Shetland Misfit: January 2014

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

More Year-ticks

Three more year-ticks for the patch today - a Pochard on the loch, a Jack Snipe flushed from the spring and 38 Snow Buntings south over Moast beach, that's now 56 species and 76 points for the PWC. Also around the patch today - Barnacle Goose (present for the last 4 days), 3 Fieldfare and 11 Snipe.

Barnacle Goose

Fieldfare

Pochard

Thursday, 23 January 2014

Attack of the Killer B's

2 Bean Geese on the patch this morning and the Black Redstart is still about and as flighty as ever.

Bean Geese

Black Redstart

Monday, 20 January 2014

Beanies

Having missed some Bean Geese on the patch earlier in the day, headed over the runway to Exnaboe to check the Greylag flock there. First flock - 3 Bean Geese - job done ! Back at home, tried to get them on the house list with the 'scope, but all I could see was a flock of geese. I needn't have bothered, as at about 4pm a flock of Greylags landed in front of the house and among them - 3 Bean Geese - it was the same flock.

Sunday, 19 January 2014

LEO

It's nice to see that these south-easterly gales are producing a few birds, though given the time of year, I wasn't expecting a Long-eared Owl in the garden this morning.

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Influx

An influx of new birds on the patch today - 1 Robin, 2 Fieldfare, a Little Auk, a Shelduck and a Glaucous Gull, moving the PWC up to 46 species, 62 points.

Glaucous Gull

Monday, 13 January 2014

Barney

Two more for the patchwork challenge today - a Barnacle Goose in front of the house was followed by 3 fly-over Whooper Swans.

Friday, 10 January 2014

Glib

So, sat at home, building myself up to do the patch again when the phone rings, it's Graeme Ball "Are you interested in seeing a Glossy Ibis ?" my reply - "Nah, I'm not going all the way up to Unst, I saw the one at Nesting in 2002", Graeme - "No, I've just found one at Spiggie, I'll pick you up in a few minutes" ! I'll get me coat. A few minutes later, and there it was, in a field full of Greylags.

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

PWC 2014

Day one of the 2014 Patchwork Challenge, ended up with 31 species and 41 points - not too bad for one and a half square kilometres in Shetland in mid winter.

Hooded Crow

Oystercatchers

Purple Sandpiper

Wigeon

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 !!!!