Isle of May National Nature Reserve Annual Report 2022

Authors: David Steel and Hannah Greetham

Published: 2023

1 Introduction

It proved to be another interesting season with its fair share of highs and lows.  David Steel returned for his eighth season as the Reserve Manager and Hannah Greetham joined the team as the new Assistant Reserve Manager, starting in early May 2022.  Hannah replaced Bex Outram, who moved on to Natural England following eight years on the Isle of May.  The island was manned by NatureScot staff from 21 March until 12 November and during that time welcomed thousands of visitors, researchers, volunteers and bird observatory guests.

2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Recent years have been very challenging for all those connected with the Isle of May NNR as Covid-19 restrictions resulted in an impact on all work and island living during the two years 2020-2021.  This year brought a new crisis as highly pathogenic avian influenza reached the island mid-summer, resulting in closure to the public from 1 July-8 August.  All research work involving handling of seabirds was stopped whilst the bird observatory also closed its doors for this period.  The impact on seabirds was noticeable as a total of seven species were confirmed as having the virus (puffin, eider, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, kittiwake and Arctic tern) and it was suspected in others.  Overall, the island colonies appeared to escape the worst of the virus with a peak of 500 kittiwakes recorded dead and smaller numbers of other species.

3 Infrastructure

During the winter months, a series of strong northerly storms battered the island, with the most serious being Storm Arwen, which brought heavy disruption to many parts of the east coast.  During this time, the island infrastructure was damaged, most noticeably the Low Light cottage on the east side.  The slated rooftop was damaged in several areas, including substantial holes in two parts of the cottage.  As a result, the entire rooftop was removed, stripped back and replaced in March-April with joint funding from the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust and NatureScot.  During the spring, the entire PV system on South Plateau was replaced and upgraded, bringing improved power to Fluke Street.   

Other projects on the island included the painting of the external walls of Fluke Street buildings in August, whilst the internal doors and woodwork were completed in September.  The boardwalk along Holyman’s Road was extended whilst general upkeep of pathways and island infrastructure was ongoing throughout the season.  

4 Habitat

Further work to enhance the tern terraces at the Beacon was undertaken, with a new hide erected and further gravel/sand added to the construction.  Tern terrace work was undertaken to improve the areas in the Mouse House field.  The boardwalk built to protect puffin burrows along Holyman’s Road was extended whilst the path on South Plateau was repaired in the summer.

5 Visitors

As usual, the first visitor boats sailed from 1 April and, as usual, boats departing from Anstruther brought the majority of visitors, with the May Princess bringing 7,446 visitors (7,981 last year) whilst the fast RIB Osprey carried a further 1,169 visitors (1,280 last year).  During the season, boats travelled from the Lothian side of the Firth of Forth, with the Seabird Centre RIB bringing 862 visitors (1,043 last year) and BlueWild a further 138 visitors (98 last year).  Small private leisure craft and kayaks carried a further 41 visitors, bringing the annual total to 9,656.  Despite the mid-summer closure from 1 July-8 August due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the annual total of 9,656 was the ninth highest ever for the island as the months of April-June brought record visitor numbers for each of those months.  Without the closure, it was forecast to be heading for a new visitor season record.       

Table 1: Visitor numbers on individual boats, 2022

Month	May Princess	Osprey RIB	Seabird RIB	BlueWild	Others	Total
April	1,241	250	177	5	3	1,677
May	2,206	283	249	39	10	2,787
June	2,342	281	248	62	18	2,951
July	0	0	0	0	0	0
August	1,284	259	137	27	10	1,717
Sept	372	96	51	5	0	524
Total	7,445	1,169	862	138	41	9,656

 

Table 2: Annual visitor numbers for the Isle of May NNR, 2015-2022

Year	Total
2015	10,929
2016	12,064
2017	12,895
2018	13,754
2019	14,248
2020	-
2021	10,554
2022	9,656

 

6 Volunteers

After two seasons affected by Covid, the short and long-term volunteer scheme on the Isle of May NNR returned to normal.  These valuable contributions helped the island operate throughout the season.  Two long-term volunteers helped throughout the seabird breeding season: Eilidh Taylor from 13 April-25 August and Rosalie Betts from 1 May-21 September.  Their enthusiasm, hard work and support ensured some excellent work was achieved on the island and overall, they contributed an impressive 210 working days.  Other help was most welcome during the season, including Chris Cachia-Zammit (48 days), Stephanie Quinn (14 days), Laura Kamp (10 days) Brian Minchull (7 days), Viv Hastie (5 days) and Iain English (5 days).  Overall, a total of 299 days were contributed to the island through volunteering.

During the early spring, a team of five NatureScot colleagues on student placements helped set up the island ready for the new season ahead.  The team consisted of Andrew (Tentsmuir), Bethia (Loch Leven), Ellie (Stirling), Mark (Forvie) and Frazer (SE reserves), who helped out for five days from 21-25 March and helped prepare all aspects of opening the reserve.  Also, the same team helped for three days in late May, taking part in the ground counting of large nesting gulls and eiders.  Due to the island closure and Covid-19 restrictions, no events occurred this year.

7 Media

The island was again the focus of various media outlets during the year, featuring on televison, radio and in newspapers.  The main publicity was focussed around avian influenza, with Reserve Manager David Steel talking to BBC Breakfast live from the island whilst BBC Radio Four ran several features.  Social media was again popular, and the island’s blog recorded over 100,000 views, a new record.  Personal staff Twitter accounts were poplar whilst the island’s Facebook page accounted for over 5,000 follows.

8 Bird Observatory

NatureScot staff contributed to the successful running of the observatory season, welcoming guests every Saturday, including moving luggage to the jetty areas.  The roof of the cottage was severely damaged during the winter storms and NatureScot partially funded the replacement in the early spring.  David Steel attended two committee meetings and remained an active member of the observatory.  The season was another success, with almost 100% coverage from 1 April although there was a temporary closure due to avian influenza in July and early August.  The observatory reopened from 23 August and finally closed for the winter on 12 November.

9 Seabirds

NatureScot monitors breeding seabird populations as part of its management of the National Nature Reserve as well as to report on the Special Protection Area (SPA) qualifying species.  As a result, full population counts of all seabirds are undertaken of all species during the summer months, with the exception of puffins.  Further seabird monitoring and research is undertaken by various research organisations including UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), the University of St Andrews, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust (IOMBOT).

9.1 Population monitoring of cliff-nesting seabirds

9.1.1 Sections and timings

The detailed methodology for counting the five cliff-nesting seabird species (guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, fulmar and shag) is set out in the Isle of May Monitoring Handbook (NatureScot, 2001, revised 2002 and 2011).  The island is divided into the same standardised count sections as have been used in previous years.  All species are counted once during the first week in June to capture a snapshot of the populations.  In 2018, counts from the sea were added, to allow those birds nesting in caves and areas unseen from land to be included in the population counts.  The majority of the all-island count was carried out this year by Hannah Greetham from 1-6 June 2022.

9.1.2 Cornerstone plot counts

The counts of individual razorbill and guillemot during the all-island count are converted to estimates of pair numbers.  A count of each species was made at the Cornerstone plot at the beginning of every count session.  For each species, the number of pairs known to be breeding at Cornerstone was divided by the relevant Cornerstone count, for every count session.  This provided a “k” value which represents the difference between the number of individuals counted and the number of actual breeding pairs.  By multiplying this “k-value” with the number of individual birds counted during a session, the number of pairs can be estimated for that session.  Keeping raw counts to within a few hours of the Cornerstone plot count allows for the variation in attendance of adults on the cliffs.

9.2 Results of cliff-nesting seabirds

The overall 2022 counts for each of the five cliff-nesting species on the Isle of May are shown in Table 3.  Counts from previous years are also shown for comparison.

9.2.1 Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

The first returning bird was seen in mid-February and up to ten birds were recorded on several dates in April-May, with a peak of 11 adults on 25 May.  At least three pairs bred, with two different pairs seen with chicks: a pair with ten chicks on the Loch on 30 May and another with chicks at East Tarbet on 10 June.

9.2.2 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

The species was evident in early spring, with two pairs lingering, especially on the island’s loch.  Breeding was confirmed with both pairs as a female with young was discovered at Three Tarn Nick on 1 May and another female with young in late May.

9.2.3 Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Small numbers were present around the island during the winter but started to increase with the onset of the new breeding season.  Pairs were seen displaying on the island’s loch and the first incubating female was discovered in the Low Trap entrance on 16 April.  The first duckling hatched from 9 May.  The population was counted across the island in late May and revealed a total of 715 nesting females, and it was very evident from the start that the population was down, with birds not nesting in typically favoured areas.  This was a huge decrease from the 1,183 nesting females counted in the previous census in 2018 and although it is difficult to know the exact reasons behind the decline, it may have been a result of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the population during the early spring.  Despite this, throughout May and June good numbers of ducklings were seen and large family crèches were observed heading off north towards the Fife coastline on several occasions.  Late nesters were noted in mid-July.  Following the breeding season, numbers around the island were low, with peaks of fifty in the autumn.

9.2.4 Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Fulmars were present on the cliffs throughout the late winter and spring as birds gathered on traditional nesting ledges.  The first egg was discovered on 16 May and the first chick hatched on 2 July.  The population remained stable, with 321 pairs (AON) counted, three down on the previous season.  As usual, the first fledglings started leaving from mid-August, with the first noted on 18 August, and all had departed by early September.  Overall, breeding productivity was 0.49 (chicks per pairs monitored), which was above the long-term average.  The species was largely absent from the cliffs throughout the autumn, with birds returning in late November.

9.2.5 Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Good numbers roosted throughout the winter on Rona and the small colony established itself again in early spring, with nest-building activities and copulation noted in mid-March.  Due to the sensitive nature of the species (easily disturbed), the colony was not accessed and exact dates are not known.  However, birds were incubating from 10 April and the first chicks hatched in mid-May.  The population remained stable, with ten pairs counted.  The breeding season appeared to be successful as the majority of nests fledged 2-3 young each.  Birds remained on the island throughout the autumn and early winter months. 

9.2.6 Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

Reasonable numbers overwinter on the island and mild conditions in early spring encouraged early nesting.  Nest-building activities commenced from mid-March and the first eggs were discovered at a nest at Horse Hole on 25 March.  Although the first chicks hatched from 27 April, the season was protracted, with birds on eggs mid-summer.  The first chicks started fledging from mid-June and the population showed a very slight decrease of four pairs, with 491 (AON) counted.  Plot count data showed the highest return rate (94.2%) of adults and the breeding success was impressive, with 2.04 chicks fledging per breeding pair, the second highest productivity figure on record.

9.2.7 Guillemot (Uria aalge)

Guillemots were present on cliff nesting ledges throughout the late winter and early spring, and breeding activity increased in early April, with the first eggs discovered on 22 April.  The return rate in the plot areas indicated a return of 79.4% of adults, the third lowest on record, and may have been as a direct result of the auk wrecks noted the previous August along the east coast.  The first chicks hatched from 25 May, with the first jumpling leaping from the cliffs on 18 June.  Breeding productivity indicated a success of 0.74 chicks per nest, an average season for the species.  As usual, the majority of birds had departed by the end of July and wintering birds returned to cliff ledges from 25 October.

The breeding population showed a decrease of 6% to 17,052 pairs.  To calculate the number of breeding pairs, the ‘k’ value is used: to determine this factor, the number of breeding pairs at the Cornerstone plot is used and this year’s Cornerstone plot decreased from 335 pairs to 332.

9.2.8 Razorbill (Alca torda)

The species returned to the cliff ledges in early spring and the return rate of colour-ringed individuals in the plots suggested a return of 86.7%, which is above the long-term average.  The first egg was noted on 25 April and the first chick hatched from 30 May.  A total of 4,381 pairs were counted nesting across the island in early June.  The species had an average breeding season with overall nesting productivity of 0.56 per pair.  The first chicks started jumping from 18 June and the last individuals departed in early August.  The species was present in good numbers around the island from mid-October.  

9.2.9 Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)

As usual, the first birds started to arrive back around the island in late March, with the first touching land on 22 March.  Thereafter, birds were seen pair bonding and spring cleaning burrows over the following few weeks.  The return rate of colour-ringed individuals was 64%, which was the fourth lowest on record, and the general impression was that breeding numbers were down.  There was no census of the population (next census is due in 2023).  The first egg was estimated to have been laid on 11 April.  The first puffins carrying fish were seen on 23 May and the first puffling fledged from 26 June.  The last puffin carrying fish was seen in mid-August; however, the majority of the colony had left earlier in the month.

9.2.10 Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)

The first of the year involved a single north on 20 April and numbers increased rapidly in early May.  Vocal displays soon followed and the first eggs were discovered on 20 May at the Jetty Triangle area.  The first chicks hatched from 19 June.  The population census was undertaken on 10 June and revealed a total of 578 nests (AON), a welcome increase of 196 pairs on the previous season.  The Mouse House field has established itself as a major colony, having increased from 25 pairs (AON) in 2018 to this year’s total of 156 pairs (AON).  Further increases were shown elsewhere around the visitor centre and jetty areas.  Due to the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, tern monitoring was stopped in mid-June.  Evidence suggested it was an excellent season, with predation from large gulls at virtually zero and huge numbers of chicks fledged, with the first on the wing from 2 July.  As usual, the entire population had departed the island from early August, with small numbers seen in Isle of May waters in mid-September. 

9.2.11 Common tern (Sterna hirundo)

The first returning birds arrived in early May and aerial displays were recorded soon after over the traditional breeding colony at the Beacon.  The first eggs were discovered on 26 May, with the first chicks hatching from 18 June.  A total of 29 pairs nested (AON), all at the Beacon.  The first chicks started fledging from 12 July and although no monitoring took place due to highly pathogenic avian influenza, it appeared to be an excellent season.  The final chicks departed the Beacon area on 1 September.

9.2.12 Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

The first returning birds arrived from late April and although occasionally pairs were seen displaying over the Beacon area during the season, there was no breeding attempt; the last was in 2019, when ten pairs successfully bred.

9.2.13 Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii)

This year proved disappointing as there were very few reports, with single adults noted on several dates in the summer months, including some birds on the ground at the Beacon colony, but no breeding attempt was made.  This followed last season’s encouraging signs after a pair were present in the colonies for six weeks but without showing any signs of breeding. 

9.2.14 Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

Kittiwakes started arriving back on the cliff sides in good numbers by late March and the plot data indicated a return of 84.3%, which was higher than average.  Nest-building activity commenced from the first week of May and the first eggs were discovered on 17 May.  The population was not counted this summer but a full survey is expected in 2023.  The first chicks started hatching from 15 June and taking to the wing from 20 July.  Overall breeding productivity was 1.34 per nest, the second highest on record.  Over 2,000 remained around the island in September, with small numbers wintering.

9.2.15 Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus)

Present all year round with influxes of northern birds in the autumn.  The island’s small population was on territory by mid-March and the first eggs were discovered on 16 April.  The first chicks hatched from 17 May.  The population increased to 116 pairs (AON), the highest on record, as the species goes from strength to strength.  Breeding success was monitored in 47 nests on Rona, although the survival rate was very poor, with a return of 0.29 per nest, the lowest since records started in 2015.  The first chicks started fledging from 7 July and, as usual, post-breeding numbers increased with the onset of the grey seal season as many birds took advantage of dead or dying pups as well as afterbirth in October-December.  Evening roost counts of birds increased as a result, with 245 in early November.

9.2.16 Herring gull (Larus argentatus)

Birds were present all year round as during the winter months, up to 8,000 were attracted to the overnight roost on Rona before birds settled down on breeding sites from mid-March.  The first eggs were discovered in late April and this year the population was counted by aerial photographs taken from a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) as a drone was used to access areas which are often difficult to survey on ground level due to the number of breeding seabirds.  Interestingly, this revealed a breeding population of 5,168 (AON), a larger figure than the resulting ground counts.  The first chicks appeared in late May and reasonable numbers of young fledged from the colonies. 

9.2.17 Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)

This migratory gull started to arrive from mid-February, with the majority of the population back by early April.  The first eggs were discovered in early May and a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) was utilised to count the population due to the difficulty of accessing areas at ground level.  These counts revealed a total of 1,739 (AON).  The first chicks hatched in early June and the first fledgers took to the wing in early July.  As usual, the species departed the island with the last records of individuals in mid-September.

9.2.18 Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

The pair returned to Manx Brae, the traditional area for the species, and extensive work by David and Margaret Thorne established the presence of birds during the summer months.  Evidence suggested a breeding attempt was not made and the birds were last recorded at the burrow on 9 September.

9.2.19 Storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

The small breeding population was again present, with displaying birds noted from mid-May.  Plans to undertake a full census of the area to reveal the number of breeding pairs could not be carried out due to the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza.  However, it was evident birds successfully bred and they were last seen in mid-September.  A full census of the area is due to take place in 2023. 

9.2.20 Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Present all year round, with twenty nesting pairs discovered during the summer months.  Although there was no direct monitoring, a good number of young went on to fledge, including three chicks from a nest on the north side of the Loch.

9.2.21 Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)

As usual, peregrines were resident throughout the winter months, but during the early spring a pair were seen in courtship and territorial display.  Breeding was confirmed with the discovery of a nest on the South Plateau containing two eggs on 30 April.  Both eggs hatched and both young took to the wing by 11 July.  The family party remained on the island throughout the early autumn period.  This was the first successful breeding since 2014.

9.2.22 Carrion crow (Corvus corone)

Two pairs established on the island, with nests containing eggs discovered on Rona and off the south end of the island.  Both failed at either egg or chick stage.  One of the individuals involved was a bird well known as ‘Patch’ (due to its white patch on the chest, making this individual easily identifiable), the same individual as in previous years.  Following the unsuccessful breeding attempts, the adults went into moult and remained on the island throughout the year, with occasional commutes to the nearby mainland.

9.2.23 Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)

The species was present throughout the year and four pairs were discovered nesting, including two pairs which nested on the ground on Rona and single pairs in the Top Trap garden and Low Light bushes.  These nests produced a total of seven fledged young.

9.2.24 Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Breeding birds returned to the island in late April and four pairs bred, with birds on eggs in late May in the freezer shed (Fluke Street), Bath House, and two pairs at the Visitor Centre.  All four pairs were successful in raising two broods, with the last family party departing in early October.

9.2.25 Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)

Birds are completely absent from the island during the winter months; the first returnee arrived in mid-February.  As spring progressed, numbers increased and pairs were established on territories by early April.  Up to ten pairs nested across the island and it appeared to be a good breeding season.  Post-breeding roosts were established at three localities: the pier at the Loch, the bushes near the grey water tank at Fluke Street and the Low Light bushes.

9.2.26    Rock pipit (Anthus petrosus)

Small numbers overwinter on the island, with up to 50 present.  Birds were singing in territory by late February and approximately 20 pairs nested across the island, with the first eggs in early April and chicks hatching from 19 April.  Good numbers of fledged young started appearing across the island from mid-May and some birds went on to successfully raise a second brood. 

10 Migrant Birds

It proved to be a year of two halves for bird migration as the spring was poor with low numbers of birds and not many highlights but was followed by an excellent autumn with some noteworthy highlights.  The year list reached 175, the fourth highest in the island’s history.  

During the late winter, reserve and research staff visited the island sporadically and a few noteworthy records were obtained.  A black guillemot was on the sea off the Low Light on 9 January, whilst ravens were again noted, with two on 7 February.  These birds were probably the same pair seen frequenting the west cliffs the previous autumn.  It raises questions as to whether these birds may colonise the island in the future as coastal numbers increase.  Other typical noteworthy records during the late winter period included a first-winter glaucous gull south on 14 March.  Although April was generally quiet, with the typical arrival of the first summer migrants of the year, a male hawfinch was found on the Fluke Street bird table and remained for two days on the 13^th-14^th.  Although this was the fifteenth island record, it was the eighth in the last six years and a trend mirrored at other east coast migration stations in recent years.  Other April highlights included single ospreys, north, on the 4^th and 6^th, 1-2 short-eared owls early in the month and a long-eared owl photographed on the 18^th.  A green sandpiper on 25-26 April on the South Plateau was a scarce spring record for the species.  

The month of May is the month in the spring migration calendar, but like all migration, it relies on the right weather.  After a mundane opening two weeks with the only highlight being a heavily moulting hooded crow for two days, the island eventually witnessed an easterly airflow which started mid-month and did not disappoint.  The start of this purple patch saw an adult honey buzzard drift west, only the eleventh island record and the first spring bird since 1993.  A few days later, the jackpot came, with good numbers of common migrants arriving over the 16^th-18^th.  This included peaks of 40 willow warblers, 8 chiffchaffs, 14 sedge warblers, 3 blackcap, 5 garden warblers, 2 lesser whitethroats and 20 common whitethroats, amongst others. It was no surprise that the bird of the spring was found during this spell. A stonking male rustic bunting, discovered near the water tank bushes at the Low Light, was later caught and ringed.  The bird was the fifteenth island record (involving 18 individuals) and comes hot on the heels of the previous bird seen on 21-22 May 2021.  The other noteworthy bird during this spell was a female bluethroat, which appears in the logo of our bird observatory, favouring a gully near Altarstanes, on 16 May.

However, the excitement of this spell of easterly winds was short-lived: the weather patterns returned to a more westerly dominated flow and quieter times.  Arguably, the most bizarre event of the avian year occurred in late May, though, as an adult ring-necked parakeet was discovered coming in off the sea on the 21^st.  This would have constituted a ‘first’ for the island of this spreading, introduced, species, but the joy was short-lived.  On the second day of its stay, the bird was discovered sitting on a wall at Fluke Street and took a liking to being hand-fed grapes, eventually preferring to sit on the shoulders of the bemused residents on the island, pirate style!  As later discovered, the bird had escaped from captivity in Glenrothes and was soon reunited with its rightful owner, ending a very bemusing and bizarre record for the Isle of May.  Needless to say, a few folk had to remove the species from their island lists once the true nature of the bird had been discovered!  

As early June arrived, it appeared the end of spring passage was in sight and that the island had experienced another slow spring.  However, you can never underestimate or write off the Isle of May, and early June provided a final spring in the tail.  Winds switched to the south-east on the 8^th and a small flurry of migrants arrived late that day.  A fine icterine warbler found the Top Trap and soon after, a belting male bluethroat was at the base of the main lighthouse.  The following day provided arguably the best birding day of the spring as the male bluethroat was still present but was singing from nearby elder bushes.  Whilst this spectacle drew the crowds, the icterine warbler was present for a second day, a female red-backed shrike was found by the Low Light and a cuckoo flew north.  It proved to be the last hurrah of the spring, but was certainly well enjoyed by those present.  The rest of June fell into a typical midsummer slumber with a quail on 5 July, the only noteworthy species during the seabird breeding season. 

By late June, day visitors and visitors to the bird observatory ceased due to HPAI guidance and this remained the case until late August.  Bird sightings from those allowed to remain on the island were slim pickings, typical of late summer.  The first groups back at the observatory in late August were treated to some good early autumn migration.  It commenced on 20 August with a cuckoo and spotted flycatcher amongst a trickle of common migrants through to a brief appearance of a treecreeper on the 25^th.  A peak of 4 pied flycatchers on the 27^th were joined by reed warbler and common rosefinch on the 28^th and a good island count of 3 greenshank.  Seawatching had been steady for a few days, with sooty shearwaters reaching 11 north on the 31^st along with a single pom and a high count of 22 Arctic skua.    

Highlights during the first two weeks of September included four common rosefinches (two trapped and ringed), an icterine warbler on the 4^th and the island’s first wryneck since 2016, which favoured the area between the main lighthouse and Bird Observatory from 3-6 September.  The best bird during this spell proved to be a greenish warbler present in the Top Trap on 3 September, although a male bluethroat trapped and ringed on 11 September was the first autumn record in nine years.  Large raptor migration occurred mid-month, with a honey buzzard south on the 13^th followed by a marsh harrier on 14 September, whilst the same day produced a barn owl (a scarce island visitor) in the bushes near the Bird Observatory, which was seen on four subsequent days.  Wader passage produced the typical spread of common waders, with noticeable records including two curlew sandpipers south on 13 September (the first island records since 1998!) whilst a black-tailed godwit flew south the same day.   

Seawatching has increased in recent seasons and it came as no surprise that rarer seabirds were noted on passage.  The North Sea had witnessed an influx of large shearwaters in late August/early September, and on the morning of 17 September a Cory’s shearwater was picked out flying north at 09:06 and just 25 minutes later, an even closer great shearwater was seen heading in the same direction (the double!).  The same seawatchers then had double delight the following morning as two great shearwaters were seen flying north at 07:43 and 09:56, to complete a memorable 24 hours, especially considering that these were the fifth island record of Cory’s and the 5^th-7^th for great.  Later in the month, another great shearwater was recorded flying north on 26 September whilst a juvenile Sabine’s gull in a mixed feeding flock of kittiwakes and little gulls on 2 October was the seventeenth island record (involving 18 birds).

The month finished like it had started with a flurry of birds including a lingering yellow-browed warbler, two more treecreepers and a scattering of migrants including the autumn’s first woodcock and jack snipe.  The pick of the bunch was a Radde’s warbler discovered in the Top Trap on 29 September before being trapped and ringed.  The bird was only present for the day but represented the twelfth for the island, although the fourth in the last four years.

The month of October was a mixed month, as westerly winds dominated early on but that all changed mid-month as the island produced some spectacular results. The first few weeks brought highlights of two juvenile Sabine’s gulls seen feeding off the north end of the island on 2 and 18 October with a Mediterranean gull recorded on 14 October. The pick of the wildfowl movement during this period included 14 scaup south on 6 October whilst the first whooper swans of the autumn were seen moving south on five dates.

However, all eyes were on an easterly weather front hitting the island from 18-21 October and for once it did not disappoint as it lived up to expectations.  Across the island, there was a large fall during this period with the stars of the show involving a stunning red-flanked bluetail in the Top Trap garden which was later caught and ringed on 19 October.  Incredibly, a different bird was found the following day below the dam at Mill Door and these represented the 3^rd-4^th island records.  Other noteworthy birds during this purple patch included two Pallas’s warbler on the 19^th, Radde’s warbler on the 20^th-21^st, barred warbler at the dam on 20 October (the season’s only record) and a red-breasted flycatcher at Altarstanes on 20 October.  The fall was impressive and the aftermath also brought further reward as a noteworthy influx of owls included 18 long-eared and 12 short-eared owls on 21 October, with several lingering over the following weeks.  Two ‘ringtail’ hen harriers were recorded on the 13^th and 20^th, whilst individual swift sp. briefly seen heading south on 25 and 26 October were birds that got away, especially considering the national influx of pallid swifts at that time.  Island highlights late in the month included a single long-tailed tit on the 27^th, the first Lapland buntings of the autumn and crossbills recorded on passage on three dates. 

November has become a month of interest over the last few years as bird migration extends well into the month and, as a result, observer coverage on the island is also extending.  This proved very fruitful, with some noteworthy highlights including a short staying olive-backed pipit on 1 November discovered along Holyman’s Road as dusk approached.  The bird was not present the next day but represents the twelfth island record, but the eighth since 2015, showing an increase mirrored nationally.  A pair of raven returned to the west cliffs on 2 November and may have been the same pair which checked the area out in February and the previous autumn.  A scattering of black redstarts and late chiffchaffs was trumped by a stunning Pallas’s warbler, which lingered along Holyman’s Road on 7-9 November, the third record this year and proving recording in November is worthwhile, with three records in the month since 2019.  

All recording areas have their quirks and islands are no different, as a red-necked grebe on the 1^st, black-throated diver on the 2^nd and a herd of nine mute swans on 11 November were all noteworthy records.  However, these records paled into insignificance compared to the sighting on 10 November as a little egret arrived from the south and remained on the island for the afternoon, only the second ever record following the first on 29 May 2009.  Seawatching continued to prove fruitful, with reasonable numbers of little auks peaking at 147 with a black guillemot on 3 November.  However, a Cory’s shearwater discovered feeding in a gull frenzy off the north end for two days from 10-11 November was an outrageous record, but maybe not considering it has been a season of big shearwaters.

The month continued to provide as, following a northerly blast which produced more little auks, a stunning partial summer plumage white-billed diver, the third for the island, was discovered rafting with European shags off the west side on 17 November and was seen in the surf the following morning.  Other noteworthy records during this period included a white-fronted goose briefly on 17 November, the fifth island record and the first since 2011, whilst an overwintering little grebe was of island interest.  As the recording year came to a close, the final new bird of the season was discovered on 12 December: a moorhen, a scarce island visitor which brought the year list to 178, the second highest in recorded history.

Noteworthy records for the island:

2^nd                          Little egret

3^rd                           White-billed diver 

3^rd & 4^th                 Red-flanked bluetail 

5^th                           White-fronted goose

5^th-6^th                    Cory’s shearwater

5^th-8^th                    Great shearwater

11^th-12^th                Honey buzzard

11^th-13^th                Pallas’s warbler

12^th-13^th                Radde’s warbler

11 Mammals

11.1 Grey seal

Small numbers of grey seals were evident throughout the summer months around the island, favouring non-disturbed areas in the north and south.  As usual, numbers slowly increased in the early autumn and the first seal pup was discovered on Rona on 5 October.  This was noticeably later than usual (the first born usually occurs in mid-September) but the discovery of two still-born pups in late August and early September may account for these early births. 

Birth rates were slow to pick up, with eight by 12 October (6 on Rona and singles on Pilgrim’s Haven and south of Logan’s Road) increasing to 135 on 25 October.  A count on 8 November revealed a total of 771 pups, with over 1,000 born by the time staff departed on 12 November. 

11.2 Cetaceans

The report is a combination of observer effort from the residents of Fluke Street and the Isle of May Bird Observatory as well as the staff who work on the various visitor boats.  Overall, it was a reasonable year for whales and dolphins, with three species recorded in May waters, which included a good showing of minke whales during the autumn months.  More interestingly, a potential humpback whale was seen in spring.

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

As usual, the summer months produced the bulk of records, with peaks of 4 on 14 July, 5 on 17 July and 4 on 31 August, with 1-3 on three June, four July, three August, four September and four October dates.  Peak counts during the season involved eight on 27 August, 15 on 3 October and six on 11 September.

Bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)           

Although regularly seen along the nearby coastline, especially the Fife coast near Anstruther and Crail, these animals generally stay close to the coast and do not venture out to the island.  However, the season produced a number of records, with 12 heading south on 3 April and 1-4 on four dates mid-summer.  Early November produced the season peak as 16 were seen off the east side on the 2^nd, with six heading west on 11 November.

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

The spring produced singles on 18-19 April and 1, 2 and 7 May, potentially involving the same animal as it favoured the same area off the north end.  These sightings are unusually early for the island as the majority of records are produced in late summer.  The next sightings were in June, with an impressive four recorded on 16 June, with a single on 24 June followed by 1-2 on five dates between 14-24 July.  Reports became very regular thereafter, with 1-2 noted on 12 dates during August-September.  Late sightings included a single on 9 October, a noteworthy three on 18 October, whilst a very late individual was seen on 4 November.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

As the Forth starts to attract regular wintering animals, we can speculate that the number of sightings from the May will increase.  On 2 May, an individual surfaced near visitor boats one mile north of the island and was present in the area for over an hour before heading east.  This was the third record in seven years following records in 2016 and 2018, all off the north end of the island.

12 Lepidoptera

12.1 Butterfly

Records of butterflies were made by informal observations from members of Fluke Street and the IOMBOT residents throughout the season.  The first butterfly record was a single peacock on 22 March.  A transect walk was established in 2020, in conjunction with UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) and continued for a full season this year.  A transect is walked by NatureScot staff/volunteers and all butterflies are recorded within 5 metres of the transect line.  Specific weather conditions have to be met for a transect walk to take place, which can limit the number of walks per season (1 July – 30 September).  In total, 11 survey walks were conducted.

Eight species were recorded throughout the year.  The most frequently recorded species was the small tortoiseshell, which was noted on all transects, and the most numerous was the red admiral.  August was the month with the highest count of butterflies.  Wall was recorded in July and August; this is a species that is becoming more common on the Isle of May

12.2 Moth

Moth trapping at Fluke Street was undertaken by NatureScot staff and volunteers from May through to October.  The MV light trap was set up in the garden outside the principal keeper’s cottage; the trap could be moved into the outdoor shelter during adverse weather and when puffins were leaving their burrows (to prevent them from being drawn towards the light).  A second trap was available to those at the IOMBO, who had the trap running by the Low Light bushes.  On two occasions, the trap was moved to the top garden next to the main lighthouse.  Trapping commenced on 7 May and continued until the end of the season, with the last trap of the year running on 4 November.

Trapping was conducted on a total of 102 nights, with a total of 115 different macro species being recorded along with 37 micro moths.

Dog’s tooth was a first record for the island and also for the county of Fife.  Copper underwing and Lempke’s gold spot were recorded for the second and third time.

The most numerous moth caught was bright-line brown-eye.  It was regularly caught throughout the season, on a total of 61 nights, and 140 individuals were caught on 30 June.  Dark arches recorded the highest number of individuals, with 249 individuals caught on 12 July.

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