randombirder

So it continues.  Strong winds and a dearth of migrants on the islands.  Today was leisurely with a bit of birding apathy thrown in while still managing somehow to gather some enthusiasm and energy to get out there and shake a few trees.  Alas, by 4pm all motivation had been cast asunder - the wind seemed to have slightly increased in strength during the day.  A nice cup of tea (cups of tea are invariably 'nice') beckoned and there endeth the 6th day.   Pool of Virkie - 30 black-tailed godwit and seven bar-tailed godwit of note on a low tide. Grutness - Just five kittiwake (4 ad, 1 1st cy) Boddam - The 11 pale-bellied brent goose had relocated to the small bay at Boddam. Levenwick - Managed to conjure up a pied flycatcher within the small woodland opposite the cottage.  A single chiffchaff and robin were also seen there. Sumburgh - This young  otter was very vocal while it scampered over the rocks near to the hotel.  The wind felt rea...

Boarding the ferry at Oban to Craignure for the last sailing of the day.  The culmination of a 10 hour journey from a hotel in Newbury where we stayed after the Cricket match. The weather was fantastic so standing at the bow of the ferry watching the Isle of Mull come closer into view was the best seat in the house. Was really desperate to get my first sighting of Sea Otter , so to have prolonged views of these two spritely individuals was a real privilage. Oystercatcher are common around the island.  This bird was nesting on the pebbled beach.  A really lovely bird. One of the most stunning male Whinchat I had seen.  The light was fading, so finding this was a real bonus.  Later realised there was a nest site very close by. The female was picked up a couple of days later. Common Gull were by far the most 'common gull' on the island. Predominantly a winter visitor to the south of the country, these adults looked...