Today wasn't quite as windy as yesterday, however, the sea was much rougher with quite a large swell which calmed through the day. There was a hazy mist surrounding the island to start the day, this slowly withdrew as the day went on and the island was left in glorious sunshine.

looking Eastward from the Withies with Ty Bach, Plas and the Observatory from left to right.

The morning was started with a few more Willow Warblers than yesterday around the Observatory. A Hooded Crow flew over first thing with a small group of Carrion Crows. 

Steve set off on a morning walk and found the year's first Grasshopper Warbler singing in the gorse above Ty Pellaf. The characteristic 'reeling' song of this warbler carries some distance and are most often heard singing at dawn or dusk. 

a Willow Warbler in the garden at Cristin

George headed to the South End for his morning census walk and Swallows began passing through early and a total of 22 had been recorded by the end of the day. Six Sand Martins also passed through the island and five House Martins, too - another addition to the year list. On the way to the South End, two Whimbrels were seen on the rocks on the Narrows along with two Curlews and eight Turnstones. 

a Whimbrel on the Narrows, one of two present

A new pair of Wheatears were on territory on the South End and a pair of Pied Wagtails had begun nest building in one of the buildings within the Lighthouse Compound. Two Redpolls flew over heading North along with a few Linnets and Goldfinches, the clear skies and relatively calm conditions are ideal for overhead passage. Meadow Pipit numbers were up here too with a total of 33 recorded across the South End, three of which were song flighting and holding territory.

an adult male Pied Wagtail on the South End, one of the

nest building pair

While heading back over the Narrows, a check of the beaches produced four White Wagtails, these continental birds are beginning to come through in greater numbers now and should begin to build up over the next few weeks. There were 90 Oystercatchers in the roost on Henllwyn and numbers hit a new year high total across the island today with 191 being recorded.

female White Wagtail

male White Wagtail, the glossy Black crown and nape with a sharper border against the ash-grey

mantle separates this from the duller female (above).

The North End gull colony had swelled to its largest size yet with 170 Herring Gulls and 40 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls being counted. This increase in gull numbers was also mirrored across the island with 408 Herring Gulls being recorded - the highest count so far this season. Three Rock Pipits have started holding territory nearby on the North End and today 26 were recorded on the island, these birds are becoming more conspicuous as they song flight around the coast. Choughs are also an increasingly common sight with seven pairs spread around the island.

a Chough on the North end, one of 12 on the island today

Other sightings today included: two Peregrines, six Common Snipes, 78 Kittiwakes, 115 Meadow Pipits, 11 Pied Wagtails, eight Stonechats, six Wheatears, 13 Blackbirds, one Blackcap, four Chiffchaffs, 30 Willow Warblers, four Coal Tits, seven Blue Tits, three Great Tits, 28 Carrion Crows, four Ravens and 18 Goldfinches.

No ringing was carried out due to a strong breeze in the morning. 

No moths were in the moth trap, probably due to high winds overnight.