Saturday, 21 September 2019

The usual changeover could not take place today as the high winds made a boat passing impossible. The wind speed was gusting at 31 mph from the South West, however, the weather was still very hot, a sign of the storm that was brewing. The birds were a bit quieter than yesterday, but a morning seawatch showed a good passage of Black-headed Gulls with 62 flying south.

Other signs of migration include: 19 Skylarks, 149 Meadow Pipits, two Tree Pipits, three Grey Wagtails, one Whinchat, one Garden Warbler, one Pied Flycatcher, one Spotted Flycatcher, five Chaffinches and one Starling.

the Obs' staff are still darvic ringing Rock Pipits, at this point it is almost becoming difficult to find birds that haven't got a ring on their leg. The vast majority are this year's birds, with only about two 2nd year+ birds having been ringed out of the total of 30. If you visit Bardsey it is always helpful to report any darvic/colour ringed birds.
For several years, colour rings were put on Bardsey Rock Pipits like the one photographed. The Observatory has now moved to white darvic rings
Other than birds, butterflies and day flying moths have been seen in slightly larger numbers than previous days. A Clouded Yellow being amongst them, as well as Silver Ys on the Mountain and around Nant. Also, Hummingbird Hawkmoths have been seen in Cristin Garden over the past few days too, one was seen roosting on a wall.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

A great show of thunder and lightning took place in the evening, all very distant, but the sky still lit up!

Lightning strike captured by George Dunbar

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