More from Shetland (June 2009)

Some more pictures from our Shetland trip last June:


The final couple of nights at Sumburgh produced superb sunsets.


The Jarlshof ruin provided foreground interest for this sunset shot.


This Otter made an appearance while we waited for the ferry at Yell. Nearly missed the ferry while trying to get this shot!


A very pleasing shot of an Arctic Tern in flight.

Saturday 6th February 2010

It's a step back in time today, Shetland June 2009 to be exact. Got around to processing a few more photo's this morning so here goes:

Red-necked Phalarope (f)

Red-necked Phalarope (m)

At the Loch of Funzie on Fetlar we had great encounters with the Red-necked Phalarope. At times the female was so close it was too close for my lens to focus! The female at the top was working her way around the edge of the loch while a hoard of photographers followed. Finally she and a male took a break, preening and snoozing, at the edge of the loch like a couple of celebs with the paparazzi surrounding them. This was a truly unforgettable experience.

Redshank

This Redshank had young close to the road and tried to persuade us to move along, not before a few snaps though.

Great Skua

Also on Fetlar this Great Skua was one of many bathing in a small loch before we put them up.

Subalpine Warbler

My first twitch! The Subalpine Warbler at Skaw on Unst. The photographers staked out the Spearmint clump, where this bird had been seen in recent days, while the rest of the group walked down to the shore. After a bit of a wait the bird finally appeared just long enough for a quick shot.

Arctic Skua

I had trouble getting a decent shot of an Arctic Skua, this one just a about passes muster.

All taken on the 9th June 2009 (Fetlar and Unst, Sheland Islands)

Thursday 4th February 2010

After the disappointing garden bird watch at the weekend had an interesting 5 minutes this morning when 3 House Sparrows, 7 Long-tailed Tits, Wren and Blue Tit were all seen while looking out of the kitchen window! Of those the House Sparrows were most welcome having been absent from the garden for the last few weeks.

Yesterday a Dunnock was seen on the seed feeders. Only problem was it just couldn't work out where the seed ports were and just kept pecking at the perspex tube, what a bird brain.

The cold winter doesn't seem to have slowed the birds down much. Many of the small birds are singing strongly now (Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin and Dunnock). Starlings are investigating some of the regular nest sites and a pair of Collared Doves were seen getting very friendly in the garden. They might be in for a nasty surprise if the forecast cold returns next week.