The Return

 We arrived back on the Island for the 2025 season on March 1st with endless amounts of bags and food for another busy season ahead. We weren't sure who was more excited to return to the island, us or the sheepdogs! 

The boat ride across the Sound on the 1st March © Alys Perry.

Since our return, we have been treated to glorious weather. March has been predominantly dry with lots of sunshine, which we have been making the most of. 

Beautiful evening light at Abermawr on the 2nd © Alys Perry.

Sunset over the Bishops & Clerks on the 9th © Alys Perry.

The past few weeks since our return have been quite busy, as usual. We’ve had a lot of administrative tasks to catch up on, as well as checking Chough nest sites, strimming the paths, painting the buildings, replacing old Manx Shearwater nest boxes, digging out the compost toilets, and fixing various issues such as the bungalow guttering and the loft roof. We have also tried to fix anything else that didn't hold up during the winter storms.

Strimming the paths up Foel Fawr on the 26th © Nia Stephens.

Nia replacing an old Manx Shearwater nest box on the 6th © Alys Perry.

We went out to Grassholm for a quick pre-season trip to change the camera trap batteries and SD cards, as most of them become inaccessible once the gannets return for the season. We also replaced the old "No Landing" sign, which had fallen down. 

Setting up a camera trap on Grassholm on the 14th © Alys Perry.

Replacing the batteries of one of the North Valley camera traps © Nia Stephens.

The new shiny no landing sign on Grassholm © Alys Perry.

Wildlife Round-Up

We have had large numbers of seals hauling out on the South, with up to 97 being recorded at once. On the 19th, a very early or late seal pup was spotted on Porth Lleuog. This is similar to last year when we had a seal pup born on the East Coast in late March. 

The Porth Lleuog seal pup on the 19th © Nia Stephens.

The Chough breeding season is already well underway, with four pairs nest-building. The earliest pair was recorded nest building on the 12th of March. Large flocks of up to 31 Chough have been seen going into roost at Abermawr during the evenings. 

A chough with nest material on the 26th © Alys Perry.

The resident passerines are displaying and singing, which makes it feel like spring is finally here!

A little Wren singing on the 24th © Alys Perry.

The first Wheatear arrived back on the 7th of March and a very early Whinchat on the 4th. 

A male Wheatear at the Waterings on the 24th © Alys Perry.

The Hirundines have been returning with our first record of House Martin on the 22nd, Swallow on the 26th and Sand Martin on the 27th. 

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been sightings of Siskin, Chaffinch, and Great-Spotted Woodpecker, as well as the usual Linnets, Skylarks, and Stonechats. 

Plenty of migrants have been dropping in, with records of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Black Redstart. 

A Black Redstart outside the bungalow on the 19th © Alys Perry.

We have had plenty of records of birds of prey since our return, including Buzzard, Red Kite, Merlin, Peregrine and Kestrel.

A Peregrine perched at Abermawr on the 24th © Alys Perry.

The Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, and Fulmar are back on their cliff ledges in preparation for the breeding season. The haunting calls at night are also back, which means the Manx Shearwaters have returned.

Kittiwakes on the Western Cliffs on the 19th © Alys Perry.

A Fulmar gliding past the North Coast on the 26th © Alys Perry.

Until next time!

Alys Perry

Assistant Warden