Sumburgh Head sounds and smells quite different since the guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes have all gone. The incredible energy and spectacle of the breeding colony in full swing has mellowed. I miss the strangled gargling calls of the guillemots.. Shags are still present with juveniles, Fulmar chicks are dotted around the slopes like big bundles of grey fluff and parents return to feed regularly. Puffins have been abundant, active and noisy for the past two weeks but in the last few days it has been strangely quiet...until noon today when small rafts of puffins paddled back inshore and some have begun to visit burrows again. One parent and chick stood at the burrow entrance for a few minutes giving privilaged views to the lucky handful of visitors present, who didn't know whether to watch the only puffin on land or seals swimming in the beautifully clear green sea below, providing excellent underwater views. While the seals will be here all year, many birds are outgoing and incoming at this exciting time. Change is in the air. Wheatears are on the move, and the first warblers have appeared. Common whitethroat outside the office window yesterday and an icterine warbler on the reserve today. South easterlies are due in the next few days, so who knows what may appear??