The Bass Rock - Whether it is from the boat, landing, or zooming in on the camera, the sea of immature gannets now regularly settled on the landing is impressive... For the photographers landing they are overwhelmed until you point out we have not yet reached the breeding area. As we head up the pathway the call of the herring gull changes. Small speckled bundles of down scuttle into the undergrowth, or freeze in hope they are invisible to human invader… Their parents keep the call constant until the ‘danger’ has passed, but a few take extreme measures to protect their young and indeed, the season of the dive-bombing gull has now arrived. Hard hats are now offered and willingly worn, as many of the photographers will have been on the Farne Islands where the dive bombing terns are legendary. That said, the sheer delight of seeing an egg with a little bill chipping away, to the moment this tiny bundle emerges, quickly drying off is a photographers dream, and we haven’t yet reached the gannetry. A similar experience awaits.

The colony changes so quickly. Two weeks ago, only a few down covered chicks were easily spotted. Now like soft white cushions, a sea of white spreads from under the bellies of the adults. As chicks grow, parents still try to protect them from the elements as the impossible task of protection makes comical viewing. June saw many days of torrential showers. The more substantial the nests, the drier the chick from the cascading water but many looked very forlorn with mud-caked down, or as we say ‘drookit’.

Whether it is from the camera in the Discovery Centre, or sitting beside the colony, spend a little time enjoying their behaviour. I watched a displaying lone male with a strand of seaweed in his bill. As his head drew back, the seaweed shot out his bill only to be caught by a neighbour, two nests behind!

Another carried in a very impressive bundle of seaweed, dropped it on the chick’s head and, with the adults now bill fencing, the chick just sat there swathed in weed only the bilack bill protruding. My favourite this week - a chick grabbed the adult’s leg and no amount of shaking would free the grip, The adult almost hopped out the nest with chick attached to the other leg. All was well in the end …but you have to watch for these moments.

The peregrines have been seen at the lighthouse and the viewpoint above the cave.

Interestingly, more grey seals have been seen this last 2 weeks with a fall in harbour seal sightings.

Isle of May - The SNH Family Day on the 19 June was wonderful. For younger visitors face painting and story telling in the atmospheric south horn, added to the fun on this sunny day. Researchers were on hand at viewpoints to answer questions and inform. SNH handed out goodie bags to visitors. With chicks of all species so visible (except puffins !) it really was a wonderful day.

The rather devastating news this week is again the failure of the tern colony. Sadly predatory gulls, along with disturbance as visitors walk by, is thought to be the reason, but the priory colony too appears to have failed and this was completely fenced off to protect it. It just takes one or twopredatory gulls to have such an impact.

Guillemot and razorbill chicks are jumping off the cliffs under the cover of dusk giving the wardens and residents nail biting moments. Very few eiders sitting on nests now, Pufflings are heading for the sea and also being found as ever, wandering in the undergrowth. The seabird breeding season is drawing to a close.

CraigleithFledgling cormorants are still being tended by parents and are very obvious with their white fronts. Shags losing their brown woolly down are now beginning to wander around the rocks but still plenty puffins to be seen - some very close to shore - worth spending time on the Telescope Deck.

Seabird Seafari

Sailing around Craigleith, gaps are appearing on the cliffs. Many guillemot and razorbill chicks have already jumped. Their contact call to the male is haunting, a real plaintive cry. We have seen a few duos swimming quite frantically to reach safer seas, away from predating gulls. Rafts of puffins on the sea, tightly packed on rocks, whirring overhead sand eels in bills... all wonderful!

As ever, there is a favourite moment …heading back from the Isle of May, calmly cruising at 24 knots, a razorbill flew alongside matching our speed. It then accelerated so it was in front of the bow and from there criss crossed from right, to left, to right to left. At first passengers smiled but we were all then captivated by this behaviour. For a least a mile this continued, with smiling faces moving right to left to right to left …It was like Wimbledon on the seas… After a mile or so, it peeled off and headed back in the direction of the May. Was it something to do with the speed pushing the air space in front of the boat? Sometimes best not to question - just enjoy the moment!

Porpoises unconfirmed sightings of 2, two days in a row near Seacliff and Tyninghame.

Grey seals I will update on this next week but in the last few weeks 3 dead young grey seals have been washed ashore from the Glen area to Canty bay. Please do let us know if you find any along the shoreline. Please give date found and location and condition, eg fresh obvious injury etc. I ‘m not always free to answer but will it follow up. Thanks.

Week ending 17 June 2011

The Bass Rock – The many fluffy 2-3 weeks old gannet chicks can be seen clearly now, snuggled down in their nests. The cameras in the Discovery Centre capture this perfectly. The miniature guillemots won’t be with us for much longer as they leave for the open sea when they are only 3 weeks old and many are already 2 weeks old. The cave through the Bass was loud with seal calls, the sounds reverberating off, and amplified by, the walls.

Isle of May – Puffins can be seen, with mouths full of sandeels, whirring back to feed their pufflings. The 4-week old shags already look very mature as they look out from their nests. It is heartening to see the sizeable kittiwake population after the storms and the destruction of so many nests.

Dunbar Harbour – The kittiwake stack is full of 2-3 week old chicks and it is encouraging to see that they are being fed sandeels rather than the snakepipe fish which can choke them.

Craigleith – a team was recently on Craigleith to count the puffins and we look forward to their findings; certainly the puffins are returning to burrows with mouths full of sandeels – always a sure sign of pufflings nestling in the burrows.

And finally….. Dave Berry, long-time resident of North Berwick, this week acted as guide for one of our Isle of May landing trips and he has recorded his thoughts on a blog with photos which can be reached via http://davidsberry.wordpress.com/ Here follows a short extract:

Running the gauntlet of the terns nesting near the landing, a slow stroll along the island’s many paths reveals a rich diversity of views, history and wildlife, crammed onto an island barely a mile long. The 12th © monastery was off-limits, having been taken over by terns but Holyman’s Road to the Low Light passed endless clumps of puffins socialising, abundant rabbits and the odd black back gull lurking ready to seize any unprotected chick. At Three Tarn overlook, the western cliffs were thick with birds—puffins, razorbills, guillemots and the cries of kittiwakes around the Bishop below. Those birds closest to the path barely noticed people; one razorbill landed 2m away and began preening.

Because of its size and variety, I never tire of visiting the May but it is especially enjoyable with 12 people who have never been before and discovering it vicariously anewthrough the awe and delight, the amazed expressions of each new convert.

Sightings – week up to 28 April 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May The first shag chicks have hatched. Although this nest is not visible on camera, there are several that we see on the cameras giving wonderful close ups of the nests, eggs and the behaviour. A member visiting the DC earlier this week came to me so excited as not only had she seen the eggs being turned but witnessed a change over at the nest. Before she realised it, she had spent 20 minutes absorbed by the captivating images. Now is the time to start watching the eggs for that first sign of chipping – then see how long it takes before finally the helpless very reptilian chick emerges.

Many puffins are now on eggs but they are still coming and going. Guillemots and razorbills are more settled.

The Bass As with the shags, watch the behaviour at the gannet nest sites now. Can you spot the difference in the way they sit on the nest if they are incubating an egg, the webs wrapped carefully around? They are more settled with only an occasional jab at a neighbour if they impinge upon the site . That said there is still intense aggressive behaviour over sites, with some battled weary sleeping to recover from their ordeal. New breeders with eggs are evident. Tree hugger is back and appearing a little more relaxed than last year.

Craigleith Eiders have been very obvious this week. Scan around, are they sitting? The female eider blends so well with the vegetation and at times is so well camouflaged. Although ‘brown’ she has the most beautiful plumage, a mix of browns, golds, beiges, tortoiseshell and she sits with such serenity at the site, even when people pass close by as happens on the May - she sits tight, the eggs safe and warm in a nest lined with eider down. If you spot nests, let us know. They are wonderful to watch. Grey and harbour seals have been seen and puffins are plentiful most days

Seabird Seafari and Bass Landings Puffins whirring over head, guillemots at times skimming and bouncing off the sea surface as they misjudge and don’t quite make airborne initially. Grey and harbour seals continue to surprise with some very odd haul out sites. They have been seen most days. Landing on the Bass, the friendly one who does not like being disturbed, just ignores us but we have to remember it is a wild mammal. Although it returned to the sea, it kept popping its head up at the steps as if it was about to return.

One pair of herring gulls remains at the chapel but now look as if their nest site will be below the gable gannets.

Evidence of predation of gannet eggs is now being seen, the predators always take them to the same sites to eat. No sign of orange billed guillemots.

On the May the heavy rain of the previous day had provided perfect conditions for the kittiwakes and frantic nest building was apparent. It was wonderful to watch them grass pulling, dipping into the fresh water, mixing together the mud and grasses to make their nests that are almost super glued to the cliff face. Willow warblers, wheatears and a redpoll were among some of the passing migrants.

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Sightings – week up to 21 April 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock The first gannet eggs were seen on the 16 April. One egg was at least 2days if not 3 days old. Many more eggs have been spotted since,but over Easter weekend we still need the visitors help to spot the eggs and any loggers. If the Darvick ring can also be noted this will be sent off to Keith Hamer at Leeds University. They are sitting tighter to the nest. Watch for them turning the egg. Many more are preparing the nest, removing sharp objects that could damage the newly laid egg. You can’t help but laugh at some of the nesting material that the male carries in. I’m beginning to think there is a gannet toy store out there! Having spotted a rabbit whistle earlier this year, a small rather odd looking doll was spotted hanging over a nest, a toy steering wheel changes site annually, not to mention the toothbrushes, shotgun cartridges and of course netting! – just a small sample of the garbage that floats upon the sea.

Immature birds are taking to the only free space they can find on the promontory on the east side and a few locations at the back. These are not suitable nesting sites - a northerly with a spring tide would wash anynests away.

Isle of May Guillemots are on eggs. Since recording began, this is only the second time they have been recorded this early and for the razorbill also seen with an egg, this is the earliest record for them. There is a good and very hopeful feeling among researchers for this year. Kittiwakes too are nest building with some already settling at sites. Birds have returned in good condition. A regurgitation on the Bass showed healthy sized sand eels. Let the season unfold, hopefully in a positive way. It has begun well.

Seabird Seafari boat tours and Photographic landings A lone guillemot facing inward is an indication it is already incubating an egg, and another was seen the following day on a fairly low cliff edge. Harbour and grey seals continue to delight and amuse passengers. Withextreme tides this week they have been spotted hauled out at some very odd locations

Herring gulls are grass pulling with territorial displays and disputes and a lot of mating being seen. Puffins are continuing to tease but are being seen most days off Craigleith. A pair was spotted on the Basstucked innear the battlements. Photographers already packed for departure, hastily unpacked cameras.

The chapel gannets are all at their sites but at last, the gable gannets have built a nest displacingthe herring gulls that have bred there for several years now. They have looked at this site for 2 years now and last year I thought they had settled, but the gulls won. A beautiful seaweed nest now perches on the very top with a settled bird sitting tight. Many returning Darvick ringed gannets have been seen along with three loggers.

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Sightings – week up to 14 April 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

The Bass Easter and Eggs, not the chocolate variety! Who will spot that first gannet egg? For several years now that first gannet egg has been seen around the 16 to the 21 April. We know there are earlier ones although perhaps out of camera site.

With school holidays and all these young keen eyes panning the colony, it’s egg spotting time!! Zoom in to the birds bellies, are they settled? Sitting fairly tight to the nest? Look out at change-over time. It they raise up, are the webs wrapped around the egg? Also the colour of the eggs. Are they clean white, blood streaked, just laid…or slightly darker indicating an earlier laying. All this helps us look for that first hatchling later in the season. Please note the date and the site. The rock is now a hive of activity. Birds flying in constantly with nesting material. Many people think they are carrying in a fish. Explain about the constant nest building and the strange and wonderful objects they can carry in. Not always seaweed or netting! This is ongoing for the entire season as their territory is so important. Territorial challenges are happening, as is pairing up, mating, the gentle preening, between pairs, the bill fencing. The Bass Rock is a hub of exciting activity!

Harbour (common) seals are gathering and many can be spotted on the lower landing. Again we are seeing a seasonal pattern. Without the cameras and the boat trips this information may not have been recorded and again has been passed on to SMRU at St. Andrews.

Craigleith last year in this same week I wrote “if you could capture a moment of true triumph for SOS puffin I think that was it. Puffins parading across the grass covered glen, standing to attention outside the now visible burrows, gathering on the rocks. On every vantage point“ This year it is even better. Cutting has finished early, the island is looking wonderful! The tireless work of John Hunt and the team, the harsh winter and the munching rabbits have transformed the jungle. Way back many did not think that this island could be transformed. It has!!

Puffins continue to tease but are being seen daily. Eiders have been coming ashore all week, mallards too and we know the greylag are sitting at 3 sites. A pair of Shelduck were seen in the West Bay earlier this week and it has been thought they also nest on the island. Many shags are now sitting tight indicating they are incubating eggs.

As with the Bass, harbour seals are hauling out along with a few grey.

Fidra It too has been transformed, although without the help of grazing rabbits it is thought that the regrowth may be more than Craigleith.

May Isle Similar pattern to Craigleith, the puffins come and go Guillemots shuffle shoulder to shoulder, the odd squabble breaking out. Large rafts of razorbill at times on the sea and the fulmars just chuckle away in their cliff top niches, as if watching it all unfold. Seabird Seafari I don’t think I will ever tire of the utter excitement when a passenger spots puffins on the sea, even if it is just one or two. It’s infectious and spreads among all the passengers, whatever nationality or age. Noise levels rise, cameras click and then hush as seals are spotted and very quietly the boat will cruise past not wanting to disturb. Many, in particular the harbour seals, treat us with indifference, ‘another orange boat with yellow and blue people‘ as they lift their heads, pose for the shot, roll over, scratch themselves, and if lucky pose again, or many simply put their head down and fall asleep. One at the Bass this week, obviously hauled out at high tide on to a small ledge. As the tide dropped it gave the appearance that a rock climbing marathon had taken place. With sheer cliff below it looked very odd. It stayed there for 3 days. The first immature gannets were spotted this week. Keep an eye out on the east rocky promontory below the lighthouse and puffins have been seen mating on the sea off Craigleith. Local sightings

Sighting of the week and a very envious ‘garden tick’ from Mark Holling is the tagged white tailed eagle (sea eagle) that flews over his garden!! That is a garden tick!! At the end of March on the May Isle I was confident that I had a fleeting glimpse of one disappearing over the brow of a hilly zone. It was being harried by gulls and a corvid. I saw the large fingers on one wing that swamped the gulls and the crow. Within 36 hours one had been seen off the coast of North Berwick, and now Mark’s sighting. It does appear there has been one in the area.

With such a hectic few weeks local sightings have been few but the first swallows, house martins (near Tantallon cliffs) and sand martins have been spotted. Nuthatches calling and singing, tree creepers, and long-tailed tits, and jays all nesting around East Lothian.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 24 March 2011 – by volunteer Maggie Sheddan

Puffins return! On Sunday 20 to the delight of visitors puffins were seen on Craigleith and the Isle of May through to about mid afternoon. They were cleaning out burrows and sitting on the wall above Pilgrims Haven and seen in the burrow from the camera.

Bass Rock The light plays such a part in how the colony appears from land and sea. Although thousands could be seen on the Rock, the barren soil surrounding each territory is very evident. It’s hard to imagine by mid June the sea of white will astonish as large down covered young will start to dominate, but for now it is still wonderful to watch.

Territorial disputes are intensifying as each bird fights for a new site or to retain an established site. Uniting perhaps for the first time since last season, intense bill fencing can at times be observed. Birds are carrying in seaweed for nests. It is all happening!

Seabird Seafari Having seen puffins on camera, we were confident that they would be seen from the boat. As we approached Craigleith, the white breeding patches of cormorants were very obvious. The east end of the island is the only area we can really look closely at them to compare with their close relative, the shag. Guillemots and razorbills were whirring around, shags nest building, gulls displaying, harbour and grey seal heads popping out the sea watching us. The distant call of the kittiwake could be heard and as we sailed around to the west of the island and then - ‘PUFFINS’!! The call echoed out from the boat. There was no need to strain to spot them, bobbing on the sea a short distance from us, hundreds, could be seen! As one small raft lifted off, the distinctive stubby wing, 400 wing beats a minute, the colourful bill, orange /red webs flaying out behind. It was a joy to see!

At the Bass with high tides, we were eye level with the west promontory. The gannets were all fairly subdued, but plenty of body language to interpret. What was really amusing were the guillemots that are tucking themselves among the colony. A trio were hopping around a gannet that didn’t quite know how to react. Had it been another gannet infringing upon its territory there would have been the expected jabbing, but this one just head swivelled with almost a puzzled look, tolerating this very close presence to its site. It was quite comical. All the birds, their plumage fresh and pristine, appear in excellent condition – for the time being!

Five or six grey seals including a bull joined us at the cave, ever inquisitive of the big orange boat! As we headed around the Rock, kittiwakes and guillemots were tucked on tiny ledges. Six harbour seals were seen at various haul outs on the east side and very visible on camera were another seven young grey seals. We had seen them the previous day in that same spot.

Hearing a peregrine calling, as I looked up it appeared to be having ago at a gannet! Not sure what that was about but it is lovely to see these falcons with their speed and agility.

Isle of May Shags have been seen sitting on eggs.

Dunbar Kittiwakes repairing nest sites, a mix of mud and grasses. It’s wonderful to be able to watch without disturbance.

Discovery Centre The herring gull specimen is now on display and very soon the juvenile sandwich tern will be displayed in flight. The other specimens have been collected and over time these will appear. Thank you to the volunteers!

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 18 March 2011 – by volunteer Maggie Sheddan

Bass Rock Loggers have been seen on the legs of gannets this week. A photograph should be on display to show visitors what to look for. Are you able to zoom in to note the Darvick ring numbers? It could be interesting to establish how long before they settle at their sites for the season. Are they coming and going, how long are they away? Rachel, from Leeds University spent many hours last summer observing these birds was very excited to see several birds with loggers return. These will be retrieved and the information downloaded unveiling the birds wintering locations. The dedicated web cam for Leeds University was fitted this week,

Dr. Keith Hamer is giving a talk on the “Northern Gannet” on 12 May. This will be fascinating. We know there have been dramatic changes with seabirds during the last 10 years and Keith’s talk will show how birds (in particular gannets) have adapted, the changes in prey, summer and wintering movement and how, with each answer, comes another question. Hopefully we will hear of the interesting finds from last summer’s studies on the Bass and perhaps even where the birds we are seeing today spent their winter holidays! Again one for the diary! On camera mating has been observed along with the odd territorial skirmish.

Seabird Seafari The first trip of the season did not disappoint, even the sun shone as we headed out of the harbour. Shags unmistakable with their breeding crest, some carrying in nesting material, guillemots, razorbills, whirring wings, white bellies shimmering in the sun, small rafts of eiders, and much to the delight of all on board over a dozen grey seals were seen. With breeding and moulting now over, several that were basking in the sun, were just beautiful.

There was no mistaking the gannets as we approached the Bass. The air space was alive and although not full, thousands are now at sites. As with Craigleith, guillemots were quite tightly packed on tiny ledges, shags not settled but very obvious. Several kittiwakes were tucked on precarious sites, fulmars gliding low over the sea, and, as if on cue looking toward a tiny viewpoint high above the cave where often the peregrine sits, it took to the air, the thrilling the passengers. Two harbour seals popped their heads up at the cave and a third hauled out high in a little niche had obviously hauled out at high tide. All this in just one hour!

Craigleith A small raft of puffins were spotted on Sunday morning just off the island. Several shags with Darvicks have been recorded. The mallards and greylags that breed on the island have returned. Early morning, pan around those burrows, you may just see a puffin and scan the lower rocks for grey seals hauled out.

May Isle The shags identified by their Darvick rings are more settled at site. Kittiwakes are being seen and it truly is a spring scene to see the guillemots and razorbills, heads bobbing at the Angel and Pilgrim stacks.

Dunbar Over 70 eiders were counted on camera, and 23 kittiwakes were counted at the castle sites. Kittiwakes are still coming and going, but are being seen daily.

Fidra The peregrine sits on the lighthouse watching….. scan for puffins, perhaps on the sea? Shelduck were seen last year on Craigleith and Fidra these are not confirmed as breeding but any sightings may help point to this.

Discovery Centre The sightings that are being noted are so helpful and so important. Thank you!!

Local Sightings Chiff chaff have been seen at Musselburgh and at Gullane great gorthern, black-throated, 30+ red throated diver, along with savonian grebe and 500+ common scoter.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 10 March 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Puffins! Past records show we have had our first sightings around this time, perhaps small rafts on the sea, but worth looking at webcams early morning and spending a little time on the viewing deck. Who is going to be the first to spot them?

Isle of May Scan around the sea at Pilgrims Haven. Between eight to ten thousand puffins had been seen on the island this last 2 years, although early morning and not all in sight of the camera ... of course weather may play a part and with strong winds and potential snow this coming weekend,sea watching is a little difficult!

The shags at Pilgrims Haven were seen mating. They are becoming more settled at sites. Any kittiwakes coming in on sunny afternoons? This week last year we saw a peregrine mating, so potentially there is a lot to look out for. If you see something exciting, please do note it down.

Bass Rock At times this week the ‘dusting of white’ is obvious as more gannets return to nest sites. Already renovations have begun and birds are scavenging materials from old sites or flying in with fresh seaweed. The odd jabbing and territorial display is being seen. It changes daily.

Loggers on birds. We need your help... a photo will be put in the Discovery Centre for visitors. Gannets with loggers have an obvious coloured Darvick ring with letters and numbers. Please do note the ring number and when possible inform us. This is passed on to Leeds University. Research is ongoing and return dates are very helpful to them. The logger is attached to the opposite leg from the ringed leg. The loggers will provide invaluable information as to where birds have wintered, adding to the already changing knowledge that has been gained over the last few years. So please …look at those legs! In general they were at sites close to the chapel. Keep checking!

Landing on the Bass briefly this week in a swell I was concentrating on timing and not slipping - I didn’t spot the sleeping harbour seal that was tucked in the rock by the steps until I had leapt and turned to pick up the bag. It gave me a puzzled look, realised I was no threat and yes, went back to sleep!

Dunbar Although kittiwakes are not coming in and sitting at sites every day, it is useful if these dates with numbers can be noted, please.

Fidra Excellent views on camera of razorbills. Scan around, a puffin may just pop out a burrow! The peregrine has been seen at one of its vantage points.

Craigleith Cormorants wing flicking, heads being thrown back in typical display advertising for a female. Are they successful? This is the time to really enjoy learning and watching fascinating behaviours - the bonding and pairing through to nest building and settling at the site.

Greylags have been seen on several days this past week near to their breeding sites. We know they lay fairly early in the season and in the past we have seen the goslings grazing in the glen.

Local Sightings Musselburgh, Seton Sands: Mediterranean and lesser black back gulls have been seen. Snow buntings near Yellowcraig

Seal Talk by Dr Paddy Pomeroy from SMRU (Sea Mammal Research Unit)

Paddy delivered an extremely interesting and highly entertaining talk about grey and harbour seals, and the research undertaken by SMRU. We learnt how colonies have grown or, in some case, decreased, the genealogy studies undertaken in places like North Rhona that has had intensive research over many years now, and more recently the May. How difficult aerial counts can be, the various methods for tracking and study showing some very adventurous trips undertaken by individual seals, perhaps with purpose when routes were studied. Although many of us are familiar with the breeding behaviour, I certainly learnt some interesting facts. One thing Paddy did comment on is the preferred use of ‘harbour seal’ instead of ‘common seal’. We know common seal are not as common. To save that confusion harbour seal gives more clarity. The evening was rounded off with enjoyable coverage of elephant and fur seal seals in the Antarctic.

Wildlife Sightings week up to 3 March 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Dunbar On Feb 28 12 kittiwakes returned to their nest sites on the castle wall. Thank you to Gordon (Fisher Lassie) for his call. He has always said they return in the calm of a sunny afternoon and it was just that on the 28 Feb. The DC also spotted them on camera that day and earlier in the week some were seen out at sea. Keep an eye on the other islands and please do note date and numbers of any that are seen.

Bass Rock Approaching the Rock this week, hundreds of gannets circled, guillemots were too-ing and fro-ing that very distinctive ‘Aaarrh’ echoing from the East cave. Framed by the battlements, a pair of displaying shags, their pristine iridescent green plumage gleamed in the morning sun, a snapshot of beauty. Close by, a lone fulmar sat. Others tucked down in known nesting sites, the odd intensive chuckling coming from a trio communicating we do not know what. The gentle mewing of the gulls filled the air as we ascended to the lighthouse. Every so often, that distinctive sound of a gannet sweeping close overhead, but none to be seen on the Rock. For once, work came second and I headed up toward the chapel. The craters of the empty nests still visible, uniformly spaced except on the fringes. And there, a pair breaking the horizon, then another and another. I realised they were just out of camera shot, with only the occasional head visible to tantalise the visitor. Climbing higher, the soft mewing of the gulls became more distant, replaced with unquestionable ‘gannet speak’! At first a few dozen came into view, but as I peeked over toward the foghorn a sea of white shone up at me. I sat quietly not wanting to disturb them, poured my cuppa and enjoyed the moment. As we left the island, a peregrine flew across toward the Rock, perhaps for an early lunch?

Records show over the last 2 years at this time thousands more had landed (although not settled). The 'white Rock' had become quite obvious, but not this year? What will be the picture by next week?

Several pairs of Rock pipits darted about, a pair of blackbirds and a pair of carrion crow were seen.

Fidra Wonderful footage in the Discovery Centre of a pair of razorbills displaying. The orange gape obvious and on Craigleith a ringed razorbill was seen. Unfortunately we couldn’t see the number on it. Herring gulls strutted around their streaked brown heads replaced with pristine white plumage. At this time of year all the birds look wonderful.

May Isle The house-proud shag pair take great delight in the construction of their nest site with an assortment of flowers, feathers, seaweed and sticks being thoughtfully placed. We are almost at that week where the first fleeting visits of puffins may happen. I heard that Mike Harris has had the first puffins in at Fowelsheugh this past weekend, so keep a watch!

News that Erick the sea eagle suffered a broken leg on the May late last year and sadly could not be saved

Local Sightings
Musselburgh - Little auk, little gull, slavonian and great crested grebe, 1 red- throated diver, goosander, long tailed duck, red breasted merganser, eider, mallard, goldeneye and velvet scoter.
Seton Sands - a coloured ringed mediterranean gull was seen with 3 others.

Wildlife Sightings week up to 25 February 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock The first gannet was spotted on our live cameras today (25 February) We are fairly sure that some had been in early morning during this past week, but unfortunately power and timer issues prevented early checks on the webcams. There have been hundreds of gannets flying around the Rock but it’s the first on camera that is exciting and, as usual we were delighted to present a prize for the first one spotted! Before long the seasonal rituals will be captivating visitors. The peregrine has been a daily visitor sitting on the rail of the lighthouse. It’s wonderful to be able to zoom in and really study this magnificent bird.

Craigleith and Fidra Very similar to last week with the shags and cormorants. The peregrine has been seen on Fidra which is good news after the many weeks of contractors working around the lighthouse. Not so many eiders this week probably just a little too early for nesting. Perhaps with the extreme tides they may be at rocks close to Eyebroughty .

Isle of May Guillemots coming and going but quite active with lots of jostling for that important tiny space that will become their nurturing site for the egg through to fledging. Fulmars gliding along cliff edges and shags amusing us with their antics.

Isle of May Bird Observatory We were delighted to welcome Niall Campbell from the Isle of May Bird Observatory for a fascinating evening talk on the history and importance of the observatory. I've given a few highlights below.

We all know about migration? But do we really? Niall explained in some detail about the different types of migration, the reason behind the Isle of May being such an important island, and in some detail the early days where a ‘bird in the hand’ held a very different meaning to the present day in the ringing hut. He described the day way back in 1933 when Mistress Rintoul inspired a young group of amateur ornithologists, including George Waterston, to establish what is now the oldest existing Bird Observatory in Britain and all for the princely sum of just £83.00.

We saw how the observatory has developed but in reality, how little has changed over the 76 years. The daily log is still the most important aspect of the observatory for the six visitors that the basic, but adequate accommodation caters for. The future plans for development of the observatory was touched upon and fundraising is ongoing. We heard of a very exciting and little known fact. Charles Darwin visited the island in the 1800’s when he attended Edinburgh University.

The talk continued explaining the reason for ringing, through to the importance and exciting new information provided by geo-locators and satellite tracking. The evening ended with some wonderful slides taking us through the years of studies, and ringing from, warblers, nightjars, 2 long eared owls not to mention the friendships that have developed over the years in this small but extremely important observatory. I think we all came away with a much better understanding of the reasons behind observatories and the dedication of its members, but we also came away realising that this small, nearby island, holds a wealth of interest for the visitor and no matter what time of year you visit, there is always something exciting to view, study, or just enjoy.

Local highlights Gullane Bay Large rafts of eiders, slavonian grebe and a first winter little gull have been seen. Thanks to all at Lothian Bird News.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 17 February 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock We wait, and watch. We see them circling and gliding off the NW of the Rock, but that first gannet has not yet landed in front of the camera. Perhaps today? Keep watching and please do note in the sightings book date, time, and numbers if possible. Thank you Pan around to the lighthouse and you may spot an adult peregrine. The rail is a favourite vantage point. The Bass sustains a substantial feral pigeon colony, or ‘peregrine lunch’ and just occasionally I find a ring on the remains of a racing pigeon. The majority have been from Scotland or an occasional English one but a while back a French one was found. These are always reported to the relevant organisations. I always wonder where these birds have set out from but at least their owners are notified of their demise.

Craigleith and Fidra Guillemots come and go, eiders are gathering and will soon be pairing up. Watch the behaviour of the cormorants and shags. It really is a time to learn. Watch the bonding, displaying, and subsequent defending of the chosen nest site. Keep an eye out for the peregrine on Fidra. Are there two? And from the viewing deck, scan the cliff top of Craigleith another peregrine vantage point.

Isle of May The odd razorbill is being spotted among the guillemot colony. Fulmars swoop around, coming and going. Shags nest building and displaying.

Next week, on Thursday, 24 Feb Niall Campbell will give a talk about the Isle of May Bird Observatory. This, the oldest Scottish observatory, has records dating back to 1934. The young George Waterston was one of the original members (Waterston House SOC headquarters, Aberlady is named after him), although two ladies, Mistress Rintoul and Mistress Baxter, made startling observations on migration pre 1934. Over 75 years there have been many changes and the daily logs and sightings book are testimony to this, but it is to the future that the observatory now looks with development of the Low Light. Niall’s talk will cover much of this but also how geo-locators are enhancing our knowledge on migration. For the passionate ornithologists who stay on the island, it is the morning round that excites. What rarities may have sought food and shelter on their migratory journeys. This is what the observatory is about. It will be an exciting talk and tickets are still available from the shop.

Update Mar, the young seal that was relayed to SSPCA Middlebank sanctuary a few weeks ago, has been released into the Forth weighing a very healthy 33.2kg. Thanks to Colin Seddon for the update.

Local highlights Waxwings have been seen this past week near Tranent and the odd razorbill on the sea near Barns Ness.

Wildlife Sightings week up to 11 February 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock Has that first gannet been spotted on camera yet? It was a beautiful calm day yesterday, perfect for landing and checking out nest sites. With school holidays this coming week there will be no shortage of ‘eyes’ to scan the rock, and hopefully win the prize for the “first landing gannet” of the season. They are quite visible now circling around the Rock and certainly records show that we would expect to see one land this week, so pan and scan! We are fairly confident that on the North side, birds will have already landed, but none are settled and for several weeks they will come and go.

Isle of May With guillemots tightly packed on the cliffs, crested shags nest building, fulmars chuckling and socialising at nest sites there is exciting behaviour to view. Craigleith and FidraCormorants with the distinctive white breeding patch are being seen. Shags are displaying. Guillemots on the cliffs. Any sign of the greylag or mallard? Please do keep writing sightings in the book.

Local highlights Over the last couple of weeks a great grey shrike was seen near Waughton and there had also been a taiga bean goose spotted near this location. “Large numbers of gannets” were seen off the Bass on the 10 Feb.

WeBs count “Winter Duck” survey with the RAF team in the north of Scotland proved less productive than previous years, possibly due to the January arctic weather and ‘strong breezes’ that swept across the country that week. Divers and grebe numbers were much lower, in part due to the rough seas making sea-watching difficult. On the last day with calm waters prevailing over 35 black-throated and almost a dozen great northern divers along with several slavonian grebe were easily seen in one of our survey bays. No rarities this year and no white winged gulls! Changes in fish farming and at fishing ports, are impacting on gull numbers, greatly disappointing our gull fanatics. Passerine sightings were few and far between concentrated at these all important garden feeders. We did have three sea eagle sightings, all at known hot spots and on one day 5 dippers at 3 different locations. Unfortunately as we headed over the Pass of the Cattle toward Applecross the 80 mph blizzarding winds forced us to turn back. As we opened the window to shout with the snow plough team, Jim’s hat took to the air hurtling downward toward Torridon. Any sheep spotted wearing a birder hat, please do let us know!

Sighting of the week was surprisingly made by yours truly! En route, we always stop at Granton on Spey to ‘hunt’ capercaillie, crested tit, and all 3 species of crossbill. For several years now the capercaillie have eluded us. Meandering into the thick of the wood, I came across fresh poo. Within minutes this extremely large black bird with a white bill shot across in front of me. My first ever sighting of this elusive species. I followed in the direction it flew and spotted it again. In my excitement I lost my bearings... again! Next year I am to be equipped with a GPS, compass and a long ball of string!

Wildlife Sightings week up to 3 February 2011(by Discovery Centre)

Craigleith A large number of fulmars and shags and two grey seals were seen on Craigleith on 22 January. Twelve grey seals, mainly young ones, were seen on Craigleith around 2pm on 27 January.

Bass Rock A juvenile peregrine was seen on the Bass Rock around noon for half an hour on 27 January.

Isle of May One year old female grey seal on the May on January 22. Mating shags were seen in the “cave” on the May, one of them darvicked: code JUZ, green on the left leg on 22 January. Shags seen in another cave on May are definitely nesting, bringing in materials for nest building and mating. One darvicked, on left leg: code HFS red.

North Berwick West Beach A dead shag with blue darvick: PLL

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 27 January 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock Just too late for last week’s Bulletin: news that gannets had been seen on the 19 January off the NE of the Bass. Landing on the Rock for a maintenance trip the following day I took the opportunity to check there were none present at sites on the north side by the foghorn. The pathway above the chapel was solid ice and fairly tricky. To add to the atmosphere, a swirling fog descended but not before I had spotted ten gannets flying off the NE side. The mist engulfed the Rock, leaving only the fulmars visible gliding along the cliff edges. Even in the quiet of winter the Rock always has atmosphere. The empty nest sites with discards from the previous season were evident. I spotted one the chains half way down a slope, but what really made me chuckle was a rabbit!!. Yes! There in a nest, a child’s toy whistle in the form of a rabbit. I had some fun with that tale when I returned to the Centre. Three pairs of rock pipits darted about and a pair of carrion crow were seen swooping around in display.

WeBs count The Sunday was a perfect day for the counters surveying along the coast. Light winds, calm conditions and the light was good. From the Centre to Canty Bay - Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Knot, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew, Grey Heron, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Mallard, Eider, Shag, Cormorant, Black Headed, Herring, and Great Black-backed gulls were seen, also Guillemots and Gannets! Fulmars were at nest sites along near Canty Bay with over 400 in the area around Tantallon Castle cliffs. What is interesting and shows changes; there were only three redshank in that entire stretch to Canty Bay. Think back a few years when they were so evident around the yachting pond. The lone ringed plover was not seen but several were spotted further along the coast. It will be interesting to see the results along the entire coastal stretch. Many of these birds I could easily have seen from the viewing deck including the gannets, so it is worth spending a little time out there.

RSPB Garden Watch is this weekend so pop some food out, pour a cuppa, pull up a chair and in the warmth of your home enjoy watching and noting down all your garden visitors. With the Arctic weather in December many birds suffered. It really helps build the picture of what birds may have suffered. You can find out more online and how to submit your counts from the RSPB website. Below is an extract from the RSBP site:

“How to take part - if like us, you love birds and want to help them, then the Big Garden Birdwatch is your chance to do something that really counts.

All you need is a pen, some scrap paper (or, a printout of our handy bird ID sheet), and an hour to spend watching the birds in your garden on either Saturday 29, or Sunday 30 January 2011. Then simply record the highest number of each bird species seen in your garden, or local park (not flying over) at any one time, and come back to these pages to tell us what you saw. If you're not too sure what bird you've seen, try our easy to use bird identifier, or have a look on our A-Z of birds pages.”

I’m off on my annual “Winter Duck” survey with the RAF team. We cover from Duncansby head to Cape Wrath and down the west coast to Applecross. Unusually at the moment we don’t have blizzards to contend with but burst pipes appear to have been a problem at a couple of the military sites we stay in so hot water may be scarce! Meanwhile the Discovery Centre will keep you updated but please do keep writing in the sightings and keep an eye out for the first landing gannet!

Wildlife Sightings week up to 21 January 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May Thank you Mary and Barbara from the Discovery Centre for logging a shag with the green darvick ring JJZ. It was seen mating close to nesting sites at Pilgrims Haven. It is wonderful to have these records. Although unlikely that eggs would be seen in February, it does help give an indication of bonding and pairing up. Last year, the first eggs were recorded in March but sadly lost in the storm. At times a quick pan around reveals nothing, but patience can bring rewards and remind the visitor the season is awakening. This is the fun of the cameras! On all the islands guillemots are appearing in numbers and then vanishing sometimes for several days. Fulmars are bonding and sitting at nesting sites.

Look out to sea with the Bass cameras. Any gannets? This calm quite weather has been perfect. They may not land, but I suspect they are around. Peregrines have been seen on Fidra and the Bass and seals are still hauling out on the May and Craigleith.

Rocky shore count (WeBs survey) For several years now at low tide along the Lothian coast to the English border, recorders will be logging waders and sea ducks this coming Sunday. These surveys are very important showing movement and changes in the populations. For my own section, I count from the Centre to Canty Bay. Many times I have to remind myself I’m surveying, and not on a seawatch as it’s important for me to meet up with the recorder in the next section. As the tide rises, birds start to become displaced and as the morning progresses disturbance can become an issue. Of course we hope for calm weather. All birds encountered are recorded from stonechats to corvids, rock pipits to starlings, the fulmars at Tantallon cliffs and usually a pheasant near Canty Bay appears.

An early morning meeting The full moon enhanced the beauty of the heavy overnight frost, as we headed south for our rendezvous. It was only 7a.m. A beautiful, but very cold morning was unfolding as we drove into a Berwick car park shortly before 8a.m. Eyeing up every car that appeared, we dismissed them all until one entered, the watchful driver scanning cars as she drove in. Eye contact was made, a nod of the head with thumbs up, and we knew this was our contact.

Jumping out and with introductions, James and I met up with Ellie from the BDMLR (Marine Life Rescue) Hatchbacks were opened. Ellie’s revealed a large cage with hissing and growling not to mention a very strong odour instantly familiar to anyone that has worked with seals. Although slightly under weight this young seal, perhaps 7-10wks, was feisty but in need of care. Carefully the cage was transferred to the tarpaulin-covered boot of James’ car. We were the final part of the relay team that was transporting the young seal to SSPCA Middlebank Rescue Centre in Fife. For the seal’s comfort, and our noses, the entire journey was driven with all windows open. Not quite sure who was in need of most care when we pulled into the sanctuary!

With the pup now named ‘El mar’ (This month is a sea theme for seal names) he was placed in a quiet pen to rest after his journey, while James and I were defrosted with a hot mug of tea and then shown the 3 young tagged seals that were to be released later in the day. Colin Seddon and his team have such enthusiasm and dedication. It’s hoped Colin may come across later in the year to give a talk about the sanctuary and their work.

Local sightings Shore larks and twite have been seen at the salt marsh at John Muir Country Park, and from Mark in North Berwick a close encounter with a waxwing that flew into his window. It was stunned but thankfully survived. He also mentioned a tree sparrow around. It’s worth checking the sparrows at your feeders.

Walking home very late one night, a robin was singing away high in a tree at the junction of Law Road. Again a frosty night with the streets bathed in moonlight. It was so calm and peaceful; I just stopped and enjoyed the moment. The following morning with the sun shining there was an air of spring as blue tits were singing and reports of the beginnings of dawn chorus are warming after the recent arctic weather.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 7 January 2011 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May On the 18 December a new born pup was seen on Pilgrims Haven. At that time it still had two younger ones to keep it company. It was wonderful for our Christmas visitors. Now it is alone, almost moulted and certainly appears to sleep for much of the day although a football was spotted beside it! There are still seals hauling out but It is much quieter. Guillemots are being seen early morning at some coastal sights. The camera does switch on around 8.30am and will be preset onto the stacks, therefore you can have a quick check on the webcams while you eat breakfast. At this time of year they can appear for several days, usually depart early morning but then vanish, but it’s lovely just to have that glimmer of the new breeding season just below the horizon. 1 January 2011 Whether you’re on the viewing deck or in the warmth of the café, we have the most enriching and magnificent area in front of us. From the wondrous Bass with its long history, Stevenson lighthouse, where very soon the first gannets will return slowing, increasing until the rock is gleaming white, or just 10 miles away, the sheer cliffs of the May Isle where recently over 2,000 grey seal pups have been born. A nature reserve and an island of major seabird research, the oldest bird observatory in Scotland, and in times past a place of pilgrimage, now overtaken in summer by the excited visitor wanting to see Britain’s largest east coast puffin colony, see the magnificent Stevenson lighthouse and the oldest coal fired beacon in Scotland.

As the eye pans around to Craigleith with several grey seals hauled out on the lower rocks, this is an island being transformed by the community and an army of volunteers. To the Lamb now, owned by Uri Gellor, a difficult rocky island to land on but providing sanctuary for breeding cormorants and finally Fidra again with its Stevenson lighthouse, perhaps the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s, Treasure Island, it too sustains varied seabird breeding sites. As I stood on the decking in the quiet of this beautiful new year’s morning watching guillemots on the cliffs of Craigleith, seals on the lower rocks, a peregrine swooping around, how often do we take the time to reflect upon the varied richness of this, within just a 10 mile radius of North Berwick. We are so fortunate!

A few ‘earlybirds’ joined me on my walk, with the tide in our favour and still fairly quiet, we spotted long-tailed duck, goldeneye, eiders, and shags, some with crests. Below the Centre and along the shore, turnstone, redshank, oystercatcher, purple sandpiper, knot, 1 sanderling and 1 ringed plover. By this time the tide had turned and the beaches were busying up, the waders had gone but it was very enjoyable.

Evidence of a raptor kill under the Christmas tree outside the Centre. We suspect it was a sparrow hawk and its victim a redshank

Sightings from Lothian Bird News: the green winged teal is still being seen at Aberlady.

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Wildlife Sightings Week up to 29 October (by Catriona Walker in the Discovery Centre)

Isle of May: There are now around 90 pups on the beach at Pilgrim’s Haven! The oldest ones are beginning to moult now.

Bass Rock: Only 4 young gannets could be seen on the Rock this morning – three at the “Parliament Goose” stage where just their heads are covered in down and one young one which is still very white and fluffy. The peregrine was seen on the lighthouse this morning.

Fidra: Eider ducks have been seen on the water around the island as well as shags on the rocks.

Craigleith: There are now 9 pups on the island, some of them quite far up the glen. A peregrine was seen sitting near the cormorant colony at the weekend.

Maggie Sheddan, who usually does our sightings, has just reported seeing 7,000 + gannets at a secret location on a seawatch in Cornwall.

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Wildlife Sightings Week up to 21 October (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Craigleith The first pup was seen feeding on the morning of 20 October. An obvious trail through the vegetation led to an area behind a rock where we suspect she gave birth. There were no signs of gulls feeding on the placenta. Several pregnant cows were hauled out. One tucked up against a rock looked very unsettled. Has she given birth? Perhaps in quieter moments, scan the glen. Look for flattened trails, or the gulls’ behaviour. Records are so important. Where possible note dates of newborn not just for Craigleith, but also for the Isle of May. The Discovery Centre has the most incredible footage of a birth recorded a few years ago. To capture that moment was incredible and will forever captivate visitors. Shags and eider ducks are on the shore.

Bass Rock On Saturday 17 October, there were still thousands of gannets on the Rock. By mid week, as expected, many had gone. Only the late breeders with young are left.

Isle of May There are now around 60 pups on the shore, the oldest ones are almost two weeks old now.

Fidra Occasional sightings of the peregrines on the lighthouse and cliff. Eider ducks on the water, and shags on the rocks.

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Wildlife Sightings Week up to 14 October (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May There is no such thing as ‘just another morning’ in the world of wildlife. As the cameras were switched on last Saturday (the 9 October) the first pup on Pilgrims Haven was spotted. With no sign of the marauding gulls it was evident that it had been born much earlier in the day. Not long after a pup is born gulls vie for the afterbirth. The pup is closely defended by the mother (the cow) as a vulnerable newborn is also at risk from the gulls. The most important thing is to establish the bond between the mother and the pup, but equally as important is that first feed of the cow’s enriched milk without which the pup will die. For any newborn it is difficult. The first 24 hours are the most important, but with extreme tides and powerful waves crashing over this vulnerable straggly bundle, nail-biting tension filled the first breeding day on camera. As is now becoming a tradition, the first pupped was named ‘Magic’.

Young ‘Magic’ was just that, as he captivated our hearts with his determination and fight. He was born just off the main boulder beach area. As the tide rolls in, the beach is cut in two, but on the extreme tidal days that second beach is washed out. Magic was on the second beach!

The mother sat offshore as pounding waves threatened to wash him out to sea, but he clung on. Not only did he cling on, but he looked for an escape from this terror. Somehow he managed to claw his way up the steep boulder beach around the rocky corner to safety, watched by visitors and staff willing him to safety. The relief, the cheer, the excitement filled the air of the Discovery Centre. This was only day one of the seal breeding season. What lies ahead? The count for the 14 October is seventeen. Please do keep writing daily counts where possible and note any new pups that have been born.

A blackcap, and a goldcrest were seen on the beach

Craigleith Daily sightings now of cows hauling out and many more being seen in the sea. We would expect to see the first pup hopefully within a week so. Do keep watching. Further up where the mallow seedlings have flourished, look for trails and the flattening of the plant as this can give away a safe and quiet breeding site. An immature peregrine was seen flying over the glen.

Bass That beautiful golden head of the adult gannet has gone. As you scan around the pale, almost white head of the adults is quite obvious. There is still plenty to observe. Fresh nesting material is evident. The odd young still with a few wisps of down can be spotted and of course the two younger ones that are visible on camera. With strong northerly winds due next week it may be the last week of the gannet season. Of course those still with young will be around for another few weeks.

Landing this week several gugas were seen on their walk to the cliff edge. I freed two that had become trapped in the ruins of the prison. The mallow is fairly dense here and provides good shelter and food source for several passerines that have come in this last week. Chaffinch, goldcrest, robin, blackbird, pied wagtail and rock pipit darted about. Who knows what I may have missed as time ran out as ever. I thought I spotted a bunting, but no surprise, did not identify it before it darted behind the battlements.

Local Sightings On the high tide it was lovely to see rafts of eider near to the yachting pond and also redshanks, turnstones and oystercatchers along shore line. A grey heron was seen on the rocks beyond the pink wall and many guillemots have been seen on the sea, so it’s worth spending a little time enjoying viewing deck.

Local sightings “At Torness the Pallas's warbler found yesterday is still there and I watched it bathed in late afternoon sunshine feeding briskly in the young trees by the first car park at the power station. It was there until at least 5.30pm. Even better is a first winter red-flanked bluetail spotted in the local area”.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 8 October 2010 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Where a blanket covering of club birds sat, occasionally giving passing boats a spectacular dread as one spooked bird encouraged others to follow on a mass exit of diving and overhead flight, the bass heli pad is now all but deserted. Only the odd herring gull is in attendance or the shags like sentries on duty as they line the landing steps. If lucky on the east landing, a grey seal or two hauled out on calmer days sunning, before perhaps entering the cave to give birth. We do know a few do give birth in the depth of this dark cave. These last few weeks a rather impressive bull has been regularly seen. He is wonderful with the enormous head the long Roman nose. The scientific name derived from the Greek, Halichoerus gyrpus, meaning “sea-pig with a hooked nose“. The strong thick battle scarred neck showing this bull has fought for dominance. This is not a young pretender. He is making his presence around the colony quite obvious.

Up in the gannet colony, the season is slowly coming to a close. Landing this week for an end of season tidy, chains and hard hats are brought off to clean, padlocks oiled, solar panels washed and garbage taken away. Jackets were quickly removed in the warmth of the autumnal sun. With blue skies, and calm seas, it could almost have been mistaken for early spring as nest building is still ongoing, the odd skirmish too... Only the dark speckled gugas gave the season away as many wandered downwards trying to find a route to the cliff edge.

The ‘new breeders’ area has the highest density of young, almost ready to fledge. It’s been good to see their success. Elsewhere only an occasional one is spotted with wisps of down still on the head, and then you spot it! The pure white down gleaming in the sun, the long neck extending as it the twists and turns, dark beady eyes peering. Yes the youngest is surviving and looking good. Within the camera vision, we can see two slightly older ones. It will be good to follow their progress over the coming weeks.

Isle of May plenty activityunfolding around Pilgrims Haven with daily sightings of grey seals off shore and several hauling out on to the beach. With breeding imminent do keep a close watch!

Craigleith as with the May many more sightings of seals. Visitors take such delight in spotting any than have hauled out. Remember to start scanning higher into the Glen, as that is where they haul out to give birth. It is still just a little early. A kestrel was seen by the mashers and it has also been seen on camera... pan around. You never know what you may spot.

Fidra superb shots of the peregrine, wonderful to really have close-up views of the plumage. On calmer days scan around the seas. What sea ducks are around?

Musselburgh Great Northern Diver, red throated diver, male pintail, juv curlew, sandpiper, black-tailed godwit and a peregrine

Aberlady At this this time the pinkfoot geese at dawn or dusk is truly worth taking a little time out to enjoy .. It was wonderful just to see 600+ fly over the Seabird Centre the other evening obviously heading toward the safety of their evening roost

Wildlife Sightings week up to 1 October 2010 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May On 30 September, one day later than last year, the first grey seal pup was born. There may have been an earlier one, but unless the whole island is walked, a pup can easily be missed. The seal breeding season has begun! For Pilgrims Haven the first pups over recent years have been born around the 9 –11 September, so start watching and noting down numbers hauled out on the beach. It helps build a picture for future years. Over the next few weeks the excitement and the drama of the seal breeding season will unfold. Keep watching!

Craigleith Many more seals have been seen recently with several cows hauled out on the lower rocks. Although a little bit early for pupping, after next weekend it would be hoped that mallow mashing will cease temporarily on Craigleith to allow the seals to haul out to a peaceful island. (Records show the first pup expected around 16 –18 Oct) If volunteers are seen on the island the seals may be put off coming ashore, and at best move to different breeding ground, at worst perhaps abort, so it is very important the island is undisturbed. Fidra has plenty to keep the mallow mashers busy. Once the season is underway, trips can resume as pathways keep volunteers away from the glen and work can continue on the far side of the island. From the boat it was lovely to see 2 cormorants close to shags. Passengers love to see them close-up for the comparison between the 2 species. Turnstones oystercatcher, and eiders were all seen on the island and occasionally an unmistakable large bull seal would break the surface of the sea, and watch us with interest.

Bass Rock The 5-6wk old chick is looking good. Many are asking if this will be another Maximus. No, Maximus didn’t hatch until the approx the first week of October. This chick will fledge (all being well) around the 12/19 November. There are still plenty of gannets to watch and quite a few gugas visible on camera. Seabird Seafari went out in torrential rain on Wednesday. It was wonderful! Rivers of water streamed off the rock the fingers of brown mud quickly dispersed in the turbulent seas. Lots of wing flapping from the young and much activity from the adults with bowing, bill fencing and nest building ongoing.

As with the May and Craigleith, grey seals were popping up around the cave entrance delighting the passengers. There was no mistaking the slight darkening of the Rock, in part due to the heavy rain that has washed away the guano. When will the first real winter storms kick in?

Inchcolm My seasonal sail on Maid of the Forth was as ever enjoyable if a little quiet on the seabird sightings, although plenty of young gannets seen perfecting their flight and diving. However, it was a pleasant surprise to find Rene (our mallow expert from Aberdeen University) who along with another researcher was heading out to…., yes, collect more mallow seeds. I had collected some last year I joined them for a short while. There had been some interesting observation that no doubt will now involve all manner of studies. The seeds in the soil were breaking down! I’m sure Rene will update us when he has more information. I also met up with Bird Observatory friends who were unable to reach the May and opted for the calmer waters of the upper Forth, and like me enjoyed a pleasant wander around this lovely island. Grey seals popped up in the bay in front of the Abbey and many more were seen hauled out on the on the platforms of navigation buoys.

Local sightings Arriving on cue at the very end of September, it looks like the main passage of Barnacle Geese could be underway today. Just after 8, in clear skies, 3 skeins totaling c250 flew W to the south of North Berwick Law.” (from Mark Holling ). Barns Ness marsh warbler, ring ouzel. Scoughall yellow-browed warbler and from John Harrison Aberlady 20,622 pinkfoot, 513 barnacles, 49 greylags and 2 Ross’s.

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Wildlife Sightings Week up to 24 September (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock In the dark and I fumbled for the snooze button, it was 5am. 5.07am.and a neurotic sound and vibrating on the bedside table as the second serious alarm went off. Hit the snooze. Now cuddling a clock in each hand I realized I was on a loosing battle. No longer has the sound of the sparrows and swallows flitting outside neither my window, nor the breaking dawn tempted me out of the cosines of my bed. September 21, the last photographic landing trip of the season. Somewhat reluctantly the routine began. Breakfast, weather check, flask filling, jumpers and hat now required etc. Fast forward I reached Dunbar; the sea reflected the glowing orange and red of the rising sun that washed away all feelings of the previous hour. A beautiful morning was unfolding. As we set sail in Fisher Lassie the mood was uplifting for all onboard. The turbulent seas of previous days had calmed, the light was soft and subtle and the gannets plunge diving was spectacular. The photographers dream. Landing was text book but 3 weeks of not landing were evident as a box of equipment was scattered at the entrance inside the prison gate, I blame a rampaging guga! .The heavy rain had brought landslides to the pathway so at 8am there I am digging my way into the ‘office ‘ . Heading up the pathway, would the chick that hatched just 4 weeks ago have survived? The many first time breeders that infringed upon ‘our space’ almost 20 weeks ago, would they still be there? The excitement, the anticipation, is there on every landing. The chick was there, the fringe zone has been successful, the September light was wonderful and the photographers had a perfect morning Nest building and pair bonding was evident. Gugas yipped and wandered, trying to find their way off the rock. I freed dozens from the lighthouse area. I also had time to reflect upon the season. The wonderful new camera that pans over a younger breeding area where there is still much to enjoy watching. It gives infra red shots to watch and observe at night and that is interesting particularly at dusk and dawn.

It has been another hectic season. Sir David Attenborough visited the rock for the challenging 3 D filming of Flying monsters, There has been several more film crews, journalists, photographers , and the visitors that have just enjoyed observing the life and times of these magnificent birds and this historic island . We cannot finish without mentioning the exciting research that has been undertaken by Leeds University. The dedicated SSC’s camera that allowed researchers constant online observations, at times from the comfort of home whether it be North Berwick or Leeds. Short term loggers were attached that has recorded location and timings of foraging trips for breeding birds. A few now have winter loggers attached to record their winter passage and movement. On Tuesday I took the final shots of adults and chicks that are part of the study group to pass on to the researchers. We look forward to receiving their reports. With many gugas still on the island and immature birds still sitting on the landing site, the photographic season may be over but there are a few more weeks to enjoy the gannets

Isle of May Erik, the immature sea eagle was spotted sitting near Pilgrims Haven by a visitor as they panned around with the camera. It is worth spending time just watching. He has been there now for several weeks. Unfortunately, the northerly winds are preventing Seabird Seafari’s final sailings for the season, where we had hoped to see this impressive bird on our walk. Seals are more obvious now and it won’t be long before the first haul out for the breeding season.

The Isle of May Bird Observatory have regular sightings on their website. Below is a small extract from their Sept sightings:

Latest bird & wildlife news for Sept from the observatory

South east winds dominated during 4th-9th and a good fall of migrants continued throughout with high numbers of a wide range of common migrants such as Pied Flycatchers (30 on 8th), Garden Warblers (60 on 8th)Common Redstarts (70 on 8th), Willow Warblers (60 on 9th) and Tree Pipits (30 on 8th).

Scarce and rare birds during the period included a Bluethroat and Ortolan Bunting on 8th and an Icterine Warbler and Little Bunting on 9th. A Greenish Warbler and the first Lapland Bunting of the autumn were on 10.

Craigleith Not many sightings of seals this week and sadly the cormorants have gone. Do keep an eye open for a sea eagle as an unconfirmed report of one seen flying over the west golf course. The cliffs could well be inviting.

Aberlady Goose count from John Harrison
11,812 pink foot, 65 greylag 2 Ross’ (in among pinkfoot). And 6 barnacles

Farne Island

The UK's oldest recorded Arctic Tern has been recaptured It was ringed as a chick on the Farne Islands on 28 June, 1980, making it at least 30 years, two months and 23 days old. The birds typically live 13-15 years. The first seal pup has been born and they too have a juvenile sea eagle that is enjoying fulmars.

Sightings Week up to 17 September (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock On camera as you pan around, change is evident. Many sites have only adults in attendance, but there are still plenty of gugas to be seen, with an occasional down covered chick easily spotted. Nest building is ongoing and certainly from the boat we are seeing strings of gannets carrying in seaweed for maintaining that all important territory. There are still thousands of birds on the Bass and plenty to observe. As we sailed out to the Bass several guillemots have been spotted and of course there are many flightless gugas very close to being airborne. They desperately try to take off, only to crash land after two or three wing flaps. That said, the black speckled plumage of the young gannets that are now flying is a joy to watch.

Unfortunately the shag nest appears not to have survived the storms, and on the side we don’t really see from the Centre are the many gugas that take that first ‘jump’ that sadly don’t catch an uplift from the wind, and plummet to certain death. That said, it does appear to have been a good breeding season and hopefully we shall bring you updates from the summer research very soon .

Craigleith A call came into the Centre this week from someone hoping we could help with identification of a bird. As you know my identification skills of small ‘little brown jobs’ is not good so, as I returned the call, I was apprehensive to say the least. Great relief as there was no question it was a juvenile cormorant (with the pale belly) at an inland site. For many, shags and cormorants are difficult to separate especially from a distance and when you have juveniles even more so. On camera and from the boat this has been one of the key identification pointers that we are able to show visitors and certainly on Seabird Seafari trips many passengers have found this so informative to see these two species side by side. Unfortunately last Saturday the cormorants vanished. Again heavy seas and high tides are having an adverse effect on spotting grey seals. There are more around and hopefully if the wind drops more may be seen hauled out here and on the May. Isle of May With only two weekends until the island closes for the 2010 season, time is limited for visits. People think there is not much to see. However, this can be one of the most exciting times as migrants can be brought in on the winds. Sit on the cliffs for an hour sea watching. Records are always appreciated by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Bird Observatory. You never know what you may spot - maybe shearwaters, skuas or possibly even a sea eagle or passing geese as they move south to wintering feeding sites, perhaps dolphins or even minke whale. With the oldest coal fired beacon in Scotland, two lighthouses, the priory ruins and a wealth of wartime history there is much to explore and enjoy.

Fidra Wonderful sightings of the peregrine that has been seen sitting for several hours on the lighthouse.

Local sightings Close to the Centre, common scoter were seen in the East Bay. Waders are returning. Time to wrap up, brave the winds, and spend a little time on the telescope deck!

14 Sept from Mark Holling “First pink-footed geese just heard (at 20:45) over the Seabird Centre coming in off the sea. In the strong wind and darkness impossible to estimate numbers.”

Musselburgh scrapes and sea Two Lapland bunting between scrapes and seawall area. Juvenile pectoral sandpiper, one little stint , juvenile curlew sandpiper, black-tailed godwit ruff, two drake scaup on boating pond, Mediterranean gull, and shoveler, with a sparrowhawk visiting frequently! An osprey was seen flying up the Esk, which circled a couple of times before flying south.

Aberlady Bay First pink-footed geese arrived back just after lunchtime on 15 September. There were 400 there this morning. Small group flew south over Tranent late last night. Black-tailed godwit were seen off the car park. A jacksnipe flushed from just north of the Marl Loch (from old Lothian Bird News this seems very early for this species in the Lothians), redstart (female) in buckthorn by the path to Gullane Point. Plenty of pink-feet on the mudflats and in small groups overhead. Belated news from last week: six curlew sandpipers, two little stints, redstart, spotted flycatcher, whinchat.

Wildlife Sightings Week up to 10 September (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock Heading out on Seabird Seafari trip yesterday it was a joy to see so many gugas on the sea. At times it almost felt like a slalem course as the skipper carefully negotiated passage through many of these flightless birds, their yip yip filling the air as we passed by, giving passengers wonderful sightings of this impressive black speckled bird that has recently fledged. An occasional one is spotted flying and you know that it has a good chance of survival as it flaps, glides and soars learning to use the wind currents. A heavy easterly swell this week has already brought a flood of calls up and down the coastline as birds are washed ashore, some just exhausted, in need of a rest, others weakened by the ordeal unable to fish, and sadly some injured. Information below to help assess calls and give advice. The shag chick was doing well but high tides and the harsh easterly may have washed the nest away. Keep you updated on that Isle of May The sea eagle (orange tag L nicknamed Erik) has been around the island for several days. Worth spending some time panning around with the cameras. Unfortunately as last year, young fulmar chicks not yet fledged are easy targets, and reports from the Farne Islands where another Sea Eagle has been spotted are similar with fulmar chicks and young shags also being taken. With migration underway the easterly winds may have brought some exciting birds in for our walks around the island, this weekend

Last week Seafari had an urgent call to transport a spare part to a drilling ship operating about ten miles east of the Isle of May. Sightings from Colin Aston “We were delighted to observe several hundred Puffins both young and adult out in this area, unfortunately it is too far out to run trips to but it was great to see all the Puffins thriving out there.”

Craigleith Cormorants are still being seen. They have moved from the east cliff to the south side and may be visible from the camera. Eiders are appearing again, some immature, but the distinctive plumage of the male is returning after its moult. Not so many grey seals seen this week but that will be due to the crashing seas around the island

Fidra Common Scoter was spotted in the seas around the island. It really does pay to scan around a little as many of the winter ducks and waders are returning. The peregrines are being seen.

Other sightingsTynninghame semi p sandpiper still present, juv little stint, curlew sandpiper, greenshank and 2 tree pipit

At Musselburgh scrapes and shore curlew sandpiper, ruff, black-tailed godwit, snipe and shoveler, grey and golden plover, great skua, arctic skua, goldeneye, slavonian grebes and red-throated divers.

Gullane & Aberlady Bay knot, turnstone, 1 twite, 1 whimbrel and curlew.

Hound Point arctic skua, great skua, back tern, gannets and gugas, fulmars, teal, widgeon common scoter, red-breasted merganser.

Almost time for my annual sail on the Maid of the Forth for a very relaxed seawatch and time to sit on Inchcolm to enjoy watching young gannets perfect their diving techniques and whatever else passes by.

Gannet Rescue Advice

Q’s to ask

Is it a young speckled guga? (describe, large black speckled with a dagger like bill)

Does it have any down on it?

Is it injured? (it may be exhausted and just resting)

Is it under threat from dogs, people?

Is it an Adult? describe (Usually injured if on the beach)

Location this really is important.

If possible have a precise landmark/nearby road if close to local beaches. Vague locations can result in us walking miles along beaches and may result in the bird not being found

Action

If a call comes into the Centre, if the bird can be brought to the Centre, (Gannets can be difficult to handle!! therefore as above advice or) we will try to pick up and asses. If the bird is in need of rest or food they will be taken to Pat. If obviously injured call the SSPCA or the Centre on 01620 890202 with as much info as possible re location. Where and when possible I am happy to come out. Maggie 07709.505.133

Sightings Week up to 3 September (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May As we walked up Palpitation Brae stopping to look at the few fulmar young still on the cliffs, female eiders in the loch below, pied wagtails and rock pipits flitting about, I suggested that it was the time to be looking out for White - tailed eagles (Sea Eagles ). The RSPB release programme continues and it is at this time of year we may spot these impressive immature birds as they disperse to finds suitable habitat. Two years ago we spotted one on camera at Pilgrims Haven. With the guided tour complete I went for a wander and within 10 minutes word reached me that indeed a Sea Eagle was sitting on the Maiden rocks at the east of the island. As I headed off in that direction, I had a call from the Centre, saying it had been spotted on camera. For the few passengers that saw this bird sitting above Pilgrims Haven, it really made their day. So scan around with the camera. It may still be around. It is a male with an orange tag with the letter L and has been nicknamed Erik.

Waders are returning and a good easterly wind will hopefully bring a good stream of migrants for the Ringers at the bird observatory.

Craigleith and the May Grey seals are reappearing with many more being seen this past week, not just from the boat but on camera. The breeding season is not that far away. Bass Rock Life, death, and survival of the gugas is very much underway. It is a treacherous journey for some as they walk through territories, at times being heavily attacked, to reach a ledge that has no sea below, only the dense mallow, the lighthouse or another rocky promontory to negotiate. Yet they are determined and as ever many are trapped behind the lighthouse. The freeing of these birds has to be the worst experience, as knee deep putrid mud hinders movement and the smell is overpowering and clings for many hours. The reward is to see them finally at the open gate or one of the ramps and take that first ‘leap’. Seldom is the wind enough to give them a good uplift there, and many hit the rocks with a harsh thud, but most survive! At this time of year when we land we walk swiftly, eyes skyward! The fringe breeders are doing well but several of the young do wander and at times two or three chicks will be huddled together, with one adult close by. Suddenly a ball of down is spotted and a young 3-4week chick just emerges from under the belly of the adult. How many more are there? There is still mating, nest building, displaying, and disputes. The gannetry is seldom silent.

The shag chick in the cave is progressing, with both parents in attendance.

Tynninghame A Semipalmated Sandpiper has been seen, at times near to Heddewick Burn. It has generally been associating with Dunlin.

At Musselburgh scrapes and shore Red -throated diver, Scaup, Velet Scoter, Great Crested Grebe, Arctic Skua, Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, and a Greeenshank. Thanks to all at Lothian bird news

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Sightings – Week up to 20 August 2010 (Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Rock As last week’s bulletin went out, the first gugas were seen on the sea close to the Rock. Over the next few weeks we are likely to see them on beaches or on islands. Some come ashore just to rest unaware of the melee they can create. Unless obviously weak or if still down covered, they will probably head back into the sea, but I’m sure we’ll receive several call outs over the coming weeks. Sailing out to the May, we saw one taking off from the sea. Its flight was low and a little faltering. I expected to see it crash on to the water but it maintained its flight and headed off into the distance. I’m confident that one will make it. On the Rock, a few of the very young that hatched recently to new breeders have not survived. Interestingly particularly on the fringes, several young 5/8 weeks are wandering and grouped together, but obviously all being fed. Tree hugger is thought to be surviving although he too appears to wander and join a group under the tree. He was very isolated. There is very interesting news from the research that has been ongoing this summer, from what the gannets are eating to where they are fishing, and productivity. Hopefully there will be an update very soon on that. I was aware that the shag that has been sitting on the nest looked as if it may be on a chick now, but the swell prevented us sailing too close to the entrance. Its nest is further into the cave. Interestingly, reading back on last year’s sightings, there was a late breeding shag in the cave although not quite as late as this.

Craigleith and the May Over last weekend a few puffins were being seen still carrying fish and for visitors enjoying their walk around the May Isle a few were rewarded with the occasional sighting of one flying overhead. Pufflings had been found on the island that weekend but the season is at an end now. This last four days there were no sightings on the sea. Guillemots with young are being seen, and on the way to the May last Sunday three porpoises were briefly spotted. The May Princess sailing from Anstruther also spotted five or six. One was a calf, and a report came into the Centre on Monday from Fife probably of the same group.

Last year Kittiwakes were still being seen and heard on the cliff ledges as we approached Craigleith, but this year they have gone. A few young are being seen and certainly at Dunbar on the far side of the castle a few dozen were sitting as we sailed back in from the Bass.

Telescope Deck Now is the time to start taking a little time out on the viewing deck. This time last year we were seeing turnstone in summer plumage, purple sandpiper, sawbills on the sea. Sandwich terns are noisy and visible as they plunge dive offshore. There are definitely flocks of waders appearing, so start scanning the rocks! Skuas and Shearwaters may well be passing so a little time and patience seawatching could bring rewards.

Seals A rather disturbing report in the news this week. Common seals are being found dead with highly unusual lacerations right around their body like a spiral. In the Firth of Tay, seven were found dead in June out of a breeding population of only 150, and a further eighteen deaths have been reported in St Andrews Bay and the Firth of Forth in the past two months. The injuries are not consistent with any known phenomenon, such as those caused by fishing nets or boat propellers. Researchers believe they are mechanically produced by a rotating single blade. Although this has been known for several months, studies and observations were ongoing. However any information, or should you find a seal with these fatal injuries, please do contact us or call Maggie on 07709.505.133.

This information will be passed on to the Sea Mammal Research Unit, as it is vital to find the cause of these horrific and mysterious deaths. Many thanks.

Sightings – Week up to 11 August 2010 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass Start to watch for gugas on the sea. There are certainly some very close to fledging. It will be another two weeks before we really start to see many more. Tree Hugger, unfortunately with not landing this week I have no update. The last I saw of him he had been alone at the nest site. For 9/10 weeks the parents have sat tight, never moving, always defending against anyone that came anywhere near to the nest. Then we began to notice the parent wandering. It didn’t fly off, just wandered from the nest. As he had inherited his parent’s demeanour, he was fine. On the last day I saw him he went wandering, and on our afternoon visit he was no where to be seen. Watch this space!!

The shag in the cave is sitting tight to the nest, no young visible, so we wait and see.

The common seals at the west cave are wonderful. On a Seabird Seafari trip last week I was telling a group of young French students how seals respond to sweet sounds and that singing can attract them. At that they all started singing this beautiful genteel song. It was one of these magical moments as the seals responded coming closer to the boat, the girls, so peaceful, this beautiful sweet song echoing around the cave, common seals popping their heads up watching us. They will have a lovely memory of their Bass trip and for me too.

Craigleith The rafts are smaller but puffins have still been seen this week and some are being seen carrying in fish. We are close to the ‘puffin hunt’ from the boat, but they have been seen everyday on the sea, and likewise at the Isle of May. Forth Seabird Group was out ringing the fulmar chicks last weekend and it appears to be a very successful year on Craigleith with 72 ringed. There is no question that the mallow clearance has aided the fulmars as their habitat had also been heavily invaded so, wonderful news. Turnstones and oystercatchers are returning, black headed gulls too. It won’t be long before we start to see eiders returning after their moult.

A young fledging swallow was brought into the centre. It was a caring thought but there was nothing wrong with it and in these cases it is always best to leave near to the site and the parents will generally come down to feed it. I took it back to the nest site, I hardly had the box open when it flew out swooping overhead for a couple of circuits and disappeared close to the nesting area. I’m sure it was going to be fine.

Sightings – Week up to 5 August 2010 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Just a short update this week.

Bass All the fringe breeders have now hatched with only a few suffering due to the weather over the last 3 wks. Tree hugger … has done so well but I will update you on his fortune next week as it may not be good.

Rescue time is upon uswithat least 4 in the pen at Pat's. A shag is sitting on a nest in the cave, not quite sure if it's on a chick or an egg. I will keep you updated.

Craigleith and Isle of May The Bird observatory have been surprised at how many puffins they have been seeing recently and certainly there are still quite a few around. Yesterday from the boat several were seen carrying fish an indication they are still feeding.

Cormorants make wonderful viewing on camera and from the boat.

Bass Rock: Some gannet chicks on the Bass have lost nearly all their down now, and some very young ones - just a week or two old - have also been seen. There is one chick which has a very twisted beak. The peregrine has been seen on the Bass cliffs and lighthouse.

Fidra, Craigleith and Isle of May: There are several fulmar chicks on the grassy slope on Fidra, quite close to the camera.There arealso fulmar chickson Craigleith and the Isle of May.

Large numbers of puffins have been gathering on the rocks. A few have been seen on Craigleith and on the water with beakfuls of sandeels, so there must still be some pufflings down burrows.

On the 26, two grey seals were seen on Craigleith, and a grey and common seal on Fidra.

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Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 23 July 2010 (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Fidra: Lots of puffins were around earlier in the week, but today only a handful have been seen. The peregrine was seen at the weekend.

Bass Rock: Several of the gannet chicks are losing their down and getting in dark feathers now. Over the last week, the peregrines have been seen frequently on the Bass Rock lighthouse.

Craigleith: Two grey seals were lying on the rocks this morning. There is a shag with a very small chick, only a few days old. A fulmar with a chick was seen this week. Puffins were gathering on the rocks during the week, but have only been seen on the water so far today.

Isle of May: Again, there were lots of puffins earlier in the week, but not many today. A grey seal was seen sleeping in the water yesterday. The fulmar chick is being fed regularly by its parents.

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Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 16 July 2010 (by Volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

It has been a busy time on the Bass this last 2 weeks so thank you to Catriona for jumping in and updating you on sightings. So a quick update on highlights from this last 2 weeks.

Bass Rock It has been a very exciting time on the Bass, not least with having Sir David Attenborough landing and filming. It is thought that it is all a simple procedure. Jump on a boat, with film crew and Sir David, land and film. No, it has taken several weeks of planning for the logistics of landing such a large production team and equipment. There were many challenges but, besides safety, the most important thing is the care of the colony, particularly at this sensitive time when many of the fringe breeders (I'm really pleased to say) are hatching.

The crew were extremely sensitive and aware. For the large camera equipment, it would be gently moved into place with minimum crew and left for a while so birds in close proximity got used to it. Only then were again minimum crew allowed in. It was reassuring on Monday to see several newly hatched chicks within that area.

The tree hugging gannet chick is now 3 weeks old. That pair battled and protected the site so well and it's wonderful to see the chick has survived. Many of the first time breeders are doing so well.

The rain has taken its toll I suspect, and from the boat yesterday, the low-lying gannets were mud covered from the run off from the cliffs. Not ideal nesting spots.

A trio of fulmars were having a real stushie the other day. Normally so sociable, this group were spitting their foul smelling and potentially very damaging oil at each other. One eventually flew off, leaving the other two noisily cackling to each other.

Craigleith The puffins are just wonderful. Large groups sitting on the cliff tops at the back of the island are an absolute joy to see. On the West side of the island they are not disappearing into deep mallow ..Other vegetation is taking over. It is wonderful. Kittiwakes and tarrock (young kittiwake) are still on the cliffs. There are a few smaller chicks still being fed.

Cormorants and the young with their pale fronts are now very obvious.

Only a few guillemot are being seen now.

With very low tides many grey seals have been hauled out, and at the Bass the common seal certainly come out to greet us.

Two dolphins (species unknown) were seen earlier in the week but no sightings since.

The pied wagtails have fledged that live in the harbour wall and a sign of the changing season several Manx Shearwater were seen from the Maid of the Forth as it sailed to Inchcolm the other day.

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Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 8 July 2010 (by Catriona - Discovery Centre)

Bass Rock: The oldest gannet chicks are beginning to lose their fluffy down now. Some birds are still incubating eggs.

Craigleith: There have been lots of puffins around over the last few days. A puffling was seen peeking out of a burrow yesterday.

Isle of May: Again, lots of puffins have been seen in the last couple of days. The cliffs are now nearly empty of guillemots and razorbills.

Fidra: A fulmar chick was spotted by Nora this afternoon

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Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 30 June 2010 (by Catriona - Discovery Centre)

Bass Rock: More chicks are appearing each day, and the bigger ones are now very easy to spot. Some gannets are still incubating eggs.

Craigleith: Puffins were quite scarce at the start of the week, but for the last couple of days large numbers of them have been seen hanging out on the rocks. Cormorant and shag chicks are beginning to wander away from their nests. A young grey seal was seen on Monday.

Dunbar: The kittiwakes appear to be doing quite well, several nests having two or even three chicks in them.

Fidra: Lots of puffins have been seen in the lastfew days. Guillemots and razorbills are beginning to leave the cliffs now.

Isle of May: The cliffs here are also looking a bit emptier, as the razorbills and guillemots head back out to sea. Again, lots of puffins have been seen towards the end of the week. The shag chicks in the nests just below the cliff camera are all looking very big and healthy, and some of them are beginning to leave the nests and wander around the rocks.

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Wildlife Sightings week up to 25 June (by Volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Sorry just a brief update.

The Bass The gannets that nested right on our pathway to the chapel are now much more relaxed. They have defended the sites with ‘vigor’! Two have taken sites close to the elder bush, (loosing our valuable bag space). They too are more relaxed.

Photographers are given very clear guidelines as to how to pass these birds. I can’t wait to see them hatch. Several of the fringe birds have already hatched this week and are all being very attentive. I think what has made a difference this year, several of the patrolling herring gulls have been displaced. Unfortunately not the dive bombing chapel pair!! There is also a particularly nasty one that I think is giving lessons to the others on the pathway. I mentioned this one last year. It should win the ‘paintball medal’ for precision and coverage of its poo. Hat, hair, neck, and collar, nothing escapes. Nothing deters this one!! I cringe everytime I see it, just waiting!! It is lovely to see the way the chicks scuttle for cover, and freeze as the call comes out from the adult.

The orange billed guillemot has a chick this year. The head of this adult bird is mottled brown and the webs a pale orange yellow. The chick looks very near to fledging.

Craigleith The puffins are everywhere, and it is wonderful the feedback that is coming in from people who are marveling at the transformation of this island.

Food source. It is looking very good this year. Sprats, sandeels and for the gannets shoals of mackerel. I have seen photos taken this week at the Farne Islands, puffins flying in with bills filled with large sandeels!! This has not been seen for some time and it wonderful news for this year’s breeding season.

Dunbar Kittiwake numbers are up this year

A call came in from Holly in the Discovery Centre about a stranded dolphin on Gullane beach. She was concerned as it had been some time since a call for help went out, and no one had arrived. The Marine medics were called and along with SSPCA and local help made the white beaked dolphin more comfortable. Sadly, it was in too poor condition to be saved.

Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 18 June (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Isle of May As we sailed into Kirkhaven last week, the harsh rasping of the terns that greets the visitor was sadly silent. The arctic tern colony that breeds on the shingle surround of Kirhaven is struggling. The wardens are puzzled. The terns had arrived as normal but have not really settled near the beacon, a few are on nests. As you walk along Holyman’s Road it's beautiful to watch as they fly overhead. The scarlet red bill and legs, the deeply forked tail that has earned them the sailors name of ‘sea swallow’.

Puffins are very active as they to and fro feeding their chicks with reasonable sized sprats. Guillemot, razorbill all carrying in sandeels and feeding the chicks. Before we know it, under the dusk of summer nights, their young chick will jump off the cliff ledges to join the male who will then tend to the chicks’ needs. The distinctive soft contact call of the eider as she gently herds her ducklings some distance across the island for safe water.

At the visitor centre Keith Brockie was patiently waiting for a shelduck to emerge from her burrow with her ducklings. We left him in peace to photograph and draw. I will find out if she did appear and how many were in her brood. We have been fairly sure there is a shelduck on Craigleith, but we never did see any young or indeed find the burrow she nested in.

Bass Wonderful views of the chicks now. We are suddenly seeing them everywhere.

I spotted an egg with quite a large hole in it. It was a new breeder and I wasn’t sure if it had just broken the egg. Keeping a watch during the day, much later I spotted the chick encased in just half the shell. A while later the egg was tilted and the chick slid out. Just wonderful, but what made this so special is it was an isolated first time breeder.

Loggers have now been attached to the back of seven breeding gannets by Dr Keith Hammer and team from Leeds University. Photographs of these will be displayed in the Discovery Centre very soon. A logger from two years ago has been retrieved and returned to Professor Bob Furness of Glasgow University. If this one has kept working it will return exciting data. Will keep you updated on all of the above

Elsewhere; Kittiwakes, delightful to watch the down covered chicks feeding. Shags, down beginning to vanish with the juvenile plumage appearing.

Two porpoises were seen from Fisher Lassie earlier in the week between the Bass and Craigleith

Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 11 June (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass A chick approx 3wks old has been seen in the centre of the colony close to the chapel. Down spreading out from under the belly of the adult was unmistakable. It is the oldest one seen to date and a great spot by Agneiska in the Discovery Centre. With weather very wet this past week, the newly hatched, of which there are many, are being carefully brooded to keep them warm and dry.

A life saving moment on the Rock when an eider was spotted - it was obvious she had young as her wings were slightly held out. She was desperately trying to protect her ducklings as they ran the gauntlet through the herring gull colony. To the rescue!! - young Adam and Sam Dalrymple clapping hands and waving arms enough to distract the gull and allow the eider and her young to launch themselves off the rock into the relative safety of the sea. A heart stopping moment as we could only see one duckling. Had the gulls taken one? Then we spotted it swimming frantically to its mother for protection. No aunties were around to help protect. There has been one nesting on the edge of the gull colony, but I thought she had gone. Perhaps she had waited for that moment of distraction as we had stopped to look at 3 herring gull chicks that had hatched earlier in the day, it was heart warming to see them paddle away from the rock. Let’s hope they made it to the safety of the rocky coastline.

Dunbar The first kittiwake chicks were spotted on the 7 June. It’s so lovely to watch these down covered, but very active chicks in these precarious nests.

Craigleith It is infectious the sheer joy when visitors in the Centre see their first ever puffin, or from the boat, the shrieks of delight are continually heard usually followed by “look how small they are”. Photographs at times portray them as enormous birds and that’s without Tammie* wandering around!

Spending a little time on the island, I was almost overjoyed to find a mallow patch. On closer inspection I realised it was a major seed bank, where cutting had previously been piled but now decomposed. The carpet of small and some tiny seedlings was very obvious, so I sat down to weed. It was only after about 20 minutes that I suddenly spotted 2 eiders in the surrounding growth, hunkered down tightly on their nests a few feet apart, and only 2 feet from where I was sitting. I backed off very slowly. The females are just so beautiful and serene as they sit silently on their eggs, never moving and so well camouflaged. The tagged seal has been seen hauled out on the rocks. Again a mix of grey and common seals are being spotted

Isle of May The puffling has again been seen on the burrow cam.

Fidra A razorbill chick has been spotted and guillemot chicks are quite obvious on the cliff ledges now.

Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 4 June (by volunteer Maggie Sheddan)

Bass - Only 2 chicks spotted so far but there are more out there. A chick hunting weekend on camera for our visitors. It won’t be long before the first loggers are attached. Rachel Davies from Leeds University paid a quick visit earlier this week to organise her base up here. A trial test of a logger, carried in her bag, proved successful in tracking her journey from Leeds to North Berwick. The real intent was to determine battery life. It is important to recover these devices in a short time frame. Although very light they are quite large and unlike the previous loggers we have seen on the leg of the birds, these will be attached to the plumage with tape. It is hoped to have photographs of the loggers soon and tracking map of previous studies undertaken at other gannetries so we can understand what will be happening on the Bass.

The common seals at the Bass are such fun. They truly do come out to see us, bodies rising out the water as they peer at the strange yellow and blue people. A quick twist and splash as they shallow dive only to pop up at the other side of the boat and repeat the scenario. I am fairly sure we spotted a young common seal pup the other day. It was dark, very small and hauled out at a strange location at the back of the Bass.

May Isle - A puffling has been seen on the burrow cam. The shag nest, wonderful shots of the lone brown woolly shag chick. It is doubtful that the two eggs still in the nest will hatch. What will happen to them..keep watching .

Craigleith - Puffins have been observed carrying in fish! Eggs have hatched. As ever there is a very predatory Great Black backed gull out there as I found 5 puffins that had succumbed to their attack. Female eiders are gathering to form protective creches for the ducklings. The island has so many gulls they do have to run the gauntlet to reach the sea. Two Greylag were seen but no gosling. No rabbits spotted on my quick visit but even more exciting no mallow!! Don’t get excited it is still there but the grasses and other vegetation are taking a good hold in some areas. Just wonderful !!!

Fidra - Guillemot chicks spotted on 30 May, zoom into the cliff ledges to see them. Remember it is only a few short weeks where we see these down covered chicks on the tiny ledges

Dunbar - Can you see how many eggs are in a nest? The good news, eggs are being seen.

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Wildlife Sightings – Week up to 27 May (by Catriona - Discovery Centre)

The first gannet chick on the Bass Rock was seen by Maggie this morning. It is 2-3 days old and is in the area in front of the chapel. Cormorants and shags on most of the islands have chicks now, and herring gull chicks have been spotted on Fidra. Several groups of eider ducklings have been seen making their way down to the sea. Kittiwakes and fulmars now have eggs, and puffins were seen flying in with fish on the Isle of May.