Shorter days

Been mainly working in the office over the last week.
With the shorter days now upon us.
Its time again for my other passion, and a painting in progress, of a Pallases Warbler.

Snow is falling, all around , children playing , having fun

Its not xmas , But it feels like it here.
-1 this morning and snow showers, heavy at times.
Waxwings briefly in the garden first thing, but too dark to photograph.

Birdwatch Magazine - Rarity Photo of The Month

I had no idea,but on opening Birdwatch magazine this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my images,again gracing the pages of the magazine. But this time one of my Buff -bellied Pipit images gets the accolade of Rarity Photo of The Month, in the November 2010 issue 221.

Butchers block

With the Isabeleine Shrike still around, i could not resist another view, never a dull moment from this bird, if its not hunting or ripping the heads off mice and birds and throwing up pellets.

Regurgitating a pellet

Observed the bird catch a Twite and brought it over to, for all intense and purposes something that looked like a butchers block

Twite hanging in the Thistles

New- bird of the Autumn

A couple of days ago i called the Isabeline Shrike, the bird of the Autumn, and im pleased to be proved wrong. This Red Flanked Bluetail at Kergord yesterday was the best plumage condition I had seen , the first I had seen in real woodland habitat and this bird showed its self off like the true star it was.

Not so Rosy

This juvenile Rose coloured Starling at Cunningsbrugh looked rather doppey when i first arrived,tucked in a bush asleep, dripping wet. It soon dried off and picked up enough to feed in the surrounding gardens.

Best bird this autumn

The Isabeline Shrike found at Spiggie, was still around today (13th October).
What a stunner, for me the bird of the autumn, that gave some stunning behavioral images. Observed bringing in mice, impaling and finally eating.

Destined for the Office

I was today destined for office work,allthough long overdue, it was not my choice.
The wifes car would not start this morning,so she used my space gear.
Praying that nothing mega would turn up while i tried to fix the sick seat.
Then into the office, and a quick click on these Siskin in the garden.

back to the ranch

After the large number of birds yesterday,today was a contrast,as most seemed to have moved out. after scouring south mainland Shetland, with Great Grey Shrike the only bird of note.
On the way back to the ranch, called in at Channerwick a few common migrants, and this welcome Red Breasted Flycatcher.

My co-operative Dunlin again

Tiny Gems

Today was a day full of birds, with a good fall of migrants.
While photographing Goldcrests at Sumbrugh, i followed a lead in to the nearby fields to find this Stunning gem , a Pallass's Warbler.
I was accompanied by Dougie Preston, who heard the call of a Richards Pipit and thanks to Dougie we tracked down the bird to confirm his find.

Goldcrest seemed to be everywhere today, these must be one of my all time top birds.

Song Thrush


Siskin

Wave Goodby

Hunted in the morning for a Citrene Wagtail that had been around for a few days, but even with local knowledge,could not track down.
Early after noon and a number of birds came out, including this Red Flanked Bluetail at Geoster.
A tricky critter,only obtaining a single image i was happy with.
But loads of other common migrants .























This Pied Flycatcher in some great light,and the characteristic flick of the wings.