For the umpteenth day in a row we were treated to more blazing heat and blue skies from start to finish. Our guests certainly aren't complaining and neither are we, although the lawn is starting to look a bit parched and the well that supplies the observatory with running water could certainly do with a bit of rain.

There was no sign of yesterday's Blyth's Reed Warbler, but whilst searching for it a Broad-bodied Chaser was found around the Plantation area. The island has been well covered since the individual on 3rd June, making it tempting to assume that this is a different dragonfly and thus the second record for the island.

Birds logged on a quieter day than yesterday included five Fulmars, 910 Manx Shearwaters, 29 Gannets, eight Common Scoters, a Sparrowhawk, three Peregrines (including an intruding female that was quickly chased away by the resident female), a Lapwing, two Sanderlings, two Whimbrels, a Turnstone, three Collared Doves, a Sand Martin, 13 Swallows, six House Martins, a Stonechat, 12 Wheatears, a Whitethroat, three Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, two Chaffinches, a Siskin and 20 Linnets. Five Painted Ladies were dotted around the island and Silver Y moths continue to be disturbed from every patch of grass on the island.

Billy hopped on Colin's round-the-island boat trip this afternoon and acted as tour guide whilst also using it as an opportunity to take photos of the Guillemot and Razorbill ledges for counting. Auk numbers on the ledges vary from day to day, which means we'll need to make repeated counts over a number of weeks before we can take an average and work out a final figure for the number of pairs. 

 Thrift Clearwings are now out in force on the West Coast and up on Pen Cristin.

The Yellow Rattle is lighting up the North West Fields.