Thursday 27 February 2014

Dumbstruck

The most amazing display of the Northern Lights tonight, virtually the whole sky filled with multi-coloured pulsating 'curtains'. Spent three hours in the garden - until it got too cold.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Shetland Wren

More from the patch today....

Sun

A few shots from the patch in today's sunshine.
At last - Black-headed Gull makes it on to the year-list
Fair Isle from the patch
Redwing selection

Friday 14 February 2014

Rock Pips

On the patch today were 3 Pintail and 2 Meadow Pipits, so I spent most of the time at Moast Beach with Rock Pipits, that is apart from the last hour of daylight, that was spent in the garden, 'scoping the Ward Hill skyline trying to get Snowy Owl on the house list.
Rock Pipits

Sunday 9 February 2014

Distant

Pretty much everything today involved some distance, first off was a Black-throated Diver with a couple of Great Northerns and a Red-throated off Lady's Holm - about 1km from the house. Then came the Brent Goose at Virkie, again about 1km away (although this bird is on Rob's patch, PWC rules state that I can count it as I saw it from within my patch). Elsewhere around the patch - 1w Glaucous Gull, Pochard and 3 Pintails on the Loch, 9 Rock Pipits on Moast Beach and 3 Fieldfare and a Redwing in the Spring Field.
Brent Goose
'Angelic' Glaucous Gull
Hooded Crow
Rock Pipits

Friday 7 February 2014

Still

At last a calm day, the first one in about 2 months, and the first chance of the year to thrash the patch properly. 3 year-ticks today - Grey Heron, Peregrine and Grey Plover, other stuff on the patch included - 3 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, Pochard, 2 Snow Buntings and a Robin.
Grey Heron
Robin
Shovelers
A fine end to a fine day

Saturday 1 February 2014

Gooses

A bit of a Goose fest in front of the house today, the Taiga Bean Goose was present with the Greylags from first light, then 2 Barnacles joined the flock mid morning. Just need to get any of the White-fronts, Brents or Pinkies to join the flock now.
Bean Goose and Barnacle Geese
Bean Goose with Greylag and Oystercatcher
Greylag Geese