Just like magic

Wet and windy was the order for the day, not that it stopped any of us from getting out. From leaving the house to do patch it was obvious there were new arrivals, with Redwings everywhere. Patch sightings were 2 Mistle Thrushes in with a flock of Redwing, a smart male Redstart, a Yellow-browed Warbler, Brambling, Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush and a Robin. A check of a few sites also had a Sparrowhawk at Livister and a Fieldfare,Brambling and Robin at Isbister. Today's major excitement all came from up at Skaw ? First John Dunn alerted us to a locustella he had kicked up from a ditch which frustratingly disappeared, as they do so often. Then this afternoon another call this time from John Laurie, a Woodlark was up by Jon's house. A quick change back into wets and it was back up to Skaw, managed decent flight views and it called as it constantly went by. Another check for the locustella drew a blank, as always maybe tomorrow.

That sour Olive dip

The scheduled weekly shop took place today, so with me itching to get out on patch speed was the order of the day. All was going well, that was until i got a call from Dougie (whilst we were just leaving Lerwick). He kindly informed me of 2 Olive-backed Pipits that had been reported from the Kergord plantation. Even though my other half really wanted to go home she felt guilty and took me anyway. So whilst she went for lunch i took to looking for the duo in what i must say was the most inappropriate birding attire, but at least i could have boasted to being the smartest dressed birder (in the field) in Shetland, although that had no bearing on my relocation skills. The best i could muster was a solitary Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff. Oh well, maybe there will be another somewhere else tomorrow ! When we finally got home managed a quick check of patch but all that was on offer were 2 Bramblings. A day of SE'rly winds today with rain tonight and tomorrow could make for an interesting weekend, lets hope so.

R.I.P.

Very windy today and cold, news of a bereavement meant giving patch a wide berth out of respect. So i decided to try and twitch an Olive-backed Pipit that was found in the Sullom plantation, but to no avail. Plenty of Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler were on show, not that any of it was a consolation.

To make up for todays short comings i processed some more images of yesterdays Arctic Warbler from Quarff.

Delays ! Shetland style

An early text off Jim Nicolson had me tentatively going off isle (for what i thought would be the morning) for the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Aith, Cunningsburgh. The only reason i did go for this was only because i wanted better views than the Foula bird last week. I wasn't disappointed. Hopefully that will be the cue for finding one closer to home ?

From there decided it would be rude not to look at the Arctic Warbler at Quarff, that also put on a fabulous show in the morning sunshine.

A quick visit to Tesco for supplies and it was off home, or so i thought ? The Linga, our largest ferry had broken down at Laxo which meant going to Vidlin to catch the Hendra. Unfortunately when i arrived she was steaming out of the voe, so i had a couple of hours to kill until the next ferry home. With that i set off checking all the gardens and more importantly the plantation. The best on offer was a solitary Yellow-browed Warbler.

Whilst checking the plantation a cry of some description came from beyond, and on closer inspection it turned out to be 2 Otters fighting in the middle of the loch. When the melee had ended one of the Otters decided to swim out of the loch and pitch up next to me affording breath taking views. Simply stunning.

As if that wasn't good enough these 2 little fellas popped up also. Today was a good day to be delayed.

On arrival back home got out on patch to find 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff still whilst a female Blackcap was new. A fabulous day lets hope tomoorw can match it ?

Sweet & Sour

A blustery day with intermittent showers graced Whalsay today. A text this morning alerted me that Malc & Fred (from Cheshire) were coming over for the Veery first off, unfortunately for them and the other 7 birders it seems to have gone, not being seen after i left it yesterday ! Undeterred (i think) they headed to Fetlar for the Taiga Flycatcher which also seems to have done a bunk. Hopefully they will get lucky tomorrow and make the trip seem worthwhile ? Bird wise on Whalsay it was a good mix with Brough doubling its Yellow-browed Warblers count (so thats 2), 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Brambling and 2 Song Thrush. Skaw was the Yellow-browed capital with 5 and 3 Song Thrushes. 2 Yellow-browed and 2 'Greenland' Redpolls were at Hamister. 3 Snow Buntings were on the road beside West Loch of Skaw and a Brambling, Siskin and Chiffchaff graced Saltness, throw in large numbers of Redwing and it made for a good day. Tesco beckons tomorrow so hopefully a couple of visits further south can be done ?

Better late than never

Brilliant blue skies and warm sunshine bathed Whalsay today, it felt like summer had returned. Orders from the wife, that we take the dogs for a walk before i disappeared for the day again paid off with a Yellow-browed Warbler, an overdue patch tick. Once the dogs had been satisfied it was out on patch to see if anything else had arrived? Unfortunately nothing else was new with just the Song Thrush and the Blackcap remaining.

A check of a few sites around the isle only produced 3 Redwing at Skiberhoull and a Garden Warbler at Symbister, once there i couldnt resist another look at the Veery. Hopefully it will hang on another day with pals from Cheshire due to arrive tomorrow.

Good Samaritans

A brisk northerly wind made for a bloody cold day today, not that it made a difference to getting out and about. Brough only had the solitary Song Thrush and for the rest of my efforts all i could find was a Tree Pipit over at Livister. A trip to see the Veery had me bumping into Lee Mott and with no vehicular access to Whalsay today ferried him up to the Pechora Pipit at Skaw, which even though quite flighty showed well again. Back down at the Veery we joined Jon Dunn and John Laurie and had my best views as it posed on a small wall in its favoured garden. We then stood back as no fewer than 14 birders arrived off the ferry to twitch this little gem, then in a moment of madness we 3 offered to take them up to the Pechora Pipit, our good deeds for the fellow man. A quiet day compared to the rest of Shetland today but that could all quite easily change. Tomorrow beckons.

Whilst we stood back and watched the newly arrived twitchers we noticed 1 chap with a rather interesting rucksack ? Thought it would make a good caption competition.

1. Oi ! Move your f***ing head out of the way i cant see.