The day started off with a light north-easterly wind and light rain, which continued to keep conditions a little damp until late morning. As the breeze picked up during the day, the cloud and rain gradually cleared, leaving a bright and sunny evening.

The low cloud cover in the early hours seemed to have produced something of a 'fall' of waders, as the following counts were made at high tide around the Narrows first thing in the morning: 21 Common Sandpipers, one Ringed Plover, two Purple Sandpipers, two Turnstones, one Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 27 Curlews and three Redshanks. A single Swift east over Pen Cristin was perhaps the only obvious passerine migrant seen during the day, but other sightings included two Sedge Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and a Starling.

Insect news: a good number of migrant lepidoptera was once again present around the island during the day, with Rush Veneers being the most abundant of these- about 30 were recorded. A couple of Silver Ys were also seen. From the moth traps, a Purple Clay at Nant was the highlight, being just the sixth record for Bardsey, and the first since 2009. Small Angle Shades, Buff Arches and Apotomis semifasciana were also noteworthy. During the day, Pammene aurana were present in small numbers on the Cow Parsley at Nant, where many of the large hoveflies Volucella bimbylans plumata were also seen. Other species noted during the day included Yellow Shells, Common Carpet, Lacuna Moths and plenty of Small Magpies.

The southern Kittiwake colony have managed to rear about 52 chicks as of a few days ago, which is a great number. Many are still a week or two off fledging, but others are very close indeed. We hope to visit the colony and catch some of the adult birds to ring them in the next few days

Wren chicks are a little prolific on the island at the moment

Garden Tiger

Small Magpie