Thursday 31 May 2018

I've lost count of the number of days we've had now recently with wall-to-wall sunshine, no wind and scorching temperatures, but today was another one. The 18 participants on today's guided walk were treated to fantastic views of Choughs and Puffins on Pen Cristin, as well as a nice selection of waders down at Solfach that included yesterday's lingering Bar-tailed Godwits. Aside from the Godwits, the avian highlight of today was probably a Robin at Nant. Ten pairs bred in 2015, eight pairs in 2016 and two pairs bred in 2017, but this year we're struggling to actually find any Robins. To put it into perspective we've logged more Subalpine Warblers in the past two weeks than we have Robins! Perhaps the cold weather in early spring is to blame, but it doesn't look like any Robin are going to breed on Bardsey in 2018.

Today lacked the rare birds we've gotten used to recently, which gave us a bit of time to dedicate to the island activities you don't hear about as much on the blog. The pumpkins were mulched, the rest of the sunflowers we've been growing were planted in the observatory garden and the first island football match of the year was held down on the Narrows. It was a nail-biting game full of wonder goals and well-timed tackles, but in the end the visiting guests beat the islanders 12-8. We let them win obviously.

Other birds noted today included 10 Fulmars, 920 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Gannets, the Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Ringed Plover, a Lapwing, a Sanderling, 21 Dunlins, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, 10 Turnstones, 133 Kittiwakes, 29 Puffins, a Collared Dove, a Little Owl, 15 Swifts, nine House Martins, ten Stonechats, 14 Wheatears, five Sedge Warblers, two Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, 12 Spotted Flycatchers, five Chaffinches, five Goldfinches, 21 Linnets and a Lesser Redpoll.


The Thrift is starting to look its best. One of the most evocative plants of spring on the West coast.

This evening's sea haze meant that the sun almost manage to sneak below the horizon without anyone noticing. A small orange orb lingering briefly far out into the Irish Sea was all we got. 

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