Sunday 2 August 2020

Today was a scorcher! From the early morning until the late evening it was certainly t-shirt weather here on Bardsey, a slight south-westerly was the only breeze to be had.

The nets were opened at Cristin in the early morning, and although a mere seven birds were ringed, this total did include a Lesser Redpoll, a Linnet, a Willow Warbler and a couple of Goldfinches. Because the numbers were low, the nets were closed at around 0930.

On the narrows, a Common Seal was seen, only the second this year. A Kestrel was also seen over the mountain, a nice passage migrant here. Waders today include four Ringed Plovers, eight Whimbrels, 21 Curlews, 10 Redshanks and three Turnstones. Gulls included 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 38 Great Black-backed Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls and 552 Kittiwakes including a french colour-ringed bird.

 Juvenile Kittiwake

 Second-year Kittiwake

Adult Kittiwake

Common Blues copulating in Nant Valley

Work continued with the solar panels, now we are waiting for the concrete to arrive before moving onto the next stage of fitting them in place. The Heligoland also went under more repair work today, it seems to be one thing after another with more and more rotten wood being found all the time..! But never-the-less, progress is being made.

For those wanting to see the completed obs, here are a few pictures to let you know how everything is looking at the moment.

The gift shop

 The dining room

The new lounge, converted from the old office


As many will be aware, Peter Hope Jones, a BBFO former vice president and report editor passed away on 13 July. He was a great man and inspiration to many, having an impressive and admirable career in the field of ornithology and conservation. Here is a link to his obituary published in the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/29/peter-hope-jones-obituary

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