Trapped

After my feeble singular Storm Petrel earlier in the week, last night presented its self as good conditions for another attempt. Fortunately Dr Marshall was also of the same thinking and decided to erect his 'stormie' net at the shore just down from the house. Started the iPod just after 11pm and it was only 10 minutes later that we had our first bird. We then set about catching 1 bird every 15 minutes, with the exception of 4 in the net all at once. We packed away at 1am with a grand total of 10 Storm Petrel processed, which i thought was OK. Hopefully if the conditions are favourable over the weekend we may give it another shot up at Skaw, fingers crossed.

Dolphin

Still no birds to talk of, well not for me anyhow. A good check around the isle failed to produce a single migrant, but the day was saved courtesy of a pod of dolphins moving north off Isbister. I am not up to speed on my dolphin id but i think they were Risso's Dolphins with some others mixed in, maybe Common Dolphin? Hopefully someone with better knowledge than myself will be able to positively id them from the photos.

Delivering The Goods

Day time birding isn't producing much at present, well for me anyhow. John Laurie gets back from a fortnights holiday and produces a Ruff up at Skaw. Glad someone is paying attention.

We Only Come Out At Night

With still nothing happening during the day i turned my attentions to some evening birds? Storm Petrels to be exact. Tried this in 2008 with good results, in a 2 hour session had at least 6 birds over/around the garden. So at 11pm last night i set up the iPod and a lamp  in the garden and waited. Blasting out the eerie sounds these little birds make, hoping for a reaction. Fortunately it did get a reaction and at 00.40 this morning a Storm Petrel appeared, it gave 3 sallies over the garden before disappearing from where it came. I gave it till 1am then packed up and went to bed, bearing the scars this morning of last nights midge feast. 1 more for the year list and a good one too as it puts me on 99.

Why ?

Well, thankfully got back home this morning. Unfortunately its back to the summer of gloom as far as Shetland 2010 goes. Bloody typical that for a fortnight there has not been a bird of note in the UK, no sooner am i gone there's a Semi-P in Cumbria, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Inner Marsh Farm and a (possibly dodgy) Purple Gallinule near Chester. Oh well cant be to long until Shetland produces something of worth! A quick check of the Houb late afternoon. 3 Whimbrel including 1 juv, good numbers of Dunlin and Black-headed Gull's and a few Arctic Terns.

Whilst at the Houb took a look at the autumn vegetation. Below is the large tattie rig which produced last years Bluethroat's and Wryneck in 2008.

And the Houb Iris beds which i will have to check more thoroughly this year. Only been through them once so god knows what's gone unnoticed there?

The Update

Work has dragged me back to Manchester, unfortunately. With regular updates from Dr Marshall at least I know I am not missing out on anything, yet.

Runaround

Another glorious day with most of it spent indoors? When i did get out went and checked the Houb. 3 fairly showy Sanderling, a red Knot and most frustrating a possible Curlew Sandpiper that got up and couldn't be relocated .

An Otter showed well and came out right next to me then disappeared into the rocks.