Thursday 31 October 2013

Gannets and Kitties

From on the patch today
Gannets
Kittiwakes

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Nearly the End

It looks like the end is nigh on the patch - 2 hours today and all I got was a Chiffchaff, a Jack Snipe, 3 Snow Buntings and a Song Thrush.
Snow Buntings

Monday 28 October 2013

Dusky Warbler

As I was going to Lerwick anyway, thought I would have a quick look in Helendale for the Dusky Warbler, saw that plus 1 Yellow-browed and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Saturday 26 October 2013

Down to Earth

Back on the patch after the excitement of the mega yank - 1 Merlin, 55 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, a Jack Snipe, 37 Barnacle Geese, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Slavonian Grebe (in west voe), 3 Sanderlings and a female Blackcap. Strangest of all though was a pink legged Rock Pipit.
Barnacle Geese
Merlin
'pink legged' Rock Pipit
Redwing

Thursday 24 October 2013

The Hidden Cape

A day trip to Unst was in order for the Cape May Warbler at Baltasound, after a couple of hours of frustration in the very windy conditions, the bird was finally located in the sycamores of the old croft and, despite the wind, showed very well on the ground on and off for over an hour. A bit of a disaster happened though, as after taking just a few pictures, my camera packed in - so a big thanks to Gary for allowing me to use a couple of his shots for this post.
News of this bird is now even being carried on the Cape May Bird Obs website.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

History

A few shots from the patch taken earlier this week.
Black-tailed Godwits
Short-eared Owl

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Blizzard

The usual dross on the patch today - a couple of Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap, plus a Common Scoter in West Voe, but best of all, the 2 Snow Bunting flocks from yesterday have increased to 125 and 150 at least - a proper blizzard.
Snow Buntings
Redwing

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Still Hard Going

Still slow on the patch, with 5 Blackcaps, 4 'Siberian' Chiffchaffs, a Redwing, a Fieldfare, a late Wheatear, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bonxie, a Chaffinch and a Lesser Whitethroat, birds of the day were 60 Snow Buntings in flocks of 25 and 35 in the 2 different stubble fields.

Monday 14 October 2013

Wilson's Phal

A few record shots of the Wilson's Phalarope at Sand today.

Sunday 13 October 2013

Tough Going

Incredibly hard work on the patch today - 4 hours checking every conceivable place that any migrant might be hiding, and the result - 2 'Siberian' Chiffchaff (one of them in a stubble field !), a Jack Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whooper Swans, a Chaffinch and a Blackcap.
'Siberian' Chiffchaff

Saturday 12 October 2013

Shopping with Gustav

Being as I had to walk up to Toab shop this morning, it would have been a bit rude not give the Pechora Pipit a bit of a look.
Pechora Pipit

Friday 11 October 2013

Find Tick, Patch Tick, Year Tick

Light winds all day so there had to be something on the patch, the day started quite well with 8 Greenfinch in the garden (until the postman sent them packing), then, for some reason, I decided to do my usual walk around the patch in reverse today, starting at Sanblister beach. The beach held the usual 2 Redshank along with a fly by Red-breasted Merganser, next stop was Scord beach, after walking through the dune remnants, 3 small waders flew in and landed briefly - 2 Ringed Plovers and something a lot smaller, as soon as I raised my bins they took flight - 2 Ringed Plover and a White-rumped Sandpiper ! I managed a few record shots and the phoned POV, who relocated the Sandpiper on Virkie 30 minutes later. The rest of the patch was a bit of a disappointment after that - 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Merlin, 2 Whooper Swans, a single Redwing and 3 Black-tailed Godwits.
White-rumped Sandpiper
Blackcap
Black-tailed Godwits
Greenfinch

Monday 7 October 2013

Rain

Pissing down all day, so doing the patch consisted of 20 Barnacle Geese in front of the house and a Yellow-browed Warbler plus 2 Blackcaps in the garden.

Saturday 5 October 2013

Something for the Weekend

Four hours on the patch - every wall, ditch, iris bed, garden, field, thistle patch and cliff checked - scant rewards though. Totals for the day - 2 Merlin, 3 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 20 Barnacle Geese, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Song Thrush, 8 Wheatear, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Sanderling, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Pied Wagtails, 5 Redwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Jack Snipe and 3 Swallows.
Barnacle Geese
Grey Plover
Pink-footed Geese
Wheatear