Rough-buggered Lizard.

Still stuck indoors (and getting really fed up of watching repeats of 'top gear' on Dave), lying on the couch and aimlessly staring out of the window - boring as hell, but my foot is looking a lot better. Boring, that is, until this morning when I picked up a soaring bird high over the house, my first thought was 'if I struggle to my feet to have a better look, it'll just be another Greater Black again'. As curiosity eventually got the better of me, managed to get to my Bins on the windowsill, and, standing on one leg, got a face full of a soaring Rough-legged Buzzard ! Then legged it into the garden (not really legging it on crutches !), armed with Camera and Bins - no sign ! Struggled to the front of the house and started scanning, then all the Geese, Ducks and Gulls freaked out at the end of Scatness, so presumably the bird sodded off that way.


Rough-legged Buzzard (sort of) - this bird was photographed in a different place, a different time, a different country, a different year, a different time zone and in a different moult (there, that should stop Mr 'Gallo Combibo' starting any shit stirring !)

'Cracking sunset, Gromit'

June 23rd 2008. Alaska.

All day birding the Council road - Black Brant, Slaty-backed Gull (4), Vega Gull (2), Thayer's Gull, Yellow Wagtail, Aleutian Tern (40+), Sandhill Crane, Black Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Canada Goose (40+ minima), Short-eared Owl, Buff-bellied Pipit, Snow Bunting, Tundra Swan, Snow Goose, Harlequin, Rough-legged Hawk and Surfbird (2, with chicks).


Tundra Swans & Snow Goose.

Train to nowhere & Harlequins.

Black Turnstone.

Western Sandpiper.

Rough-legged Hawk.

Lapland Bunting.

Aleutian Tern.

June 17th 2008. Alaska.

Early morning spent on the tundra, between Paxson and Tangle River, on the Denali Highway, then birded the Richardson and Glenn Highways back to Eagle River.

Belted Kingfisher, Willow Grouse, Hudsonian Whimbrel, American Tree Sparrow, Smith's Longspur (3), Lapland Bunting, American Golden Plover, Long-tailed Skua, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Short-eared Owl, Arctic Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, Red-necked Phalarope and Least Sandpiper on the Tundra.

Bald Eagle, Harlan's Hawk, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak (3),Pacific Diver (pair), Waxwing, Rusty Blackbird (2), Rough-legged Hawk, Solitary Sandpiper and Western Wood Peewee along the Richardson Highway.

Hawk Owl (2), Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk and A Starling along the Glenn Highway.

Smith's Longspur & Savanna Sparrow.

Rough-legged Hawk & Pine Grosbeak.

Lont-tailed Skua.

Lapland Bunting & Bald Eagle.

Hudsonian Whimbrel.

Grey-cheeked Thrush.

Glenn Highway & American Tree Sparrow.