The weather calmed right down today, although it was still too windy to open the nets first thing in the morning. Stuart began his day at first light, commencing the first day of the second phase of the breeding bird surveys.  Meadow Pipits appear to be continuing their downward trend here on the island, which is a shame, although some fields are now being set aside to provide nesting habitat. Other than that, the BBS was business as usual. 

Yellow Wagtails were the story of the day, they are not a common migrant here, but at least four were recorded along the West Coast and onto the Narrows, including a blue-headed one which is hard to pin to the subspecies level. 

blue-headed Yellow Wagtail on the Narrows today

In the afternoon, a quick look up the side of the mountain made it clear that hirundines had increased massively in numbers compared to previous days. Only a few Sand Martins were in the mix, the rest were Swallows and House Martins. The assistant warden team took a nice walk up the mountain to try and count, but it wasn't very easy! At any one time up to 90 hirundines could be seen flying around their heads, about 60:40, Swallows to House Martins. It was impossible to tell how many were moving through and how many were wheeling around feeding above the gorse and heather.

Common Blue on the mountain today. There were also two Large Whites, two Green-veined Whites and one Small Copper recorded, too.

More Spotted Flycatchers were present at Nant, including one which was caught by Steve Hughes, who is a ringer staying at the obs this week. But we are still waiting on Pied Flycatcher! In the afternoon a Reed Warbler made its way into the garden Heligoland and was ringed.

Spotted Flycatcher caught at Nant

Birds today: One Buzzard, seven Ringed Plovers, one Knot, 13 Purple Sandpipers, two Dunlins, 15 Whimbrels, one Curlew, 15 Turnstones, two Sand Martins, 109 Swallows, 47 House Martins, one Tree Pipit, four Yellow Wagtails, two White Wagtails, one Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Sedge Warblers, one Reed Warbler, one Whitethroat, one Blackcap, one Chiffchaff, two Willow Warblers, one Goldcrest, two Spotted Flycatchers, nine Siskins, and two Lesser Redpolls.

Ringing Totals: Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest (1), Spotted Flycatcher 1, Goldfinch 1.