Today’s conditions presented a stiff F4 West Southwesterly wind during the morning which switched towards a Northwesterly wind in the afternoon. Temperatures peaked at 19°C with the day remaining largely overcast with spells of sun breaking through. 

Some high butterfly counts were taken today with 91 Meadow Browns and ten Common Blues observed. Two Northern Eggars were also noted around the Observatory in the evening. 

With the wind swinging Westerly, a short seawatch was attempted during the morning which proved fairly quiet. Some movement was evident however, with 692 Manx Shearwaters, 25 Gannets, 17 Puffins and 96 Kittiwakes past the South End in one hour. 

Numbers of Gulls roosting on the South End and Henllwyn have increased dramatically with estimates this morning of ~320 Kittiwakes, ~460 Herring Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, ten Great Black-backed Gulls and one Black-headed Gull. 

Part of the Kittiwake roost on the South End. (c) Ezra Sherwell

A few Wader are still present around Henllwyn and Solfach. This includes three Whimbrels, 11 Curlews, one Redshank and two Common Sandpipers.

Hirundine, pipit and wagtail numbers were generally low in the southern parts of the Island with 12 Swallows and three House Martins present. A total of 18 Meadow Pipits, six Rock Pipits and two Pied Wagtails were observed between South End, and the Narrows.

The Withies hosted some early migratory warblers boosting the breeding population, with six Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers present. An additional seven Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest were also seen at Nant. A small flock of 37 Linnets were also present on the South End.