Unfortunately, the weather has taken a turn for the worse in the last two days, with a strong south-westerly wind accompanying occasional rain showers and relatively low temperatures- not in any way ideal conditions for our returning migrants. In fact, there was very little evidence of any new passerine arrivals during either of the two days: just two Wheatears were recorded on the 28th, followed by six on the 29th; Chiffchaffs increased from just two on the 28th to four on the 29th; and Goldcrest numbers also increased somewhat from six on the 28th to 24 on the 29th. Sea passage dominated in terms of avian movements, with the following counts noted: four Fulmars, 63 Manx Shearwaters, five Gannets and three Common Scoters on the 28th, followed by seven Fulmars, 90 Manx Shearwaters, 35 Gannets, 93 Kittiwakes, 92 Guillemots, 29 Razorbills and a Puffin on the 29th.

Northern Wheatears- most of the birds present on the island now are on territories and paired up, eyeing up cracks in the walls and burrows where they may begin building nests in the coming weeks

Carrion Crows (above), Ravens, Magpies and Choughs are all working busily on their nests, taking gorse twigs bag and forth to their respective nest sites, followed some days later by sheep's wool and other nest lining materials

Linnet numbers are increasing on the island now, although all birds are still remaining together in loose flocks. Some of the males are beginning to show their breeding plumage

Oystercatcher. Images (c) Ben- benporterwildlifephotography.co.uk