1066 - Back to the old patch

Have been back south for the last week, and while I was there I visited the old patch a couple of times. Moore NR seems to have become even more popular with visitors than it was when I left in 2002 and even more birdless - coincidence? Anyway the highlights were a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls on Birchwood Pool, a leucistic Black-headed Gull on Pumphouse Pool, Kingfishers around the Eastern Reedbed and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker singing in Lapwing Lane Alder Woods. And the post title? This is my 1066th post - and nothing to do with any battles on the south coast.

Kingfisher

Leucistic Black-headed Gull

Canadian Water Pig

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Pheasant

Pochard

Lapwing Lane alder woods

Birchwood Pool

Eastern Reedbed

Feeding Station

Lapwing Lane

Lapwing Lane Pool

Pumphouse Pool

Late Update

A few bits and bobs from the patch over the last fortnight

Canada Goose

Curlew Sandpipers - present for 3 days

Eider

Oystercatcher

Spotted Flycatcher in the garden

.....and Justice for all.

Justice at last, news of the Red Kite at Cunningsburgh at dinner time had me heading north again, at least most of the mist had gone today but heavy rain was just around the corner, so confidence wasn't too high. As it turned out it was all pretty easy - saw the bird over the hill side pretty much straight away as it was being mobbed by Ravens and some Hooded Crows and occasionally saw it perched on the fence posts at the top of the hill, this scenario continued for some time before, yet again, it lifted into the returning mist.
Back at Scatness it was year-ticks galore - a House Martin along the cliffs, 7 Swallow and 6 Sand Martin at the back of the Loch, Arctic Skua over the house and a Common Tern at Scord Beach. The Canada Goose, from a few days ago, returned and the 5 Barnacles, the Brent and 28 Pink-feet remain. A Blackcap and a Willow Warbler were present in the garden and a female Merlin flew past late afternoon.

Red Kite.

Canada Goose.

Great Northern Diver.

Wren.

Gutter Geese.

Scatness was positively overwhelmed with Geese today. A text from the Bell at 7am, saying there was a Canada Goose in West Voe, got me out of bed, but on getting there the bird had gone ! Went around to the Loch at Scatness and a quick scan revealed no geese at all, but after only a few minutes, the Canada flew in from the south with 5 Barnacle Geese - 2 patch year-ticks before breakfast ! The Barnacles then spent the rest of the day in the field in front of the house, along with 236 Pink-footed Geese. Presumably all these Geese were heading for Iceland, until they hit strong north-westerlies and volcanic ash clouds, and chickened out and ended up on Shetland. Also at Scatness today were a Carrion Crow, a Pergrine and a Collared Dove, most frustrating was a small Redpoll sp in the garden for a few seconds, before sodding off to god know's where.

Canada Goose with Barnacles.

Pink-footed Geese.

Heatwave.

Very little wind and constant sunshine all day made it feel almost like the Med ! The day started with what was to be just a quick scan from the Garden, looking north towards Quendale to see if I could finally get the Honey Buzzard on the house-list, after scanning for a few minutes, picked up a raptor flying towards me, but still miles away. After dashing inside to get the 'scope, the bird had got a bit closer, however, once in the 'scope it turned out to be the White-tailed Eagle and not the HB ! After getting as close as Exnaboe, the bird then turned around and flew back north out of sight.
Finally got to the end of the Scatness road, just as a Warbler disappeared into the 'Subalp' Roses, as I stopped to try and push it out to get some views of it, shockingly, an Otter came out instead ! Managed to get some views in the end of a Marsh Warbler, as it showed on and off, but was singing quite often. Later in the day 6 Canada Geese flew past the house towards the Loch.
A Grey Wagtail was on the house roof at 10pm.
Several Painted Ladies and Silver Ys on the wing.


Canada Geese.

Otter.

Painted Lady.

Silver Y.

June 25th 2008. Alaska.

Spent the morning around Westchester Lagoon, Anchorage, then flew onto, St Paul Island, Pribilofs in the afternoon.


Hudsonian Godwit, Blue-winged Teal, Red-necked Grebe, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Wigeon, Barrow's Goldeneye, Arctic Tern, Canada Goose and Bald Eagle at Westchester.


Snow Bunting, Grey Phalarope (2), Short-tailed Shearwater, Eurasian Teal (3), Rock Sandpiper and Arctic Fox on St.Paul.



St Paul airport.

Arctic Fox & Rock Sandpiper.

Canada Goose & Arctic Tern.

American Wigeons.

Red-necked Grebe.