NGB Bardsey Island Bird Observatory week

On the morning of the 27th September, NGB chairman; Matt Bruce drove along the north Wales coast, collecting NGB's as he went. First Josie Hewitt and Liam Curson, then myself (James Garside) and Susan Jones. We were travelling down the Lleyn peninsula by eight, bobbing over the sound by nine and hurrying up to the obs a short while later.

Steve Stansfield (the head warden) introduced us to the other obs staff; Steffan and Mark the assistant wardens; and the volunteers - 'Icky' Steve, Mike and of course, 'Bardsey' Ben Porter (also NGB).

After a few short introductory talks and a quick bit of unpacking, we headed into the obs garden in the hope of seeing the Barred Warbler which had been present there for a while. As we waited, we saw a large warbler fly into the heligoland trap, where it was soon caught by Steve. It was the Barred Warbler, and we all enjoyed seeing it in the hand - a lifer for some of us and a great start to the week!

Steve even allowed me to release the bird which was a great moment!

We had a quick bite to eat, before Steve and his wife Emma lead us on a walk around the north of the island. We saw some good species like Purple Sandpiper and Whimbrel (a lifer for Josie), and it was good to get to know each other a bit better.

We ate our evening meal watching jumping Risso's Dolphins against an impressive sunset!

After the evening log, Steve gave an excellent talk about island, and the birds that had been seen there in the past, which really got us fired up for the next days birding!

But the first day wasn't over yet! We headed out into the dark with Ben and Steve in the hope of ringing a few young Manx Shearwater. After a while we found a few and everybody was able to have a go at ringing one under Steve's supervision!

The second day of our visit started well, when Steve got onto a pair of Balearic Shearwaters, shortly after dawn, and myself and Liam were able to get onto them. A short while later the walky-talkies crackled into life. 'Icky' Steve had found a Hoopoe on the south of the island at Pen Cristin!

There was no sign of the others, so me and Liam hurried south with Mark. However, after a few hundred meters, news came through that the bird was flying over the mountain! Looking up, we could see the bird, but we could also make out three juvenile Peregrines close behind! We watched in awe as the bird evaded several close encounters with the powerful raptors, before disappearing into the clouds, high over the mountain! Not the way we had expected to see our first British Hoopoe!

Fortunately Matt, Josie, Susan and Ben had all headed north where Josie had relocated the bird and they had all had good views of it at Nant! Eventually everybody got good views of the bird there, although it was quite flighty and elusive throughout.

The day finished well, when Mark found a Firecrest in the Withies, and after a good evening meal,  we were able to see it in the fading light!

That evening, Steve gave another excellent talk, this time about the family holiday the Stansfields had had in Spain, and the birds they had seen there.

Monday the 29th September dawned clear and calm, and everybody was out birding or ringing around the island. Mike and myself headed down to the Withies to do some ringing, and had a very good morning. By  far the highlight, was when a Yellow-Browed Warbler dropped into one of the nets in Cristin Withy. We popped it in a bird bag and carried it up to the obs, where it was ringed by Josie! At the obs, they had already caught a Goldcrest and a Firecrest, and we were able to have all three birds in the hand together - a memorable moment!

Susan ringed the Firecrest too, which was a lifer for her! After they had been ringed we released the birds into the obs garden, where they were later seen feeding actively in a sycamore. We spent a quiet afternoon birding around the obs and up to Nant, where a Little Owl was the only notable bird.

That evening, Steve gave his third and final talk, this time about his time at Falsterbo, and the work of the Bird Observatories Council.

Tuesday and Wednesday were both a little quieter on the birding front, but we did have good views of a Merlin and several leucorhoa Wheatears on the south end. Me, Liam and Steffan saw a Balearic Shearwater very well from the south hide on Wednesday morning, followed by a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whinchat. The Hoopoe was seen on both days, though never well. We had a good time anyway relaxing in the obs, stuffing our faces with Conors amazing cookies and enjoying some casual seawatching. We also had a walk up the mountain and enjoyed some cracking views!

Ben gave an excellent talk in the evening, about his time ringing and birding in Kenya, and included some great photos of plenty of exotic species!

The male voice choir group 'Only Men Aloud' were also staying on the island, filming a piece for TV. They kindly cooked a meal for us, and performed a short concert in the chapel, which was appreciated by all.

Thursday the 2nd October was the day of the bird race! NGB's vs the obs Staff! As the visitors, we were the clear underdogs, but were determined to have a really good go at it. The rules were simple; a species could be counted as long as at least two members of the team had seen or heard it.

At dawn, Matt, Susan and Josie headed north along the mountainside towards Nant. Myself and Liam headed down through the lowlands and the wetlands to the withies. We picked up on good numbers of the commoner species straight away, and Liams keen ears picked out a group of Siskin amongst the abundant Grey Wagtails streaming over. We flushed a Snipe from the wetlands before heading  north past the reed bed where we heard a Reed Bunting. A Yellow Wagtail flew north calling and Skylarks were passing over in good numbers too. Around the north of the island we picked up some common seabirds and also had a Mediterranean Gull offshore. A couple of Peregrines were over the mountain, and a couple of Sandwich Terns passed by offshore. After breakfast we headed to the south end where we met the rest of the team.

We birded the area together, picking up some of the standard species in the narrows; Redshank, Turnstone and Oystercatcher. We also watched three Wheatear arriving on Solfach. Things started to slow up around lunchtime, and we learnt that the obs staff had had several species including the Hoopoe that we had yet to see. They did also, let slip that they had seen a Pied Flycatcher in Cristin Withy, so we headed down there to have a look. It showed well after a short wait, allowing for some decent photos.

Myself and Liam headed to Pen Cristin to try and find the Hoopoe, whilst Josie and Matt headed north, to see what else they could find before dinner. As we headed up the hill, Liam and I heard a Little Owl calling. We continued a few paces, when the Hoopoe flushed up from in front of us. We crawled up the hill to where the bird had landed, and eventually had stunning (though very brief) views of the bird! I managed a few shots which fortunately came out quite well!

We caught up with the others at the obs. They told us the good news that they had had a couple of new species for the day. We spent the evening seawatching from the obs, and added a Great Skua to the list to round things off.

Steve and Emma cooked chilli, and we spent a great evening with everybody on the island. After the log later, we discovered that we had lost the bird race by just a six species. We didn't mind too much, as we had had another great day anyway! Steve had put together a quiz, and we had fun competing against the obs staff once again!

That night, Ben managed to catch some Moorhen and we had a go at ringing them which was quite an experience!

Our last full day was spent seawatching in promising conditions, but with little reward. The total of five Arctic Skua for the day was the only notable count.

The journey home was quiet too, though Matt, Josie, Liam and Susan did have fantastic views of the Grey Phalarope at Morfa Madryn!

We'd all enjoyed a cracking week with some great people!

-James Garside

James is a 19 year old Zoology student at Swansea University. He enjoys regularly birding the University Birdwatch Challenge area (a competition the Swansea team won last year), and he occasionally twitches rares further afield. He's spent most of his life birding in Britain and hopes to do more birding abroad in the near future.

This week in birding: 27th Sept - 3rd Oct

To see previous week's editions, visit https://twitter.com/NGBirders

"2013 in Birding" A3 poster is available to buy here

-Jonnie Fisk

Jonnie is an 18 year-old Yorkshire-based birder, invertebrate enthusiast and frustrated artist. When not being oblivious to every local rarity, he enjoys autumn vis-mig, the music of Hall & Oates and being distracted by bugs. 

https://twitter.com/jonnie_fisk
http://jonniefiskart.blogspot.co.uk/

This week in birding : 20 - 26th September

To see previous week's editions, visit https://twitter.com/NGBirders

"2013 in Birding" A3 poster is available to buy here

-Jonnie Fisk

Jonnie is an 18 year-old Yorkshire-based birder, invertebrate enthusiast and frustrated artist. When not being oblivious to every local rarity, he enjoys autumn vis-mig, the music of Hall & Oates and being distracted by bugs. 

https://twitter.com/jonnie_fisk
http://jonniefiskart.blogspot.co.uk/

This week in birding: 13th - 19th Sept 2014

Drift migs, winter visitors and GGShrikes a precursor of things to come #spoilers

-Jonnie Fisk

Jonnie is an 18 year-old Yorkshire-based birder, invertebrate enthusiast and frustrated artist. When not being oblivious to every local rarity, he enjoys autumn vis-mig, the music of Hall & Oates and being distracted by bugs. 

https://twitter.com/jonnie_fisk
http://jonniefiskart.blogspot.co.uk/

Tracking the Fea's Petrel

On Sunday 21st September, while OPBs, RBFs & YBWs arrived in Britain, a Masked Shrike munched craneflies at Spurn and Ben MacDui's Snowy Owl sat atop a rock; birders on the North-East coast of Britain managed a huge feat of communication and observation. Andrew Kinghorn takes up the story:

My day started off with dropping my Dad off at the airport to fly back to Qatar (where he is currently working), it was only 5:00AM and I decided I had enough time to drive up to Holy Island and take in the joys it had to offer before heading back to the Durham coastline. I arrived on the island early, had a 30min rest in the car and then headed for “The Lough”, on arrive I was treated to brief, but satisfactory views of the Firecrest, I then located the Siberian Stonechat showing down to around 10m, and finally the Barred Warbler in some nettles by the hide. 

I had enjoyed the morning but found little else on the island, a smattering of Wheatear and a single Redstart were the highlights. As I walked down the Straight Lonnen with high hopes of a stress free morning I got the BirdGuides report through of a Fea’s Petrel flying north past Flamborough, about a minute later I got a report from fellow NGB James Shergold to say that I should go to the headland (Hartlepool, of course!). I rang Mark Newsome (Durham Bird Club recorder, and seabird guru) and asked “how long I had” if the bird was going to go past Whitburn, somewhere in the region of 5-6 hours was the answer, but Mark suggests to wait and see if it went past Long Nab first before getting overly excited. I was calm, but hurried back to the car. My logic was that if I started heading south and there was no further news I could abandon that plan and go elsewhere on the mainland to look for migrants. 

As I started going south the bird then went past Filey, I was not too surprised, its quite close after all...then it went past Long Nab. I was starting to get hopeful now!

Jamie Duffie announced on Twitter he was off to Cowbar to look for it, a good choice of location perhaps? I called in to see Beadnell Birder, a quick coffee and a phone call from Stef McElwee revealed that it was not just the Durham birders getting excited. As I got in the car and headed for Durham I had a decision once I got through the Tyne Tunnel, I was greeted with news the bird had just gone past Cowbar! 

I had a choice, I could either go to Hartlepool or Whitburn, Harry Murphy (fellow NGB) had already been on the phone to tell me not to bother with the Headland, he rightly reminded me that the previous three Fea’s that went past Whitburn all evaded the Headland. For once I was swift and decisive, I was going to Whitburn. 

I rocked up at 12:15 and the Obs was absolutely packed to the brim (with fellow NGB member Kieran Lawrence already inside)! I ran back to the car got my vantage point chair (use it for work) and set up outside the obs with fellow keen Durham lads to start the big sit out. One hour passed and still nothing…then two hours. I was still hopeful, then Stephen Howats phone rang, it was Paul Anderson (DBC chairman), turned out he was at Ryhope watching. He had picked the bird up! Panic stations. Not only was it coming north, but it was coming north fairly close in. 

About 15 minutes later and Mark Harper (world birder – see Twitter) who was sitting beside me shouted “I've got it!”, his directions were sufficient to get almost everyone on the bird pretty quickly, a quick call to Dave Foster who was just north of the obs was made and then the bird put on a superb show in front of Whitburn Observatory for about 20 minutes before flying off north to Tynemouth and St Mary’s Island. A quick call to Alan Curry and Stef McElwee to let them know it was on its way; they were both delighted with the news and connected within 1.5 hours. 

During all of this Dan Pointon and James Shergold were making their way up from Spurn, after it went past the Obs they headed for St Mary’s and missed it by minutes, but thankfully they were still in the car and myself and Dan McGibbon advised they go straight to Newbiggin and head it off there. They did and they were successful. The next stop for the bird was Snab Point in Cresswell village, then it was seen off Druridge Bay, and then Beadnell birder connected at Beadnell Bay (could have stayed for loads more coffee!), then David Steel on the Farnes had the bird go through Staple Sound, and then finally those on Holy Island had the bird flying north past the Crooked Lonnen. This site marked the end of the bird being tracked up the coast, however, during this period a second Fea’s Petrel went north past Whitburn Observatory! Found my Mark Harper, who initially picked up the first bird past Whitburn earlier in the day.

It was not all good news, the bird seemingly avoided going past Hartlepool Headland. This was a great shame, especially considering friends were there looking.

In order of reported sightings:

Flamborough Head

Filey

Long Nab

Cowbar

Ryhope

Whitburn

Tynemouth

St Mary’s Island

Newbiggin

Snab Point

Druridge Bay

Beadnell Bay

Farne Islands

Holy Island



An incredibly exciting experience and a one I won’t be forgetting for a long time, the only downside was that some friends looking and not looking (other commitments/not able to move in time) did not get the bird.

-Andrew Kinghorn

Andrew is 22 years of age, and has been a birder for about 8 years. He is an ornithological surveyor living in County Durham. He has a vested interest in all things birding, however twitching is a passion of his and he loves to see new birds.

https://twitter.com/AndrewFoghorn

http://www.andrewkinghorn.blogspot.co.uk/

This week in birding - 6th - 12th Sept 2014

Back to the old format of a birder's weekly roundup of rares and notable bird 'events' - this time with a new look!

-Jonnie Fisk

Jonnie is an 18 year-old Yorkshire-based birder, invertebrate enthusiast and frustrated artist. When not being oblivious to every local rarity, he enjoys autumn vis-mig, the music of Hall & Oates and being distracted by bugs. 

https://twitter.com/jonnie_fisk
http://jonniefiskart.blogspot.co.uk/

NGB Patch Bird Race 2014

The August bank holiday weekend was penciled in NGB members' diaries as the Patch Bird Race, an idea born and organised by James Common, who takes up the story:

Well first things first, a huge thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s patch bird race aimed at getting folk out and about enjoying the wildlife on their local turf. Considering the short notice a good number of people took part with 153 species seen over the bank holiday period including a good number of scarcities and the vast majority of our more common but similarly endearing residents. Big congratulations to Daniel Branch who, with a species count of 85, wins the prize for most species recorded, taking home a NGB t-shirt for the effort. Second place goes to Tim Jones who likewise birded Spurn obtaining an equally impressive score of 75 whilst third place goes to yours truly with a score of 74. As for the “best find” category a host of finds were submitted for deliberation ranging from local scarcities such as Green Sandpiper and Hobby to patch firsts including Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Little Egret. After a vote on the Facebook page it appears my patch first Hobby (a scarcity here in Northumberland) is the winner and I’ll be taking home a copy of The Jewel Hunter by Chris Goodie. Thanks guys!

Member	Patch	Score
David Branch	Spurn	85
Tim Jones	Spurn	75
James Common	Stobswood & Surrounds	74
Amy Robjohns	Titchfield Haven NNR	71
Jack Bucknall	St. Marys	70
Craig Reed	Blackstone, Worcs	68
Cathal Forkan	Galway, Ireland	67
Tim White		66
Matthew Bruce	Draycote	64
Joe Stockwell	Portland Bill	62
Ashley Bairns	Star-Gate-Grannys Bay	62
Craig Reed	Upton Warren	60
Espen Quinto Ashman	Wellington Gravel Pitts	56
Matthew Bruce	"The Puddle"	55
Ben Porter	Bardsey	52
Michael Murphy		49
Jake Gearty	Sheepcote Valley	42
Liam Curson	Cuckmere Haven	37
Cain Scrimgeour	Holywell	32
Logan Johnson	Shetland	28

Among the 153 species recorded over the course of the weekend one bird stood out above all others when it comes to the rarity stakes. This is of course the pair of Ringed-Billed Gulls tracked down by Cathal Forkan on Galway patch. Not exactly unheard of in Ireland but still the most notable find of the competition with some splendid images obtained by Cathal during his patch based wanderings. 

A healthy number of local, regional and national scarcities were also recorded over the three days, demonstrating the sheer diversity among our local patches here at NGB. 

Cathal Forkan's Ring-billed Gull

What was clear from the results is that one man’s rarity is another man’s regular with lengthy debate on the Facebook page testament to this. Among some of the best finds include the weekend's only Curlew Sandpiper, found by Cain Scrimgeour on his Holywell patch, Great White Egret located by Tim White, Black Grouse and Hen Harrier by Sam Viles on his substitute patch and Spotted Redshank and Spoonbill by Amy Robjohns at Titchfield. A couple of members also came up trumps on the seawatching front with Spurn boasting Little, Mediterranean and Yellow-Legged Gulls and Joe Stockwell adding Balearic Shearwater to the mix from his Portland patch. Elsewhere both Arctic and Great Skua, Gannet, Shag, Guillemot, Fulmar and Manx Shearwater featured widely. It is clear that even relatively common species can also bring a smile to the face of the discerning patcher with a few examples of this including Espen Quito-Ashman’s first patch Ruff and Redstart, Craig Reed’s patch first Little Egret and Liam Langley’s Skomer Green Sandpiper whilst the surprise addition of Willow Tit to my Stobswood patch list delighted to no end.

A more in depth look at the results shows a healthy amount of summer migrants with 10 warbler species recorded including the weekends only Cetti’s Warbler courtesy of Amy Robjohns. Whilst other migrants including Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Common Tern, Cuckoo and Yellow Wagtail also featured. Combine these with all the hirundine species, Swifts galore and the weekend's only Osprey put forth by Tim White and the results represent perfectly the migratory nature of the season. Though the omission Pied Flycatcher came as somewhat of a surprise. Waders were perhaps the best represented of all groupings with 23 species recorded amongst NBG members; incorporating the vast majority of widespread species and some real long-legged gems such as Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Avocet and Knot. It would be impossible to mention all the species noted during the course of the race but a few honourable mentions go to Ben Porter with the competition's only Alba Wagtails, Logan Johnston with his Shetland Wren and the other members who turned up a host of goodies ranging from Chough and Hooded Crows to Red kites and Little Owls.

What is worth saying is that patch birding is a hobby clearly enjoyed by many people and that “patch gold” can come in many guises ranging from the common to the scarce to the downright odd, yes I am referring to your Fulvous Whistling Duck, Amy! For me patching offers an escape from day to day life where I can lose myself in the seasons and track the progress of species from egg to adult, arrival to departure in some cases life to death providing the basis for an avian soap opera not often observed when visiting far flung locations or chasing rarities. It’s clear from the number committed patchers out there that a lot of people agree. So again thank you for taking part and who knows, with a bit more planning this could turn into a much bigger event in the near future as clearly we all relish a spot of friendly competition. 

-James Common

James is a 20 year old birder/conservation nut and wannabe naturalist based along the North-East coast near the reserves of NWT East Chevington and Druridge Bay.  The last few years he has spent studying BHs Animal Conservation Science at the university of Cumbria from which he has now graduated.

http://blythbirding.blogspot.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/NEbirder

Black-winged Pratincole on Tour

I never like to start a blog post with a negative tone, but for the story to have any effect then I am going to have to. For a few years now I have grumbled on about the fact I had never seen a Pratincole. I’d open Collins to that faithful page with Collared and Black-winged Pratincole and drool over it. Roll back to late April and I finally saw my first species of Pratincole, a cracking Collared showing very well both on deck and in flight in Devon. Then came late June, I was in Dumfries and Galloway and half way through a survey, I got a call from a mate to say that the Pratincole sp at Hauxley that had just been found looks like it may well be a Black-winged. Dread came over me, I looked at the clock and noted I had three hours survey left, plus a thirty minute break, plus two hours drive there on the way home. It wasn’t looking good! The bird quickly departed after being found; surely it would turn up somewhere else along the coast?

Dawn on Friday 13th June and I was down in Lincolnshire with work, a dawn BBS, it was a short one and I was finished early morning. I’d finished my work week and thought it best to start making my way back north in case the Pratincole turned up again in Northumberland. I thought the best plan would be to drive to Teesside and check Back Saltholme before going for some lunch (potentially), I’d be pretty well placed if the Pratincole turned up either north or south then, which I had high hopes for. It got to around 10AM and there was no news at all, I was extremely tired and pulled over at a service station on the A19 in North Yorkshire, a mere 20 minutes or so from Back Saltholme. I was sleeping lightly when my phone started going crazy, it was “Whats App”, the Black-winged Pratincole was back. I checked BirdGuides to see where it was….Saltholme RSPB on Back Saltholme. The time was 10:50AM, I was due to be in the lay-by scanning Back Saltholme at 10:45AM according to my sat nav before I stopped. As you can imagine the car was soon back on the road heading north. I arrived at Saltholme about three or four minutes too late. It had gone. I could have had it and it would have been in Durham! A place I predicted would get Cleveland and Durham’s first Black-winged Pratincole only just last year (as did some others).

I was fairly hopeful it would be in either Lincs or East Anglia soon enough for me to see at the weekend. After about five or six days I was pretty sure it had gone. Then twenty-two days later at 08:50 (something about this bird and “50 minutes”) on a Saturday morning I got a call from Chris Bell to say he had a Pratincole sp with Lapwings but he had not seen it fly yet, “it looks like the Black-winged”. I leaped up and left the house pretty much immediately. About 30 minutes later I was watching the bird flying about with Lapwings at Hurworth Burn Reservoir, the bird showed very well both on the deck and in flight on several occasions. Simply superb. I still could not (and still cannot) believe I had another chance of the bird in Durham. During its Durham stay many NGBs managed to connect, but those who were not as fortunate enough to have the transportation means or time on the 5^th and morning of the 6^th to get to Durham never saw it. But the story doesn't end there!

On the 7^th the bird was seen briefly at Holywell Pond, it had gone back to Northumberland. The trail then went cold until the bird turned up on Monday gone in Lincolnshire briefly before flying out over the wash. The bird then turned up again yesterday at Cley Marshes NWT for just about long enough for many to connect with this extremely exciting wader. The bird turned up the following day at Stiffkey Fen in Norfolk, a stones throw (if you've a really good throw) from Cley Marshes NWT. However, typically, the bird went missing once again before turning up at Ouse Washes RSPB where it stayed for a good few weeks performing well before it final sighting on the 9th August.

Did it, however, during its long stay visit Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex? On the 27th July the Black-winged Pratincole was last seen on the evening at Pymoor, a short distance away from Ouse Washes RSPB, but the bird had clearly moved slightly. The bird was not there the following day, then on the 30th of July a Black-winged Pratincole as flushed from the river bank and flew off west. Interestingly on the 2nd of August the Black-winged Pratincole was back at Ouse Washes RSPB in Cambridgeshire, had the bird gone for a wander only to return? That is up to the rarities committee to decide. 

Below is a crude depiction of the flight paths that the Pratincole would have absolutely had to have taken (roughly) as a minimum, they do, of course, not match what the bird will have done.

(The very Black-winged Pratincole over the airspace of Hurworth Burn Reservoir in County Durham on its first properly twitchable day on its UK tour, photo taken by David Aitken)

-Andrew Kinghorn

Andrew is 22 years of age, and has been a birder for about 8 years. He is an ornithological surveyor living in County Durham. He has a vested interest in all things birding, however twitching is a passion of his and he loves to see new birds.

https://twitter.com/AndrewFoghorn

http://www.andrewkinghorn.blogspot.co.uk/

Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory NGB Week

Barsdey island and its Bird Observatory have long been associated with getting young birders into the British Observatory scene, into conservation and ornithological organisations. 

Names such as Prof. Mike Harris (author to the Poyser monograph ‘The Puffins’) now works as a senior Ornithologist for the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology; Jeff Baker (author of the ringers' non-passerines guide to identification, and of ‘warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa’, and also former licensing officer and now head of Marketing at BTO); and Dave Suddaby, who's career started as assistant warden at Bardsey Bird Observatory in 1981 and was followed by further seasons at Fair Isle Bird Observatory before settling in Shetland and working for conservation organisations and latterly with the RSPB as North Isles Officer. Dave left the RSPB in 2002 and moved to County Mayo to work for BirdWatch Ireland restoring habitats for birds such as Corncrakes and Red-necked Phalaropes and has found time to lead a number of tours for Naturetrek. 

These three, and many others all began as young Assistant Wardens on Bardsey. This year, BBFO in association with NGB, are running a week long course (Saturday 27th September - Friday 4th October) to get NGB members interested in working at Bird Observatories. 
The week will consist of workshop-like events where members can join the obs staff on walks round the island to count the migrants, seawatching from the observatory, watch (and potentially join in) with ringing at one of the four sites. Moth traps are operated and are checked each morning, and there will be several talks during the week about birding and wildlife. We plan to have a bird-race during the week - obs v NGB!!

There may still be some shearwater chicks still in burrows and we may be able to see some of these. 

The Cost will be £112.50 (£10 per night, £35 for the boat and £12.50 for car parking). 

As this is in association with a Bird Observatories Council recognised Obs, under 21's are able to apply for the BTO Young Bird Observatory Volunteer Fund for this trip.

There will be three obs staff on hand during the week and NGB's own Bardsey resident and Observatory Volunteer, Ben Porter to help out. Ben will now give you some idea of what to expect...

Well…where to begin! I have always been interested in birds- I can remember keeping a list of the birds which visited my bird feeder in front of my kitchen window when I was about eight. After my 11^th birthday, having been in secondary school for about a month, my parents took up the post of being the farming tenants on Bardsey Island, North Wales. We had visited the island many times before our move, staying as guests in the various houses, as well as at the obs. This move to Ynys Enlli just ensured that my interest in birds was never going to go away!

Since then I have been birding Bardsey Island every year- all year- alongside the staff of Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory, as well as taking images of a large percentage of them! Steve Stansfield has helped me hugely, and is currently my ringing trainer, fuelling me towards a C-permit. Anyway, onto the island, and (more importantly), its birds!

Bardsey Island (or Ynys Enlli in Welsh) is situated about 2km off the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, in North Wales. The island is roughly 1.5kmx3km, with a perimeter of about 7km. Bardsey is at a strategic interception point for migrants crossing the Irish Sea and Cardigan Bay, as well as birds flying southward ready to cross these bodies of water in the Autumn. The result is that ‘falls’ of common migrants, and visible migration over the island, can be fantastic. It is not uncommon to have numbers of over 600 Willow Warblers on the island during the migration period; last May, for example, a total of 310 Sedge Warblers, 200 Whitethroats and 100 Blackcaps were grounded on the island on the 17^th of May.

An aerial view of Cafn, where the boats come in and out, with Bardsey Mountain in the background

The view of the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, from the top of Bardsey Mountain

Ok, so enough of the common stuff…what of the rarities and scarcities? In a familiar fashion to the rest of the UK’s Bird Observatories, Bardsey has amassed a respectable list of rarities since BBFO’s founding in 1953. Some of the slightly rarer encounters on the island have included the first Summer Tanager (1957) and Yellow Warbler (1964) to be recorded in Britain. The list of American vagrants stands tall: American Bittern, Sora, Kildeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Grey-cheeked Thrush, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrows and Blackpoll Warbler have all been recorded.

This White-throated Sparrow was found at Nant, shortly before a Greenish Warbler was heard singing in the same area

Hoopoes are fairly scarce on Bardsey, turning up once every few years

From the opposite direction, Bardsey has played host to Black-winged Stilt, Lanceolated Warbler, River Warbler, Booted Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Eyebrowed Thrush, Thrush Nightingale, Red-flanked Bluetail, Isabelline Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Collared Flycatcher, Blyth’s Pipit, Pine Bunting, Rock Bunting and Yellow-breasted Bunting.

A few Bardsey specialities have emerged in recent years (well, certainly in the context of Wales, at any rate…): Subalpine Warblers have been recorded more than annually since 2007, amounting to a total of 12 birds seen in the last seven years; a pair even tried breeding in the obs garden in 2010, when a singing male of the eastern race was accompanied by a female, and both were seen carrying nesting material! Similarly, Melodious Warblers have been recorded annually since 2006, with over 17 records including a total of six birds in Autumn 2010 alone. Paddyfield Warbler has now been seen three times on the island since 2008, accounting for 75% of Welsh records!

Western Subalpine Warblers have been seen as many times as Eastern on here!

Melodious Warblers have been recorded over 110 times since 1953

So, I guess you probably want to know a bit more about actually birding the island; what habitats are there? What are the best places for birding? What has turned up where? Where is visible migration at its most overpowering? I will try my best to explain and outline some of the more precise details of birding Bardsey…

It has been suggested, particularly by Richard Else, that the island’s hot spots for migrants and rarities are contained within a ‘golden triangle’. The points of this triangle are made up largely by the only significant areas of dense vegetation on Bardsey.

The golden triangle concept…comprising Nant, The Withies and The Observatory garden at each corner

The observatory

Cristin, which comprises the buildings and garden of Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory, is the first ‘point’ of this triangle: the garden consists of a single large Sycamore, surrounded by a scattering of mature damson bushes. The garden is the main hub of the island’s ringing activities, and is the only site on the island with Heligoland traps. The BBFO garden alone has a rather impressive list of over 250 species, including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eyebrowed Thrush, Bonelli’s Warbler and Sardinian Warbler.

An aerial view of The Observatory (foreground), with the two Heligoland traps, and surrounding garden

A ground-level panoramic shot of the obs and garden

The Withies

The second point of the golden triangle is The Withies: this is made up of three willow beds, which are situated in the lowland area of the island. These three withy beds (Ty Pellaf Withy, Cristin Withy and Plas Withy) are excellent for luring species that prefer damper habitats, such as Sedge Warblers and Grasshopper Warblers, and are also a good place for large numbers of warblers moving through the island in spring and autumn. Apart from being the best place on the island to find Golden Orioles during spring migration, the withies have hosted Paddyfield Warbler, regular Icterine Warblers, Subalpine Warblers and Rustic Bunting in the last few years.

A shot of two of the withy beds, with Bardsey Lighthouse in the background

Nant

The final point of this triangle is ‘Nant’: this is a much larger area than the previous two locations, and is largely made up of an old, mature pine Plantation, flanked on the northern side by a newer plantation of native broad-leaved species. Aside these areas of cover, there are a handful of small withy beds, and an agglomeration of small walled gardens. Due to the shelter that these vegetated areas provide, it is often the favoured haunt for a large number of migrants, and usually turns up the largest percentage of scarce visitors during the year. Recent finds in this area have included Western Bonelli’s Warbler (2012), Paddyfield Warbler (2013), two Pallas’s Warblers (2010), six Red-breasted Flycatchers and a White-throated Sparrow (2010).

Aerial views of Nant, showing the old and new Plantations, as well as some of the smaller gardens

Firecrest

Aside these key areas, there is a multitude of habitats and under-watched sites that can be equally good…

The gardens

There are 11 small walled gardens around the island, all of which bear plenty of cover to conceal passing migrants. My own garden is the most southerly on the island, Ty Pellaf, and is perhaps the best site on the island to find Yellow-browed Warblers in the Autumn. Pallas’s Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Hawfinch have all paid a visit to the wind-battered Apple Trees that line the edges of my own garden in the last few years.

I found this Pallas’s Warbler warbler as I was popping into the garden to pick an apple of one of the trees…it was later trapped in our Poly tunnel

The Mountain

Bardsey Mountain rises a little over 160 metres above sea level; the western side of this small lump is covered in heath and gorse, and is largely underwatched. The mountainside has been the predominate site for almost all Wrynecks in recent Autumns, and has been an excellent place to find Subalpine Warblers in recent years. The East Side of the mountain is made up of precipitous grassy slopes, combined with rocky outcrops and scree slopes. The lower reaches of this steep side is home to the island’s breeding populations of Razorbills, Guillemots, Puffins, Peregrine Falcons and several Choughs.

Wrynecks occur annually on Bardsey, between late August and mid-October, and favour the mountainside between Cristin and Nant

Short-eared Owls are also best found during the day, hiding amongst the swathes of bracken on the mountainside

An aerial view of Bardsey Mountain, with the steep east side in the foreground, and the South End visible beyond the ridge

The Narrows

This is a relatively small area of land, the narrowest point on the island, connecting the South End with the rest of Bardsey. The low height and scattered rocky beaches mean that this is virtually the only place that waders and wildfowl will turn up. Solfach, on the western side of The Narrows, is often awash with large piles of rotting sea kelp, which in turn attract reasonable numbers of migrant waders. During the winter, the kelp also provides nourishment for the 45-odd wintering Choughs.

A panaromic taken from Solfach (on The Narrows), looking back to Bardsey Mountain

The South End

The South End is a low and exposed belt of land, home to the Bardsey Lighthouse. On calm drizzly nights during spring and autumn, the rotating beams can attract hundreds of unwary migrants, many of which are then brimming out of every bush the following day. However, the recent switch from the rotating prisms to a flashing LED light means that the chances of any attractions are virtually non-existent: gone are the days when you could trudge around the lighthouse compound, kicking up 30 or so Grasshopper Warblers, and then counting some of the 200 Willow Warbler that made landfall in the surrounding gorse. However, all is not lost for this area of land: it is one of the best places to witness autumn ‘vis-mig’. It is best here as birds funnel down to the tip to cross the Irish Sea. Hundreds of Meadow Pipits, hirundines and finches can be seen flying southward on calm days in the autumn, and the occasional Richard’s Pipit may also tag along. The seas of thrift, rough grassland and squill have attracted Dotterels, Short-toed Lark and Quail in recent years, as well as hosting the island’s only Kildeer.

The view of the south end from the southerly tip, looking back along the island

Seawatching

In recent years, seawatching has really taken off as the predominate form of birding on windy days in the Autumn. The large increase in seawatching efforts is at least partly to do with the discovery that this activity can take place from the benches immediately in front of Cristin. From this seawatching deck, there is an excellent view of about 180 degrees of the Irish Sea, as well as part of the Bardsey Sound. The sea is about 0.8 km away from the front of the obs, but the more elevated position means that observations include a much further fetch of the sea. Anything from Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine’s Gulls, to the rarer Great Shearwater (2012) and Fea’s Petrel (2013) have been picked up from this amazing site, and the kettle is never too far away. For the more intrepid, and for those who appreciate being at slightly closer quarters to the passing seabirds, there are two hides situated on the wind-swept corners of the island: one is above the sea cliffs at the southern tip of the South End, whilst another is at a lower elevation, at the most north-westerly point of the island. From the latter of these hides, you can get good views of Sooty Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwaters, Leach’s Storm Petrels, four types of Skuas and much more. This sort of passage is often most prominent after a very strong westerly or north-westerly gale, which encourages southward-bound pelagic species to conglomerate on the eastern side of the Irish Sea.

Considering the large breeding population of Manx Shearwaters on the island, daytime passage is often quite meagre: it is rare to have many more than 10, 000 passing by, and that is on a very good day

Seascapes with Kittiwakes

Breeding birds

As many will no doubt be aware, the island is home to some 16, 000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters, which frequent the extinct Rabbit burrows as their nesting sites. There are nine pairs of Choughs breeding most years, and two pairs of Peregrines coexist within close proximity on the eastern slopes of the mountain. The diversity of habitats encourages a good number of common species to breed, such as Meadow Pipits, Stonechats, Linnets, Sedge Warblers, Wrens and Oystercatchers. Breeding species such as Lapwing, Corncrake, Corn Bunting and Jackdaw are all extinct on the island now, although newcomers have included Ringed Plovers, Willow Warblers, Little Owls and a pair of Long-eared Owls in the late 1990s.

There are about nine pairs of Choughs nesting on the island, with an over-wintering flock reaching 50 at times

Two pairs of Peregrines nest on the eastern slopes

Some practical info for those that are tempted enough to stay for a week or so this coming autumn (**warning**may contain hyperboles…):

-There are no bridges to the island, so you come by boat

-The weather is rough for much of the year, so there is no guarantee that you can get over

-There are no food shops, so bring food

-There are no pubs, so bring drink

-There is no phone reception, except for on the mountain

-The loos are outside, so bring warm PJs

-The Manxies are loud, so bring ear muffs

-The island is a working farm, so leave gates as you find them, or you’ll be shot

**interested in this opportunity? Email ngbirders@gmail.com for more information, or ask about it on our Facebook group**

-Ben Porter
Living on a small rock off the welsh coast (Bardsey Island) throughout the year, Ben doesn’t really have much choice to be anything but a patch birder! He is c urrently in his last year of A levels. He enjoys all aspects of Birding, and is a keen wildlife photographer, lepidopterist, and trainee bird ringer.

http://bbfo.blogspot.co.uk/

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