Weather: WSW force 8/9 later WSW force 9 squalls
The weather gauge showed 48 Knots but a south westerly is not always the prime conditions to produce many good sea birds and the morning tide bore this out. There were sightings of 6 Arctic Skuas, a Manx Shearwater and many (350) Sanderlings.
Things improved for the afternoon shift of observers for the late afternoon tide, more Manx Shearwaters (20) and Arctic Skuas (another 11 plus a small unidentified skua) arrived.
Just before 16.00 hrs two Leach's Petrels flew along the edge of the east hoyle. Later a juvenile Sabines Gull was seen out to the north west and heading west. A Black Tern was the last goodie of the early evening tide. Slightly less exciting sea sightings were 420 Common Scoter, a Fulmar, 8 Guillemot, 8 Great Crested Grebes, an adult Kittiwake and over 200 Sandwich Tern and 64 Common Tern. On the island itself this afternoon were 2 Wheatears, and round and about a pair of adult Peregrines, one of which made a forlorn attempt on a Manx Shearwater.
There were 9 Shelduck, 9 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and numerous waders including the Sanderling, 55 Ringed Plover, 70 Redshank, 58 Turnstone and 6 Bar-tailed Godwit. A young Grey Seal was in the south cove.
Photos AEH,SRW
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