The vanishing crake trick

A very un-autumnal day weather wise, warm and sunny with just the hint of a breeze. Weather for the week ahead looks very interesting with strong SE'rlys forecast, looks like the roof got done just in time ! A good day on patch today with the the Bluethroat fortunately still in the tattie rig and showing a hell of a lot better than yesterday. The tatties are being lifted tomorrow so i doubt it will be there much longer, unfortunately.

The only remaining birds were 2 Blackcaps, both females so maybe 1 was new ? But the undoubted highlight of the day was just down from the house ? Whilst walking the ditches before a well earned cup of tea i flushed a (probable) Spotted Crake, it flew no more than 20 metres ahead and dropped into another ditch. I left it there until reinforcements arrived, unfortunately i had to wait until Dr Marshall got back from Lerwick and when we did go looking we couldn't relocate it. I managed to get the short bill, spotted flanks and mottled brown back and saw nothing to suggest Sora (wishful thinking). Whether i saw enough to submit a description ? I'm not sure. Hopefully with John Laurie home and needing it as a lifer we can refined it in the morning and make the rest a formality. On a more amusing note an Otter that showed well until i informed my badminton partner, when he arrived it vanished until he left only for it to reappear. When he returned a 2nd time it swam around the corner and out of view. But he did just see it as well as 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Have i missed much ?

Finally got the roof finished, thank god, just hope it holds up ! So after 2 totally birdless days, well unless you are counting Brambling it was good to get out on patch. But not before 2 hours of Badminton this morning (my new way to get fit). A male Blackcap in the garden replaced the female that had been around lately, and it became evident that not a lot was new. The female Redstart, Chiffchaff, 2 Robins and the female Blackcap were all still in situ, as well as 6 Brambling. Highlight of the day was a patch tick Bluethroat in the large tattie rig, but frustratingly it was incredibly elusive and impossible to photograph. Hopefully it will remain til the morning so i can give it more time.

Through the roof

After yesterdays semi-high excitement, today was a totally birdless affair. With the morning comprising of a trip to Lerwick, which wasn't needed as we later found out. The afternoon was a case of reducing my blood pressure ? When i eventually got out on patch it was a bit to late in the day, so god knows what may have been lurking in the murk. Another Bluetail in the south and a Blackpoll warbler on Fair Isle may be good ingredients for some more decent birds, hopefully. Coverage may be thin on the ground around patch for the next few days as good weather looks likely, so i need to get my roof finished. And i do need to finish my roof !

Ring-a Ring-a Rouzel

A dull and at times foggy day with occasional drizzle. Thrushes were back in good numbers today with Redwings into 3 figures. News of a Long-eared Owl at Skaw yesterday sent me north for a speculative punt, fortunately it paid off whilst checking the plantation a LEO flew from the conifers, obviously favouring it for roosting in (unbeknown to us). When it eventually settled it gave good views even though it was constantly harassed by the local Starling population. Also of note a Woodcock flew by and 3 Goldcrest were buzzing around the plantation.

An eventual check of patch was rewarding with 2 Ring Ouzels (patch tick) that showed as well as they do. The Redstart was still around as well as a Chiffchaff, 4 Robin, Blackcap and 5+ Song Thrush. A check of Vats-houll to see if the OBP was still around drew a blank.

Due to it being my sons 11th birthday thought it best to cut short my days birding, to do some dad stuff ? And was rewarded with another Ring Ouzel this time just outside the back door, and was a most welcome garden tick.

A Blue's Tale

A pretty miserable day with persistent rain and an uncomfortable SE'rly wind, which unfortunately doesn't seem to be originating from the continent more off the east coast of the UK. But as this is Shetland any wind with east in it is most welcome, especially in October. A check of patch didn't bear any surprises with the only newcomer being a female Redstart, the Blackcap was still in the garden and the rest was made up with a Robin, Chaffinch, Fieldfare and 3 Song Thrush. Rather than get under the wife's feet at home decided to take a trip to Sandgarth for the Red-flanked Bluetail this afternoon. Still a bird with the WOW factor it showed well around the feeders but in terrible light, rain and a distance my photos don't do it any justice at all. Hopefully it will settle for a few days and when it dries up may go back for another go ? Maybe.

Back for seconds

A fine bright day with just a hint of a northerly wind that swung slowly east as the day progressed. Brough was down on its bird numbers with the most notable absence Redwings, with just over a dozen around. A Blackcap and a Robin graced the garden throughout the day whilst patch hosted a Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, 2 Brambling, 5+ Robin and Goldcrest and 3 Song Thrush.

Decided to see if the Olive-backed Pipit had stayed the night at Vats-houll, and thankfully it had. Still quite flighty but with a little patience it showed fantastically well and at close quarters.

After lunch went a checked Isbister with yesterdays disappearing locustella still fresh in the memory. Whilst driving through Isbister flushed a Bunting from the roadside which fortunately flew just off the bonnet of my car then landed. Not the rare Bunting we all crave but a Lapland Bunting and the first i had seen on the isle.

No sign of yestrdays bird with only 6 Brambling, 4 Robin, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Chiffchaff. On the way home called at Livister which also had 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and a Song Thrush.

3rd time lucky

Up early this morning and out on patch in fine sunny weather, all before my date with a pal for a game of Badminton ! Redwings were still in residence looking capable of outnumbering the Starlings. Plenty of fresh birds also around patch with 6+ of Robin and Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinch, Mealy Redpoll, Dunnock which was a patch tick. The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the rig and the male Redstart was giving good distant views. 2 Chiffchaffs and 5+ Song Thrush made up Brough's numbers.

Upon leaving the leisure centre slightly aching, bumped into Jon Dunn who wasn't having a productive morning. Whilst chatting he fortunately got a call from John Laurie to say Dr Marshall had found an Olive-backed Pipit at Vats-houll. A quick change into the correct attire and for next couple of hours we were subjected to cracking flight views with constant calling, lots of good views of it disappearing into the grass. But best of all was when it landed at my feet to get up again (bugger), of course all this resulted in not the best photos. If its there tomorrow will give it another try.


Whilst in stalker mode got a call from Dr Marshall, informing me for the 2nd day running Jon Dunn had kicked up another locustella this time at Isbister. So again we all converged, this time on a smallish patch of cabbages. A few sorties later and a small brown bird flew from the cabbages straight into some potato haulms, but in keeping with our locu-luck it vanished again. Hopefully next time it will be 3rd time lucky, just like the OBP. Once home looked out of the front window to find a Greenfinch feeding with the Sparrows on the heavily seeded path, a nice garden/patch tick.