It feels like these strong westerlies have been with us for ages now, perhaps its this that is delaying our Arctic Terns from settling yet. Around North Hill reserve the skuas are definately getting paternity jitters and have stepped up their aggression a notch over their breeding territories. Our waders too are more frantic, and its likely the lapwings already have chicks, while down on the shore there are still hordes of high Arctic migrants coming through, particularly Dunlin and Sanderling.
The Guillemots on Fowl Craig are beginning to look pretty scruffy, tightly packed among their neighbours and brooding those big green eggs. Often the broken shells can be found on the cliff top, where a gull or a skua has managed to steal one and make a high protien snack of it! Elsewhere on the island our Corcrakes seem to be coming in fast now, with four magnificently vocal males on territory.
Despite the Atlantic gales, a few more unusual birds have found their way to Papay; a fine Ruff, and later a likely Quail was spotted, and perhaps the same one the next day by a keen eyed observer on Westray!