Today was a bit cooler and was often overcast. I had a look around St Fittick's in the morning but things were pretty quiet there, although two Black Guillemots were again in Nigg Bay. I continued on round the headland, seeing the Whimbrel again. The Ringed Plovers on the beach appear to be incubating an egg. I also watched a Great Black-backed Gull trying to demolish a very large Lumpsucker in Greyhope Bay.
The light and wind seemed promising for seawatching, so I spent a bit of time by the foghorn. A pale phase Arctic Skua, five Manx Shearwater, an Arctic Tern and a Puffin all went through. I was surprised to see a summer plumage Great Northern Diver on the sea amongst the numerous auks. Birds weren't the main attraction though. The Bottlenose Dolphins were very conspicuous as usual, but further out, other things were moving through the calm waters. The first thing to surface was a Minke Whale, perhaps 2km out. It surfaced at least four times as it headed north. Another then came up a bit further out but going south. Then I got a bigger surprise when something even bigger appeared out of the water, rolled over and flicked a huge tail upwards: a Humpback Whale was heading north, perhaps a kilometre out. It surfaced around four times, blowing occasionally. The underside of the tail was very white on this individual.
I went back out again in the evening, mainly for a seawatch. The whale show wasn't completely over, as I had another Minke Whale surface just once as it headed north. A dark phase Arctic Skua was hanging around on the sea, rousing itself to 'interact' with the terns. Also going through were two Puffins, two Common Scoters and ten Manx Shearwaters.
