Thursday 7th May.
19.00 - Depart Lerwick.
Friday 8th May.
07.00 - Arrive Aberdeen.
19.00 - Arrive Cheshire via Pallid Swift.
Saturday 9th May.
10.30 - Depart Cheshire.
15.30 - Arrive Aberdeen.
17.00 - Depart Aberdeen.
Sunday 10th May.
07.30 - Arrive Lerwick refreshed.
09.05 - Arrive home.
10.30 - Depart home.
12.30 - Depart Grutness on board the Good Shepard.
15.30 - Arrive Fair Isle.
A bit rushed to say the least but bloody worth it. A frantic search/wait for 90 minutes was forgotten when i received a call off Deryk Shaw (cheers, hope the donation helps) the bird was back in his garden. A quick sprint come jog (last time i did that was for the Caspian Plover) was rewarded with excellent views of the Brown-headed Cowbird for the next 4 1/2 hours. I didn't really have time to read up on the bird and was only armed with a photo on my mobile that i received a day earlier for id purposes, and with brown & cow in its name, it suggests maybe its not the most impressive of birds but, in full sun it is actually quite stunning. Plumage colour wise similar to a starling vivid black with hints of green and blue and a powder brown head. We were also treated to its peculiar 'bubble & squeak' song ! The day ended with diner at South Light and a good nights sleep at Schoolton B&B which brought an end to a frantic few days. Up at 5am for a quick check before the 6am departure proved fruitless, and subsequent messages throughout the day were all negative and so its seems i managed once again, to get the bird by the skin of my teeth.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5_YNV48A0BxCr8uvX6jrKpfYUBeuf7iUGEclUZikdt6eE92XMJiE3wfZF8RJNTX44yXMlClpF7gvSVUegtr1XWM_JDurhpsg1nyk-GfsB1-3gmZBleKWPe3HwFKgkJNv916SGQNxhZ_M/s320/Cow8.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8SUcnx1jRgd-nl7dI0xOWyDlN1mZKLjcogtop03TSQhESa0ScHbP_noTXXhX5X2xnZhtyopzZ0hBhyti_7Ov6jUClIB56WfKfKxihLCVbE51nxjWmYWu9g3eDPVrtYpKP89rfFVynWtx/s320/Cow2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRcgEvplrEYTJGCByCE5_l4p4uOvENcHyAThj5Q4zQja8QQdl5DjO5XizFZdSL0XasRFuf8MfpOf6XEshbtz3x07fokEIk15AMIE-p5mrFQpD1SAAJ7ldYQNNivEhu0MqNhWocb3FS3Zv/s320/Cow.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOy-Yt9ExCt67AmVz4mokD22kMFXGp5ZClSZesA_i3vP03iWBZb8KzAPpu-0FRi4Qv0LaeObsiA5WtrszOMMep0z-EgfUUdgZoeUNuNUkKdAST3IXm2gJu9wPgl7FHaa9WXu5fCFDz3xA4/s320/Cow7.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsq6qkeHhPWqQx31s_MvQieVyvKeCkmxAy5J8yM1jOPZIxC-YJulpt4Oo69iL-j2eCoWV2SCIm5A03gncgGHacX0gsIEbCL6a8NuoyAXzRibPwXyOoF7E5nzYLot4JvksXk8hBXR16RqH/s320/Cow4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pwjrumjqU_mte0VSMqdW4TtgLY1LzzfHUJfs5yRieCEe6h2pkQ65SPwk4h4UXRfQEcbyHt-A6fsjN-6XYIzOF446pjvPWT6g6iHKQ3bXvkR3IGgtkJ82ZD1JlLxzOe7jT7vhYi2JvvBV/s320/Cow6.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyVUYpgxp9rRfYXF1ljSrfbN5_6TbAElPIXzMz65OFn9k48Pgti0FmiFSqguTHa_J9vFcjRV3EuOK_c8UG-Uczom8MZiN-JHsw8G7O1EpTxZCao15M0nOLMDg7ueI8oEV-we9IpoS7eeJ/s320/Cow5.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNZizlpzVGScl1E6hM12ouE-F5iGSUV5NwLdjVr3BQ9mbT8wN6IlGfc4h5Ns4Gzq3IPJAVFM76PjyOJ3ZYzuAzDLA4bnoxxgTOTYnUdgkqGfS7DsjssxHd3k8XeQ6Wj46jfNDXQEibeeW/s320/Cow1.jpg)
Once back on dry land called in at Scatness for the 2 Black Ducks then caught up with the 'wing tagged' White-tailed Eagle soaring over Fitful Head. Late news concerning a summer plumaged Adult Franklins Gull at Scatsta nearly had me off isle, but will leave that for tomorrow. Hopefully.
3 comments:
Great pics Jase and well done on a superb lifer. If Jan hadn't been away this weekend I'd have driven up Friday night!!!!
Unfortunately not in a position to twitch Fair Isle myself (had an enjoyable time with the Swift though).
The Cowbird is a lot better looking than some have suggested, and your images are superb
Cheers Phil & Phil, i was gutted for you and Jonno as well as some Shetland birders who never got the chance to see it.
Like Al says "there will be another ?"
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