Another early start

Up and away for some May Day birding - washed my face in the dew, sang the Internationale, etc. Now 2 Sedge Warblers singing half-heartedly along the Elsick Burn, but it was a bit chilly again. Good news! That cinnamon-coloured rabbit (see Secret Freezers passim) was back again in the fields - I'm a sucker for a good mutant bunny. Also this

Genuine Scottish Wildcat...

and the Roe Deers - a male and three females crossed the track ahead of me and woandered off up Cow Field.

A Tree Pipit flew over the clifftops: good to keep the patch year list ticking along. A 15 minute seawatch (now there's dedication :-) ) produced a Great Skua and a Manx Shearwater, both heading north, 20 Northern Gannets, and a flurry, yes flurry, of 11 Red-throated Divers. That would add up to 44 per hour if I stayed around to count, but I didn't. Went to work instead. A Whimbrel went north too.

Seabird cliffs - not exactly stowed out this morning

On the way back home... a single Barn Swallow going up the valley, and a couple of House Martins in the village.