April update - migration underway!

It has been a busy few days on the island, with settled weather encouraging some good arrivals of migrants - particularly Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Blackcaps, but also some reasonable hirundine passage over land on the clearer days: high counts so far have comprised 30 Sand Martins on the 3rd,  23 Swallows on the 4th and five House Martins on the 2nd. New arrivals since my last post have included Sandwich Tern on the 2nd, a smart Twite hidden amongst the usual Linnet flock on the 3rd, and a passing Glaucous Gull on the 5th. Finch passage has stepped up a gear during the calm spell too, with good counts on the 3rd  comprising 37 Chaffinches, 42 Siskins, 207 Goldfinches, 117 Linnets and seven Lesser Redpolls - some of which we managed to catch at the obs.

The weather has currently taken a turn to the breezy side of things, but it remains bright and sunny with the odd shower, and good numbers of phylloscs are finding shelter in the island's gardens and vegetated areas. We are all hoping that the forecast predication of consistent easterlies is going to materialise at the weekend and into next week, but for now here are some images from the sunny and migrant-filled days of April so far...

Phylloscopus warblers are arriving in earnest now, with Willow Warbler increasingly featuring in daily counts. The ratio of Chiffchaffs:Willow Warblers remains more or less equal at the moment, although this is likely to tip in favour of the latter as we progress through spring. The highest counts for each species have so far been 72 Chiffchaffs on 3rd April and 111 Willow Warblers on 4th April

(as a footnote, and for those interested, these images were taken in our polytunnel, where as many as six phylloscs decided to make use of a bounty of small flies! I have never seen so many inside our polyntunnel, but they were perfectly happy and allowed for some interesting photo opportunities!)

Wheatear numbers continue to rise too - there haven't been any Greenland-race birds as yet, but these have already been recorded further north up the coast at Hilbre. A superb sighting today involved a Darvic-ringed bird on the South End, which turned out to have been ringed on 29/07/2015 on the Calf of Man!

A recent wave of Stonechat arrivals included some superb males, which spent much of the sunny day singing their hearts out and song-flighting. Amongst the impressive vocabulary of the birds were Sandwich Tern, Grey Wagtail and Peregrine Falcon!

Auks continue to return sporadically to the East Side cliffs, although are gradually becoming more established and spending fewer absent days out to sea. I used a slow shutter speed of 1/80th sec to capture the movement of this Guillemot

Blackcap numbers are on the increase, with 35 on the 3rd being the highest count thus far.

Moths have been well-represented over the last few days, particularly due to the current new moon and settled conditions. The highlight so far has been this superb male Oak Beauty in the Ty Capel heath trap, which is only the second record for Bardsey!

Otherwise, the usual fair of Early Greys and Early Thorns, Common Quakers, Red Chestnuts, Hebrew Characters, Mottled Greys and Double-striped Pugs have been finding their way into the traps...

Early Thorn

It was cool to come across a small colony of social bees a few days ago, which seemed to have recently emerged from a handful of small holes in the earth bank. They were Andrena bicolor, which is a relatively widespread species, but one which I have not seen before

this odd-looking Robber Fly (Asilidae) was present nearby, but I have no idea which species it is!

Some of the Chiffchaffs moving through have possessed these curious-looking 'pollen horns' - best seen on birds trapped for ringing. These horns are formed from the build up of pollen and nectar that accumulate on the feathers of the forehead when birds feed on a variety of flowering plants on their way up through the Mediterranean region

we trapped a couple of Meadow Pipits a few days ago - one was an age 5 (first summer bird - top in the image above), whilst the other was age 6 (adult - lower left, with neat tips to the median coverts and small 'tooth' indents at the tip). Note the length of the hind-claw, which is typically longer than 11mm in Meadow Pipits, compared to <9mm in Tree Pipits

We were fortunate enough to have a net full of finches during a ringing session on the 3rd...amongst them were 11 smart Siskins, which provided great practice for ageing these stunning finches. Note the brown, pointy tail feathers of the first summer, compared to the broad, glossy and blunt-tipped remiges of the adult

As an end to this post, I thought I'd post a few images from a rubbish pick-up which we carried out on Saturday. Everyone on the island turned up to help clear away the repulsive build-up of plastic waste which has been blowing in with the wind and tides throughout the winter. We managed to fill FOUR dumpy bags with the stuff - a brilliant effort that really does make the island look a good sight better, and hopefully a little safer for wildlife, as this sad example below illustrates...

The results of the rubbish pick-up

Why we have the need to paying more attention to fishing and plastic waste in our seas - this young female Grey Seal turned up yesterday with this large green mesh around its head. A real shame, and we will see what can be done if it continues to appear on the shore

Back on Bardsey...let Spring begin!

Last week my sister and I made the long trek up from Cornwall to North Wales by train, and managed to catch a weather window on Friday morning to be ferried across a lively Bardsey Sound by Colin back home to Bardsey Island. It was great to get back home before a bought of unsettled weather blew through over the weekend, bringing rain, wind and temperatures more akin to the depths of winter! Nevertheless, conditions have somewhat redeemed themselves in the last few days, bringing the characters of springtime emerging from every corner of the island...

I will endeavour to post more regular updates during my time on Bardsey over easter, as spring migrants arrive and a host of interesting insects emerge. I am hoping to stay on the island until late April at least, with the laxity of third uni term dictating that four exams mid-May are the only pressing needs to return south for!

So anyway, here a few highlights and images from Ynys Enlli over the last week - and what a first few days it has been!

These impressive clouds rolled over during the morning of the 25th, and provided a great opportunity for some landscapes

One of the coolest things waiting for me upon return was this dead Turtle in our compost! A day visitor had come across this unfortunate reptile a few weeks ago, and had given directions via email as to where to find it. After a getting input from a variety of people online, it was revealed that it is in fact a young Green Turtle - only the third ever recorded in Wales!

This species' range extends in a broad belt around the tropics and subtropics, and is classed as endangered by the IUCN due to the large number that get caught up in fishing gear, and also the loss of suitable beaches for nesting.

The main excitement at the moment is focussed on avian fauna, with the first few migrants arriving on the island over the last week. We have already had some of the classic spring migrants like Wheatears, Swallows and Chiffchaffs, but a host of other interesting species have been around too.

Here is a list of the avian migrants that have arrived so far - plenty more to come!
- Chiffchaff: 12th March
- Northern Wheatear: 12th March
- Manx Shearwater: 13th March
- Black Redstart: 14th March
- Blackcap: 23rd March
- House Martin: 25th March
- Sand Martin: 26th March
- Willow Warbler: 26th March
- Swallow: 29th March (first March record since 2012)

Northern Wheatear - most of the birds that have arrived so far have been males (>90%), which is partly because they will try and reach suitable breeding sites to set up their territories before females arrive

Chiffchaffs have been steadily increasing in number, with a count of 42 on the 31st being the highest total so far. Not all of the arrivals will be 'true' afro-tropical migrants, but the presence of 'pollen horns' at the base of the bill is a sure indication of the origin of some - these horns are where the feathers have stuck together due to the accumulation of pollen derived from feeding on the nectar of plants through the Mediterranean region en route

Not a species we usually conceive as being a migrant, but Stonechats also arrive in good numbers from the continent, and bring with them an impressive variety of mimicry in their punctuating songs. I couldn't quite believe it when I heard one producing a Peregrine's call, along with Sandwich Tern and Swallow!  

This utterly amazing female Long-eared Owl was trapped by Steffan in the Heligoland trap on the morning of the 31st, becoming the first to be ringed on the island since 2012! We saw the bird later in the day associating with two Buzzards, before the trio caught a thermal and worked their way up to cloud base within the space of about two minutes - who knows where it is now!

You can check out a map and table detailing recoveries of ringed Long-eared Owls in Europe by following this link to the BTO website...click here

Goldcrest numbers have been increasing when conditions dictate - yesterday, for example (31st), the island was covered in these tiny warblers, amounting to no fewer than 154 individuals! We trapped and ringed 64, and their weights varied from very light indeed (4.7g) to well-fed (5.9g). Most of the trapped birds were 2nd calendar year males, with fiery-red centres to the crest and pointy tail feathers

the island's breeding pairs of Choughs have been flying overhead with beak-fulls of various nesting materials recently. Some have been collecting bits of gorse twigs, whilst others have been gathering large white pompoms of sheep's wool - they look quite comical in flight! Hopefully the island's eight or nine pairs of breeding Choughs will have a good season

The night sky over the last two days has been breathtaking, and so I took the opportunity to try out a few night-scapes...

This image is looking south-west over Bardsey Lighthouse towards southern Ireland (the small patches of light pollution on the horizon), and the constellation of Orion is visible to the right of the South End.

The brilliant thing about being out on such a calm night is hearing the calls of the Manx Shearwaters ringing out overhead. Here is a recording of a couple of birds in their burrow...

And finally, a few insects...

Bumblebees have been appearing all over the island, particularly attracted to the pussy willows and pollen-rich buds of the Willow. Two species have been seen so far, and most sightings have involved large Queens that are seeking out a suitable site to rear a colony. This is Bombus lucorum, or the White-tailed Bumblebee

This smart Hawthorn Shieldbug was amongst the moths in my heath trap on the 29th - I haven't seen this species of shieldbug on the island before, although they are a common species elsewhere, and there is plenty of suitable habitat for them on the island

This fluffy orange caterpillar was wandering about in the grass near the plantation, and is a Buff Ermine caterpillar - it was probably looking for somewhere to pupate ready for its emergence in late Apri/early May. It will take slightly warmer temperatures than at present to encourage more species to emerge!

This curious and miniature Woodlouse is an Ant Woodlouse (Platyarthrus hoffmansegi). Amazingly, they live most of their lives underground and beneath rocks in the nests of various ant species, such as this Black Ant (Lasnius niger). It is thought that the ants tolerate their ghostly presence because they clear the next of debris and faeces. On the island, they can be found around Ty Pellaf and the Limekiln in the banks

Keep up to date with news from the island/my photography at the following sites...

-Bardsey Bird Obs sightings blog 

- my Twitter

- Facebook photography page

Stormy is the word!

Since getting back to the island at the beginning of the month, we have been beset by an almost endless barrage of low pressures and storm systems, culminating in 'Storm Frank' yesterday. For the most part, this has produced quite a lot of rather dull days, prevailed by heavy rain and strong winds. However, every now and then the sun makes a shy appearance, and turns the bleak landscape into a beautiful display of colour: the spray of waves catching the late afternoon sun; Choughs gleaming as they bank and glide aerobically prior to landing; the endless tones of blues, greys and whites that make up the colour of each rollings wave.

So for some of the time during the last few weeks, it has been very pleasant to be outside, with plenty of great photographic opportunities, and enough wildlife to keep one entertained. It has been great to see two new Grey Seal pups appear on the beaches around the Narrows over the last two weeks, which have only just managed to escape the very high tides and stormy weather. Equally, watching the moulted seal pups that are now independent has been amusing too: some have adopted certain rock pools around the coast where they will play for hours in the shallows.

In terms of birdlife, passerines have been in short supply during the windy conditions, but waders and gulls around the Narrows have provided plenty of interest. There appear to be two Whimbrels overwintering this year, with overwintering populations of around 25 Turnstones, 10 Purple Sandpipers, 100 Oystercatchers and 14 Redshanks. Every day a small feeding flock of Kittiwakes trails around the island along the various tidal currents, feeding on churned up morsels of fish and invertebrates. Occasionally this flock (numbering around 140) contains a few Little Gulls and the odd Mediterranean Gull, with plenty of Common Gulls and Herring Gulls tagging along now and then.

All in all it has been a great few week's break from uni, although whether the weather will allow us to return to Falmouth to continue the next term is another matter!!

Here is a selection of images taken during my time back on the island:

 Dad and I took the advantage of a rare clear (ish) night to take a star timelapse sequence and also snap a few images down in the bay in Henllwyn. This is a 25 second exposure at ISO 320 (6D of course!)

A Grey Seal bull emerging from a mass of sea foam!

Grey Seal with a bit of bokeh

Moulted pup peeking over some sea foam

Scratchy seal

Kittiwake scaling a breaking wave

Common Gull

Turnstones in the splash zone

Herring Gull

Purple Sandpipers- there don't appear to be as many as usually overwinter here, but it is nice to see them

Chough in-coming!

It was brilliant to spot this Jack Snipe sitting tight whilst walking up through the wetlands a few days ago!!

Panoramic of the island from the south end

It has been very cool to see so many By-the-wind Sailors washing up on the island- such fascinating creatures (check out my advent post on them here)

These Goose Barnacles had chosen a novel piece of floatsom to commandeer! Goose Barnacles are species of Crustacean, and lead to one of the more impressive myths before the knowledge of migration: it was thought that Barnacle Geese originated from these barnacles, spending the winter in this form before emerging as geese in the spring!

I have also been attempting a few timelapse sequences during my time here...

Back on Bardsey!

Well, I am immensely happy to say that Rachel and I have made it back home to Bardsey Island! After a ten hour train journey from Cornwall to North Wales on Tuesday, we took the gamble of travelling down to the Lleyn on Wednesday morning, despite the howling winds which had been blowing all night. Thankfully, the wind calmed down enough to allow the large swell to settle down (somewhat!!), and allow Colin to make a dash for it with us on board. It was a bouncy crossing, but not too bad, and we made it to Enlli midday. 

It has been a brilliant first term at Uni, but it is very nice to be back home for Christmas. Having a quick scout around the island has revealed the usual hive of activity on the rotting kelp piles on Solfach: some 35 Choughs, 450 Starlings, 45 Rock Pipits, a Hooded Crow and much more are making use of the bounty of invertebrates dwelling in the seaweed. A walk around the coast yesterday saw singles of Whimbrel and Merlin present, and an impressive haul-out of some 170 Grey Seals on one of the beaches. Today (12th) has been pretty grim weather-wise, but I struggled around The Narrows at high tide and recorded some 40 Curlews, a Whimbrel, 58 Oystercatchers, six Purple Sandpipers, 13 Turnstones, 11 Redshanks and a Black-tailed Godwit trying to find shelter in various spots.

Back on Bardsey! Pleased to be home

There are a lot of Grey Seals around the coast, mostly concentrated onto a small strip of a beach on the Narrows. Over 150 were there yesterday

This pioneering Grey Seal pup has decided to escape the effects of the wind and waves by taking up residence behind this small boulder on the Narrows. It is in the process of moulting out of its fluffy coat, so looks like a badly-sheared Sheep!

It s great to see Choughs up close again, with a feeding flock of about 35 on Solfach

A flock of about 450 Starlings are feeding on the beach too- I am hoping to get the Heligoland trap up and capture a few in the next few weeks