NORTH RONALDSAY - 2nd September

Overcast through the morning with a moderate SW wind again so I had a three hour seawatch first thing which produced 122 Sooty Shearwaters, 13 Manx Shearwaters, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Arctic Skuas, 5 Bonxies, 813 Kittiwakes, 5 Arctic Terns, 8 Puffins and 280 Razorbills before a walk round the northern census route produced very little with just a handful of the usual waders.

                Another couple of hours seawatching in the afternoon really paid off as at 15:50 an awesome [presumed] FEA’S PETREL bombed past in big sweeping arcs, it was pretty far out but there was no mistaking the flight action even if limited details on the bird could be picked out!   A steady stream of Sooty and Manx Shearwaters also went through giving day totals of 337 Sooty Shearwaters and 45 Manx Shearwaters.

Adult and juvenile Purple Sandpiper

Another Purple Sandpiper

Ruff

Knot

Black-tailed Godwit

Juvenile Twite