14th -15th May

Our quiet spell continues with the only rewards from 40% island coverage on 14th being 3 Black-tailed Godwits, a lingering Common Sandpiper, a handful of common Warblers and 3 Common Redpolls. There was no systematic census coverage on 15th with the only sightings coming from an all-day birding tour for day-trippers and a brief hour long sea-watch off Westness in the evening. There were plenty of the expected Wader species seen on the tour and in similar numbers to recent days, but also at least 2 Kestrels, a Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Doves, 800 Arctic Terns and an there was an influx of hirundines with 70 Swallows, 2 Sand and 3 House Martins. Meanwhile on the sea-watch, most notable were the first 2 Manx Shearwaters of the year, 22 Puffins and 5 Lesser black-backed Gulls.