An Easterly wind was blowing at Force 4 over the island today; with very good visibility, a sea state of 3, and temperatures reaching 13°C the accompianing conditions. Marine mammal and seal monitoring recorded a total of 185 Grey Seals alongside 13 pups, as well as one Risso's Dolphin off the South End. 

Sunset over the West Coast (c) Steven Stansfield

Large numbers of Corvids were once again moving through the island with an estimated 750 Jackdaws, 53 Carrion Crows, two Rooks, two Ravens and 47 Magpies observed. Other passage passerine counts included 107 Chaffinches, 15 Goldfinches, one Brambling in off the sea over the South End, eight Siskins, five Greenfinches, three Linnets, one Blackcap, one Yellow-browed Warbler still at Cristin, nine Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, 89 Redwings, two Fieldfares, 47 Blackbirds, eight Song Thrushes, 39 Starlings, 47 Robins, three Skylarks, 28 Meadow Pipits, 21 Rock Pipits, three Grey Wagtails, one Pied Wagtail, two White Wagtails, 15 Alba Wagtails, three Woodpigeons, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, one Blue Tit on Pen Cristin, and one Reed Bunting. 

Yellow-browed Warbler retrapped at Cristin again (c) Steven Stansfield

Offshore counts produced 51 Common Scoters, four Teals, one Eider, 34 Shags, 27 Manx Shearwaters, 22 Gannets, one Red-throated Diver, one Fulmar, 80 Kittiwakes, 64 Razorbills, 26 Common Gulls, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, and 12 Black-headed Gulls. Wader and waterfowl counts on the island included 26 Curlews, two Whimbrels, 15 Turnstones, five Redshanks, two Purple Sandpipers, one Snipe, and one Water Rail.  Raptors overhead featured two Merlins, one Sparrowhawk, and one Peregrine.

Conditions were calm today with a Force 3 North-East breeze, excellent visibility, and a smooth sea state of two, with temperatures reaching 11°C. Marine mammal and seal monitoring recorded 125 Grey Seals with five pups, and one Risso's Dolphin off the west coast. 

A steady stream of passerine passage was notable today, starting from first light with some thrush movement and continuing well into the afternoon. The bulk of the numbers came from corvid arrivals with 500 Jackdaws, 58 Carrion Crows, 24 Choughs, 19 Rooks, six Ravens, and 57 Magpies, with thrush passage a close second with 333 Redwings, 43 Fieldfares, 14 Blackbirds and three Song Thrushes. Other passage counts included 132 Chaffinches, 16 Bramblings, 36 Greenfinches, 21 Siskins, 18 Redpolls, nine Goldfinches, five Grey Wagtails, seven Pied Wagtails, 13 Alba Wagtails, four Reed Buntings, 68 Skylarks, 35 Starlings, one Stock Dove, and ten Woodpigeons, noted. Counts of passerines landed on the island were much lower but produced some variety including one Great Tit at Nant, 90 Meadow Pipits, 26 Rock Pipits, 29 Robins, 11 Chiffchaffs, six Blackcaps, one Lesser Whitethroat at Cristin, ten Goldcrests, seven House Sparrows and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Two Water Rails were also recorded.

House Sparrow ringed at Cristin (c) Steven Stansfield

Seabird movement and coastal counts offshore featured 14 Gannets, 38 Shags, 30 Common Scoters, seven Wigeons, five Shelducks, two Teals, one Little Egret, 63 Razorbills, 28 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Common Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls and two Kittiwakes. Wader passage and shorebird numbers featured nine Turnstones, four Lapwings, four Snipes, three Knots, three Redshanks, two Whimbrels, one Golden Plover, and one Bar-tailed Godwit.  A notable increase of raptor diversity was noted today with three Peregrines, two Sparrowhawks, one Hen Harrier, one Buzzard, one Kestrel, and one Merlin.