WEDDING DAY FOR OUR BOATMAN

Today at Uwchmynedd at 2pm, our Boatman Colin Evans married Mair. Ann Vaughan was there and sent this photograph of the happy couple.

Sorry, I forgot - there were 1,000 Chaffinches on the island today. Gale Force winds in the Irish Sea - you picked the right day to get married Colin! We all look forward to seeing you next season. MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE OBSERVATORY AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS TRAVELLED OVER THE SOUND WITH YOU.

A lull before the Storm!

Tomorrow, I was hoping to get over for the last week of the season. However, the forecast is telling us that with winds up to Force 8-9, that we won't be sailing. Monday looks more likely.

Birds this morning - Arctic Skua, Bonxie, a Med. Gull, Arctic Tern and 2 Short-eared Owls.

Our boatman, Colin, is getting married tomorrow and is then on his honeymoon for a week so it will be Dafydd who will be taking us over when the winds drop.

My apologies for being a little behind with the bird news but we have just returned from a week in Scotland (not really birding). I was hoping the hotel would have wireless and I could have taken the laptop and posted news from the island. However, they hadn't yet made wireless available to visitors at the hotel we stayed at so my laptop stayed at home this time. One day, Steve will be able to post the news direct from the island - until then you will have to bear with me.

22nd October - More geese and Whoopers

Today, a further 20 Whitefronts passed over and 2 Whooper Swans

21st October - some good birds

A Grey Phalarope, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Great Northern Divers, 1 Little Gull.

28 White-fronted Geese passed through

19th and 20th October -

15 Mediterranean Gulls on the 19th and 16 counted on the 20th October.

Week commencing 13th QUIET

The boys caught and ringed 11 CHOUGH on the 14th and 15th October.

On the 17th there was 1 Yellow-browed Warbler

On Saturday 18th October, the visitors were able to leave and new ones arrive.

Sunday 12 October - WHAT A DAY!

BIRDS GALORE! Unfortunately, the Paddyfield Warbler didn't stay. It couldn't be found today BUT THE FOLLOWING WAS:

200 Skylarks; a Lesser Whitethroat, c30 Chiffchaff; c.30 Willow Warbler; 2 Ring Ouzels; 1 Black Redstart; c100 Goldfinches; c100 Greenfinches; c100 Chaffinches; 1 TWITE; 6 Garden Warblers; c200 Goldcrests; 7 (yes, seven) GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS; c25 Bullfinches; 4 RICHARD'S PIPITS; 1 BARRED WARBLER; 1 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER; c40 Stonechats; 1 Mistle Thrush; 1 Coal Tit; 2 Mediterranean Gulls; 1 Pomarine Skua; 2 Golden Plovers.

A LOVELY, WARM, SUNNY DAY. LIGHT WINDS S/SE - AS STEVE PUT IT "T-SHIRT WEATHER".

For the six people staying this week, things couldn't have started off better. Obviously Bob Normand and Brian Thompson have got 'em organised - or is it because Mandy's there from the CCW checking up to see whether Bardsey Island really qualifies as a National Nature Reserve? OF COURSE IT DOES!

NEW BIRD FOR THE ISLAND

Richard Brown, our Assistant Warden, spied a good bird in the Ty Pellaf Withy this morning. Steve joined him and they opened the nets and trapped, ringed and released a first for the island - a PADDYFIELD WARBLER.

New visitors coming to the island today will have an exciting first day. Two that left late on Wednesday last, will be returning as twitchers on the next boat. If the weather keeps fine, Steve can expect a few more birders travelling over today or tomorrow (if the bird stays).

Thursday 9 October 2008

4 Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua and 1 Bonxie. VERY WINDY!

Sabines and Hen Harrier

Visitors still not able to leave or new ones arrive. However, those staying have been rewarded today by an Adult Sabines Gull, 2 Balearic Shearwaters and a Hen Harrier came in off the sea from the west.
Later in the day a Yellow-browed Warbler was found and 2 Choughs were caught and ringed on the beach.
Steve asks that all visitors phone him on the island to check on any food shortages in the shop. We are coming to the end of the season so stocks are being run down anyway. Only 3 weeks left in the season.
Unfortunately, Nick Barlow and his party of 7 hung on until today but the forecast is still not good, so have returned home to the midlands. This is the first time Nick has been unable to get onto the island in 21 years. I know how he must feel - it can be most frustrating not to get over. Simon Hugheston Roberts is one of the visitors who should have come off on Saturday last - Simon organises the food for our shop. "Leave some for me, Simon - I'm due over there later this month".

5 October 2008 -

3 Crossbills and 1 Whinchat. A few Swallows moving through.
Visitors weren't able to leave because of rough seas

Very Windy

Hailstones yesterday and today, it is very very windy. Unlikely our visitors will leave tomorrow or new ones arrive.

Anyone visiting in the near future (which includes me), are requested by Steve (if they have a space in their bag) to bring a few pounds of mixed bird seed or peanuts. If you can donate a bird feeder that would be helpful too.

Med. Gulls, Leach's and a Yellow browed Warbler

2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Leach's Petrels
1 Yellow browed Warbler

Check yesterday's notes as Steve revised the species list and numbers this morning. 46 Skuas of three species in one day isn't bad is it!

1 October 2008 - Seawatch

7 Black Guillemots, 14 Leach's Petrels, 24 Bonxies, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 20 Arctic Skuas, 1 Little Auk, 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Tern, 700 Kittiwakes, 250 Gannets, 50 Manxies.

1 Barn Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail.