Today was another stunning day, although it didn't feel as warm as in previous days, owing to the brisk northerly winds sweeping across the island. The usual avian suspects were present, including 89 Oystercatchers, ten Swallows, one male Blackcap singing in the Obs garden, three Chiffchaffs, one Willow Warbler, ten Choughs and two Ravens. Highlights from today's sightings include two Sanderlings, ten Dunlins, a Turnstone, a single Curlew, one Whimbrel, five Black-headed Gulls and two Peregrines darting over the mountainside.

Lackey Moth caterpillars are in abundance around the island at the moment, with plenty being seen on the walls of the Observatory itself too!

This afternoon saw Mark, Billy and Josie head to the East side of the island to carry out some seabird counts and ringing of the Herring Gull chicks in the North End colony. This yielded counts of 120 Herring Gulls, 390 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 457 Guillemots, 90 Razorbills and 15 Puffins. A Kestrel at the top of the mountain was an added bonus.

Due to the windy conditions, invertebrates, especially lepidoptera, were rather thin on the ground, with just eight Silver Y moths, four Green-veined Whites, one Common Blue and one Painted Lady recorded. Although an Ingrailed Clay in the Observatory moth trap was the first one of the year.