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