Today was really hot, and the calm weather offered little in the way of cool breezes to make the temperature bearable. The main task on the agenda for Sam and George was cracking on with the burrow census, it was hot work, but with two people. progress was a lot quicker and 14 walls were completed which is good going for four-hour stint!

By the time they returned from that, it was about time to count Oystercatcher pairs around the island. Steve and Ela had already begun with the count by the time George and Sam had arrived. The slow and steady walk along the North End and the West Coast produced 22 pairs, not at all bad, one chick was also found but was too small to ring. The rest of the coastline will be completed as soon as possible! The first Thrift Clearwings were recorded today during the Oystercatcher survey, very small but gorgeous moths, Bardsey is as good a place as any to see them.

 Oystercatcher nest on the West Coast, they aren't easy to find!

Thrift Clearwing

In the evening all the island residents gathered for an amazing barbeque at Cristin, with food provided by Gareth and Meriel. A lovely evening, probably one of the best spots in the country for a barbeque, we reckon.

Sunset this evening

Other sightings today: 71 Oystercatchers, three Whimbrels, four Collared Doves, 19 Stonechats, ten Wheatears, eight Blackbirds, seven Sedge Warblers, two Whitethroats and one Garden Warbler.

Moths today: Common Carpet 2, Marbled Minor 3, Shears 5, Heart and Dart 9, Foxglove Pug 7, Bright-line Brown-eye 4, Large Yellow Underwing 9, Dark Arches 5, Marbled Coronet 1, Chrysoteuchia Culmella 1, Currant Pug 3, Brown Rustic 10, Brown-Silver Line 1, Mullein Wave 2, Flame Shoulder 1, Middle-barred Minor 1, White Ermine 1, Yellow Shell 1, Anania Hortulata 1, Esperia Sulphurella 1.