The day they came

A rather large intake of alcohol last night meant a comparatively late start this morning but that didn't seem to make much difference. A stunningly hot day with a good SE'rly wind blowing meant lots of birds and a sun tan ! Confined myself to patch pretty much all day and that seemed to show in the numbers and variety. Managed to refind yesterdays Rustic Bunting around a few cottages up from the house and it made a welcome addition to the patch list, as did an Icterine Warbler that showed well in its brief stay up near the quarry. A Cuckoo flew by alarming every bird in its path and 2 confiding Wood Warblers showed well all day. Also on patch were 10+ Willow Warblers, 4 Redstarts, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Mealy Redpoll, 2 Robins, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats and a Common Whitethroat. With a drop of the forecast rain this evening tomorrow could be even better, better start the dance ?

Migrants this way

Another stunning day with a twist ? It was warm and sunny and there where birds, lots of them.
A check of the patch this morning produced the first Spotted Flycatcher of the year and 2 Chiffchaffs were also noted.

A pre-organised trip with Mr Preston over to Out Skerries today was shelved with Unst seeming more favourable. We decided to start at the north end of Unst and slowly work our way south. Skaw produced only a Chiffchaff whilst Lamba Ness had a House Martin, a lot better at Norwick with Iceland Gull, Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. A Redstart was at Northdale and a Garganey was at Haroldswick, a Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Waxwing were at Baltasound. Overall not a bad tally and a good mix of birds.

Whilst off isle i was kept informed of arrivals on isle and once back was able to catch up with a few of them. A Rustic Bunting was found on patch but was all to brief in showing and had departed upon my arrival, next stop Skaw and no such problems here with a male Bluethroat, Icterine Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher all showing well in the plantation. If the weather forecast is correct we can expect some rain tomorrow and with it hopefully more new birds.

The Big Bang

The wind still blows from the East but as of yet no birds to report. The singing Chiffchaff remains and a Willow Warbler was new but that was it. Had the fright of my life early this morning ? A lot of commotion was coming from 4 Hooded Crows, that number was quickly reduced to 3 as 1 unfortunate individual came to close to the barrel of a shotgun. All i can think of is it was harassing the sheep ! Collected my chicken wire for the run today from Lerwick and on the way back to the ferry popped in to see the drake Lesser Scaup on Loch of Benston. A smart individual that liked to keep its distance.

When the wind blows

Another stunning day weather wise with the winds from the east increasing as the day progressed. A few more days of this and a bit of the wet stuff and we should be kicking birds up everywhere? Hopefully. As the weather is as it is, no surprise patch was pretty much as i left it yesterday with the Hawfinch still in residence as well as the Chiffchaff. Highlight was 2 Wood Pigeons that flew by, a highlight as they where a patch tick. My free time at the moment is being taken up building a run and house for 2 imminent arrivals ? Hens. Well it is bird related, sort of !

Frank the yank

Back on patch this morning in glorious sunshine and not a breath of wind, felt almost like summer. A very flighty Hawfinch was new, a singing Chiffchaff remains and a Swallow flew by the house. An Otter gave good views in the bay until i was greeted by one of my neighbours.

Received the text around lunch time the Franklins Gull had reappeared around Scatsta so decided to travel off isle. No sign for the best part of an hour until it flew in to bathe on the freshwater beside the road at Garths Voe, Sullom. Fantastic views of a stunning bird and one i never expected to see in full dress.

Once home mowed the lawn and erected my new feeding station ready for the migrants, so fingers crossed.

Not as bad as it sounds ?

The chain of events :
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.


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.

A swift return

After a rather bumpy journey south on the ferry last night managed to pop into Seaforth on the way home for the Pallid Swift. A nervous 3 hour wait was rewarded with excellent but distant views through the fence, the glee was soon despair when the text went off " Brown-headed Cowbird, Fair Isle" Shit ! Bloody typical. The only saving grace is the weather maybe a bit to dodgy to get over so i am having to cut short my Cheshire visit to just overnight, in the hope travel can be arranged for Sunday/Monday providing it sticks that is?