6th and 7th May

Bright and sunny on the 6^th with a promising SE wind but it remained quiet in terms of grounded migrants with the highlight of the day being a summer plumaged White-billed Diver seen briefly off Torness in the afternoon.   Migrants on the land comprised 5 Woodpigeons, a Collared Dove, 13 Sand Martins, 22 Swallows, a House Martin, 2 White Wagtails, a bit of an influx of 72 Wheatears, a Redwing, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Common Redpoll.

                The lingering wildfowl continued to linger with the Pink-footed Goose, Whooper Swan and 5 Barnacle Geese still but an extra Mute Swan joined the breeding pair and a single Pintail was seen.   The pick of the waders included 8 Black-tailed Godwits, probably 2 Wood Sandpipers and 4 Whimbrel while the Kumlien’s Gull was seen again and 277 Arctic Terns was a further increase.

                Still promising looking conditions with a brisk wind swinging round between east and south combined with hints of drizzle in the air but again we toiled away in vain across the island with very little in the way of grounded migrants.   The highlight was again a summer plumaged White-billed Diver but this time close inshore off the seawatch hide – probably yesterday’s bird again but with numerous individuals floating round Scotland in late April / early May who’s to say!

                Other birds included a count of 26 Great-northern Divers, the female Garganey again around Ancum and a light sprinkling of migrants with 5 Woodpigeons, a House Martin, 61 Wheatear, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest.

White-billed Diver                                 Simon Davies

Garganey                                        Simon Davies