Strong north-westerlies generally produce good seawatching off Bardsey, and it proved the case again today, with a fine selection of species seen. Some of the larger counts are partially incomplete, as Mark, who counted off the North End for much of the morning, had to leave the island in the evening with his dog for a last-minute trip to the vet! We'll get full totals on the blog as soon as we can, but for now the numbers are as follows. One notable feature is a resurgence in Manx Shearwater numbers, perhaps as a result of many youngsters now fledging and taking to the Irish Sea? In total 900 Manx Shearwaters, 750 Kittiwakes and 172 Gannets made up the bulk of passage, with the largest Razorbill movement of the autumn so far also logged, as 95 moved south past the South End in two hours. A four-auk day was also achieved, always a good sign, with 19 Guillemots, a single Puffin and one of the days highlights being a Black Guillemot off the North End. Five Arctic and two Pomarine Skuas were logged, while terns featured with 11 Sandwich and three Arctic Terns, and the first Black Tern of the year off the North End. The other notable seawatching highlight was two Sooty Shearwaters in the morning, with other bits logged including 23 Fulmars and seven Common Scoters.

one of our young Manx Shearwaters, currently very close to fledging age

On land a bit of overhead passage was had, with 86 Swallows moving south, alongside 17 "alba" Wagtails, 10 Grey Wagtails and a single "Flava" Wagtail. Sparrowhawks increased to three, with probably the same two Kestrels again hunting over the mountainside. Meanwhile 122 Linnets were on the South End and the Narrows, with improving weather in the afternoon triggering a notable arrival of White Wagtails, 80 were seen including 45 in a single group on Solfach. 50 Goldcrests were again recorded, along with a fairly limited selection of Warblers, just 15 Willow Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, three Whitethroats and two Blackcaps, unsurprising given a night unconducive for nocturnal migration. Robins had decreased to 14 and just three Spotted Flycatchers were seen today, with no other passerine migrants noted.

The wader highlight was undoubtedly the first Little Stint of 2017, a species not seen every year on Bardsey. This individual headed south with a group of Dunlin close into the North End mid-morning. Otherwise just the regulars were seen in mostly lower numbers than yesterday, with 28 Turnstones, 21 Oystercatchers, 15 Curlews, eight Dunlins, six Redshanks, six Ringed Plovers and two Whimbrels.


A limited selection of non-avian sightings were seen today, for example just four moth of two species (Large Yellow Underwing and Sqaure-spot Rustic) were in the Cristin moth trap! 27 Red Admirals and 15 Painted Ladies hinted at a bit of migration, while four Risso's Dolphins were off the North End in the afternoon.