Bardsey's Wildlife

2026-08-15T14:21:00.000+01:00

A light northerly wind and excellent visibility was set in for much of the day, with a few vert light showers passing through during the late morning, nothing enough however, to do anything to the current drought situation.

A small number of migrant passerines were recorded across the island. Willow Warblers were the most numerous, with 13 seen between Withies, the Wetlands, Tŷ Pellaf, Cristin and Nant. Five Chiffchaffs were recorded, while a Sedge Warbler remained in Withies. The first Spotted Flycatcher of autumn was at Tŷ Pellaf and was one of the day's more notable highlights. Five Wheatears were seen between the South End, Narrows and Traeth Ffynnon, and a juvenile White Wagtail was present at the South End. A Sand Martin was seen over the Narrows.

Wader numbers were concentrated around the South End, Narrows and the west coast. Eight Whimbrels were recorded, together with 15 Curlews, 14 Turnstones, four Common Sandpipers, three Redshanks, two Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin. Three adult Mediterranean Gulls at the South End were among the more notable coastal records.

Butterflies were most evident around Nant and Solfach, where four Red Admirals, three Speckled Woods and two Painted Ladies were seen. A Small Tortoiseshell was recorded on the West Coast. Other insect records included a Red-veined Darter at the South End.

Red-veined Darter © Joel Tragen

Other counts included 35 Linnets at the Narrows, 15 House Martins at the South End, 15 Magpies across the island and 12 Choughs between the Narrows and Traeth Ffynnon. Three Grey Herons were recorded between Carreg yr Honwy, Pwll Gareth and the Narrows, while 14 Mallards were present at Solfach.

The low tide seal count produced a total of 231 Grey Seals around the island. This included 91 at Henllwyn, 52 at Carreg yr Honwy, 75 on the east side of the South End, six west of the South End, four at the North End and two west of the Narrows. A newborn Grey Seal pup was found dead (our sixth of this pupping season) west of Solfach.

2026-08-14T15:29:00.000+01:00

Moderate sea conditions (Sea state 2) and moderate visibility defined the day, with temperatures reaching 19°C alongside some light rain during the mid-morning.

Grey Seals totaled 142 hauled out across the island, with 60 at Henllwyn, 24 at Carreg yr Henwy, 56 around the South End, one near the Narrows, and one at the North End. Insects recorded included two Red Admirals, a Painted Lady, a Silver Y moth, a Vapourer moth, and a Common Plume moth.

Juvenile Grey Seal South End (c) Phoebe Moss

Night-time ringing at the North End during the early hours yielded 40 Storm Petrels flying around, one of which was newly ringed. Other avian sightings included 17 Manx Shearwaters off the West Coast, 21 Shags, four Grey Herons, three Cormorants, three Mallards, a Sparrowhawk, and six Moorhens trapped in the wetlands, five of which were newly ringed and one re-trapped.

Grey Heron with a fish (c) Phoebe Moss

Wader counts across the shores featured 58 Oystercatchers, 22 Curlews, 15 Turnstones, a Dunlin, a Redshank, and a Common Sandpiper at Henllwyn. Gull sightings included five Black-headed Gulls, three Great Black-backed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 10 Herring Gulls.

Passerines and other land birds included 27 Swallows, 17 Linnets, 10 House Martins, nine Stonechats, four Woodpigeons, three Rock Pipits, two Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, two Robins, two Wheatears, a Sedge Warbler and a Meadow Pipit.

2026-08-13T14:42:00.000+01:00

A gentle westerly breeze at Force 2 and calm, flat seas made for a lovely day with very good visibility, reaching 22°C before some evening fog rolled in.

It was a productive day for cetaceans around the island. Offshore sightings included five Risso's Dolphins to the northeast and 32 Common Dolphins, 30 of which were co-foraging alongside Gannets off the West Coast. Grey Seals totaled 113 hauled out across the rocks, including 54 at Henllwyn, 43 at Carreg yr Henwy, 12 around the South End, and four at the North End.

Insects thrived in the warm conditions. Butterfly records included 59 Meadow Browns, 20 Small Tortoiseshells, 18 Common Blues, 12 Red Admirals, six Painted Ladies, five Large Whites, three Peacocks, three Small Coppers, and a Speckled Wood at Nant. Three Migrant Hawkers were also recorded around the Observatory.

Visible migration saw a noticeable southbound movement of Swallows, with 288 recorded across the island, including 244 heading south through the Narrows and 14 past the South End. Other hirundines and passerines included 47 Linnets, seven Wheatears, six Meadow Pipits, four Sand Martins, four House Martins, and six Choughs. Ringing at the Withies produced 12 newly ringed Wrens along with one re-trap, seven newly ringed Willow Warblers out of nine recorded, three Sedge Warblers, a Robin, and a re-trapped Chiffchaff. Additionally, a single Storm Petrel was trapped and ringed at the North End during a nocturnal catch.

Willow Warbler (c) Ezra Sherwell

Coastal bird counts included 55 Curlews, 49 Oystercatchers, 19 Turnstones, 17 Ringed Plovers at Solfach, nine Redshanks, six Whimbrels, five Common Sandpipers, two Lapwings, and five Moorhens at Pwll Gloyw. Seabirds included 42 Shags, 15 Gannets, 15 Cormorants, 15 Mallards, 12 Common Scoter, two Fulmars including a chick on the East Side, two juvenile Peregrines, four Sparrowhawks, one of which took one of the Islands colour ringed Stonechat which was ringed this year as an adult and had successfully raised two broods this year on the South End.

2026-08-12T19:49:00.000+01:00

It was a scorching summer day on the island, with light easterly breezes (Force 2), calm seas (Sea state 1), good visibility, and temperatures climbing to an impressive 30°C.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the solar eclipse, which brought the entire Observatory team together for an unforgettable spectacle. Everyone across the island paused to watch the celestial event unfold, with several of the team venturing to the very top of the mountain to take in the spectacle.

Solar Eclipse 18:40 © Steven Stansfield

Solar Eclipse 19:09 © Steven Stansfield

The warm conditions brought out a few butterflies, including four Common Blues (one in the North West Fields and three at the South End) and a Painted Lady at the South End. Marine monitoring recorded a total of 113 Grey Seals hauled out around the coast, including 68 at Carreg yr Henwy, 14 at Henllwyn, three at Solfach, and 28 scattered elsewhere around the coastline (13 along the East South End, 12 along the West North End, and three at West Narrows).

Feathered highlights around the wetland areas and coastline included three Grey Herons at the Narrows, five Moorhens (four at Pwll Gareth) and one at Nant), and a handful of waders: 40 Curlews (36 on Honwy and four in Henllwyn), four Redshanks at Solfach, and a single Dunlin also at Solfach. Overhead and along the high ground, two Sparrowhawks were recorded at Nant, and two Choughs frequented the Mountain.

Passerine activity centered around Nant and the Green Lane. Ringing efforts at Nant produced a Dunnock and two Blackcaps, along with two Robins (one ringed, one re-trap) and one Wren re-traped. Additional sightings in the area included three Willow Warblers, three Magpies, two Woodpigeons, a Chiffchaff, and a Sedge Warbler along Green Lane.

2026-08-11T19:24:00.000+01:00

A light to moderate Force 3 southwesterly wind accompanied by a sea state of 2, good visibility, and warm temperatures reaching 22°C provided ideal conditions across the island.

Marine life produced several highlights, including a group of 30 Common Dolphins observed foraging off the West Coast alongside a single Harbour Porpoise. Insect species recorded included seven Meadow Browns (three at the Withies and four along the West Coast), six Rush Veneer moths on the West Coast, and a single Common Blue also on the West Coast.

Seabird and coastal sightings off the West Coast featured five Razorbills, 11 Mallards, five Gannets, and a Fulmar, while 25 Shags gathered at Carreg yr Honwy. Wader counts along the shoreline recorded 15 Curlews, three Turnstones, and a Redshank at Carreg yr Honwy, three Whimbrels at Henllwyn, and a Common Sandpiper at the Narrows. Gulls included six Black-headed Gulls and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Carreg yr Honwy, three Mediterranean Gulls at the Narrows, and a Common Gull at Solfach. A single Grey Heron was also noted at the Narrows.

Common Gull © Steven Stansfield

Grey Heron - catching some early morning sun!! © Steven Stansfield

Landbird and passerine records were headlined by 20 House Martins at the South End and a high count of five Sparrowhawks logged from the Observatory. Additional sightings included nine Magpies (three at Ty Pellaf, five along the West Coast, and one trapped and ringed at the Observatory). Mist netting at Cristin produced four Willow Warblers, two Wrens, two Robins and a Whitethroat.

2026-08-10T14:19:00.000+01:00

Northerly winds at Force 4 brought a slight drop in temperature to 18°C, with smooth Force 2 seas and very good visibility creating excellent conditions across both land and sea.

Marine sightings included a group of six Risso's Dolphins, which included an adult and calf pair with four adults off Pen Cristin. A single Sunfish was also logged off the east side. Butterfly and insect activity recorded two Small Coppers, three Common Blues, and a Grayling, all at Pen Cristin.

One of the Risso's Dolphins seen during the day (c) Phoebe Moss

Overhead and out to sea, a full adult breeding-plumage Arctic Skua flying low over the South End provided a morning census highlight. Out to sea a small number of birds were moving throughout the day including 80 Manx Shearwaters off the South End, 18 Gannets, 28 Shags, 13 Cormorants, five Kittiwakes, and two Fulmars. Waders included 39 Oystercatchers, 15 Curlews, 11 Redshanks at Henllwyn, two Whimbrels, two Ringed Plovers (heard at the South End and later seen at Henllwyn), and a Dunlin over Solfach and the Narrows. Additional coastal sightings featured a Little Egret east of Henllwyn, a Grey Heron at the Narrows, and a Mallard at Solfach.

Passerine activity was mixed across the island, with 28 Swallows, 18 House Martins, 14 Willow Warblers, 12 Wheatears, 11 Meadow Pipits, and two Chiffchaffs logged. Resident bird totals included 14 Choughs including 10 at Pen Cristin, 10 Linnets, six Stonechats, four Woodpigeons, three Pied Wagtails, two Sparrowhawks, two Peregrines at the North End, and a single Robin.

2026-08-09T20:28:00.000+01:00

A Southwesterly wind peaking at Force 4 accompanied by sea state 2, very good visibility, and temperatures hovering around 20°C made for a productive day across the island. Insect activity recorded single observations of a Small White and a Common Blue, both around Ty Pellaf.

Coastal and seawatching observations saw approximately 200 Manx Shearwaters heading south past the Narrows during the afternoon. Other seabirds logged included 16 Gannets off the West Coast, 30 Shags and four Cormorants at Carreg yr Honwy (plus two Cormorants at Solfach), and 10 Kittiwakes. Gull records featured 22 Herring Gulls, 13 Black-headed Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls (one at Carreg yr Honwy and two along the West Coast), and a single Common Gull at Henllwyn. Waders and waterfowl included, 17 Curlews at Carreg yr Honwy, six Turnstones, three Whimbrels, a Common Sandpiper off the South End, two Grey Herons at the Narrows, and 13 Mallards distributed across Solfach, the West Coast, the Narrows, and Henllwyn.

Grey Heron roosting at high tide on the Narrows (c) Ezra Sherwell

Inland, passerine numbers included 20 Linnets at the Narrows, 14 Willow Warblers (split evenly between Nant and the Withies), four Stonechats, three Rock Pipits at Solfach, a Chiffchaff in Nant, a Wheatear at Henllwyn, a House Martin over the Narrows, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker still at Nant.

2026-08-08T21:37:00.000+01:00

The weather today was a gentle southwesterly breeze (Force 2) with calm seas, excellent visibility, and warm temperatures reaching 20°C.

Seawatching highlights along the Narrows and West Coast produced some exciting records with the highlight being two Cory's Shearwaters. The first one was logged moving south from the Narrows, with the second one producing distant views from the Observatory. A single Balearic Shearwater was also observed from the narrows also tracking south producing a further highlight for the day. Further seabird numbers included 2,600 Manx Shearwaters off the West Coast in the afternoon, 46 Gannets, 45 Kittiwakes, 38 Shags, 18 Cormorants (19 at Carreg yr Honwy), two Sandwich Terns, and a varied accumulation of gulls around the Narrows featuring 287 Herring Gulls, 48 Black-headed Gulls, 41 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 23 Mediterranean Gulls. 56 Curlews (43 at Carreg yr Honwy), two Redshanks, and a Whimbrel were also present.

Gull flocks on the west coast (c) Steven Stansfield

A variety of Mediterranean Gull ages and plumages could be seen amongst the gull flock (c) Steven Stansfield

Passerine activity across the island's interior was anchored by a notable Garden Warbler near Ty Pellaf. Other migrant and resident passerines recorded included 12 Willow Warblers, 27 Linnets, 18 Swallows, seven House Martins, five Rock Pipits, three Meadow Pipits, two Pied Wagtails, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, and a Robin, with the Great Spotted Woodpecker still present in Nant. Some fantastic views of a young Peregrine practicing hunting on many of the small gulls was enjoyed had from the narrows.

A young Peregrine practice hunting on some of the small gulls around the Narrows (c) Steven Stansfield

Cetacean activity was busy off the west side, highlighted by a pod of 28 Risso's Dolphins including four calves. Invertebrete sightings included 12 Painted Ladies, seven Meadow Browns, four Red Admirals, three Common Blues, a Small White, a Small Tortoiseshell, a Grayling, a Migrant Hawker, and a Common Plume moth.

Painted Lady (c) Steven Stansfield

2026-08-07T19:45:00.000+01:00

A southwesterly wind at Force 2 to 3, a sea state of two, excellent visibility, and temperatures reaching 19°C provided conditions for cetacean observations and ringing efforts around the island.

Cetacean counts off the east side recorded 13 Risso's Dolphins, comprising a pod of six that included a calf, two separate groups of three, and a single individual. In addition, three Bottlenose Dolphins were logged to the northeast of the Island near to the mainland.

Female and calf Risso's Dolphin seen off Pen Cristin (c) Jason Brook

Risso's Dolphin (c) Jason Brook

Ringing operations focused around the Observatory processed several species throughout the day. Birds trapped and ringed or re-trapped included eight Willow Warblers, four Wrens, one Sparrowhawk, three Magpies, one Sedge Warbler, one Robin and one Blackbird. A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was also spotted in the observatory garden during the ringing session although it unfortunately evaded the nets.

Additional observations across the island noted two Grey Herons, 14 Curlews at Carreg yr Honwy, four Whimbrels at Carreg yr Honwy, two Redshanks, one Black-headed Gull off the West Coast, one Common Gull at Solfach, three Sandwich Terns off the South End, six House Martins, four Swallows, three Pied Wagtails, three Stonechats, and one Woodpigeon.

2026-08-06T15:10:00.000+01:00

Weather conditions logged a southwesterly Force 3 wind, a sea state of three, clear visibility, and a temperature of 18°C.

Shoreline counts recorded 43 Oystercatchers across Pen Cristin, Cristin, Henllwyn, South End, Carreg yr Honwy, West Coast, and North End. Migrant waders included eight Whimbrels split between Cristin, Henllwyn, South End, West Coast, and North End, eight Curlews, four Redshanks, and one Turnstone at Carreg yr Honwy.

Seabird and gull totals comprised eight Mediterranean Gulls including seven at Carreg yr Honwy and one off the West Coast, 11 Black-headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 452 Herring Gulls, six Great Black-backed Gulls, 15 Kittiwakes, four Sandwich Terns off the West Coast, 22 Gannets, 12 Shags, seven Cormorants, one Fulmar off the West Coast, and ten Manx Shearwaters off the South End.

Passerine counts included 16 Willow Warblers with 11 logged at Nant, three Chiffchaffs at Nant, one Whitethroat on the Mountain, three Wheatears, five Stonechats, 18 Swallows, four House Martins at the South End, 12 Meadow Pipits, six Rock Pipits, three Pied Wagtails, 14 Linnets, one Robin at the Observatory and nine Woodpigeons. Raptor observations comprised four Sparrowhawks near the Observatory, one Kestrel on the Mountain, and one Peregrine at Nant.

Linnet bathing in a pool on the Narrows (c) Ezra Sherwell

Coastal counts recorded 227 Grey Seals, with 195 hauled out at Henllwyn, nine at Carreg yr Honwy, three at Solfach, and 20 around remaining island shorelines.

2026-08-05T09:21:00.000+01:00

Strong westerly winds reaching Force 5 along with a matching sea state of five brought an impressive day of seabird movement. The standout highlight of the day was the first Sooty Shearwater of the season heading northeast along the West Coast.

Seawatching off the West Coast featured a heavy morning passage of 6,013 Manx Shearwaters heading North, with peak movement reaching around 2,500 birds per hour. An evening seawatch from the South End produced an estimated 5,000 birds past the point, gathering around the island waiting for it to get dark bringing the daily total of Manx Shearwaters to 11,013. Additional seabirds pushing North off the West Coast included 159 Gannets (with a further three off the South End bringing the total to 162), 11 Fulmars, 55 Kittiwakes (alongside 20 off the South End and 17 at Carreg yr Honwy for a total of 92), 13 Black-headed Gulls, two Great Black-backed Gulls, two Shags, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, and six Herring Gulls. Heading south off the West Coast were 11 Sandwich Terns.

Coastal counts around Carreg yr Honwy, Solfach, and Pen Cristin included 493 Herring Gulls split between 250 at Pen Cristin and 243 at Carreg yr Honwy, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Carreg yr Honwy, ten Black-headed Gulls across Carreg yr Honwy and Solfach, six Great Black-backed Gulls at Carreg yr Honwy, three Shags at Carreg yr Honwy, a lone Oystercatcher at Pen Cristin, and a Moorhen in Withies.

Landbird migration featured ten Willow Warblers spread across Nant, Withies, the Observatory, and Wetlands, two Sedge Warblers and a single Reed Warbler along Green Lane. Other passerine records included two Chiffchaffs at the Observatory, 12 Stonechats, four Swallows and two Pied Wagtails at Nant. Raptors were represented by single records of both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk near the Observatory.

During the afternoon we went to monitor and ring some of the Manx Shearwater chicks which are growing quickly and starting to look quite large and downy.

Five week old Manxy chick (c) Steven Stansfield

2026-08-04T09:38:00.000+01:00

Overnight rain giving way to daytime showers and morning fog made for a damp, murky start to the day. A Force 4 southerly wind was prsent throughout the day alongside, moderate visibility, a sea state of three, and a mild temperatures reaching 19°C.

Wader activity along the coast was led by 34 Oystercatchers, distributed as 21 at Henllwyn, five at Traeth Ffynnon , three at Solfach, three at the West Narrows, one at the Narrows, and one at Carreg yr Honwy. Shoreline counts also included three Curlews (two at Traeth Ffynnon and one at the West Narrows), two Turnstones at Solfach, and a single Redshank at Solfach.

Gulls and coastal seabirds logged a single Mediterranean Gull at Carreg yr Honwy, six Black-headed Gulls (five at Carreg yr Honwy and one at Solfach), 159 Herring Gulls (100 at Pen Cristin, 57 at Carreg yr Honwy, and two off the North End), 13 Great Black-backed Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Kittiwakes, four Sandwich Terns, four Shags, and three Cormorants at Carreg yr Honwy.

Passerine counts island-wide were generally quiet but featured ten Willow Warblers (six at Nant, four in Withies), alongside single sightings of Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler both in Withies, 35 Linnets (30 at the Narrows and five at the South End), 18 Swallows, eight Stonechats around Tŷ Pellaf, five Meadow Pipits, three Pied Wagtails at Solfach, two Rock Pipits and six Choughs.

Choughs are finding braking through the parched dehydrated ground hard work, but last night's rain has helped. (c) Steven Stansfield

2026-08-03T11:40:00.000+01:00

A warmer day saw temperatures reach 23°C as southeasterly winds shifted southwesterly in the afternoon, bringing calm conditions with a sea state of one and very good visibility despite a few afternoon showers.

A small push of hirundines provided increased counts across the island, headlined by 96 Swallows. Movement was recorded in several areas, including 21 passing over the South End with south-heading flocks of seven and ten, alongside 24 pushing through and gathering in the Wetlands. Further counts included 22+ on the Mountain, nine over the Withies, three in the Lowlands, four along the West Coast, and two at the Narrows. House Martins totalled 18, with 12 at the South End including a family with four fledging young, and six at the Narrows.

Fledging House Martins (c) Ezra Sherwell

Warblers featured 20 Willow Warblers (seven in Withies, seven at Nant, four on the Mountain, one in the Lowlands, and one in the Wetlands), two Chiffchaffs in Withies, and a single Sedge Warbler in the Wetlands. Small landbird tallies included 18 Meadow Pipits (15 at the South End, two in the Lowlands, one at the Narrows), 15 Linnets, eight Wheatears split evenly between the South End and Narrows, six Rock Pipits, four Stonechats comprising a female with a juvenile at the South End and a male with a juvenile along Green Lane, a Pied Wagtail at Solfach, and an Alba Wagtail at the South End.

Small numbers of wader were still present along the shoreline with eight Whimbrels, five Redshanks, three Curlews, and a Common Sandpiper on the West Coast. Additional coastal and wetland sightings included four Grey Herons—one of which departed south off the island—two Moorhens, a Shelduck at Solfach, a Mallard at Cristin, and a single Kestrel hunting over the Wetlands.

Marine mammal observations noted a pod of ten Common Dolphins off the West Coast. Lepidoptera records featured 12 Meadow Browns, three Silver Y moths at the Observatory, three Common Blues, two Large Whites, two Red Admirals, and two Painted Ladies.

A Large Tabby moth in the gift shop was only the third record for the island, the first as long ago as 1966, and the second as recently as 2024 (also in the gift shop!!).

Large Tabby Aglossa pinguinalis (c) Steven Stansfield

2026-08-02T21:00:00.000+01:00

A notable gathering of 15 Mediteranean Gulls gulls and good numbers of cetacean sightings provided the day's main highlights. This included a very young juvenile Mediterranean Gull and 18 Black-headed Gulls briefly roosting on Carreg yr Honwy.

Ringing efforts at the Observatory capitalized on a calm, clear day, peaking at 18°C with light northerly winds creating ideal conditions for opening nets. Eight Willow Warblers and two Wrens were trapped and ringed as part of the day's ringing effort. Overall island counts for Willow Warbler reached 35, distributed across several locations including 14 at Nant, seven in Withies, eight around the Observatory, two in the Wetlands, two at Tŷ Pellaf, one in the Lowlands, and one at the Narrows. Wren numbers totaled 37 across various sectors, led by 14 at Nant and nine at Tŷ Pellaf. Other warblers logged included eight Chiffchaffs, split between four in Withies, three at Nant, and one in the Lowlands, alongside a single Sedge Warbler along Green Lane.

Small landbirds on census included 14 Meadow Pipits, with ten in the Lowlands and four at the Narrows, 14 Linnets at the Narrows including adults actively feeding young, six Pied Wagtails at Solfach including a fresh juvenile, two Stonechats in the Lowlands, and single records of Robin and Blackbird at the Observatory. Hirundines comprised 21 Swallows, with 16 in Withies, three in the Wetlands, and two in the Lowlands, alongside two House Martins in the Wetlands.

Freshly fledged Pied Wagtail on Solfach (c) Steven Stansfield

Juvenile Pied Wagtail being fed on Solfach (c) Steven Stansfield

Juvenile Linnet begging for food on the Narrows (c) Steven Stansfield

Despite a slight sea state of two and a few passing light showers, marine and coastal watching produced 85 Razorbills off the West Coast, which contained a high proportion of first calendar-year birds. Counts also yielded 35 Gannets off the West Coast, 22 Shags at Carreg yr Honwy, nine Cormorants, and two Grey Herons on the Narrows. Shoreline waders included seven Curlews, split as six at Henllwyn and one at Carreg yr Honwy, five Turnstones at Carreg yr Honwy, three Redshanks at Solfach, a Common Sandpiper at Solfach, and a Whimbrel at Henllwyn.

Marine life off the West Coast provided fantastic views of cetaceans, led by 70 Common Dolphins, which included 35 adults and five calves close inshore alongside a second pod of around 30 individuals further out. Ten adult Risso's Dolphins was also observed off the West Coast, while five Harbour Porpoises were noted, comprising four off the North End and one off the West Coast. Grey Seal counts reached 74 adults, with 54 at Henllwyn, 16 at Carreg yr Honwy, and four at Solfach.

Lepidoptera activity was modest, highlighted by 24 Meadow Browns, with 22 around Tŷ Pellaf and two at the Observatory, three Red Admirals, two Common Blues in the Wetlands, two Peacocks at the Observatory, and a single Grayling at the Observatory.

2026-08-01T11:29:00.000+01:00

A westerly F3 breeze brought very good visibility across the island, with a sea state of three and mild temperatures reaching 18°C.

With the return of the calm weather nocturnal ringing efforts targeting Storm Petrels recommenced from the North End which resulted in a total catch of 12 individuals including one retrapped bird.

Storm Petrel ringed at the North End (c) Steven Stansfield

With an almost full moon rising early in the night the session was cut short early, but still provided some valuable results and a chance for many of the Marine Mammal students to see Storm Petrel up close for the first time.

Marine Mammal week students watching the Storm Petrel ringing.

Migrant warbler presence dropped off today with the warbler population appearing to be largely remnant breeders. This included two Willow Warblers and a single Chiffchaff in Withies, along with single records of Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat in the Wetlands.

Small passerine activity across key areas featured five Pied Wagtails and two Rock Pipits at Solfach, a Meadow Pipit on the Narrows, and a single juvenile Stonechat on the Mountain. Two Wheatears were logged at the Narrows, while single records were noted for Robin and Woodpigeon in the Wetlands. Hirundines moving through included six Swallows, split as three in the Wetlands, two at Tŷ Pellaf, and one at the Narrows, alongside three House Martins in the Wetlands.

Wader and gull movements along the shore were represented by five Curlews, split as three at Solfach, one at Henllwyn, and one at the Narrows, alongside three Redshanks (two at Solfach and one at Henllwyn) and a single Whimbrel at Solfach. Two Black-headed Gulls were also noted at Solfach.

2026-07-31T16:50:00.000+01:00

A moderate F3 south-westerly breeze persisted throughout the day, bringing good visibility, a sea state of three, and temperatures reaching 17°C.

A nocturnal ringing session produced 12 Storm Petrels at the North End, comprising 11 new birds ringed and one retrapped individual. Daytime passerine ringing and census at Nant yielded six Chiffchaffs, with five at Nant (including two trapped and one retrapped) and one in Withies, alongside seven Willow Warblers, split as six in Withies and one at Nant. Three Blackcaps were recorded at Nant, consisting of two newly ringed and one retrapped bird. Single Swallows, Magpies and Woodpigeons were also ringed at Nant, although the highlight was retrapping a male Sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk (c) Ezra Sherwell

Seabird and coastal observation yielded two Gannets and two Puffins off Pen Cristin, alongside two Mediterranean Gulls off the West Coast. Shoreline wader records were limited to two Curlews and a single Whimbrel at the Narrows.

Butterflies were widely recorded, with the Mountain holding the main concentrations. Meadow Browns totaled 60, with 46 on the Mountain, eight around the Observatory, and six at Pen Cristin. Graylings reached 17, with 13 on the Mountain and four at Pen Cristin. Ten Small Coppers were logged, split as seven on the Mountain, two at Pen Cristin, and one at the Observatory, while Common Blues also totaled ten, comprising six on the Mountain, three at Pen Cristin, and one at the Observatory. Four Painted Ladies were noted, with three on the Mountain and one along the track between Plas and the Observatory. Other lepidoptera included two Peacocks at the Observatory, a Red Admiral on the Mountain, and a Small White at Pen Cristin.

2026-07-30T20:16:00.000+01:00

Early morning mist and light drizzle gave way to very good visibility under a gentle F3 north-westerly breeze, with temperatures reaching 18°C.

Aerial image of Enlli overlooking the West Coast and North End (c) Phoebe Moss

Passerine movement featured 16 Willow Warblers, including 12 trapped and ringed around the Observatory and four at Nant. Other small landbirds recorded on census included 34 Linnets, with 21 at the South End, eight at the Narrows, and five at Tŷ Pellaf. Two Lesser Redpolls were logged at the Observatory. Hirundines comprised 17 Swallows, split as eight at Tŷ Pellaf, seven at the South End, and two at the Narrows, along with six House Martins, divided as four at the South End and two at the Narrows. Single Wheatears were observed on Henllywn and the Narrows, three Meadow Pipits were noted at Tŷ Pellaf and single Rock Pipits were seen at Henllwyn and the South End.

Seabird coverage yielded 190 Manx Shearwaters, with 150 off the West Coast, 24 off the South End, ten off the North End, and six chicks ringed in their burrows. Eighteen Gannets were counted, with 17 off the West Coast and one off the South End. Shoreline and gull counts included 360 Herring Gulls spread between Solfach, the Narrows, and Carreg yr Honwy. Additional gulls and terns were highlighted by four Mediterranean Gulls, comprising two adults off the West Coast and an adult alongside a juvenile at the South End. Seven Black-headed Gulls were noted, with five off the West Coast and two at Carreg yr Honwy, two Great Black-backed Gulls were at Carreg yr Honwy, and nine Sandwich Terns moved offshore, with seven off the West Coast and two off the North End.

Waders along the coast were led by 24 Curlews, with 22 at Carreg yr Honwy and two at Henllwyn. Five Whimbrels were noted, with four at the South End and one at the North End, four Oystercatchers were at Traeth Ffynnon, two Ringed Plovers were at the South End, and a single Redshank was at Carreg yr Honwy.

Cetacean watching off the West Coast was productive, producing a pod of 50 Common Dolphins, including calves, alongside a single Risso's Dolphin. Grey Seal counts reached a total of 189 across the island, featuring 109 hauled out at Henllwyn, 43 at Carreg yr Honwy, 34 at the South End, two at the Narrows, and one off the North End.

Butterflies were active in large numbers, particularly in Withies, where 72 Meadow Browns, 12 Common Blues, and a Small Copper were logged. Island totals for Meadow Brown reached 105, with 20 along the West Coast and 13 at Pen Cristin added to the Withies count. Total Common Blue numbers reached 18, with three at Tŷ Pellaf, two at the Observatory, and one along the West Coast. Two Holly Blues were recorded, with one remaining around the Observatory and one at the South End. Other butterflies noted included three Small Tortoiseshells, with one at the Lime Kiln, one at the Observatory, and one in Withies, five Peacocks, two Large Whites at the Observatory, two Red Admirals, a Small White at the Observatory, a Small Copper at the Observatory, and a Painted Lady in the Lowlands. Odonata was represented by an Emperor Dragonfly along the track by the School.

2026-07-29T20:13:00.000+01:00

A moderate F4 southerly wind blew across the island throughout the day, bringing dry conditions, clear visibility, and temperatures climbing to 20°C.

A modest influx of migrant passerines was evident on land, led by a count of ten Willow Warblers, which were split as six around the Observatory and four in Withies. A single Chiffchaff was also logged in Withies.

Breeding landbirds showed recorded across the Island included four Linnets at the South End and three moving between the Observatory and the Mountain. Aerial coverage by hirundines included 13 Swallows, comprising nine around the Observatory, two at Withies, one at the South End, and one at the Narrows, alongside six House Martins, which were divided as four across the Lowlands and two at the South End. Among other small landbirds, three Pied Wagtails were noted, with two at Solfach and one at the South End, a single juvenile Stonechat was along Green Lane, two Meadow Pipits were around the Observatory, a Rock Pipit was recorded at Solfach, and four Wrens as well as a Blackbird were found near the Observatory.

Off the West Coast, seawatching produced 450 Manx Shearwaters, 120 Kittiwakes, 12 Gannets, and four Puffins, while two Razorbills were noted off the North End. Coastal rock features held five Shags, with three at Carreg yr Honwy and two off the West Coast, and four Cormorants at Carreg yr Honwy.

Gull counts were dominated by Herring Gulls, with a total of 490 recorded. This included 240 along the stretch between Carreg yr Honwy and the Narrows and a distant feeding flock of 200 off the West Coast. Carreg yr Honwy also held 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and eight Great Black-backed Gulls. Four Black-headed Gulls gathered at Solfach, while nine Sandwich Terns moved between Carreg yr Honwy and Solfach.

Wader species moving along the shoreline were highlighted by 41 Curlews at Carreg yr Honwy. Elsewhere, two Sanderlings were along the southern West Coast, single pairs of Whimbrels and Redshanks were logged between Carreg yr Honwy and the Narrows, and a Common Sandpiper was at Solfach.

Lepidoptera activity around the Observatory was varied, highlighted by a Holly Blue and a Grayling, a Small Copper, a Large White, a Green-veined White, a Painted Lady, two Red Admirals, three Peacocks, and 12 Meadow Browns.

Grayling and Common Blue (c) Phoebe Moss

Elsewhere, three Common Blues were noted off the North End alongside a single bird at the Observatory. Incidental moth records comprised a Silver Y at the North End and a Large Yellow Underwing at the Observatory.

2026-07-28T20:13:00.000+01:00

Conditions remained dry with good visibility throughout, accompanied by a moderate F4 southerly wind and temperatures reaching 18°C.

Passerine activity included single migrant records of a Willow Warbler at Nant and a Sedge Warbler at Withies. Two Chiffchaffs were divided between Nant and the South End, while two Blackcaps were logged at Nant.

Resident landbirds and breeding species were recorded across the island. Meadow Pipit numbers reached 17, with 14 at the South End and single birds at the Narrows, Tŷ Pellaf and the Wetlands. Rock Pipit counts totaled eight, with five at Henllwyn and three at the South End. Wren counts reached 15 across multiple sites, including four at Tŷ Pellaf, three at Nant and two at Withies.

A total of 40 Linnets was logged, all at the South End. Stonechats totaled seven, with two on the Mountain, two between the Boathouse and Tŷ Pellaf, two at the South End and one at Tŷ Pellaf. Hirundines were represented by ten Swallows, comprising four at Withies, two at the South End, two at the Wetlands and two at Tŷ Pellaf, along with two House Martins at the South End. Four Pied Wagtails were logged, with two at Henllwyn, one at the South End and one at Solfach.

Seabird movement featured 200 Manx Shearwaters off the South End and 15 Gannets, with nine off the South End and six off the West Coast. Seawatching and coastal counts also yielded 120 Kittiwakes off the South End, four Shags comprising three at Carreg yr Honwy and one at Henllwyn, and two Cormorants at Carreg yr Honwy.

Gull counts were led by Herring Gull, with 208 recorded across the island. This total included a roost of approximately 100 at the South End, 50 elsewhere at the South End, 24 at Solfach, 20 at Henllwyn and 14 at Carreg yr Honwy. Eight Great Black-backed Gulls were noted, with six at the South End and two at Solfach. Four Black-headed Gulls were divided as two at Solfach, one at the South End and one at Henllwyn, while three Lesser Black-backed Gulls were split between two at the South End and one at Solfach.

Wader and coastal counts included 58 Oystercatchers, with 41 around Henllwyn and 17 at the South End. Three Curlews were at the South End, two Whimbrels were split between the South End and the Narrows, and two Grey Herons were at the Wetlands.

Butterflies were active across several locations. Meadow Browns were the most numerous with 71 recorded, including 31 around the Observatory, 20 along Green Lane and 20 at the South End. Common Blues totaled 13, with seven at the South End, three along Green Lane, two at Traeth Ffynnon and one at Tŷ Pellaf.

Small Copper (c) Phoebe Moss

Other butterfly counts recorded five Peacocks, four Red Admirals, two Small Whites along Green Lane, a single Large White, a Green-veined White, a Small Copper and a Painted Lady.

2026-07-27T09:58:00.000+01:00

After several quieter days, there were encouraging signs of autumn migration beginning to build, while marine mammals and coastal birds provided plenty of additional interest around the island. There is no real signs of any rain on the horizon, so water - and green grass are still in short supply.

The only green is the gorse!

Coverage by Ezra and Ida concentrated on Cristin, Withies, Nant, Tŷ Pellaf, the South End, Solfach and the Narrows, and it quickly became apparent that migrant numbers had increased slightly. Willow Warbler was the most numerous migrant passerine, with 13 recorded across Cristin, Withies, Nant and the South End. A further six Chiffchaffs were scattered between Tŷ Pellaf, Withies, the mountain and the Lowlands, while a Sedge Warbler was found along Green Lane.

The South End held the greatest concentration of visible migrants. Four Wheatears, three Willow Warblers, seven Meadow Pipits, two Whimbrels and 15 Linnets. Elsewhere, seven Stonechats were spread across the South End, Lowlands, mountain and Traeth Ffynnon, including a juvenile at the latter site.

Coastal birding was productive, particularly around Carreg yr Honwy, Henllwyn and Solfach. A gathering of 41 Curlews at Carreg yr Honwy was notable, while Oystercatcher numbers reached 50 around the coastline. Five Common Sandpipers were present at Henllwyn, a Dunlin was recorded at Solfach and a Little Egret at Solfach provided one of the day's more noteworthy records. Four Mediterranean Gulls were logged between Carreg yr Honwy and the west coast, while an adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern were present at Carreg yr Honwy, as well as the first two Arctic Terns of the autumn moved south after stopping briefly on Garreg yr Honwy.

At sea, Manx Shearwaters saw 211 recorded including two rafts of more than 50 birds off the South end. Gannets, Kittiwakes and a few lingering Puffins added to the seabird interest.

The highlight of the day came from the west coast, where a group of approximately 40 Common Dolphins was encountered. This was comfortably the largest cetacean record of the day and provided memorable views for those lucky enough to connect with them.

The season's first Grey Seal pup from yesterday was still alive, a welcome sign as the breeding season begins to get underway.

Seal Pup no 1 - lets hope it survives! (c) Phoebe Moss

Butterflies remained active, the Lowlands held 30 Meadow Browns, while Peacocks, Common Blues, Large Whites, Green-veined White and a Small Copper were also recorded from around the island. A Wood Mouse around Cristin was the only noteworthy non-avian record on land.

2026-07-26T15:11:00.000+01:00

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 waders 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.

2026-07-25T10:07:00.000+01:00

Changeover days rarely produce much coverage and this was no exception. With Joel heading off for a well-earned holiday, Ezra not returning to the island until late afternoon and Ida remaining on Bardsey in a voluntary capacity, there was limited time available for fieldwork. After a prolonged dry spell, the island also finally received some much-needed rain, although it amounted to little more than a brief 20-minute shower during the afternoon, followed by another passing shower overnight.

Given the circumstances, it was a relatively quiet day, but there was still enough wildlife interest to reward those who managed to get into the field.

Migrant bird activity remained fairly subdued. Around Cristin, a single Willow Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and a Robin provided evidence that autumn passage was continuing at a low level. A Sedge Warbler in the Wetlands was another likely migrant, while nine Woodpigeons spread between Cristin, the Wetlands and Tŷ Pellaf suggested some ongoing movement.

The island's breeding birds remained more conspicuous. Swallows were particularly evident, with 18 recorded between Cristin and Tŷ Pellaf, while two House Martins were seen at Pwll Gareth. Three Sparrowhawks and two Peregrines around Cristin ensured there was no shortage of aerial predators.

Two Whimbrels at the Narrows added to the passage wader interest, while a juvenile and adult Black-headed Gull were in Henllwyn .

Offshore, seabirds included 30 Manx Shearwaters, 80 Kittiwakes and 33 Puffins were logged, while four Razorbills and two Guillemots were noted around Pen Cristin and Henllwyn. Carreg yr Honwy held seven Shags and four Cormorants.

Butterflies remained active whenever the weather allowed. Meadow Browns were again the dominant species, with 31 recorded, mostly in the Lowlands. Red Admirals were particularly noticeable around Cristin, where four were seen, along with Green-veined White, Small Copper, Painted Lady and Peacock. Among the moths, Magpie Moth, Northern Eggar, White-shouldered House Moth and Eudonia mercurella were all noted inside Cristin during changeover and were carefully evicted! The latter species a recent colonist the the first records in 2021 on 23 August at Cristin and 6 September at Nant. in the trap overnight a Pebble Prominent was caught along with another Small Mottled Willow - a migrant from the south.

Pebble Prominent (c) Steven Stansfield

The first record for the island was an individual which was taken from a moth trap near the Plantation on 1 June 2011. This was followed by three in 2014, 2022 and 2023 and singles in 2019 and 2021. The caterpillars feed on various sallows, which are plentiful on the island.

Small mottled Willow (c) Steven Stansfield

Up to this year a total of nine moths have been recorded on the Island; the first was caught at Cristin in 2000 and was followed by further singles at Cristin on 6 May 2008 and in Cristin Withy on 2 August 2009. The next record was one at Nant on 12 June 2015, with two then caught at Cristin in September 2017. Amazingly, three of these moths were recorded in one night on 8 September 2024. This year has proved the best year so far with numerous records in spring and three so far in the summerThis species has a very large global range and is a pest in some areas, but usually only occurs as an immigrant in Britain, with most records coming from the south coasts.

2026-07-24T19:43:00.000+01:00

A light (F2) north-westerly breeze and excellent visibility provided ideal conditions for coverage, and a calm sea was great for cetacean watching.

The continuation of the drought is taking its toll on the island's vegetation, what was once green and lush is ow brown and burned to a crisp! The bracken on the mountain for now at least gives a bit of colour to our beige landscape.

A little rain is forecast for the weekend, but we need a lot to turn the island green again

On the bird front, Willow Warbler was the commonest migrant, with eight logged (five of which were trapped and ringed) between Cristin and Nant, while four Chiffchaffs were scattered through the same areas. A single Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat were also traped at Cristin added to the selection, suggesting a gentle trickle of southbound passerines moving through the island. Swallows remained present with eight recorded across Obs, Nant and the mountain, accompanied by two House Martins at Pwll Gareth.

A Buzzard provided an interesting record and was the first for some weeks. First seen over the North End at 17:00 before heading south over the Lowlands, it was later watched departing northwards off the North End at 19:15, indicating a bird actively migrating through rather than lingering.

Elsewhere, a few signs of local dispersal were evident, including juvenile Stonechats above Nant and the family groups of Sparrowhawks around the Observatory.

At sea, Manx Shearwaters dominated proceedings, with around 500 rafting off the west coast. Kittiwake numbers were saw 194 recorded between the East Side and west coast, while 80 Puffins remained off the East Side. Coastal waders included two Whimbrels and three Curlews.

Marine mammals stole the show. Risso's Dolphins were encountered repeatedly around the island, with an impressive total of 23 logged. Groups were seen off the East Side, North End and west coast, including two calves among the East Side animals. Common Dolphins were also present off the west coast, where six were recorded, while five Harbour Porpoises, including two juveniles, added to an excellent day's cetacean watching to keep Phoebe happy!

Butterflies were particularly conspicuous in the warm conditions. Meadow Browns remained abundant, with around 150 counted across the island, while Graylings were concentrated on the mountain, where 17 were logged. Migrants included a single Painted Lady along the west coast, accompanied by four Red Admirals and three Small Coppers.

Day-flying moths also added interest. Seven Silver Ys were spread between the mountain, East Side and Observatory, while six Magpie moths and a Six-spot Burnet were recorded. Three Migrant Hawkers were still around the Observatory continuing what has already been a productive season for migrant insects, while a lone Emperor Dragonfly on the mountain was another welcome sighting and the first since the 16th.

In the moth trap, a tiny, but rather beautiful (in my opinion anyway!) Acleris holmiana was only the third record for the island. Two different individuals were trapped on 1st and 4 August 2022 at Cristin; these represented the first records for Bardsey.

This tiny tortrix has a modern vernacular name of White-marked Tortrix

2026-07-23T00:14:00.000+01:00

Strong northerlies continued today, staying at F5 until 17:00, the sea state was three for much of the day. Visibility remained good and temperatures rose to 19°C.

A slight increase in Migrant Hawkers, reaching a total of six with four around Cristin.

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, still a rare species on the island with less than 15 records. One of four "Yellow Underwing" species in the moth trap © Joel Tragen

The usual residents birds of prey were seen around the island with the pair of Sparrowhawks around Crisitn much of the day but also seen hunting around the island and four Peregrines were seen around Nant.

More Whimbrels than Curlews were seen together with four of the former and half as many of the latter.

A nice selection of small gulls were seen roosting in Henllwyn, the highlights being four Mediterranean Gulls, three Common Gulls and nine Black-heaaded Gulls (with a tenth individual seen in Solfach).

Two Swifts followed Pen Cristin and the Mountain, heading north. Elsewhere a total of 24 Swallows and ten House Martins were seen.

A notable increase of Willow Warblers were seen across the island with a total of seven, with singles seen across the island. A Whitethroat was seen in Traeth Ffynnon. Two Sedge Warblers were recorded, along with 11 Chiffchaffs. The only finches seen today were Linnets which totalled eight.

2026-07-22T19:23:00.000+01:00

The northerly winds eased up slightly, dropping to a F4 but the sea state remained at three. Visibility remained good and no precipitation was recorded. Temperatures stayed the same at 18°C.

Last night the team went out Manx Shearwater ringing between Ty Pellaf and Traeth Ffynnon. After ringing 38 birds and retrapping a further 50 ringed birds, the last bird of the night to be captured contained a ring from another colony. A nice way to end a successful night and we look forward to receiving news back about this bird.

Low numbers of Migrant Hawkers remained with two at Cristin and a single at Nant, totalling three.

A Teal was seen by Ida in the bay at Traeth Ffynnon in the morning and two female Mallards were seen in weird locations with singles at the North End Gull colony and another at Bae Felen.

Another juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen flying south along the East Side getting constantly harassed by two of the three juvenile Peregrines seen around the East Side today. 45 minutes later the Marsh Harrier was seen coming back over the Mountain above Bae Felen and flying straight out east, where the Peregrines once again began mobbing it. Two Sparrowhawks were seen around Cristin and a third, an immature male, was seen at Nant. The resident male Sparrowhawk was seen around the East Side, where it was also very aggressively chased by one of the Peregrines, narrowly escaping with its life.

Low numbers of waders today with two Whimbrels in Henllwyn and a total of six Curlews. Also in Henllwyn were eight Black-headed Gulls and two Common Gulls.

Across the island 30 Swallows were noted with many family groups hanging around; however, only one House Martin was recorded today.

Two Willow Warblers were present in the Withies whilst a single Chiffchaff was heard around Cristin garden.