The Low Light - the Isle of May Bird Observatory

This building was the third lighthouse built on the Isle of May and was built to be a marker for a reef off the fife coast. It never flashed but if you lined it up with the main light, then you knew you were missing the reef. It stopped operating towards t he end of the 19th century as a lightship was placed over the reef.
In 1934 the light became the bird observatory and has been ever since - the second oldest bird observatory in the country. It is manned from March through to October and the visitors are responsible for recording and ringing the birds on the island as part of a long term project. 40,ooo pairs of Puffin breeding on the island provide entertainment in the Summer whilst anything can - and does - turn up on migration.
The accommodation has recently been extended and is comfortable without being luxurious. Part of the pleasure is getting to meet the other visitors and the other scientists staying on the island.
Last night we were invited by the sealers for a curry and a good evening was had by one and all. Sadly it was too soon in their season for the homebrew to be on-line yet.....
The good thing is that I now know all sorts of bizarre things about the seals on the island. I worry sometimes about birders being obsessive but they have nothing on the sealers!