The beginning of May should usually herald the start of the rarity season, with the first week of the month historically seeing the likes of Lesser Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler and Subalpine Warblers. This year, however, May started with a dismal display with next to nothing of note on either the land or sea. Virtually an entire days seawatch produced a single
Pomarine Skua, one apiece of
Arctic Skua and
Sandwich Tern, three
Bonxies and 15
Manx Shearwaters. The land didn't fare much better with little more of note than a single
Redstart, a singing
Lesser Whitethroat at the obs and a handful of
Wheatears and
Whinchats across the Bill.