not quite heaving

The high expectations of last night weren't lived up to by the migrants at Galley today, unfortunately, despite lots of SE wind and rain for most of yesterday. I only managed a couple of blackcaps, the two yellowhammers again, a black redstart (that wasn't new), and in amongst the viz-migging chaffinches, a brambling which called once and wasn't seen (134). Whoop - still, they all count! The yellow-browed warbler remained in Dirk Bay apparently, though I shunned the place today!

A yellow browed at last!

Was getting a bit worried that I'd missed yellow-browed warbler for the year, so news of one in Dirk this pm was a big relief. Luckily it was calling a good bit so was easy to pin down in the bottom sycamores (133). It never feels like a proper autumn without a yellow-browed on patch!

With the wind due to go south-east tomorrow, there's still hope of a few more year ticks before the autumn is out!

bits and bobs

Been a bit slack on de blogging front of late, however this week netted both ring ouzel and golden plover on patch (132).  On the downside, I also managed to dip on a patch tick - crane, which flew over the garden while I was watching a red-eyed vireo an hour away - thats gotta hurt!

Patch gold again!

Gave Galley the works this morning, and was duly rewarded with three (count 'em!) year ticks (129). I did the head first and was impressed by the viz-migging. Plenty of common stuff streaming southwards, with approx. 250 skylarks, 80 chaffinches, 20 redpolls, 15 siskin and also c. 20 magpies going through the motions, before they chickened out and headed back inland again.

In the midst of all this action I picked up a coal tit banging around on telephone wires - a Galley mega! I've seen more yellow-broweds here, and they is far from annual. This one was the first since 2008, so was very welcome! The next highlight was a buzzard, which sadly I got onto a little late, but it must have almost flown over my head! Still, another good one for the year, which is almost guaranteed these days, but you never know! The final year tick was a fine pied flycatcher, which appeared to be fresh in - always great value.  The juvenile woodchat shrike was still loitering about the fields at Shite Lane too.

And the wind is still in the east, with light drizzle tonight.....can't wait till morning!

More dirty twitching at Galley

Hot news today of a barred warbler loitering in Dirk - big bird, small place and all that - "piece of piss" I thought! Gave it a while late morning but no luck in the fog, however a return visit late pm in the sunshine was inspired, as it showed briefly in a sunny buckthorn bush before retreating again. Full Fat Patch Tick! Result! (126). One day I'll get a nice showy one here tho!

In other news, while I was watching the barred, de langer turned up a whinchat at Long Strand, which was duly notched onto the "from the house" list - bonus! Had a cracking male in the spring so it wasn't new for the year, but they've been pretty scarce in the last few years! South-east winds tonight - who knows what will be out there tomorrow!

Galley gets a woodchat

Cracker (124)! Only me second on Galley, but the only one twitched with Batman & Spiderman in tow!

Shetland photo essay

Birding Sumburgh Head

News of the Siberian Blue Robin on Foula sinks in

Little Bunting - two of these was the best we could find

A good pie was hard to find this year - a worrying development

Isabelline Shrike - one of the birds of the trip!