5th of August Unst

got up 0600 hrs cup of rosy with the gang,followed by breakfast.The lads are going for Hake and Haddock today.I was birding with Jim today a native of Cullivoe,we set off for Gutcher and the ferry to Unst around 0820hrs.

At the ferry we met a twitcher from Beds and we were soon viewing distant Puffin and Black Guillemot.
We arrived at Belmount and was soon viewing Redshank in sum plum at Uyea Sound.

We drove north on the A968 passed Baltasound and on to Loch of Cliff where a number of Bonxies were bathing.

Also of note here were two Red throated divers,then it was on to Hermaness NNR.
Here a long walk up over the moor to the cliffs started in earnest.

After a while we got close to some Great Skuas sitting on the moor while Skylarks were rising and singing.

Moving onwards and upwards meadow and rock pipits obliged after 30 mins or so we reached the ridge.Hang on for the next instalment Hermaness and its Gannets.

4th of August Cullivoe Yell Shetland

Early morning passed the red throated divers,back for breakfast  around 1000hrs left  the community centre  and waked down to the  harbour.

Walking along the shore I found some Eiders and the sub species of Shetland Wren.

The wren shot is not that good but it was a bit distant and it was moving along the breakwater stones.

I followed the shore line for a while along the bay noting signs of Otters but instead found two
Arctic Skuas one dark phase and one light.

Finally walking back chasing Wheatears I saw a Great skua feeding on the beach.

birding in Shetland

Been off the radar for a while work and other things,a weeks fishing in Shetland with my cousin et al
was something different and I got some good birding in.
A long trip by road and a stop near Penrith at the services then Dalgetty bay near Edinburgh next stop Aberdeen and the overnight ferry to Lerwick. Drove to Toft for the ferry to Yell on arrival in Yell

met  Logan Johnson and Alan, Logan and I went for some  birding we saw Red throated diver with young then moving on to Sands of Breckon where Arctic tern,Sanderling and Great Northern divers ended our day.

Arsenal win,Canal festival and finally 2 Goldeneye

Well been off the radar a bit but had a busy weekend birding ,working till 2pm on Sat
then dashing to Holloway road to see the Gooners on the big screen win a cup after
9 YEARS of near misses.

Then on Sunday the canal festival provided  some birds in the midday sun as we
walked the causeway between Bury and Stockers GP.

Egyptian geese with young and Cetti's warbler calling obliged and so to early
Monday morning arrived, when I finally saw the two remaining Goldeneye juvs with
the scatty female that can't cope with them.

Barne Elms fishery

Well it was a days trout fishing in the Thames valley near Pangbourne it only took an hour to get
there just of the M4 . This farm with its spring fed lakes was a veritable oasis.

The boys sat waiting for the off after munching their bacon rolls supplied by the
lovely Rosemary.

All  around us blackcaps were singing ,blue tits were feeding young in a nest box,
I  was soon in to fish a nice couple of Rainbows came quick and fast.

Over head and at rest a Red Kite showed well as did a pair of Common Buzzards on the
lake a Mute Swan with young and Canada geese with young fought over territory.

This lovely day came to an end as we joined the traffic on the M4 just a mile away
from this paradise.

Key West Florida

Well  it was more bars than birds and some fishing with my brother in law.

First a bit of culture a view of Key West church one evening.

A visit to a local nature reserve provided some goodbirds with my wife I don't believe it?

Some good warblers including black and white warbler.

Also Turkey vultures overhead and iguanas at our feet.

Well fishing produced a sand shark,grouper,mackerel etc and loads of comorants and
ospreys.

Finally sunset on the Keys produced American Skimmers what a bird.

Bonaire

Well Bonaire is pretty much like Aruba another Dutch Antilles island,but there is
always something for the birder even when on a tour.

1,000 steps down to a gin clear sea a divers paradise,but I was looking for exotic
birds when am I not.

Finally Yellow shouldered parrot obliged,along with other exotics as we moved
through the scrub land.

In the distance American Flamingos and waders and on the way to port a Saffron finch.