7th May

A very blustery day with a strong force 8-9 wind all day which turned out to be fairly productive on both the land and sea. A morning sea-watch (0900-1230) from the point at Westness detected spring Skua passage for the third year running with an early Long-tailed Skua (9.10) and a Pomarine Skua (11.55), plus 2 Arctic Skuas, 14 Great Skuas, an unidentified Skua, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 1015 Fulmars (1000 of which passed in one flock!) recorded. A Quail seen a couple of times in the Mid-park area during the afternoon was the highlight on land but there was also the first Jack Snipe of the Spring, a Wood Sandpiper and Greenshank still plus 12 Knot on Torness. Passerines were harder to find, but 2 Rock Pipits were the first in a while with a Dunnock also new and totals of 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 3 Pied Flycatchers, a smattering of Warblers including 2 Whitethroats, a Siskin and 3 Snow Buntings.