1st May

A similar start to yesterday with almost flat calm conditions and extensive cloud cover, the wind slowly picked up through the day and switched round into the NW by the afternoon – a final end to the weeks of easterly based airflow.   The spread of migrants today included a Sparrowhawk, a late Woodcock by the Lighthouse, 4 Whimbrel, 5 Arctic Terns, a Collared Dove, a Tree Pipit, a male Blue-headed Wagtail at the Lighthouse (the first flava Wagtail of any kind this year), a White Wagtail, a Dunnock, 24 Robins, a Black Redstart, 47 Wheatears, 2 Ring Ouzels, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, a Grasshopper Warbler near the Lighthouse, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 21 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, a Carrion Crow, 5 Brambling and 2 Common Redpolls.

                Other birds of note comprised an excellent total of 91 Great-northern Divers – the second highest island total after 132 in April 2009, in amongst which was an adult White-billed Diver off the Lighthouse, 2 Manx Shearwaters on the sea off Torness, 2 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 22 Golden Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and an influx of 8+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls which appear as if by magic as soon as any ploughing starts, in amongst which was a fine adult Iceland Gull floating around the island.

One of them nice, pale Willow Warblers