The wind was a moderate northerly with a hint of east at times. The highlight of the day was a young male Waxwing found in the Sycamore at Cristin. The bird remained in the garden for around a quarter of an hour, calling constantly before heading off high north. Surprisingly, this is only the eighth record for the Island involing 25 individuals.  Waxwing © Ed Betteridge Elsewhere, the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was at Cristin with the first Whinchat at Pen Cristin. A summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit joined the Whimbrel on the Narrows with a Common Sandpiper in Solfach ..read more

The wind was a chilly north-westerly with clear blue skies from midday doing their best to keep temperatures up. There was still a good number of Wheatears around with 51 dotted around the Island.  Whimbrels continue to build in numbers as they stop off on the migration further north with a minumum of 45 on the Island. Passerine numbers were rather low with just three Blackcaps, 12 Willow Warblers and three Goldcrests, with two trapped at Cristin both being adult males. During the afternoon a duck was seen on Ty Pellaf Pond, the bird seemed to be a female Gadwall but on closer inspection ..read more

The day began calmly but remained overcast, by midday the wind had gradually increased creating a brisk northerly set in for the day. Cloud eventually produced some light drizzle, which dropped some birds throughout the day.   The standout highlight was a steady arrival of Wheatears as the day progressed, with the majority being Greenland race. Up to 118 birds were logged across the island, predominately along the coastal stretches where each field held a few birds!  One of several 'Greenland' Wheatear seen today © Jonathan Dodds Migratory waders in the form of three Bar-tailed ..read more

The competition continued on from last night’s quizzes with a bird race. The teams split up to scour the island to see as many species as they could before evening log. With weather being too windy for nets to be opened, the first team set out down the Green Lane at 07:30. Despite the wind, it was otherwise outstanding weather, full clear skies and the warmest day since the students had arrived. The first Cuckoo of the year was seen sitting on a post at the end of the Green Lane, becoming more mobile through the morning as a cloud of mobbing pipits and wagtails formed. Throughout the day it ga ..read more

 18/04 It was a beautifully clear, calm morning on Enlli, with the wind picking up and shifting from south-westerly to a stronger westerly wind bringing light rain showers in the afternoon. The calm conditions first thing allowed the first breeding bird survey visit of the year to take place, starting at sunrise and covering the South End, Narrows Traeth Ffynnon and up to Ty Pellaf. A stunning sunrise at the South End © Kate Fox A Grey Heron was touring the island, a Teal on Pwll Cain, two Red Kites with two Buzzards over the Mountain, seven Whimbrels around the island, a Redshan ..read more

The wind remained from the North West, slightly lighter than previous days with peaks of force 5, making detecting birds in the bushes that bit easier.  The highlight of the day was a second calendar-year male Marsh Harrier which flew over the mountain above Cristin in the morning. Also on the raptor front, a male Merlin was seen at the South End by one of the students, presumably a different individual to the female-type birds we've been seeing regularly.  Marsh Harrier © Ed Betteridge Five Shelducks were seen around Traeth Ffyynnon, where the Redwing was also seen aga ..read more

The calm weather continued today with little wind and sunny skies. A good arrival of Blackcaps at the observatory saw 63 ringed along with a bird ringed in Spain. Also caught at Cristin was a Siberian Chiffchaff, eight Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, five Chiffchaffs, six Goldfinches, nine Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin. Siberian Chiffchaff © Ed Betteridge A Bar-tailed Godwit was the first of the year at the North End with three Greylag Geese circling the island a few times early morning; after no records between 2018-2022 the last two years has seen a large increase in records almos ..read more

Today we unfortunately said goodbye to the fantastic group of students from Bangor University. They all seemed to have really enjoyed their week on the Island with many saying how much they had learnt. They didn't leave straight away and after a windy week we were able to do one last ringing demonstration this morning. In total 30 Blackcaps, 22 Willow Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, four Goldcrests, six Lesser Redpolls and six Goldfinch were caught.  Bangor students © Steve Stansfield Elsewhere, three Canada Geese passed the South End, a Dunlin and a White Wa ..read more

 The morning started much the same as yesterday with the students joining the Obs staff for morning census, practicing their newly acquired skills from Kate’s bird sounds and Steve’s bird id talks the day before. The wind had improved partially but still gusting 40mph and overcast. The students took great joy in watching a pair of Peregrines stooping meters above their heads at Nant. A Hooded crow and three Rook were seen flying North through the wetlands with the Hooded crow doubling back, heading South over the island disappearing North behind the mountain at Pencristin. Three Star ..read more

The Bangor students had first experience on carrying out the daily census, shadowing the Obs staff on their morning rounds. The island was bathed in glorious sunshine all day, however force seven westerly winds made detecting birds in the bushes hard work.   Students sheltering from the wind at the North End Hide © Kate Fox A Ringed Plover was seen on the Narrows, two Whimbrels around the coast, a Common Sandpiper on the beach at Traeth Ffynnon along with a Redwing in the hedge. A Swallow flew north over Cristin, nine Wheatears were seen around the island, as well as a total ..read more