A very nice sunny day with a light north‑westerly wind at F2, a sea state of two and very good visibility, with much of Ireland, Ceredigion and Anglesey being visible. Temperatures soared to 18 °C.

A male Orange Tip was seen on the track between Cristin and the School House, this is a fairly notable sighting as Orange Tip butterflies are less than annual on the island! Other butterflies included eight Green‑veined Whites, a Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell, two Peacocks, and three Speckled Woods.

The Grey Heron remained around Pwll Gareth. seven Shelducks and six Mallards were present, the drake Gadwall was still on Pwll Cain. The male Sparrowhawk remained at Cristin.

The only waders recorded today were nine Whimbrels and a Curlew. The first Feral Pigeon of the year was seen at the North End.

23 Swallows and six House Martins flew over the island.

A good arrival of warbler with the first Reed Warbler singing in the Wetlands along with ten Sedge Warblers and seven Whitethroats across the rest of the island. Low number of other warblers with three Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs, 13 Willow Warblers and two Goldcrests. The Blue Tit was in the Sallows at Carreg.

Three Lesser Redpolls dropped into the Withies. Eight Goldfinches and 19 Linnets were also present.

Another stunning day with light easterly wind at F3, a sea state of two and excellent visibility allowed views of the wind turbines on the Wicklow mountains of Ireland. The temperature reached 19 °C.

Three Shelducks were at Henllwyn. Mallards numbered 2, both at Pwll Cain.

Sparrowhawks reached 3, with a pair at the Cristin and a female at Nant. A Peregrine was seen over the Wetlands.

A Dunlin was heard on the South End and Whimbrels numbered seven. Two Sandwich Terns were at Solfach.

Another good day for hirundines with 67 Swallows and 14 House Martins being seen across the island.

The Ring Ouzel was seen again by Ezra on the Mountain.

Ring Ouzel © Joel Tragen

A Grasshopper Warblers was reeling at Nant. Sedge Warblers reached six and Whitethroats numbered two. Other warblers included seven Blackcaps, 14 Chiffchaffs, 15 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest.

A Blue Tit was at Nant and a  Rook flew north. 

Ezra, whilst completing his Breeding Bird Census found a Yellowhammer on Pen Cristin. A Siskin and two Lesser Redpolls were heard overhead. Other finches included two Chaffinch, eight Goldfinch and 22 Linnet.

Another warm light easterly wind at F3, a sea state of two and good visibility prevailed. The temperature reached 17 °C. Census effort totalled six hours.

With all the warm weather 12 Green Tiger Beetles were seen scampering around Traeth Ffinion.

Again the Grey Heron was at Pwll Gareth. Shelducks reached 8, with several pairs dotted around the island. Mallards numbered 9 and the drake Gadwall flew over to Solfach from Pwll Cain.

An immature male Kestrel, was seen at Pen Cristin. A Sparrowhawk remained around Cristin and a large female Peregrine was at the South End.

Summer-plumage Bar-tailed Godwit © Joel Tragen

Wader passage continues to keep us entertained with a stunning summer-plumage Bar‑tailed Godwit at Solfach, later joined by a Greenshank. Three Dunlins on the Narrows looked very dapper in their summer-plumage too, all at the Narrows. Three Common Sandpipers were seen around the coast and a Redshank was on the West Coast. Whimbrels reached 25 and Curlews numbered two.

A Black‑headed Gull flew North along the West Coast and two Sandwich Terns spent time between the West Coast and the North End, also seen at Solfach.

A Collared Dove remained at Nant and a Skylark spent the morning around the North End.

The best day for hirundine movement so far with 19 Sand Martins, 30 House Martins and 75 Swallows moving through the island

The first Tree Pipit of the year was heard flying over the West Coast. A White Wagtail was at the Narrows and four Pied Wagtails were scattered around the island. 

Whilst leading a guided walk, Joel had a Ring Ouzel, the first of the year, flew over the group whilst they were at Pen Cristin. Today was also an incredible day for Wheatears with 196 across the island, at least 72 of these were Greenland‑type birds.

Two Garden Warblers were the first for Spring, both at Nant. A Grasshopper Warbler and a Sedge Warbler were recorded singing and six Whitethroats were seen. Other warblers included 20 Blackcaps, 39 Chiffchaffs, 40 Willow Warblers and two Goldcrests. 

At least two Blue Tits were present today, sometimes seen bombing it across large distances. A Hooded Crow flew south over the Narrows with a Rook, two more Rooks were recorded moving, totalling three.

A male Reed Bunting was seen at Tŷ Pellaf. Two Lesser Redpolls and four Siskins were recorded. A Chaffinch was at Tŷ Capel. Other finches included five Goldfinches and 31 Linnets.

A moderate easterly wind at force four, a sea state of two and good visibility prevailed throughout the day. The temperature reached 14°C.

Shelducks numbered four, with a pair at Henllwyn and a pair at Solfach. Mallards totalled six and drake Gadwall was seen at the Narrows.

The pair of Sparrowhawks were seen again at Cristin and the male Peregrine made the rounds several times.

A Ringed Plover and two Dunlin were at Henllwyn. Four Whimbrels and two Curlews were also seen. Two Sandwich Terns were at the Narrows.

Two Collared Doves were seen around Cristin Garden.

A Sand Martin, six House Martins and 43 Swallows were seen throughout the day. A White Wagtail was at Pwll Cain and three ‘alba’ wagtails flew over, Pied Wagtails totalled five across the island.

A female Redstart was in Cristin Garden early morning before being relocated at the schoolhouse in the afternoon by Steve. Two female Pied Flycatchers were seen at Tŷ Pellaf by Ezra. Wheatears totalled 48, with many birds around the coast and eight hanging around Pwll Cain.

A Grasshopper Warbler was in the South End gorse. Five Sedge Warblers and seven Whitethroats were seen across the island, along with 23 Blackcaps, 23 Chiffchaffs and 53 Willow Warblers. Three Blue Tits were seen with a pair at Nant.

Three Rooks were seen passing over the Narrows. 

Four Crossbills were in the conifer plantation at Nant, but after a few failed attempts, successfully left the island North. A Lesser Redpoll was at Cristin, two Siskins flew over and a female Chaffinch was at Nant. Other finches included seven Goldfinches and 15 Linnets. A Reed Bunting was again in the Wetlands.

The island woke to a strong easterly wind at force five and a sea state of four after yesterday's flat calm weather. Visibility remained good throughout, with no precipitation recorded. The temperature reached 13 °C.

The day was mostly spent around the observatory doing odd jobs, all the Observatory and Bardsey Island Trust staff met up to run through the marine radios and some other island training. Ezra and Joel spent the afternoon doing maintenance work on the solar panels and squeezed in some nest finding around Cristin garden.

A handful of butterflies were on the wing today with four Green‑veined Whites, a Speckled Wood and one Silver-Y  at the Cristin. One Red Admiral was at the Wetlands. A single Painted Lady and two Peacocks were at Nant.

Four each of Fulmars and Gannets were seen around the coast, again two Sandwich Terns were at Solfach.. Again a Grey Heron was around the Wetlands, favouring Pwll Cain.

A pair of Shelducks were at Solfach. Mallards totalled 12 and the drake Gadwall was on Pwll Cain again.

An adult male Marsh Harrier was radioed by Ezra early morning whilst he was carrying out his Breeding Bird Census, it flew South over the Narrows before U-turning back over the Mountain. A pair of Sparrowhawks remained hunting the garden at Cristin.

A Common Sandpiper was hanging around the West Coast and only five Whimbrels were seen today.

Unusually a Stock Dove dropped onto the school house roof and three Collared Doves were seen flying around the Cristin area.

A Sand Martin was seen from Cristin. Across the rest of the island 16 Swallows and nine House Martins were seen.

A nice arrival of classic Spring migrants today with a female Redstart along the West Coast, far from any vegetation, a Whinchat sat on the fenceline to the Green Lane and a male Pied Flycatcher sat on the track between Cristin and Nant. Wheatears numbers reached 19 with some Greenland-types also being seen.

The first Song Thrush of the year showed itself in the Wetlands and a late Redwing dropped into Cristin Garden in the evening.

The first Lesser Whitethroat was seen in the scrub next to Capel and Whitethroats reached three with one sharing the bush at Capel with the Lesser Whitethroat. Other warblers included 27 Blackcaps, 24 Chiffchaffs and 28 Willow Warblers.

Three Blue Tits were seen across the island and a Starling was at Plas.

17 Goldfinches and 23 Linnets were recorded today with two Lesser Redpolls dropping into several sites around the island briefly and five fly-over Siskins. A Reed Bunting was heard on the West Coast.

Another calm day with a gentle easterly wind at force two, a sea state of one and very good visibility prevailed throughout the day. The temperature reached 12°C.

A Grey Heron was at Pwll Cain. Eight Shelducks and five Mallards were seen, the drake Gadwall remained on Pwll Cain

Two Red Kite were seen over the Mountain, both U-turning before reaching Cristin, this ties in with a large movement of Red Kites across the rest of the UK. With the warm gentle easterlies, a Buzzard made the crossing and was seen down in the Wetlands. A Kestrel was seen from Cristin.

A lone Dunlin was at Henllwyn and two each of Common Sandpipers and Turnstones were seen. 11 Whimbrels, a Curlew and a Redshank were also present.

Two Sandwich Terns were seen off the South End.

Ten Sand Martins, 11 House martins and 30 Swallows were seen across the island. Four White Wagtails were recorded, along with ten Pied Wagtails and five ‘alba’ wagtails. Wheatears totalled 39, with 22 on the South End.

Three Grasshopper Warblers, two Sedge Warblers and a Whitethroat were present. Other warblers included 11 Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs, 67 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest. A pair of Blue Tits were at Nant and a Starling was at Solfach, moving upto Tŷ Pellaf garden.

Seven each of Siskins and Lesser Repolls flew-over. Other finches included two Chaffinches, 22 Goldfinches and 27 Linnets.

A Red Admiral and two Speckled Woods were on the Mountain.

Six Shelducks were recorded. Mallards reached 12 and the drake Gadwall remained at Pwll Cain.

A Buzzard was seen at the North End. Two Sparrowhawks and two Peregrines were also seen.

A Redshank and two Turnstones were at Henllwyn. Four Whimbrels and two Curlews were the only other waders of note.

193 Kittiwakes were seen along off the East Side of the Mountain. Two Sandwich Terns spent time between the Narrows and the West Coast.

Three Skylarks passed high over the Wetlands. 12 Sand Martins, 41 Swallows and eight House Martins were recorded. A White Wagtail was on the Narrows and six ‘alba’ wagtails flew over.

A Grasshopper Warbler and a Sedge Warbler were in the Wetlands. Other warblers included nine Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs, 18 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest. A Blue Tit was seen zipping around the Withies.

Four Siskin moved overhead as did two Lesser Redpoll. Six Chaffinches were dotted around the island. Only ten Goldfinches and 25 Linnets were seen.

Sadly today we had to say goodbye to the students, but before they left we managed to catch a small handful of birds in the heligoland trap. This meant that all the students got to ring at least one passerine whilst here, all doing either a Blackcap or a Goldfinch. Certainly a memorable experience. Again a massive thank you to the Cameron Bespolka trust, the BTO’s YBOV grant and Wild Sounds for enabling this trip to go ahead again and making it as special for the students and possible. Also a thank you to Saffron for drumming up interest and putting all the work into running the trip.

Two Bottle‑nosed Dolphins were offshore in the afternoon.

The Grey Heron remained at Pwll Gareth and the drake Gadwall remained at Pwll Cain. Sparrowhawks numbered 2, with one at Cristin and a male in the Withies.

Before leaving, Saffron saw five Purple Sandpipers at the Narrows. A Snipe was in the Wetlands and five Whimbrels were spread out across the island.

Two each of Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns were seen off the coast.

A Sand Martin moved south over the Wetlands, three House Martins moved south over the Narrows and 18 Swallows were seen across the island. Six White Wagtails were on Solfach.

A small clear out of Grasshopper Warblers with only three present, all in the Wetlands. A Sedge Warbler was also at the Wetlands. Other warblers included two Blackcaps, 13 Chiffchaffs and nine Willow Warblers. Two Goldcrests were at Nant.

Again two Chaffinches were present. Goldfinches reached 58 and Linnets numbered 47. Six Siskins and two Lesser Redpolls flew over.

A strong southerly wind at force six persisted through the morning, with light rain until 09:30. The sea state was four and visibility remained moderate. The temperature reached 12 °C.

With poor weather in the morning the students waited eagerly to go out birding with a member of staff. As soon as the rain halted they grabbed their bins and rushed out, eager to see what had been grounded. In the afternoon Joel led a guided walk for the guests.

During a seawatch off the North End in the evening Ezra produced an unseasonal Sabine’s Gull as it moved through the Sound and out towards Anglesey. He also had a single Harbour Porpoise and a small diver sp., likely a Red-throated Diver.

A Painted Lady was seen on the Mountain and a Red Admiral was at Nant. 

Fulmars totalled 11 and 2,322 Manx Shearwaters, 2,146 passed the North End, mostly moving north‑west to east through the Sound. An additional 120 Manx Shearwaters were rafting offshore. 74 Gannets were recorded around the coast with 48 of these off the North End.

A Grey Heron was at Pwll Gareth. Three Shelducks were around the beaches, Mallards totalled 12 and the drake Gadwall was at Pwll Cain.

A female Sparrowhawk was at Cristin and a Peregrine was over Nant.

A Ringed Plover was at Solfach. 13 Purple Sandpipers were seen leaving Carreg yr Honwy at high water and flying to the Black Rocks. A Snipe was in the Wetlands. Whimbrels totalled 18 and a Curlew passed north off the North End. A single Redshank was at Henllwyn. One Common Sandpiper was at Solfach. Turnstones numbered 5, with four at Henllwyn and one arriving from the north to the North End.

Kittiwakes totalled 21 and six Sandwich Terns were seen today, with four of the Sandwich Terns being seen passing past the island from the North End by Ezra.

Low numbers of hirundines today, nine Swallows moving through being the only ones recorded today. The wagtail counts today were five Pied Wagtails, two White Wagtails and seven fly-over ‘alba’ wagtails.

Whilst leading a student group on census, Saffron found a Wood Warbler, skulking away in the canopy of Nant. Six Grasshopper Warblers were heard reeling, with birds covering most areas of the island. Other warbler included ten Blackcaps, 29 Chiffchaffs and 40 Willow Warblers. Again a Goldcrest was at Nant.

Low numbers of finches with two Chaffinches again between Cristin and Tŷ Pellaf. Other finches included ten Goldfinches and 43 Linnets.

As we were just past mid-week and the students had gotten a feel for the island, it was time to split into teams for the bird race. Ezra, Joel and Saffron each had a team and raced around the island trying to record as many species as possible. With results in its was extremely close with Saffron’s and Ezra’s teams drawing with 47 species and Joel’s team taking the lead by 1 species with 48 recorded in the day.

Whilst down at Solfach Joel's team was lucky enough to see a Common (Harbour) Seal hauled out away from the Atlantic Grey Seals. Common Seals are uncommon visitors to the island so it was especially nice for the student to see the direct difference between the two species.

A Painted Lady and a Peacock were the only butterflies recorded today, both at Nant.

Fulmars totalled six and 45 Manx Shearwaters were seen. 39 Gannets were recorded today, along with ten Cormorants and 21 Shags. 32 Kittiwakes were seen around the coast as were two Sandwich Terns.

Four Shelducks were around the Narrows as usual. Mallards totalled 22 and the pair of Gadwall were at Pwll Cain.

Three Sparrowhawks were seen today, two immature males at Cristin and an adult male in the Wetlands. A single Merlin was seen from Cristin and two Peregrines were seen above the Mountain.

The colour-ringed Ringed Plover and seven Turnstone were on Henllwyn at high tide along with 11 Purple Sandpipers on the Black Rocks. Whimbrels totalled 19 and a Curlew was on the South End. A Snipe was flushed from the Wetlands. Three Redshanks were seen between Henllwyn and the West Coast. A Water Rail was heard calling in the Withies.

Across the island two Sand Martins, five House Martins and 63 Swallows flew through. Eight Pied Wagtails and three White Wagtails were seen.

A Grasshopper Warbler reeled briefly at Cristin. Other warblers on the island today included four Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs and 15 Willow Warblers. A Goldcrest was at Nant.

Three Jackdaws and six Rooks attempted the crossing from the island, all the Rooks doubled back but the Jackdaws left South off the South End.

Two Chaffinches were present on the island and a Siskin was heard over Cristin. Also 28 Goldfinches and 92 Linnets were seen.