Today began clear and sunny, but at 0700 a thick fog rolled in and lingered all day bring visibility down to less than 50m at times. Ringing in the morning was quite productive at the observatory, but it died down by 10:00. The bulk of the catch was made up by Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, although not as many as yesterday.

As thick as pea soup, the view of Henllwyn this morning

Wheatears were still trickling through, mainly recorded on the Narrows, but there were single across the island. There were a few different species of finches present in the garden today too, including Linnets, Redpolls, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Siskins and the first Greenfinch of the year. Linnets were in greater abundance today, 25 were counted across the island which is the high count of the year, but this is expected to rise greatly from now on. 

A Wheatear on Pen Cristin

A nice flurry of finches, with male Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin from top to bottom

Although the fog did make birding difficult and next to nothing was seen out at sea, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Goldcrests were heard and seen at Nant, largely around Ty Capel and Nant Withy.

A cloud of mist consuming Cristin in the late afternoon

Sunset from Cristin

Birds today: one Merlin, one Ringed Plover, one Snipe, two Curlews, two Redshanks, 30 Turnstones, two Little Owls, one Swallow, 175 Meadow Pipits, 16 Pied, Wagtails, one Robin, 11 Wheatears, two Song Thrushes, 13 Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs, 29 Willow Warblers, three Goldcrests, three Chaffinches, one Greenfinch, seven Siskins, 17 Goldfinches, 25 Linnets and one Lesser Redpoll.

Ringing totals: Willow Warbler 23, Chiffchaff 6, Goldcrest 1, Blackcap 13, Goldfinch 2, Siskin 1, Lesser Redpoll 1