Glauc

2w Glaucous Gull on the patch today, the only other thing of note was the first Skylark of the year.

Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull - presumably a victim of storm Henry

The view from the garden

From The Patch

A few shots from the patch this week -

Common Gull

Eider

Great Black-backed Gull

Kittiwake

Long-tailed Ducks

A Few More

A few more patch year-ticks added this week - Ringed Plover, Kittiwake and Short-eared Owl, the weather has been shite with gales and rain, so I might go into hibernation until April !

Hooded Crow.

Kittiwake.

GB.

Three Days....

As wader passage should be starting anytime now, did the patch three days in a row, checking all the beaches and pools (whats left of them), and the passage has indeed started just very slowly - a few Whimbrel and a Sanderling ! A female Crossbill in the garden on Saturday and a few Swifts and Swallows over the house on a few occasions are the only other thing of note. Still, apart from a screaming north-westerly on Sunday night, it's been pretty sunny and pleasant.


Arctic Tern.

Fulmars.

Great Black-backed Gull.

Purps.

Something of a clear out last night, but still the odd bird around - Dunnock in the garden, Swallow around Sanblister Beach, 2 Jack Snipe in the wet bit and a Snow Bunting on Scord Beach. Spent a good while photographing the tame Purple Sandpipers near to Moast Beach.

Purple Sandpipers.

Great Black-backed Gull (with Plaice sp).

Red-throated Ducks.

Spent a few hours up in the Hills, photographing Red-throated Divers, and a few other moorland birds (yes, I do hold a valid Schedule 1 licence, if anyone is concerned).
Shetland seems to be having a bit of a Crossbill invasion at the moment - 45 present at Kergord this afternoon and 10 at Sandwick (should be the next bird on the garden year-list, with any luck). Also, Cuckoo calling at Kergord.

Red-throated Divers.

Golden Plover.

Black-headed Gull.

Great Black-backed Gull.

Glaucs.

The 1st yr Glaucous Gull again around the House, sitting on the roof waiting to be fed ! Another 1st yr Bird at Sumburgh Head + 20 Twite around the Lighthouse and a Great Black-backed Gull feeding on a dead Sheep in the sea. Ad Peregrine and Whooper Swan past the House in the morning + 8 Great Northern Divers in the Bay.


Twite.

Oystercatcher.

Great Black-backed Gull (and sheep).

Fulmar.

September 30th 2008. Message in a Bottle.

Spent most of the day around Scatness (between showers), hoping to find a Yank - not today tho'.

2 Tree Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 10 Wigeon, 6 Whooper Swans, 2 Grey Heron, 50+ Skylark, 2 Bonxie, 1 Sanderling and 8 Dunlin around Scatness. Lots of Gulls and Gannets feeding in Quendale Bay.

Message in a Bottle found on Moast Beach from County Donegal, Ireland, put in the sea off Malin Head in August.


Bottle Message & Gannet.

Gannets.

Black-headed & Great Black-backed Gulls.

Herring Gulls.

Swell over Lady's Holm & Rainbow over Quendale Bay.