Today eventually brought familiar blue skies and sunshine, although not first thing in the morning. From around 06:00 - 10:00, the wind was blowing at a fairly constant 20mph from the south, and it took about the same amount of time for the clouds to disappear. Once they did, though, it turned into a very summery day!

The wind first thing meant that birding wasn't immensely productive early in the morning, and a walk up Pen Cristin and down to the South End produced the expected birds, such as Wheatears, Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits and Oystercatchers. However, for the third day in a row, a Bar-tailed Godwit was roosting with the Oystercatchers on Solfach.

One of the exciting birds of the day was a Lapland Bunting, first heard before finally landing on the short grass just south of the lighthouse where it then hopped around for several hours. There were no spring records of this species last year, but that's not to say it's unusual. There are also several records a year during the Autumn, usually just heard flying over, the call is a short, bubbly chirrup, not too far off a Skylark call.

Lapland Bunting on the South End

It allowed for very good views as it fed in the grassy areas

Today was the day when the long-awaited solar panels arrived! Thanks to many generous donations, BBFO has been able to afford far more than could have been imagined. They were unloaded off the boat at 11:00 along with the inverters and batteries. The panels themselves are now being stored in the lighthouse compound until space has been cleared at the obs for them to be fitted into place.

All 12 of the high quality solar panels, stored in the lighthouse

The frames on which they will sit have been stored up at the Obs along with the batteries

After taking the solar panels up to the lighthouse, it became quite clear that now the wind had died down, there were a lot more birds to be seen. A Collared Dove was being chased around the lighthouse compound by a Meadow Pipit, probably because it had been wrongly identified as a Cuckoo! What's more, House Martins were nest building in the lighthouse compound, and with any luck around five pairs will nest in the eves of the buildings there.

House Martin at the South End

After sorting the solar panels, George and Sam set off to the Withies to see if anything had shown up since the morning. Steve headed up to Nant and had two Pied Flycatchers, a new male (on his way back from Nant) and a female, plus two Whitethroats, along with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers. But the highlight was a briefly seen Red Kite flying north over the mountain! Still a surprisingly scarce bird on (or rather, over) Bardsey, with just a handful of records per year, and a reminder to keep your eyes to the skies every so often!

Down in the withies, more Blackcaps were present with roughly 15 in each withy and Willow Warblers were constantly singing and calling, as well as frantically flycatching with the Chiffchaffs. Wheatears were also out in good numbers, both singing and 'chacking' from almost every wall...

Male Wheatear

Another Black Redstart has taken up temporary residence at Cristin, this one is also very approachable. Here it is in front of the Obs with a strimmer handle showing in the background

Sightings today include: two Cormorants, six Shags, 11 Shelducks, 21 Mallards (inc. 12 ducklings), one Peregrine, 105 Oystercatchers, three Snipes, 13 Whimbrel, one Curlew, one Redshank, one Little Owl, 55 Swallows, eight House Martins, one Robin, one Black Redstart, 50 Wheatears, 82 Blackcaps, 13 Chiffchaffs, 29 Willow Warblers, two Great Tits, 29 Goldfinches and 28 Linnets.

No ringing took place today, due to wind.