers were recorded, with four ringed at Cristin. Two Whitethroats were in the Wetlands and 12 Chiffchaffs were recorded. Five Spotted Flycatchers were recorded, with one ringed at Cristin.

A female Chaffinch was at Nant and five Lesser Redpolls were recorded flying over. A total of 23 Linnets were present across the island.

Female Chaffinch chewing on Sallow bud © Joel Tragen

A north‑westerly wind at force four held throughout the day, with a sea state of four and good visibility. The temperature reached 12 °C.

A total of 183 Atlantic Grey Seals were recorded with 158 in Henllwyn alone. A Large White, two Common Blues, seven Small Coppers, eight Red Admirals and ten Painted Ladies were recorded. A Green Tiger Beetle was seen in Traeth Ffynnon.

A Grey Heron was at Henllwyn. The Canada Geese pair were again in the North End gull colony. The drake Gadwall was at Pwll Gareth.

Buzzard getting "seen off" by Raven © Joel Tragen

A Buzzard was seen over the Mountain The male Sparrowhawk was at Cristin and two Peregrines were recorded.

A Ringed Plover and two Turnstones were at the South End. Seven Whimbrels and a Curlew  were recorded. Nine Common Terns moved west past the South End.

A Swift was recorded over the Mountain and a Sand Martin was seen over at Pwll Gareth. A total of 93 Swallows and 22 House Martins were recorded across the island.

Three each of Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats and Blackcaps were recorded along with seven Chiffchaffs. Six Spotted Flycatchers were recorded with four at Nant.

Two Lesser Redpolls were recorded flying over. Ten Goldfinches and 23 Linnets were recorded.

A northerly wind at F6 held throughout the day, with a sea state of five and moderate visibility. Some showers passed through during the morning, and the temperature was 11°C

The highlights from a morning seawatch were: two Arctic Skuas with one past each of the seawatching hides. A Great Skua, a Black Guillemot and three Red‑throated Divers moving past the South End. Also of note passing on the sea were 4 015 Manx Shearwaters, 18 Arctic Terns, two Sandwich Terns, 159 Kittiwakes, 79 Gannets and 43 Fulmars.

Six Common Scoters were moved along the West Coast. The pair of Gadwall were seen on the School House pond.

The immature female Peregrine was again at the north‑west hide.

A Purple Sandpiper, a Sanderling, three Dunlins and 7 Ringed Plovers were at the South End. Relatively big numbers of Turnstones were recorded with 55 present across the island including a flock of 34 at the South End and other individuals seen arriving from out to sea. A total of 11 Whimbrels were recorded and a Curlew was at the South End.

Dunlin © Joel Tragen

A Collared Dove moved from the Narrows to the Wetlands and finally to Cristin.

A Sand Martin arrived in off the sea at the South End. Other hirundines included 35 Swallows and 46 House Martins, including a mixed flock 50 moving past the South End over the sea.

Warbler numbers were very low with only two Sedge Warblers and three Chiffchaffs recorded.

A Hooded Crow was seen around the Lighthouse complex.

A Goldfinch was at the Narrows and seven Linnets were recorded.

A north‑westerly wind at F6 held throughout the day, with a sea state of five and good visibility. Very light rain fell in brief showers, and the temperature reached 13 °C.

The highlights from a morning seawatch was: a Little Tern and two Common Terns moving west past the South End, and three Common Scoters moved east. Also of note passing on the sea were 1903 Manx Shearwaters, 268 Kittiwakes, 71 Gannets and 13 Fulmars. Later in the afternoon two Pomarine Skuas were moving north on the West Coast from Cristin.

Grey Heron flying into Pwll Cain, looking for some lunch © Joel Tragen

A Grey Heron was at Pwll Cain. Two Canada Geese were again in the North End gull colony. And finally Gadwalls were confirmed breeding with the pair and three young seen on Tŷ Pellaf pond.

A male Kestrel was seen on the Mountain. A male Sparrowhawk was at Nant and a female Peregrine was at Cristin.

Five each of Ringed Plovers and Turnstones were recorded, along with two Dunlins. A total of six Whimbrels were present.

Three Swifts flew through in the early evening with two over the South End and one over the Mountain behind Cristin at the same time. A total of 20 Swallows and two House Martins were recorded.

Spotted Flycatcher sat atop an Elder © Joel Tragen

The only warblers recorded today were three Sedge Warblers and eight Chiffchaffs. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Nant.

A total of 10 Linnets were recorded with one at Cristin and nine at the Lime Kiln.