And the winner is.....

Award for the crappiest record shot of the year goes to;

This Collared Dove was the only new migrant in Burravoe today, and I've probably pinched it from jase's patch on Whalsay! (So a second hand migrant as well!) The Chiffchaffs have probably increased to two birds, but with them being mobile it's hard to tell, and 'Snowy' is still down on the farm... Can't be long now till good migrants arrive, can it?

Random pic of the day; Turnstone.

Oh... and yes, it's yet another pic of that bloody bunting.

Only an excuse!

Give me an excuse to escape from more DIY! Any excuse!..... and I'll take it.... So back out with the dog today.

Good movement of Twite and Skylark today, with birds both singing and passing by over head. I also seen my first Meadow Pipit displaying (Yippee..). This might seem 'pants' to you?, but to me this is a good sign, as they completely vacate Burravoe in the Winter, as opposed to small numbers of Twite and Skylark still turning up now and again during the last few months. Looking at Birdguides and seeing things start to arrive down South, I just wish they would get a bloody move on, as it's been a long Winter up here, and I'm sure we could all do with an Alpine Swift, or even another Black Kite would do!

The light was very strong, and trying to get any decent pics was not easy (maybe if I knew about photography, that might have helped!) but it was just nice just being out in the sun...Oh, and I also heard my first flyover Red-throated Divers of the year too!

Fieldcraft?

The dictionary definition of fieldcraft is; fieldcraft n. Making military or scientific observations in the field, especially while remaining undetected.

Alternative definition; fieldcraft n. Making yourself look more of a total tool than you already do (or is it just me?), while dressed up in camouflage gear and sporting optics....(it is just me, isn't it!) and letting your neighbours have a good laugh at the plonker that moved in next door!

Very few birders ever seem to practise this 'black art' and I can see why. Not only does it make us look very silly to 'normal' people, but the associated problems of cold, damp, mud, and damage to optics is all very real, as I've been finding out recently...

Don't believe for one second that the birds don't know your there either, as this very grumpy looking Turnstone is obviously looking at me and wondering why this ejit is lying on the beach in sub-zero temperatures.

And as for the Ringed Plover, I caught this photo just as he was about to fall over laughing...

Don't worry though, as I reckon all this 'fieldcraft' is just a fad, and it'll never catch on. After all, how many times have you seen birders using it?

For me though, it's back to work for a few days, then I'm on a special birding quest! with minimal fieldcraft required (thank god!), but it does involve a fair bit of technology (oh crap!), so I'm sure a complete technophobe like me is certain to balls it up! I'll post the results on my return...

Anyway, for those out there who were wondering about the word 'ejit' please see here; http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ejit

Frozen Nuts!

Today was a day for birding East Yell. Starting in Burravoe and finding nothing, I ventured up towards Mid Yell, where the Beardie was still hauled out and enjoying the sunshine...

Can anyone can tell me what sex this animal is?

From here it was South to a sheltered bay, where I lay on the cold ground to get close to the birds feeding on the shoreline. 'Field craft' did let me get close and after 20min or so the birds were walking past me unconcerned.

It was then that I could feel the cold from the ground starting to seep in, and I figured if my wife and I ever wanted to have kids, then this was the time to get moving...... It's good to keep your options open, eh!