Bardsey's Wildlife

2026-09-28T12:27:00.000+01:00

Gentle southerly Force 2 winds brought calm conditions (Sea State 2) and very good visibility with no precipitation and mild temperatures reaching 16°C.

Evening view over the South End and Narrows from Pen Cristin (c) Ezra SHerwell

Coastal and seawatching counts featured seven Kittiwakes, four Gannets and two Razorbills along the West Coast, a Teal at Solfach, 39 Curlews at the Narrows, 19 Purple Sandpipers at the Narrows, 16 Turnstones, seven Whimbrels, seven Redshanks moving from the Narrows to Solfach, three Ringed Plovers, and two Golden Plovers. Gull records featured 54 Herring Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull at Solfach four Great Black-backed Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-headed Gull and a Common Gull. One secretive Water Rail was also recorded at Nant.

Landbird sightings delivered some new arrivals on the island, highlighted by two Great Spotted Woodpeckers caught and ringed at Nant and a Crossbill over the Observatory. Other passage counts included 55 Skylarks, 42 Meadow Pipits, 15 Alba Wagtails, seven Grey Wagtails, nine Siskins, seven Goldfinches, 22 Chaffinches and 23 Linnets. Passerine counts around the island featured 29 Robins, seven Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, seven Goldcrests, three Spotted Flycatchers, two Swallows, two Woodpigeons, and a Wheatear along the West Coast.

Grey Seal counts totaled 124 adults across island haul-out, along with 29 pups spread around the coast.

2026-09-27T16:08:00.000+01:00

Strong southerly Force 6 winds accompanied by rain passing through in bands until midday kept the bird activity fairly quiet, especially in the morning, with little movement and most landbirds strictly keeping to sheltered areas and thick undergrowth. As the weather improved into the afternoon with less wind, reachign a maximum of 17°C a few birds started appearing including a Whinchat in the Wetlands and a Lesser Whitethroat at Ty Pellaf. Other passerines observed included 18 Chiffchaffs mostly at Nant, one Blackcap, seven Goldcrests, two Spotted Flycatchers, 40 Robins, 15 Linnets, two Goldfinches, nine Meadow Pipits, five Rock Pipits, and three Swallows.

Lesser Whitethroat at Ty Pellaf (c) Ezra Sherwell

Seawatching and coastal counts featured a steady mix of seabirds, waterfowl, waders, and gulls.This included 12 Gannets, 17 Razorbills, three Kittiwakes, four Black-headed Gulls and two Common Gulls on Solfach, 45 Curlews over the Narrows, 14 Turnstones at Solfach, two Ringed Plovers a Dunlin on Solfach, one Snipe, and a Whimbrel along the West Coast.

Insect activity yielded seven Humming-bird Hawk-moths, 15 Red Admirals, three Painted Ladies, a Clouded Yellow at North Observatory, a Comma at the Observatory and four Bedstraw Hawkmoth caterpillars on the fuchsia at the Observatory.

2026-09-26T11:37:00.000+01:00

The highlight of the day came from a Red-breasted Flycatcher found down in Cristin Withy mid-morning. The rest of the island was fairly quiet throughout the day, however, some small numbers of passage migrants were evident. This included four Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, seven Skylarks, three Grey Wagtails, three Alba Wagtails, one Siskin and two Goldfinches over the wetlands, 28 Linnets, 26 Robins, 26 Rock Pipits, 23 Meadow Pipits, 30 Swallows, and a Song Thrush.

Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Withies (c) Joel Tragen

Offshore and coastal sightings included 222 Kittiwakes, 126 Razorbills, seven Guillemots, 20 Gannets, three Manx Shearwaters, 35 Curlews, two Whimbrels on Solfach, 16 Turnstones at Solfach, four Purple Sandpipers at the Narrows, three Ringed Plovers at Henllwyn, a Dunlin, a Redshank, one Common Sandpiper and a single Teal at Pwll Gareth.

Despite fairly strong southwesterly Force 5 winds which created moderate sea state 3, the visibility was excellent and the temperatures mild, peaking at 17°C enabling some insect records to be collected. This included 19 Red Admirals (largely at Nant), a Small Copper in the Wetlands, a Common Blue near the Observatory and two Humming-bird Hawk-moths at the Observatory.

2026-09-25T11:34:00.000+01:00

Southerly Force 2 winds produced calm conditions (Sea State 2) and good visibility today, with early morning rain clearing by 08:00 and temperatures hovering around 14°C.

Seawatching and coastal counts included 39 Shags, 34 Kittiwakes, 33 Razorbills, seven Gannets. Waders and waterfowl counts produced 29 Curlews, 17 Turnstones at Solfach, nine Ringed Plovers at Solfach, four Redshanks, and two Whimbrels and a Teal at Solfach. Gull counts included 31 Herring Gulls, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls, five Black-headed Gulls, and four Common Gulls.

Landbird and grounded migrant movement saw a small increase with 54 Robins, 35 Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, three Willow Warblers, 18 Goldcrests, a male Firecrest, and a Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher at Nant. Visible migration and passerine activity included 114 Meadow Pipits, 24 Skylarks, 24 Rock Pipits, 20 Linnets, 10 Alba Wagtails, seven Grey Wagtails, four Siskins at Nant, and two Wheatears and a Water Rail down the green lane.

Pied Flycatcher at Nant (c) Joel Tragen

Grey Seal haul-out numbers reached a high total of 189 adults and 33 pups. Insects recorded throughout the day included a Humming-bird Hawk-moth at the Observatory. A single Common Shrew was also observed near the Observatory.

2026-09-24T11:30:00.000+01:00

Conditions started calm and dry with excellent visibility and southwesterly force 4 winds veering northerly, Temperatures reached a maximum of 15°C.

Seawatching and coastal birding produced 16 Common Scoters, one Arctic Skua, nine Kittiwakes, two Black-headed Gulls, five Razorbills, one Guillemot, 30 Gannets, one Golden Plover, six Ringed Plovers, one Dunlin, one Whimbrel, 28 Curlews, one Redshank, 12 Turnstone and one Common Sandpiper over the wetlands.

Vismig and songbird counts were highlighted by strong visible passage of Meadow Pipits totaling 425 individuals, alongside 135 Linnets, 53 Goldfinches, 40 Skylarks, 23 Grey Wagtails, 18 Alba Wagtails, 18 Rock Pipits, 10 Swallows, and five Chaffinches. Grounded migrants and resident landbirds included 24 Robins, 17 Choughs, three Blackcaps, nine Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Firecrest at the Observatory, five Goldcrests, five Stonechats, five Wheatears, three Jackdaws, and a Song Thrush.

Firecrest in the Observatory garden (c) Joel Tragen

Insect activity yielded eight Red Admirals, three Painted Ladies, a Clouded Yellow male, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth at the Observatory, an Angle Shades, and an Emperor Dragonfly at the Narrows. Additionally, a bat species was recorded in the evening.

2026-09-23T16:38:00.000+01:00

Southwesterly force 4 winds veered northerly, bringing excellent visibility, calm Sea State 2 conditions, dry weather, and a maximum temperature of 15°C.

Seawatching off the West Coast and North End recorded a notable movement of 153 Common Scoters and 146 Kittiwakes. Additional passing seabirds included 50 Gannets, 76 Razorbills, 21 Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas off the North End, two Guillemots and four pale-bellied Brent Geese moving down the West Coast.

Wader numbers were on the rise again with 13 Ringed Plovers and 15 Turnstones at Solfach, alongside, eight Curlews, three Snipe, two Redshanks, a Golden Plover over the South End, and a Dunlin. Raptor sightings featured an adult male Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel around the Mountain and Nant.

Snipe out on Henllwyn (c) Ezra Sherwell

Passerine migration and grounded migrants brought a fantastic selection of autumn songbirds, highlighted by a Firecrest at the Observatory. Additional warblers and migrants logged across the island included 18 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests, six Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, 36 Robins, a Song Thrush, two Wheatears, five Skylarks, six Swallows, 45 Meadow Pipits, 18 Rock Pipits, 29 Linnets, four Goldfinches, three unassigned alba wagtails, and a White Wagtail.

Butterflies and day-flying insects took advantage of the calm, clear conditions, featuring 10 Painted Ladies, four Red Admirals, a Clouded Yellow an Emperor Dragonfly at the Narrows, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth and an Angle Shades.

2026-09-22T16:10:00.000+01:00

Very dense mist covered the island this morning, but this lifted to provide excellent visibility by the end of the day. The sea was calm at sea state 1, with force 3 southerly winds, and a high of 17°C.

There was good passage of both seabirds and landbirds today, the highlights on the sea being a Red-throated Diver heading south along the west coast, along with one Arctic Skua, two Great Skua, and 194 Common Scoter. Plenty of gulls passed, with total counts of four Mediterranean Gull from the north end, one Common Gull, 54 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Greater Black-backed Gull, and 282 Kittiwake. Other seabirds included four Sandwich Tern, two Manx Shearwater, 10 Gannet, one Guillemot, and 47 Razorbill.

Plenty of landbirds were also seen, with a notable count of 36 Skylark, 95 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 55 Meadow Pipit, 27 Rock Pipit, four Grey Wagtail, 28 Robin, eight Stonechat, and four Wheatear. A Little Egret was recorded on Solfach, whilst a juvenile male Sparrowhawk was trapped at the Observatory, and an adult female was seen at Nant. Other passerines included seven Blackcap, 30 Chiffchaff, one Willow Warbler, eight Goldcrest, four Goldfinch, and 18 Linnet.

A good mix of waders were present today, with 10 Ringed Plover, two Dunlin, three Snipe, two Whimbrel, 36 Curlew, four Redshank, and nine Turnstone.

Finally, the highlight in terms of other wildlife was a Helice form Clouded Yellow on the Narrows, with other butterflies including two Small Copper, one Common Blue, and two Speckled Wood.

Helice form Clouded Yellow (C) Steve Stansfield

2026-09-21T08:45:00.000+01:00

Gentle southerly force 3 winds brought very poor visibility with morning mizzle, calm sea state 2 conditions, and a maximum temperature of 16°C, making seawatching impossible for most of the day.

Wetland, shore, and inshore counts produced 10 Ringed Plovers at Solfach, six Curlews, six Turnstones, five Grey Herons, two Redshanks offshore, a Whimbrel at the Narrows, a Dunlin, and a Little Egret at the North End. Raptor activity featured a Sparrowhawk at Tyllwyd and a Kestrel at Pen Cristin. Visible overhead migration and grounded songbirds picked up noticeably. Moving southward totals featured 71 Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing south, 23 Swallows, a House Martin, 41 Meadow Pipits, 12 Grey Wagtails, three Tree Pipits, and an alba wagtail. Grounded migrants and residents included 28 Robins, 18 Linnets, 12 Rock Pipits, six Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests, and a singing Willow Warbler at the Observatory.

Marine mammal monitoring recorded a Harbour Porpoise off the West Coast.

Insect activity was limited due to the overcast weather but did produce five Bedstraw Hawkmoth caterpillars found on the Fuchsia around the Observatory. Up to today there hadn't been a record of this fine moth on the island - so somehow at least one female has managed to arrive and slip by the moth trap and all of us, lay a bunch of eggs on the Fuchsia in the garden and then disappear unseen!

Bedstraw Hawkmoth Catterpiller (c) Ezra Sherwell

2026-09-20T11:52:00.000+01:00

Today's sightings were highlighted by the record of an adult LAUGHING GULL seen passing south down the west coast just before we did changeover. This is the first record of this North American gull for the island. The bird passed close in shore and disappeared over the Narrows as it made its way south. Unfortunately, a thorough search post-changeover proved fruitless and so far the bird hasn't been relocated.

Other notable records during the morning's seawatch included a 2CY Pomarine Skua, seven Arctic Skuas, three Great Skuas, a juvenile Sabine's Gull off the West Coast, a Sooty Shearwater, and a Red-throated Diver off the North End. Heavy movement of more common species included 984 Kittiwakes, 899 Razorbills, 229 Manx Shearwaters, 138 Gannets, 22 Guillemots, 22 Common Scoters, 23 Arctic Terns, 16 Sandwich Terns, and seven Common Terns. Gentle westerly force 3 winds brought calm sea state 2 conditions, excellent visibility, and dry weather, with a maximum temperature of 17°C.

Coastal species and waterfowl produced 36 Curlews, five Whimbrels, three Redshanks, three Turnstones, a Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, a Teal at Pwll Gareth, 16 Shags, four Cormorants, and three Grey Herons. Raptor activity was highlighted by a Marsh Harrier (the fifth record this year) moving north over the island, along with two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.

Marsh Harrier circling high over the Observatory (c) Steven Stansfield

Landbird migration and grounded songbirds featured 14 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, 10 Goldcrests, two Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher at the Observatory, 15 Robins, 13 Stonechats, two Wheatears, 21 Swallows, a House Martin, 33 Meadow Pipits, and 24 Linnets.

Insect activity during the calm, clear conditions included eight Red Admirals, six Painted Ladies, five Small Coppers, three Green-veined Whites, two Speckled Woods, a Large White, a Comma (which may well have colonised the island now, with the number of records in the past two years), a Migrant Hawker, and five Humming-bird Hawk-moths.

2026-09-19T21:38:00.000+01:00

Fresh southwesterly force 5 winds generated rough seas (Sea State 5) and poor visibility accompanied by morning rain showers, with temperatures reaching 17°C.

Sunset over the West Coast (c) Steven Stansfield

A quiet start to the days seawatching delivered results late morning and in the evening with a Leach's Petrel passing south past North Hide and three Sabine's Gulls, two of which passed south off the West Coast in the morning and another south past North Hide in the evening. Other offshore passage included one Curlew Sandpiper in with a flock of 13 Dunlin, 598 Kittiwakes, 101 Manx Shearwaters, five Arctic Skuas, 129 Gannets, 117 Razorbills, nine Guillemots, three Sandwich Terns and two Arctic Terns.

Other wader counts were generally low with five Curlews, a Whimbrel and three Grey Herons noted. Raptor sightings featured two Sparrowhawks. Landbird migration included a Firecrest at Nant alongside 12 Goldcrests, five Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, 17 Robins, two Grey Wagtails, two Swallows, 19 Rock Pipits and four Meadow Pipits across the island.

Cetacean monitoring recorded at least 10 Risso's Dolphins moving off the West Coast. Grey Seal counts reached 99 adults across the island's haul-outs alongside 23 pups.

2026-09-18T13:50:00.000+01:00

The highlight of the day came right at the end when a Short-eared Owl was caught down on the Narrows at around 11pm. The bird was subsequently ringed and released shortly after.

Short-eared Owl caught and ringed under BTO permit (c) Mervyn Jones

Westerly force 7 winds generated rough seas (Sea State 6), poor visibility, and moderate afternoon rain, keeping temperatures around 16°C. Despite the windy conditions, seawatching was fairly quiet but did deliver five Arctic Skuas, 79 Manx Shearwaters, one single Sandwich Tern, 351 Razorbills, 103 Kittiwakes, four Guillemots 90 Gannets, and a Common Scoter. Wader counts around the coast produced 35 Curlews at Pen Cristin, eight Turnstones at Solfach, five Whimbrels, a Snipe flushed at the Narrows, a Ringed Plover, one Redshank and two Grey Herons (including one passing the West Coast).

Landbird sightings were largely restricted to sheltered areas with species logged including four Goldcrests, four Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, a Wheatear, two Stonechats, seven Robins, 32 Rock Pipits, 16 Meadow Pipits, eight Linnets, and a single Woodpigeon. Visible movement overhead was subdued, featuring nine Grey Wagtails, four unassigned alba wagtails and two Swallows over the Narrows.

Cetacean records featured at least five Risso's Dolphins off the West Coast. Grey Seal numbers were up again with 201 adults counted across the island's haul-outs. Seal pup numbers also increased with 17 recorded.

2026-09-17T12:16:00.000+01:00

Westerly force 6 winds built rough seas at Sea State 5, accompanied by good visibility and a light afternoon shower, with temperatures reaching 16°C.

View from the evening seawatching at the North Hide (c) Ezra Sherwell

Seawatching efforts for the day were headlined by four Sooty Shearwaters with one moving south off the West Coast in the morning and three south past North Hide in the evening and a Pomarine Skua passing south past North Hide. A report of a Mute Swan passing down the west coast of the island made up the most unusual sighting of the day. Some notable movement of other species was also evident with 377 Manx Shearwaters, three Arctic Skuas, and a Great Skua off the West Coast. Terns moving along the coast included 14 Arctic Terns, seven Common Terns, four Sandwich Terns, and three Commic Terns. Alcids dominated the seawatch by numbers with a passage of1,689 Razorbills, alongside seven Guillemots, 306 Kittiwakes, 131 Gannets, six Common Scoters, and a single Fulmar.

Wader sightings were highlighted by a Jack Snipe passing over the narrows just before sunrise. Other wader species included four Whimbrel. and 29 Curlews. Passerine numbers were generally low, however, two Whinchat were spotted down in Traeth Fynnon during the afternoon. Five Grey Wagtails moving south over the Observatory, three Swallows, 13 Rock Pipits, two Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, two Robins, and a Woodpigeon were also observed throughout the day.

Marine mammal sightings featured a Risso's Dolphin off North Hide. Grey Seal haul-out counts reached an impressive 151 adults across the island with pup numbers now up to 20. A single Painted Lady along the East Side was the lone butterfly record in the strong winds.

2026-09-16T11:08:00.000+01:00

Fresh northwesterly force 5 winds moderated to force 3 later in the day, bringing excellent visibility, calm sea state 3 conditions, dry weather, and a maximum temperature of 16°C.

Seawatching off the West Coast and North End produced good variety of Skua movement along with high numbers of passing auks. Highlight records included a juvenile Long-tailed Skua and an adult Pomarine Skua off the West Coast along with five Arctic Skuas, and a Great Skua off the North End. Further seawatch movement included 1,193 Razorbills, 355 Kittiwakes, 156 Gannets, 40 Manx Shearwaters, 33 Common Scoters, 21 Sandwich Terns, nine Fulmars, six Arctic Terns, and four Black-headed Gulls.

Wader passage and coastal records featured 44 Curlews, five Bar-tailed Godwits resting at the Narrows before heading south, three Whimbrels, three Turnstones, two Redshanks, a Snipe, and a Ringed Plover. Passerine migration saw a small influx of grounded warblers and other landbirds, led by 13 Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests, three Wheatears, 26 Swallows, 21 Meadow Pipits, 21 Linnets, nine Rock Pipits, six unassigned alba wagtails, five Grey Wagtails, and a Skylark.

Curlew (c) Steven Stansfield

Marine mammal activity featured a Risso's Dolphin off the North End. Grey Seal counts reached 114 adults alongside 18 pups.

2026-09-15T17:13:00.000+01:00

Today saw force 5 westerly winds causing sea state 4, but otherwise it was a pleasant day with very good visibility, no rain, and temperatures reaching a high of 18°C.

Seawatching produced the best of the birds today, with one Pomarine Skua, nine Arctic Skua, and one Great Skua all heading south from the north end. Ten Little Tern and one Sabine’s Gull were also seen in the same direction.

Other seabirds included impressive numbers of Razorbill, totalling 1241, 65 Guillemot, 637 Kittiwake, 41 Sandwich Tern, 16 Common Tern, three Arctic Tern, nine Fulmar, 222 Manx Shearwater, and 439 Gannet. In terms of wildfowl seen over the sea, 38 Common Scoter, one Teal, and seven Wigeon were all noted, and a total of 18 Mallard on Solfach.

Wader highlights were one Purple Sandpiper at the north end, one Dunlin, 11 Curlew, one Redshank, and one Common Sandpiper.

Landbirds included 15 Chough, 10 Rock Pipit, 14 Linnet, and one Skylark around the west coast. Other migratory passerines were seen such as nine Swallow, one House Martin, five White Wagtail, two Blackcap, six Chiffchaff, two Willow Warbler, and two Goldcrest.

Chough on the Narrows (C) Elliott Haywood

In terms of other wildlife, very little was seen, although a single Peacock butterfly at Nant was the highlight.

2026-09-14T13:47:00.000+01:00

Despite the mist and general poor visibility, a good variety of waders was found on the shores including 23 Turnstones, five Ringed Plovers, three Purple Sandpipers, three Redshanks, a Dunlin, a Whimbrel, a Curlew and a Common Sandpiper. Amongst the Ringed Plovers there was one individual that we ringed last week that has remained on the Island so far. Temperatures peaked at 17°C with brisk force 5 southwesterly winds creating an unsettled sea state 4.

View over Henllwyn up to Ty Pellaf and Pen Cristin shrouded by mist (c) Ezra Sherwell

Landbird sightings were constrained by the weather, though a notable record of two grounded Skylark was produced, with these being only the second and third individuals records on the ground this year. Other passerine sightings included 21 Meadow Pipits, 18 Rock Pipits, 10 Robins, 11 Linnets, four Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, two Grey Wagtails, 17 White Wagtails, two Stonechats, a single Swallow, and six Woodpigeons.

2026-09-13T13:15:00.000+01:00

Light southerly force 2 winds created calm sea state 2 conditions, though very poor visibility constrained any seawatching and counts across the island, with temperatures reaching 18°C.

Despite the thick conditions, ringing operations at the Observatory provided valuable observations of grounded migrants, featuring six Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, two Goldcrests, three Robin, two Dunnocks and one Wren processed. An additional two Chiffchaffs, one Goldcrests, 10 Robins, a Song Thrush, and a Goldfinch were also recorded largely around the Observatory.

Overhead calls and open-ground records included 10 White Wagtails, an unassigned alba wagtail, a Grey Wagtail over the Observatory, seven Meadow Pipits, and a Rock Pipit. Coastal waders and waterbirds recorded around the island included 30 Curlews, four Whimbrels, two Turnstones and a Redshank.

Grey Seal activity remained high with 103 haul-out adults recorded across the island alongside a new year high of 13 pups.

Grey Seal Pup (c) Phoebe Moss

2026-09-12T17:02:00.000+01:00

The weather today brought some stormy weather with southwesterly force 6 winds, rough seas (Sea State 6), poor visibility, and morning rain showers, with temperatures peaking at 17°C.

Wader passage highlighted the day's sightings, headlined by 26 Bar-tailed Godwits passing over the Narrows. Additional shorebird records included 41 Curlews (40 along the West Coast), 25 Turnstones, five Whimbrels, four Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, two Purple Sandpipers at the Narrows, and a Common Sandpiper. Seawatching off the West Coast and North End produced a passing Roseate Tern off the South End, 43 Gannets, 20 Common Scoters heading south off the West Coast, two Fulmars, two Manx Shearwaters, two Kittiwakes and two Teal at Pwll Gareth.

Gannet (c) Steven Stansfield

Vismig and landbird movement was led by 62 Swallows and a House Martin, with the majority of these seen passing off the Island from the South End. Grounded migrants and songbirds included a Whinchat (released from the roost at Cristin Garden Lane), eight Chiffchaffs, five Goldcrests, four Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, 13 White Wagtails, 20 Rock Pipits and five Robins.

An evening of Manx Shearwater ringing produced 20 individuals ringed and 3 recaptured with the vast majority of these now being young birds.

2026-09-11T16:59:00.000+01:00

Westerly winds shifting to southerlies at force 3 brought calm sea state 3 conditions, good visibility, and dry weather, with temperatures reaching a pleasant 17°C.

A Whinchat appearance in the late afternoon provided some excitement to a fairly quiet day on the ground and was later trapped and ringed during an attempted Swallow roost catch. Other landbirds on the island included 18 Blackcaps (two trapped and ringed at Nant), a Sedge Warbler at the Tŷ Planwydd reeds, nine Chiffchaffs (five trapped and ringed at Nant), seven Willow Warblers (two trapped and ringed at Nant), six Goldcrests (three trapped and ringed at Nant), 16 Robins (three trapped and ringed at Nant), two Song Thrushes (one retrapped), a Wheatear, 22 Linnets, 19 Rock Pipits and17 Meadow Pipits. Overhead passage included 17 Grey Wagtails (13 at Nant), 17 White Wagtails, 17 unassigned alba wagtails, five Pied Wagtails, 51 Swallows, four House Martins, a Sand Martin, a Skylark, and a late night Tree Pipit calling over the Observatory.

Whinchat (c) Joel Tragen

Passing seabirds off the West Coast included 24 Dunlin (19 heading south), 16 Kittiwakes, eight Gannets, eight Razorbills, two Common Scoters, a Fulmar, and a Manx Shearwater calling past Tŷn y Ffynnon. Coastal wader counts featured 40 Curlews at South End, nine Turnstones, four Ringed Plovers, four Redshanks, two Whimbrels, and two Common Sandpipers. The two Teal were still present on the wetlands.

Cetaceans featured two Common Dolphins off the West Coast and Grey Seal counts reached 106 individuals, with the pup count now up to six. Sunny weather prompted interesting butterfly and insect sightings, including 11 Painted Ladies, six Small Coppers, two Clouded Yellows, a Comma, two Humming-bird Hawk-moths, two Harlequin Ladybirds and three Migrant Hawkers.

2026-09-10T14:04:00.000+01:00

South-to-southwesterly force 6 winds brought sea state 4 conditions, good visibility, and moderate rainfall until late afternoon, with a maximum temperature of 16°C.

Coastal waders and waterbird sightings included 30 Curlews at Tryfan, alongside nine Turnstones, four Whimbrels, four Ringed Plovers, two female Teal at Pwll Gad, a Dunlin, a Redshank, and a Common Sandpiper. The day's single raptor sighting was a male Sparrowhawk around the Observatory. An evening catch on the Narrows produced two Ringed Plover, one of which was a recaptured bird from earlier in the week and the other was new.

Whimbrel (c) Steven Stansfield

Songbirds and small migrants noted across the island featured a Spotted Flycatcher at Nant, five Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, three Willow Warblers, three Goldcrests, five Wheatears, nine Robins and a Song Thrush. Visible movement overhead and resident counts included 19 Swallows, a House Martin, seven White Wagtails, two unassigned alba wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, 21 Rock Pipits, 12 Meadow Pipits, 20 Linnets,

Marine mammal activity was highlighted by three Risso's Dolphins off the West Coast and Grey Seal counts reached 106 individuals across the island.

2026-09-09T13:39:00.000+01:00

Fresh northwesterly force 6 winds brought sea state 5 conditions, good visibility throughout the day, dry weather, and a maximum temperature of 16°C.

Evening view over the South End (c) Ezra Sherwell

Seawatching passage was highlighted by an adult Sabine's Gull passing south off the North End. Movement offshore also included three Red-throated Divers heading south off the West Coast, 488 Kittiwakes off the North End, 41 Common Scoters off the North End, 40 Gannets heading south off the West Coast, 35 Manx Shearwaters, six Fulmars, 25 Razorbills, 12 Guillemots, 56 Sandwich Terns, nine Arctic Terns, and seven Common Terns. Shorelines and wetland sites produced 30 Curlews, nine Turnstones, seven Knot, six Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, a single Whimbrel and two Teal. Raptors logged were a male Sparrowhawk at Nant and two Peregrines on the Mountain.

Passerine migration saw a noticeable influx in warbler counts, headlined by 23 Blackcaps and a single Garden Warbler at Nant. Additional grounded migrants and songbirds included seven Chiffchaffs, seven Willow Warblers, six Goldcrests, two Spotted Flycatchers, 20 Robins, 13 Wheatears, eight Stonechats, two Song Thrushes, 32 Rock Pipits, 20 Meadow Pipits, 24 Linnets and a Blue Tit at the Observatory. Overhead movement and resident counts featured 47 Swallows, 11 House Martins, a Sand Martin, a Tree Pipit over the Observatory, 32 unassigned alba wagtails, four Grey Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail.

Cetaceans featured six Risso's Dolphins off Henllwyn. Invertebrate activity was well-represented despite the wind, including 12 Painted Ladies, eight Red Admirals, six Small Coppers, three Clouded Yellows, three Commas, three Speckled Woods, three Humming-bird Hawk-moths, two Green-veined Whites and three Migrant Hawkers.

2026-09-08T12:47:00.000+01:00

Today saw strong westerly winds, sea state 5 and good visibility overall. The temperature reached a high of 16°C and there was no rain.

Seawatching produced the main highlights of today, with good numbers passing through. Five Sabine’s Gull, two Little Gull, five Leach's Petrel, two Storm Petrel, and 18 Arctic Skua all passed south along the west coast. The total number of Kittiwakes reached 2256, as well as 581 Manx Shearwater, 348 Sandwich Tern, 23 Common Tern, three Arctic Tern, and a single Black Tern. Other seabirds included 20 Fulmar, 173 Gannet, 18 Guillemot, 142 Razorbill, two Cormorant, and 13 Shag. A total of 12 Common Scoter were also seen, along with 13 Mallard, and two Teal, making it a good day for waterfowl.

Arctic Skua (C) Steve Stansfield

Waders included 17 Dunlin flying south along the west coast, two Whimbrel, 11 Turnstone, one Ringed Plover, and two Common Sandpiper at Traeth Fynnon. Landbirds included two Peregrine seen flying over the mountain, 20 Meadow Pipit, and 20 Rock Pipit. There were healthy numbers of migratory passerines today, with one Grey Wagtail, 30 White Wagtail, 10 Wheatear, one Blackcap, three Willow Warbler, three Goldcrest, one Spotted Flycatcher, and 25 Swallow.

It was a good day for butterflies, with a total of 10 Clouded Yellow seen around the island, as well as one Small Copper, one Peacock, one Comma, and two Speckled Wood. A single Migrant Hawker and a total of three Humming-bird Hawk-moth completed the recorded insects.

2026-09-07T20:31:00.000+01:00

Fresh southwesterly force 6 winds brought sea state 5 conditions, good visibility throughout the day, and rain arriving in the evening, with a maximum temperature of 18°C.

Seawatching passage off the West Coast included 149 Kittiwakes, 150 Manx Shearwaters, 50 Gannets, 44 Common Scoters, five Fulmars, and a single Arctic Skua. Terns moving along the coast included 54 Sandwich Terns, 24 Common Terns, 16 Arctic Terns, 11 unassigned Commic Terns, 25 Razorbills and seven Guillemots. Wader passage along the West Coast brought good diversity, headlined by two Curlew Sandpipers, a Golden Plover, and a Knot moving south in the morning. Additional coastal wader counts featured 30 Curlews, 16 Dunlin, nine Turnstones, seven Ringed Plovers, five Whimbrels, and a single Redshank. Other wetland and coastal species included 18 Shags, and five Cormorants.

Kittiwakes (c) Steven Stansfield

Visible movement and grounded passerines included 32 White Wagtails, 16 Grey Wagtails, four unassigned alba wagtails, one Pied Wagtail, 42 Swallows, eight House Martins, 29 Linnets, 22 Rock Pipits, 17 Meadow Pipits, 11 Robins, five Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, a male Blackcap on the Mountain, four Wheatears, three Goldcrests, three Stonechats and a Song Thrush.

Butterflies and insects active during the clearer parts of the day included 20 Painted Ladies, eight Clouded Yellows, five Red Admirals, three Small Coppers, two Large Whites, two Small Whites, two Speckled Woods, and a Humming-bird Hawk-moth.

2026-09-06T12:51:00.000+01:00

Southerly force 5 winds generated sea state 4 conditions with good visibility and temperatures reaching a warm 20°C.

Offshore passage today was varied including two Arctic Skuas passing South End, alongside 17 Manx Shearwaters, 111 Common Scoters including one drake showing partial asymmetric leucism, 83 Gannets, 11 Fulmars, and 27 Shags. Terns moving along the coast included a Black Tern off the West Coast, 76 Sandwich Terns, and six Common Terns off the North End. Gulls and alcids were represented by 12 Kittiwakes, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Great Black-backed Gulls, four Herring Gulls, three Black-headed Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls, 13 Razorbills and two Guillemots. High numbers of waders passed by the West Coast during the morning with the highlights being two Curlew Sandpiper and a Snipe heading south off the North End. Additional shorebird records included 165 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plovers, seven Sanderlings and seven Purple Sandpiper in passage and nine Turnstones, 19 Curlews, three Whimbrels and a Snipe on the coast. Raptors logged were a male Sparrowhawk in the lowlands and a Kestrel at South End.

Fulmar (c) Joel Tragen

Mixed flock of waders (Dunlin, Snipe, Ringed Plover) moving past the North End (c) Joel Tragen

Landbird migration and grounded songbirds featured a Spotted Flycatcher at Nant, three Goldcrests, five Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, a Blackcap, three Wheatears, five Robins, six Stonechats and a Song Thrush. Visible movement overhead included 20 House Martins heading south, eight Swallows, a Sand Martin off the North End, 14 White Wagtails, ten unassigned alba wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, three Pied Wagtails, eight Meadow Pipits, nine Rock Pipits and 17 Linnets.

Invertebrate activity was exceptionally high, led by 50 Painted Ladies scattered across the island, 10–15 Clouded Yellows, eight Red Admirals, three Small Coppers, three Common Blues, two Green-veined Whites, a Comma, a Speckled Wood, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth, a Silver Y, and a Migrant Hawker.

2026-09-05T14:06:00.000+01:00

West winds at force 5 brought sea state 4 conditions with good visibility, dry weather, and a maximum temperature of 17°C.

Seawatching offshore was headlined by 30 Common Dolphins moving south off the West Coast alongside a brief feeding frenzy off the North End featuring 25 Manx Shearwaters and 29 Gannets (with possible tuna present). Additional seabird passage included four Fulmars, eight Kittiwakes, six Sandwich Terns, a single Balearic Shearwater off the West Coast, a male Common Scoter heading south off the West Coast and a Razorbill. Coastal sightings included 32 Curlews, 27 Shags, two Redshanks, a Snipe, a Whimbrel, and a Turnstone. Raptor sightings featured an adult male Sparrowhawk at the Wetlands and a Peregrine on the Mountain.

Migrant passerines and grounded songbirds showed a steady presence, led by 10 Willow Warblers (two trapped and ringed at Nant), five Chiffchaffs (one retrapped at Nant), four Blackcaps, two Goldcrests (one trapped and ringed at the Observatory), a Sedge Warbler, and a Song Thrush. Visible passage and resident counts included 20 White Wagtails, eight unassigned alba wagtails, nine Grey Wagtails, 22 Meadow Pipits, 17 Swallows, four House Martins, 12 Linnets and seven Robins with one trapped and ringed at Nant.

Butterfly and insect highlights benefitted from the dry weather, featuring 12 Red Admirals, 11 Painted Ladies, a Comma and three Migrant Hawkers.

Comma in the Green Lane (c) Phoebe Moss

2026-09-04T22:49:00.000+01:00

Strong west-southwesterly force 6 winds brought rough seas and good visibility with no precipitation, and temperatures peaking at 16°C.

Seawatching passage along the West Coast delivered three Sooty Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters, 900 Manx Shearwaters, nine Arctic Skuas, and three Great Skuas (including two off the West Coast and one passing Narrows). Terns passing offshore were represented by a Sandwich Tern and four Commic Terns off the West Coast. Gulls and other seabirds moving offshore included 132 Kittiwakes, six Great Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls, 200 Gannets, seven Cormorants, four Fulmars, three Shags, three Guillemots, and two Razorbills. Coastal waders and waterbirds featured 41 Curlews, three Ringed Plovers, two Whimbrels, two Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, and a Redshank.

Passerine activity included 15 White Wagtails, four unassigned alba wagtails, 16 Swallows, 41 Linnets, seven Rock Pipits, four Meadow Pipits, five Wheatears, four Robins, two Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, and a Stonechat.

Cetacean and terrestrial mammal sightings were highlighted by six Harbour Porpoises off the West Coast, along with single records of a 120 grey seal including 4 seal pups, and Common Shrew and a Wood Mouse around the Observatory.

Grey Seal mother defending her pup (c) Phoebe Moss