Street Legal

A few hours in Lerwick today making our modes of transport legal again! A trip to Tesco was rewarded with 5 vocal Crossbill overhead and a few Terns down at the Catch. Back home the excitement was caused by a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, unfortunately after an hour of being present around a bush it moved off before any of us could twitch it. Something different anyway.

Go West

Our summer is still going, for how long god only knows.  An unplanned day out with the family so we decided to pay Eshaness a visit, very pleasant when in the sunshine compared to getting blown around and wet during an autumn seawatch. No birds to talk of but an Otter at Mavis Grind showed well. I cant remember the last Otter i photographed, seems like an age.

Views from around Eshaness

Dore Holm

The Drongs

 The Neap and the Runk

Patch news. A patch yeartick Bar-tailed Godwit yesterday at the Houb and 71+ Dunlin.

Where's Your Head At ?

The title of the post will become apparent towards the end! Still feeling like summer, though a little breezy. Decided to join Dougie (last minute) for a photo jaunt on Unst, and well worth it it was. Everything played ball and showed exceptionally well. Our destination of choice doubled up with my first ever visit to Hermaness. Spectacular seabird colonies and jaw dropping scenery. Pride of place typically goes to the Puffins, nonchalantly wondering around the tourists with not a care in the world.

Away from the Puffins on the tops are the vast Gannet colonies on the cliffs. Not ideal for photography as you tend to look down on it all, but an opportunity to get some decent flight shots in interesting light.

Pretty much all over Hermaness are Bonxies, hundreds of them at that. Very vocal birds that allowed very close contact. Quite attractive brutes when there not trying to attack you......

 ......as Dougie found out, to my amusement.

A fabulous few hours on Unst was rounded off with a pod of 5 Killer Whales in Yell sound. Seen from the ferry but missed by me, i scanned the sound from Brough, near Toft and watched them for the best part of an hour. Always distant but good scope views. Hopefully some better shots coming this way courtesy of Brydon.

In Flight

Managed to lose the whole of yesterday because of the weather, but made the most of this evenings late sun. A check down at the Houb for some hopeful waders? 15+ Dunlin. The local Arctic Terns have failed miserably this year and just seem content in wondering what i am doing. Whilst the local Oystercatchers make my unwelcome presence more than obvious.

Happy Hour

Summer seems to have turned up in Shetland, though i doubt it will last. A quick check around produced a House Martin up around the club house at Skaw, showing well though briefly. Whilst the odd looking Chiffchaff was around the Heligoland evading capture, sporting a rather smart centre parting!

Mixed Up

A mixed day weather wise. Started off very wet, then the sun came out, then the fog rolled in, then it cleared to cloudless skies. That's Shetland for you. The Crossbills remain up at Skaw and another attempt with the Red-throated Divers produced  the shots below. Still didn't come as close as i would have liked, maybe next time?

Cold Cold Summer

Nothing like summer weather today, a cold strong wind and rain. Summer eh! No sign from what looking i did around Brough of any Crossbills, but the duo remain at Skaw along with the Chiffchaff. The Houb looks as good a place as anywhere for something new to crop up, not today though. A portlandica type Arctic Tern has been around a few days and 2 Sanderling were present on the beach.