Black Redstart

Out and about today, thanks to both a trip to the vet's for my dog 'Corrie', and doing my monthly WeBS counts. The trip to Bixter for the vet's, produced my first two Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the year. I know... I know, everyone else has seen lots by this time of year, but I wasn't trying, and I refuse to get excited about a migrant that will be everywhere in a few weeks time...

I also managed to photograph what is probably the same Black Redstart. This time at the crossroads in Burravoe. This time it looks to have a more pronounced wing panel, and perhaps is a wee bit darker? (prob just photographic effect?) This bird was also flighty, but not as 'manic' as the other times I've seen it!

The WeBS counts produced a total of 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, and 2 Knot, along with the more common stuff. The rest of the birds included 1 Robin (still) and 2 Chaffinch (still).

Not the 'Sound Approach'

Today's migrants included the Black Redstart (still, and still as flighty!), 2 Chaffinches (still), 1 Robin (still), 4 Knot (still) and 3 Wood Pigeon (New...yippee). So not a lot new today then! But it was good to see so many birds around, and a lot of new Pipits arriving too, although the poss 'littoralis' from a few days ago seems to have passed through. After getting photos of such a confiding 'adult' Shag a few days ago, it was good to get a confiding '1st Summer' bird today for comparison!

For anybody interested (there must be someone?), I've posted a couple of mp3 sound files at the bottom of the sidebar on the right. These include a recording of the 'First' fully documented 'moltonii' Subalpine for Britain (armchair tick some day?). A recording of Stormies from Moussa last Summer, and another couple of Shetland birds. I'm trying to make an online library (on this blog) of the many sound clips I've recorded, once I figure out the logistics of it.... As you all know, I'm not very technically minded and this is a bit of a challenge for me!

'Snaa Ful'

Not the migrants I was expecting this morning! but these wee beauties will always brighten up the dog walk... We did wake up to a fresh covering of snow this morning, so finding 2 Snow Buntings seemed rather appropriate!





(Doing his best Arctic Redpoll impression!)




At midday, another wander produced this beautiful Black Redstart. So looks like we have migrants still arriving, even with cold Northerly winds and snow! This bird was very good at hide and seek, and refused to pose for the camera.

Do you think it's spotted me yet?