Shetland Misfit: Subalpine Warblers in Shetland

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Subalpine Warblers in Shetland - Spring 2009.

As there seems to be some confusion as to the races of, and how many Subalpine Warblers have been in Shetland this year - here's my take on it -

The first one was found at Scatness by PVH on 22/4/09 and remained there until the 25/4/09, this bird was considered to be a 'cantilans', tho' some information services carried the news as an 'albistriata' for reasons known only to themselves.
Photos here - http://shetlandmisfit.blogspot.com/2009/04/subalp-overdose.html
and here - http://www.robfray.co.uk/?p=368

The second Bird was found on Foula by GA on 17/5/09 and remained there until 19/5/09, the photos, taken by Russel Wynn, seem to indicate that this bird is a 'cantilans'.
Photos here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp1-rw.jpg
and here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp2-rw.jpg

A third bird was then found at Scousburgh by JND and was trapped and ringed in his garden - biometrics show this bird to be an 'albistiata'.
Photo by RR here - http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics09/subalp1-rr.jpg

On 21/5/09 a fourth bird was found on Fair Isle by DF, the photo on the Fair Isle website shows that this bird may be a 'moltonii', tho' i'm not sure whether the bird was ever heard to call or sing.
Photo by JAB here - http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/Sightings/2009/Jack_Ashton-Booth/Sub-Alp%20EDIT%202.jpg

A fifth bird was then found by RMF, again at Scatness on 22/5/09 and was still present on 28/5/09. This bird was heard to make a rather Wren like 'trrrrt' on the 22nd (RMF, SJM) and on the 28th (SJM, JN), tho' the significance of this wasn't picked up on at the time. This bird is now considered to be of the race 'moltonii'.
Photos here - http://shetlandmisfit.blogspot.com/2009/05/another-subalp.html
and here - http://www.robfray.co.uk/?p=392

Finally (maybe ?), a sixth bird was found on Unst at Skaw on 1/6/09 (RB) and is still present at the time of writing, this bird was identified as a 'moltonii' from calls and song by MGP.
A good selection of photos and sound recordings appear on the 'nature-shetland' page here -
http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestbirds.htm

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About Me

Sometimes I try to do things but it just doesn't work out the way I want it to, and I get real frustrated and then like I try hard to do it, and I like, take my time but it just doesn't work out the way I want it to. It's like, I concentrate on it real hard, but it just doesn't work out. And everything I do and everything I try, it never turns out. It's like, I need time to figure these things out, but there's always someone there going “hey Steve, you know we've been noticing you've been having a lot of problems lately, you know? You need to maybe get away. And like, maybe you should talk about it, you'll feel a lot better.” And I'm all like “oh, nah, it's ok, you know. I'll figure it out. Just leave me alone, I'll figure it out, you know? I'm just working on it by myself.” And they go “well, you know, if you wanna talk about it, I'll be here, you know? And you'll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it. So why don't you talk about it?” I go “no, I don't want to! I'm ok. I'll figure it out myself!” But they just keep bugging me, they just keep bugging me, and it builds up inside.I was in my house and I was just like staring at the walls thinking about everything, but then again I was thinking about nothing. And then my wife came in, and I didn't even know she was there. She called my name and I didn't hear her and then she started screaming “Steve, Steve !” And I go “what ? What's the matter ?” She goes “what's the matter with you?” I go “there's nothing wrong” She’s all “don't tell me that ! You're on drugs !” I go “FFS, I'm not on drugs. I'm ok, I'm just thinking, you know? Why don't you get me a Pepsi?” She goes “No! You're on drugs!” I go “I'm ok. I'm just thinking.” She goes “No! You're not thinking, you're on drugs! Normal people don't be acting that way!” I go “just get me a Pepsi ! Please, all I want is a Pepsi !” And she wouldn't give it to me! All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me! Just a Pepsi !I'm sitting in my house, when a couple of my mates came in. they pulled up a chair and they sat down. They go “Steve, we need to talk to you.” And I go “ok, what's the matter?” They go “we've noticed that lately you've been having a lot of problems, and you've been going off on one for no reason, and we're afraid you're going to hurt somebody, and we're afraid you're going to hurt yourself. So we decided that it would be in your best interest if we put you somewhere where you could get the help that you need.” And I go “wait, what are you talking about, WE decided ? MY best interests ? How do you know what MY best interest is ? How can you say what MY best interest is ? What are you trying to say? I'm crazy ? They say they're gonna fix my brain. Alleviate my suffering and my pain. But by the time they fix my head, Mentally I'll be dead. They stuck me in an institution, said it was the only solution, to give me the needed professional help, to protect me from the enemy, myself !
Doesn't matter, I'll probably get hit by a car anyways !!!!