Yellow-browed Warblers

At long last, the first Yellow-browed Warblers of the year appeared today. What started as a trickle, with two in the Plantation first thing, swiftly became a flood; a minimum of nine were reported from all over the island! At least six Firecrests were also seen, by far the best day of the year so far for them. These were in amongst a grant total of 144 Goldcrests, while warblers today featured 29 Chiffchaffs, nine Blackcaps and four Willow Warblers. A Pied Flycatcher in the Obs Garden played second fiddle, but was only our third of the autumn, four Spotted Flycatchers were also to be found. Other migrant thrushes/chats included increases to 62 Robins and 11 Wheatears, with 16 Stonechats and a Song Thrush also logged. Two Blue Tits were the first records since April, both being trapped at Cristin, while a small selection of finches that were grounded/moving through included 24 Goldfinches, 15 Chaffinches, ten Siskins and four Lesser Redpolls. Other odds and sods amongst grounded migrants were two Water Rails in the Withies, four Reed Buntings scattered around, a single Starling and what was probably the reappearing Barn Owl at the Plantation.

Firecrest

A strong day of hirundine passage saw at least 546 Swallows and 272 House Martins move through, a single Sand Martin mixed in was the first for exactly a week. 316 Meadow Pipits were a mixture of birds grounded and seen on vis-mig, while 49 Rock Pipits were around the coast. Also passing overhead were 36 "alba" Wagtails, 22 Skylarks, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Grey Wagtails, four Carrion Crows and a single Kestrel.  

A single first-winter Sabine's Gull was probably responsible for all sightings, as it ranged widely around the inshore waters surrounding the island and briefly put down on the Narrows. While seawatching the highlights were a single Ruff and two Black-tailed Godwits heading east together off the South End, both rather scarce species for Bardsey. 11 Wigeon in several small parties going back and forth were also notable, while 35 Common Scoters were seen in total. Also noted were nine Arctic, three Great and two Pomarine Skuas, 153 Black-headed Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, one Common Gull, three Sandwich Terns, 1274 Kittiwake, 135 Razorbill and a good count of 53 Shags. Aside from the two scarcities while seawatching it was a poor day for waders. 42 Curlews and 26 Turnstones were seen in total, with just four Redshanks, four Whimbrelsand a single Dunlin to be found amongst them. Two Snipes were seen on vis-mig heading south over Nant, with a third individual flushed out of the Wetlands.