Auskerry skull

The weather could not have been in greater contrast to that of yesterday- bright, hot sunshine all day. I was glad the fog was gone because I went on an RSPB group outing to the tiny island of Auskerry. We travelled on a small boat called the 'Charles-Ann' and spent four hours there. Twice as much would have been half the time I would have preferred. Around the lighthouse we looked for migrants, finding a female blackcap and a robin. Nearby,a hundred or more arctic terns caterwauled. We carried on and saw lots of tysties or black guillemot, and were swooped over by an arctic skua. Eating our lunch, we were watched by a raft of about forty-five puffins and 8 seals. We reached the only house on the island belonging to the farmer, Simon. He invited everyone in for tea but was happy to allow those who preferred to look around his buildings and garden for more birds to do so. This was fortunate as one, Megan, said...'What's that on the fence?' 'It's a red-backed shrike' I said, as pleased as punch because there are some moving through the islands just now but I hadn't found any...this was my first (not just here but ever).. It was a beautiful male and we watched it hunt for prey in the long grass. Here are more shots.