Despite the strong winds the trickle of migrants continues and the way the birds are skulking through the undergrowth is making for some very exciting, if not somewhat frustrating, birding. The first two Wood Warblers of the year have been the highlight but there has also been great variety. Yesterday there were two Lesser Whitethroats, a Common Whitethroat, a Wood Warbler, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Warbler, two Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, at least two Willow Warblers and multiple Sedge Warblers singing in the obs garden within a five minute period alone, all competing with the resident Chaffinch, Blackbird, Wrens, Dunnocks and Robins. The latter two both fledged their first broods yesterday. Elsewhere on the island three figure counts of Wheatear and Swallow continue to pass through and scarcer migrants such as two Cuckoos, two Whinchats, a Yellow Wagtail, two Tree Pipits, a Pied Flycatcher and a couple of Swifts were also noted.

Wood Warblers are rather scarce passage migrants on Bardsey with the majority of records occurring in the spring. It was fantastic to have a singing bird present for the majority of the day and we were lucky enough to see a second bird before it was chased off by the singer. (c) Richard Brown

The highlight of the day was found by Giselle. This fantastic female Puss Moth is the first since one was recorded at the lantern of the lighthouse on the 13th of May 1996. Previous records were of one, also at the lighthouse, on the 3rd of July 1964 and of two caterpillars found in July 1992. (c) Richard Brown