A much calmer and sunnier day than yesterday, with a light southerly wind force 2 to 3 and a light sea state. Visibility was great and the day felt more settled and spring-like overall. A single Small Tortoiseshell was also seen at Cristin, one of the first butterflies of the spring seen on the wing.

Glorious day here on the Isle of the Blessed © Steven Stansfield

Nets were erected and opened at Cristin, with six nets set for a few hours during the afternoon for the first time this year. A couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were the first birds of the year to make it onto the ringing totals.

One of the first Goldcrests of the year to be trapped - © Steven Stansfield 

Seawatching from the South End produced three Fulmars offshore along with a single Manx Shearwater and modest numbers of auks. Guillemots numbered four, Razorbills 10 and a further 10 auk sp. also moved through. A single Cormorant was on Solfach together with three Shags shared between the South End and Solfach.

Wildfowl included four Shelducks, two each at Solfach and Henllwyn, along with two Teal on Pwll Gareth. Two Mallards remained around the Withies. 

A Red Kite, Merlin and Peregrine were logged, the Merlin, a female hunting over the South End and the Peregrine ranging over the Mountain along with the Kite.

Waders were again spread thinly but interest came from two Whimbrels on the South End. A single Curlew was also in the same area. One Redshank fed at Henllwyn and a lone Turnstone remained on Solfach. Oystercatcher numbers totalled 152, with 66 at Henllwyn, 41 on the South End, 39 around the Narrows and six on Solfach.

A single Great Black‑backed Gull loafed near the South End, with 68 Herring Gulls across the island including 59 at the Narrows. Nineteen Kittiwakes passed offshore.

Woodpigeons totalled 12 with six on the Mountain, five around the Withies and one on the Wetlands. A lone Skylark remained on the South End. Migration picked up slightly compared with yesterday, with Meadow Pipits jumping to 39 and Rock Pipits up to six.

Pied Wagtails increased to 12 with nine around the Narrows and three on the South End. Blackbirds reached four across Cristin and the Withies. Two Wheatears were on the Narrows, the first small arrival of the spring here. Stonechats totalled five with one on the South End and four on the Wetlands.

Warblers were better represented today. Chiffchaffs increased to 12 with five at Cristin and seven in the Withies. A Firecrest was also at Cristin and one was a nice addition. Goldcrests reached six, all around Cristin and the first two male Blackcaps were also present at the Observatory.

Finches were modest but included two Chaffinches, a single Siskin at Cristin and nine Linnets split between Cristin and the South End. A Bullfinch was calling at Cristin continuing a nice run of early spring records, with a couple being seen last March too.

The day’s highlight however came late morning when a group of five Greylag Geese flew north up the west coast. A single Common Crossbill was also seen flying over Cristin. A Reed Bunting was seen in the Withies too.

Choughs numbered just four split between the South End and West Coast while 24 Carrion Crows gathered between the Narrows and the South End. A single Raven drifted over the South End mid‑morning.

Still more cleaning and scrubbing continues in the Lodge. Lynda had scrubbed all the pans, pots, crockery and cutlery and glassware to an inch of their lives, all shining and clean for our first guests on 4th April. 

Ezra and I continued cleaning and scrubbing walls and carpets, windows and doors and made a start on cleaning the ringing hut. 

The new plinth for the mixer tap in the washroom is now painted and drying in the tool shed, whist the tap sort of gently dangles over the edge of the sink!

New base for the washroom tap

not quite finished!

Again a fresh south‑westerly wind force four to five pushed across the island throughout the day, with a moderate sea state and murky visibility. A little light rain in the morning added to the damp feel, though conditions improved slightly later on. 

Despite the breezy conditions, there was enough movement and life around the island to keep the day interesting. Overnight a single Manx Shearwater, the first of the year,  was heard calling over the Narrows. Morning checks on the South End produced a Great Northern Diver passing at sea, along with a single Fulmar and one Gannet. Seven Shags were scattered between the South End, Carreg yr Henllwyn and the West Coast. Two Cormorants were also noted, one at Henllwyn and another off the West Coast.

Wildfowl were thinly spread, although a pair of Teal remained on Pwll Gareth, with seven Mallards across Solfach, the wetlands and the Withies, and two Shelducks loafing around Henllwyn still.

A single adult male Sparrowhawk and an immature male were seen around the Observatory, while four Moorhens were logged across Cristin, Tŷ Pellaf Pond, Gareth's Pond and the Lime Kiln Pond. Waders were also thinly distributed, with Dunlin numbering two at Henllwyn where they were flushed after dark. Oystercatchers totalled 187, including one 163 at Henllwyn, 19 on the South End and five on Solfach. Single Curlew and a lone Redshank were logged, with three Turnstones at Solfach.

Gulls were present in small numbers. Herring Gulls totalled 111, with around eighty at the Narrows and 31 at Henllwyn. Lesser Black‑backed Gulls numbered eight, all around the Narrows. Four Great Black‑backed Gulls were present, split between Henllwyn and the Narrows. 

Passerines were unsurprisingly quiet in the brisk breeze. One Skylark was logged on the South End, while eighteen Meadow Pipits were scattered across the island. Four Rock Pipits were found, three at Henllwyn and one at Solfach. Five Pied Wagtails were counted between the South End, Narrows and Solfach.

A single Robin was in the Withies, accompanied by two Dunnocks at the Wetlands. Three Blackbirds were present with singles at Cristin, the School and the Withies. Three Stonechats included a pair at the South End and one at the Wetlands. Chiffchaffs totalled five, with birds at the Wetlands, Green Lane, the Observatory and the Mountain. A lone Goldcrest was seen at the Observatory.

Up to 16 Magpies were again scattered in the Withies and along the West Coast and Narrows. Nine Choughs ranged between the South End, Narrows and West Coast. Ten Carrion Crows were seen around the Narrows. Two Starlings were at the Narrows, while a single Linnet was also recorded there.

Marine mammals were well represented, with just 57 Grey Seals hauled out at Solfach and two elsewhere, with the one very late 3 week old seal pup still present at Solfach.

Seal Pup and mum from a couple of days ago - Gareth Roberts

Although migration was quiet overall, it felt as though the island was on the cusp of change. As the wind begins to ease and shift, we may yet see the first real pulse of spring migrants arriving in the coming days.

More cleaning and removing mildew from walls and ceilings today, as well as the begging of repairing the washroom sink area and replacing the taps.

Ezra cleaning the mildew from the walls in the bootroom

Out with the old...

A bit of sawing and drilling

... and in with the new.

weather wise the SW 5-6 wind continued, with rain in the morning making the day a bit miserable. 

Out on the water and around the coastline, the counts remain steady. We recorded one Gannet passing the West Coast today, while one Cormorant was in Henllwyn and four Shags were seen.. 

In the wetter areas and around the Narrows, we counted two Shelducks again, along with one Mallard and the male Gadwall was still at Ty Pellaf pond. A Moorhen was near the Obs, with another two in the wetlands. The Oystercatcher numbers is still looking healthy, with 136 counted between the Narrows and South End.  They were accompanied by a Whimbrel on the South End

Gull numbers included 12 Herring Gulls, one Kittiwake, and five Great Black-backed Gulls. Four Guillemots and the first three Puffins of the year were off the South End. 

Passerines are gradually increasing, with 14 Meadow Pipits and eight Rock Pipits spread across the South End and Narrows. Other sightings included two Woodpigeons, two Pied Wagtails, and four Stonechat. Only one Chiffchaff was seen  and two Goldcrests sheltered from the wind and rain.

The local Choughs remain a constant highlight, with 11 seen. Three Chaffinches were at the Observatory garden and two Linnets were on the South End.

A cool, unsettled feel to the island with a gusty force six South West wind.

A quiet day all-round really as work continued on the Observatory getting it prepared for the visitor season.

Offshore, seabirds were in small numbers. One Fulmar was at the North End, five Gannets moved through, three Cormorants were all at South End, two Shelducks were in Henllwyn.

Raptors were represented by one Sparrowhawk at Plas Withy and one Merlin at the North End. Wetland birds included three Moorhens in the Lowlands and wetlands.

Waders around the shores and the Narrows were led by 192 Oystercatchers in total. One Snipe was seen at Pwll Cain and a Whimbrel and seven Turnstones were in Solfach. There were two Curlews at the North End and a Redshank at Henllwyn.  

Gulls amounted to 35 Lesser Black‑backed Gulls, with 34 at the North End colony and one in Henllwyn, with 235 Herring Gulls all at the North End. Two Great Black‑backed Gulls were at South End, and four Kittiwakes at sea

Passerines were thin on the ground. there were 18 Meadow Pipits seen, one at the North End and 17 in the Lowlands. Five Rock Pipits were around the coast. Two Pied Wagtails were at the Narrows. In the bushes and gardens, two Dunnocks were in the Lowlands, one Robin was at Nant, three Stonechats in the Lowlands and one Blackbird was at the Observatory. Early spring warblers featured eight Chiffchaffs , while six Goldcrests were shared between the Observatory (two), Nant (two) and the Withies (two). Corvids included 17 Magpies , 14 Choughs around the Observatory and the mountain, two Carrion Crows and one Raven over the Observatory. Finches comprised four Chaffinches (two at the Observatory and two at Nant) and one Linnet at the North End.

It was a truly lovely day on the island today, with warm, sunny weather making it feel like spring has finally taken hold - however, it wont last!!. 

The fine conditions meant boats were able to cross, bringing some welcome new faces to the island. We were delighted to greet our new assistant, Ezra, along with Lynda, our dedicated volunteer. A large group of volunteers for the Trust also arrived on the boat, bringing a buzz of energy to the island. 

To prepare for the new arrivals, I spent the morning giving the LSA Hut a thorough clean so it was ready and waiting for Ezra.

LSA as it was over winter

LSA after a good clean and tidy - it smells wonderfully fresh!

Lynda, Ezra and Connor having a cuppa in the sun!

The glorious weather encouraged the birds, and we were thrilled to record our first Wheatear of the spring. It was a female seen down between the Narrows and the South End, always a classic sign that migration is truly getting underway. Around the Observatory itself, there was a small arrival of migrants, with a couple of Chiffchaffs and two Goldcrests flitting through the garden. Another major highlight of the day was seeing the returning pair of Gadwalls back on the pond at Tŷ Pellaf. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that they are successful at breeding this year.

Gadwalls (c) Steven Stansfield

Out on the sea and along the coast, there were four Gannets passed the west coast, while five Cormorants and a single Grey Heron were noted at Henllwyn. Four Shags were around the South End. Waterfowl and waders included five Shelducks at the Narrows, five Mallards, and a Moorhen at the Obs. Oystercatchers were present in good numbers with seventy-six counted around the Narrows and Henllwyn, alongside five Curlews at the Narrows. Gulls included forty-four Herring Gulls, eight Kittiwakes, and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Passerine numbers are starting to build up across the island. We recorded thirty-nine Meadow Pipits and five Rock Pipits, mostly around the Narrows and South End. Ten Woodpigeons, six Pied Wagtails, seven Wrens, and three Robins were logged throughout the day. Two Stonechats were seen in the lowlands, and corvid counts included 18 Magpies, four Carrion Crows, and two Ravens and 27 Choughs over Pen Cristin and a further seven on the South End. A couple of Chaffinches and two Linnets rounded off a brilliant day.

We haven't had many sunsets, but tonights was nice

The Season Begins...

The time has finally come to kick off a brand new season. 

Emma and I left Norfolk on Thursday the 6th, leaving Owlwood Cottage in the capable hands of the letting agent and cleaners. It is always a big transition to shift gears and get on the road, and this trip was certainly no exception.

Our first leg took us to Rotherham, though we did not roll in until 2 am. We managed to spend the following morning catching up with my mum before tackling some essential shopping. From there, we hit the road again heading to Emma's mum's house in Southport, clocking in another late arrival right at midnight. Connor was already there waiting for us. He had headed up a few weeks prior, which gave Emma and me the crucial time we needed to get Owlwood properly reset for the incoming guests.

What followed in Southport were two frantic days of shopping to ensure we had absolutely everything we needed. By Monday, we were finally ready and made the crossing to the island with Colin. There is nothing quite like arriving back, especially when it is capped off with a wonderful welcome home meal with Meriel and Gareth.

Naturally, the weather broke down almost immediately after we arrived and has been generally horrid ever since. We did manage to see a couple of Chiffchaffs braving the conditions. However, the birds have had to take a back seat for now, as we have spent every spare moment scrubbing our house and unpacking endless boxes to finally settle in.

The observatory has fared reasonably well over the winter months, though we have still found lots of mould growing all over the place. Out in the field, the heligoland trap took quite a battering in the recent storms and needs some serious attention. We certainly have our work cut out for us now as we focus on getting everything fully cleaned, repaired, and ready for our first guests arriving on the 4th of April.

Not much room for Connor in the back of the car

Food and 'stuff'

Leaving the mainland behind, the boat being reversed into the sea

Bon Voyage!

First sight of home

and we are there

Unload the tractor

and a fine welcome home

the trap has taken some damage

and mould has taken over - all the black dots are mould!

water ingress into the bedrooms

more mould

and some pretty funky mould

then the rough weather came in!

Another wild and wet day on the island as the tail end of Hurricane Melissa hit us hard. Winds reached force ten during the morning, battering the coastline and making even short walks feel like a battle. The sea was far too rough to produce any visible passage, and visibility was poor throughout.

Despite the conditions, a few hardy Chaffinches and Goldfinches were still clinging to the feeders, riding out the storm as best they could. It’s been a quiet day for birds otherwise, with the weather dominating everything.

We’re hoping to get off the island mid-week, but that’s looking increasingly uncertain—we’ll have to wait and see if the wind drops enough to make it possible.

In the absence of anything new, here's a short video that I put together last week from a few clips when the weather was slightly nicer!!

After a few days of grim weather, today finally brought a break in the gloom. Sunshine bathed the island for much of the day, and the solar panels responded with a modest, but very welcome 4.3kWh—still barely enough to keep me and Emma powered up, especially with the amount of washing we’ve been doing lately!

Tŷ Capel and The Chapel in the morning sun

A quick trip to the Narrows produced a few bits of interest. Skylarks were on the move, with twenty-seven noted overhead, accompanied by a small passage of pipits. A decent count of 740 Starlings was also logged, swirling and chattering in loose flocks.

The bird of the morning was a toss-up between two brief but exciting encounters. A very vocal Richard’s Pipit gave me the runaround while I was scanning for new seal pups; heard clearly but never settled long enough for a proper look or any pictures. Moments later whilst in hot pursuit of said pipit, a Snow Bunting appeared in front of me, only to realise I was there and bomb off towards the lighthouse in a flash of white and cinnamon, but did hang around long enough for me to rattle off a few shots.

Snow Bunting -  nice little addition to the day © Steven Stansfield

A walk along the west coast in search of seal pups proved fruitless, but one new pup was seen on the Narrows. Unfortunately, her mother wasn’t present, so I wasn’t able to get the images we need for our site fidelity project.

a 'new' week to ten days old, seal pup © Steven Stansfield

the Solfach mob © Steven Stansfield

a fine fiery sunset © Steven Stansfield

The weather’s been rubbish lately—grey skies, persistent drizzle, and a biting wind that made even the hardiest think twice about venturing out. 

With little happening on the bird front, Emma and I are pressing on with packing up and tackling the end-of-year admin; always a mammoth task, but one that brings a sense of closure to the season.

So with not much to report from the island in terms of movement, we did receive a nice bit of news from across the Irish Sea.

One of our Bardsey-ringed Rock Pipits has been refound at Carne Harbour, County Wexford, Eire. The bird was originally ringed by Ed on 8 October 2024, part of a small passage of Rock Pipits that moved through during that week. It was seen yesterday (31 October 2025) by Micheal Noonan. This marks the first Irish sighting of one of our colour-ringed birds—a fantastic record.

The bird in question is almost certainly a Scandinavian individual of the subspecies Anthus petrosus littoralis, and was probably just passing through Bardsey on migration. It showed the characteristic much paler streaking and lacked the dark olive tones typical of our breeding nominate petrosus birds.

'Our' colour-ringed Rock Pipit in Ireland - Courtesy of Micheal Noonan

Detail of the ring... APD - Courtesy of Micheal Noonan

 So Halloween was a bit of a stormy washout birdies, the Long-tailed Tit flock still visited the garden and a few finches were still on the feeders.

Just a grey gloomy day!

We have been busy packing op the Obs and getting it all sorted for the winter. Here's a quick video of me getting all the bedding put in sealed bags for the winter super fast!

The day began with a welcome lull in the weather and clearer calmer conditions overnight. Winds were lighter than they’ve been for some time, and the early calm brought a brief window of decent visibility and dry conditions. However, by mid-morning things had deteriorated rapidly, with heavy rain and strong gusts making for horrendous conditions across the island.

The moon over the courtyard at Cristin © Steven Stansfield

A gloomy old day! © Steven Stansfield

In the midst of the worsening weather, a dramatic event unfolded when the Coastguard rescue helicopter arrived and hovered over Ogof Diban on the South End. One man was winched down into the Ogof, and shortly afterwards, two men were lifted out, maybe I missed the first one go down?? The nature of the incident remains unclear and I've not heard anything, so it was probably just a training exercise.

The Holyhead Coastguard rescue helicopter typically operates out of Caernarfon Airport,  
callsign Rescue 936, the Sikorsky S-92A is maintained by Bristow Helicopters Ltd © Steven Stansfield

One man in... © Steven Stansfield

...two men out! © Steven Stansfield

The overnight calm spell appeared to encourage a few new arrivals among the passerines. One Manx Shearwater was heard calling over Tŷ Pellaf just after midnight.

The first Yellow-browed Warbler since 19th was found at Nant, unringed and actively feeding. Two new Firecrests were also present there, along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Observatory. The Cetti’s Warbler remained at Nant, continuing its stay.

New un-ringed Greater Spotted Woodpecker © Steven Stansfield

Offshore, one Great Northern Diver was seen off the West Coast.  Two Cormorants and four Shags were also logged offshore.

Raptors included a Sparrowhawk and a Merlin, both seen at Nant. 

A rather dull morning had me using slow shutter speeds, but it gave an arty impression to this near-adult male Sparrowhawk (and Goldcrest!) © Steven Stansfield

Water Rails were heard calling in Withies and Nant, and five Moorhens were recorded; three at the Observatory and two at Pwll Cain.

Wader counts included 18 Oystercatchers and 14 Curlews on the Narrows. Gull passage was steady, with 34 Mediterranean Gulls off the West Coast, two Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 14 Herring Gulls, and 29 Great Black-backed Gulls all noted around the Narrows.

Some of the 29 Great Black-backed Gulls on the narrows © Steven Stansfield

Among the passerines, five Skylarks were over Nant, 12 Meadow Pipits were on the Lowlands, and five Rock Pipits were on Solfach. Wrens totalled 12 and nine Dunnocks were recorded with eight Robins, with birds at the Observatory, Tŷ Bach, and Nant.

Five Blackbirds were present, mostly around the Observatory and Nant, and one Song Thrush was seen at the Observatory. Two Blackcaps were at Nant, along with two Chiffchaffs and one new Siberian Chiffchaff. Goldcrests were active, with 16 at Nant, and the two Firecrests were also there. Eight Long-tailed Tits between the Observatory and Green Lane, and singles of Blue Tit and Great Tit at the Observatory.

Some of the Long-tailed Tits have been here for a while and are wearing rings © Steven Stansfield

Corvids included 14 Magpies and 27 Choughs around the Narrows, eight Carrion Crows across the Narrows, Observatory, and Nant, and two Ravens between the Mountain and Observatory.

Finch passage brought 79 Chaffinches, with 45 at Nant and 34 at the Observatory. Fourteen Goldfinches and 12 Siskins were also logged at the Observatory.

Grey Seal counts were high again for the time of year, with 70 hauled out at Henllwyn and 120 on Solfach, both counted from the Observatory so there were probably more!

Some of the Grey Seals on Solfach © Steven Stansfield

Today brought bright and breezy conditions across the island, with a steady westerly wind keeping things fresh. Temperatures hovered around 11 degrees , and although cloud cover was variable, there were plenty of sunny spells throughout the day. Visibility remained excellent, and the wind, gusting up to 32 mph, added a lively feel to the otherwise pleasant autumn weather.

Away from recording birds, Emma and Steve have been packing up the Lodge for the winter and washing load after load of bedding - over 20 loads of sheets, duvet covers, mattress and pillow protectors and pillow cases, all washed, dried and folded in the past week.

one of the last loads of washing to be done

Offshore movement was notable first thing, with two Great Northern Divers seen off the West Coast, including one adult in full summer plumage again. A single Manx Shearwater headed south; Argentina-bound! while 34 Gannets and four Shags passed by steadily. Three Cormorants were on Carreg yr Honwy, and one Grey Heron was seen on the Narrows.

Wildfowl included three Wigeons and 14 Mallards on Solfach, while a female/imm Tufted Duck off the West Coast was the first of the year.

A single Merlin was over the north end, and a Water Rail was heard calling in Withies. Three Moorhens were at the Observatory.

Waders were again present in modest numbers, with 21 Oystercatchers at Henllwyn, four Curlews off the West Coast.

Gull passage was quite impressive today, with 228 Mediterranean Gulls moving along the West Coast, and as well as the spectacle, it was was particularly striking in the context of long-term trends. Between 1964 and 2004, we logged just 211 bird-days - 179 of those since 1998. But since 2004, the island has recorded a staggering 9287 bird-days (excluding this year). How times have changed.

Also seen were two Common Gulls, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 43 Herring Gulls, and 17 Great Black-backed Gulls. One Arctic Tern was also recorded offshore, along with 126 Kittiwakes and a movement of 338 Razorbills.

Overhead passage included 74 Skylarks over the Observatory, 27 Meadow Pipits across the Lowlands and West Coast. A single Grey Wagtail was seen at the Observatory.

Resident and migrant passerines included six Wrens, four Dunnocks, four Robins, and nine Blackbirds. A lone Song Thrush was also present. Just one Chiffchaff today - at Ty Pellaf and two Goldcrests at the Observatory.

Long-tailed Tit

The tit flocks was still here, with 12 Long-tailed Tits, and singles of Blue Tit and Great Tit. 19 Magpies were logged, mostly around Ty Pellaf, and 24 Choughs were seen feeding on Solfach. 23 Carrion Crows were around the Narrows, and 14 Ravens were seen over the Observatory and the Mountain.

Starling numbers were down on yesterday's arrival, with just 600 moving across the lowlands. Finch passage included was also down, with 245 Chaffinches, one Brambling, 23 Goldfinches, 16 Siskins, and two.

The day ended with a great sunset over the Irish Sea.

Sunset © Steven Stansfield

A lively and blustery day brought strong westerlies and excellent visibility, setting the stage for some impressive movement. 

Offshore, two Great Northern Divers were seen off the West Coast, one of them an adult in summer plumage. Gannets trickled through in small numbers, with 14 noted, and 16 Shags were logged, 14 at Henllwyn and two on Solfach. Henllwyn also held 12 Cormorants and a lone Grey Heron.

Grey Heron, Grey Seals and waders © Steven Stansfield

Wildfowl were scattered across the Narrows, where the regular five Wigeons joined 26 Mallards. A Peregrine powered over Tŷ Pellaf, while Water Rails called from both the Withies and Nant. Three Moorhens lingered around the Observatory.

Waders were well represented. The Narrows held 46 Oystercatchers and 14 Turnstones, and eight  Purple Sandpipers appeared, the first for some time. 

Purple Sandpipers © Steven Stansfield

Solfach produced a Bar-tailed Godwit and two Whimbrels (one of which was colour-ringed from September 2024) while Henllwyn added 22 Curlews and two Redshanks.

This Whimbrel was ringed here on 28 September 2024 © Steven Stansfield

Curlew over the sea © Steven Stansfield

Gull passage saw 65 Mediterranean Gulls moved off the West Coast, accompanied by an adult Little Gull, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 27 Herring Gulls, and 25 Great Black-backed Gulls on the Narrows. Offshore counts also included 75 Kittiwakes and 224 Razorbills.

Overhead passage was strong, with 36 Skylarks and 34 Meadow Pipits moving south, plus a single Swallow over the Narrows. On Solfach, 20 Rock Pipits were joined by nine more at Henllwyn, including 12 presumed Scandinavian Rock Pipits and a the regular Water Pipit among them. Two Pied Wagtails were also noted on Solfach.

Water Pipit © Steven Stansfield

Wrens were ever present, with 28 logged across the island, with 15 Dunnocks and 15 Blackbirds scattered across the usual haunts, while two Song Thrushes and two Redwings were seen along with a single Blackcap.

Warblers were thin on the ground, with just two Chiffchaffs and four Goldcrests. The tit 'flock' comprised 12 Long-tailed Tits today, plus the Blue Tit and Great Tit.

Corvids were busy, with 32 Magpies spread across Tŷ Pellaf, the Lowlands, the Narrows, and Nant. 28 Choughs fed on Solfach, three Carrion Crows were on the Narrows, and 18 Ravens flew over the Observatory and the Mountain.

Lammergier Raven (!!) © Steven Stansfield

Carrion Crow © Steven Stansfield

Starling passage was dramatic, with 2,556 sweeping across the West Coast and Narrows. 

Flocks of up to 200 strong Starlings were moving through  © Steven Stansfield

All congregations on the Narrows © Steven Stansfield

and looking smart in the morning sun © Steven Stansfield

Finch movement was equally impressive, with 2,243 Chaffinches heading south in large flocks over the Observatory and West Coast. These were accompanied by 16 Bramblings, 46 Goldfinches, 287 Siskins, 24 Lesser Redpolls, six Linnets, and two Greenfinches.

One of hundreds of Chaffinches that dropped into the garden © Steven Stansfield

Goldfinches were on the feeders all day © Steven Stansfield

A new seal pup was seen on the Narrows, the first for some time, with 124 adults in Henllwyn and 88 more on Solfach, plus six hauled out on the South End.

New pup © Steven Stansfield

New mum! © Steven Stansfield

Henllwyn haul-out © Steven Stansfield

you looking at me? © Steven Stansfield