Or 'Isle of May' as they say in Fife. After a successful twitch of the Greater Yellowlegs last Saturday, Sunday was earmarked for more chilled out birding on the Isle of May. Late on Saturday, however, a Thrush Nightingale, three Bluethroats and a Red-backed Shrike were reported on the Island. I have heard but not seen Thrush Nightingale in Dorset so a potential tick was on the cards.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZngQEMsmK-mFQAPgeVyd0RlRfXLQ67PeCSjPGnDJY69KtSdi49g7M_OR_dX3j-8wT8LtjpiGHvsN7cJV0BkjkwQ0lMLKatSBkDMm9z2mY6Y4W2qgvB7YpfkXzx8ogT5V5DjAQmBOeVo/s400/Blog+Grey+Seal.JPG) |
Grey Seals were numerous around the island |
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Guillemots were on the cliffs in huge numbers - this Bridled Guillemot one of only a few seen |
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The first Puffins appeared not far out of Anstruther Harbour |
The tides meant less time than normal on the island - only 2 hours - and after the warden's welcome speech that was down to 1 hour 50 minutes. He was actually very helpful, telling me where all the rarities had been seen, but in the time available I was unable to find any of them. There were migrants around, however, including several Redstarts, a single Black Redstart, Chiffchaffs and a Whitethroat - all easily seen in the absence of cover. One Bluethroat was seen by one lucky photographer in the mouth of a Heligoland trap - but not by me unfortunately.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5SFO8HM3X8N0CYkV9b53Q8Idh_nDc8Q5OgtWQbhQOyQ98paB5olnN_R4mGOJmK7LjwhzM1qmYaGf_530kOfapZLpmXvvCMEFTsTaCIjb69dRsj5wtcTjFRYhESwy4VraUWquyz2qcPs/s400/Blog+GUILLE.JPG) |
Guillemot |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYaVuhoSQQW0FIUj8BaN198iCJVHANDZx4ViBGFbbgXISbNbOWwfece5SQAs8kMSwlt5A8X7xe5ISzFY9Xhl3dvvXAIiqKzdqmleYhmZe6pZ5wFWoY_YVeEWY2KkAdQC9sQ-R2n7KVWI/s400/Blog+Puffin+3.JPG) |
Puffin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuMp1elJoPpEiEdA53efRqhyphenhyphenIl0z7L3osYl1SZXpWGQczl5FQYWiLJsmnB4VFyjQPXuYmjKXwuNbrl5GGyb41TcG4lLWpkK8-27uuLBjp38h3Cs3L8XXOe-lnnSgT24vfKEtwPOdHyYs/s400/Blog+Rbill.JPG) |
Razorbill |
At this time of year on such a warm day half of the Puffins were in burrows and the other half generally out at sea, but it was a good opportunity to practice some flight photography as they whirred to and from the island. Breeding Eider, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill were also present in good numbers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00rW0iRWb5RVSH2iXVV8DthvdN-cHqBf9lXA9HR74c7f17k97n606Q8fQzXa5UtvWQ06B5F53_h9ON-7JizTjevdFTIYgiEk2Ir-MPNor20lU9esVRhwgD5urwtay3vAdEXcBVv2SxvY/s400/Blog+Fulmar.JPG) |
Fulmar |
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Kittiwake |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pz5l1BmW0iHa3uAHdFGQ5nM2-4L5P_AORbHR5b-a3apL9wFNurwJ1lYWyqqNtFSPDz86qgjwRnJrxyBLTA-JfX4hyphenhyphenghbvyLlwj_rvSVNHDh1qY8KHobsL2uwCWzqbzU6SDhnUO8SWr4/s400/Blog+Rbill2.JPG) |
Razorbill |
The boat cruised slowly under the auk-covered cliffs before the journey back, which was punctuated by a steady stream of Gannets commuting to and from nearby Bass Rock.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TPbV8Qn6PEorgPNtgA00z2mhj0-FetKi-JMOz-c2rzqCZaoM92mx5yNgZeiRsqwG1NNSoNFQ0fT0mPVvXCC03StWsR8Z5PqM77FJ3NovRJnSbqT_Li23Fk-KZM6kzLO5Ajfea8-95VA/s400/Blog+Eider+2.JPG) |
Drake Eider |
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Female Eider |
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Gannet - 3rd year |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QKdlFo-ag9Z9sp333DS9_0xDUg4k_5TK21p69nyfvw6ysn-sfNlI4pYM4uAtUZ7O4mvKzlsxqB727jwU2AIuE2Ll9fbRF5X3USa9GPSPspgzuYeRXgbqfj3CBKiD95d7Ig7b5MnacaI/s400/Blog+GANNET+2.JPG) |
Gannet |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YuZuJPniDUSMYBQy33HS63b5DsgEVVmve_2dCaiLeaNW18YkrdcitRhuAAzBbOmeAGg7LqqT-grvfOYMLZAGK3s9TgqI5_W7bHaCk5qu0ADUQKO5rgxk3FTYck2xtYpKfvXnidESnGk/s400/Blog+Guillemots.JPG) |
Guillemots |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSd8XKIAweT7cW0i299zJDt76lK_S3SaCw06KFWJHnkH-EHkJR1WVDBvZdjALbPXOq2UREO0p2zfSVcY5skO1uwlFkuXqU80RXvjxto-u_IVmf7zcFe3n5JGEHQ4gMU_fa-lCghSVnso/s400/Blog+Puffin+2.JPG) |
Puffin with Sandeels |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCVcaPALZEx1itDNB2qIMZEZ9S4NfjdrAETwmEeZG-_jdrCWeXLs7YaKFq4GaWpbJSAHTWd3UaMVkpgjWk_tVu8LHvy5qtMJigOIyPkWlz6Sj76GfCk9knOlL8dD8kOEhhDauUymj4sA/s400/Blog+Wthroat.JPG) |
Whitethroat - one of a number of migrants on the island |
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