We took advantage of the very settled sea state to visit the Smalls at low tide yesterday. Highlights included huge numbers of seals (frankly, we all forgot to count, probably 200+) and lots of Kittiwakes resting on the steps of the Lighthouse itself. On the islets we found a couple of summer plumage Turnstone and had brief views of a flock of c20 small waders in flight. We eventually found 3 Sanderling that could well have been part of the flock.
Plenty of the "usuals": Gannets, auks and large gulls. We tried a little improvised "chumming" (a secret, but very smelly recipe; still washing hands and clothing) and within 15 minutes had a mass of large gulls along the trail, some Manx shearwaters and one (perhaps 2) Storm Petrels that could be glimpsed quartering over the line. Great fun (apart from the mess); we will do better next time.
Highlight on Grassholm on the way back was a Peregrine.
