Friday 26 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 25 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Wednesday 24 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Tuesday 23 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Monday 22 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Sunday 21 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Saturday 20 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
SKODA Fabia 1.0 TSI Monte Carlo (95PS) Estate!
Friday 19th April
Today my new (2020 model) car was delivered to the freight terminal at Lerwick – very easy to spot as its Rallye Green, the same as my last car. I picked the car up mid morning in very cold north west winds and returned home. So nice to have a car again, but my accident in January has made me feel nervous.
Several issues with the car, which I have had to email Trust Ford about – should get some answers tomorrow. Ford only just found out yesterday that the car was exempt from tax, as it was registered to a disabled person and they realised they had to sort this out, rather than me. You have to pay £25.00 to change it back to a taxable car, which they are paying for. The valet wasn't a valet and the bodyshop work on the scratches looked like it had been penned in with a green felt pen and didn't look much different from when I saw it. I was told it had Sat Nav, it hasn't. I paid for £50 of fuel to put in, it hasn't, probably half that at a guess. Both key fobs said the battery needed changing. On the new MOT it was flagged up as an advisory that the back window wiper blade needed changing, which Ford said they would pay for when I ordered it – they sent me the link to the Skoda shop website, which I ordered and paid for last night and then 5 minutes afterwards, I had an email from Skoda saying they would have to reimburse me, as they don't deliver to Shetland!
I spent two hours cleaning inside the car as it was hailing around me! My rubber mats from old hatchback car all fitted nicely, but I had to buy a new rubber boot mat (ordered from Skoda whilst in Aberdeen and delivered to Ford for me). Replaced the key fob batteries. Loaded the car up with the usual stuff and all looking good for a trip out at last! The seats are far more comfortable than my last SE L version and there is handy pull down draw to put your sunglasses in above the central console. No armrest though with storage area underneath as I had in my last car. Fabulous to have a bigger boot!
Thursday 18 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked my front garden and feeders this morning before work. In the first few seconds I peered out of the front door, there was nothing, seconds later several birds flew down from the trees opposite, including a chunky Hawfinch! A female this time, landing on the ground to feed for seconds only and then flew back to the tall trees opposite my house. Again, no time for a photo, plus I needed to get to work. My feeding station is paying off big time. I have a good quality bird seed I purchased from Copdock Mill via Amazon, sunflower hearts, niger seed, meal worms, dried sultanas, fat balls from 'Peckish', berry flavour and mealworm suet blocks and RSPB peanuts.
This evening I put together my Flymo H400 Push Powered Cylinder Lawn Mower – it wasn't easy at all, but I got there in the end – itching to use this and the grass needs its first cut, but its too wet at the moment!
Wednesday 17 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Spent this evening sorting and filling my bird feeders up, including putting up my second (arrived today) Roamwild bird feeder, but this time without the cage, so I can see if the Starlings can use this or not, I expect they are not heavier enough to close the entry point for the seed. Cleaned the bird baths out and all looking fabulous again. I couldn't resist buying a smiling gnome swinging on a rope swing, which I purchased off Amazon, he looks so good in the tree! 😆 This will add some fun to the front garden for any children walking past... maybe! He will get plenty of swinging in the winds here! No, I haven't lost the plot, if you're asking, not quite anyway.
Had a lovely chat with Gwen this evening (who lives two doors away) as she passed my front garden and she told me that one of my trees in the front garden is a Rowan tree, which I'm hugely excited about – Gwen said that it had had a big chop at some point, but its all looking good again now, it won't get chopped again whilst I'm here – she also said that its mean't to be lucky to have a Rowan tree in your garden. There is an elder next to it and rhubarb growing below. Both these trees will be brilliant for their berries later on for any migrant birds. I'm not sure what the biggest tree is in my front garden and I have another large tree next to the shed and drive. Can't wait to get my new car in the driveway on Friday, so exciting!
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Tuesday 16th April
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Monday 15 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
2 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins in my garden this evening.
Sunday 14 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
The Roamwild PestOff Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder is going to save me a fortune! House Sparrows, Siskins, Chaffinches and Goldfinches took a while to venture through the caged area, but they are now in and very happy! Its mostly been used by the Siskins and Goldfinches. The Starlings are extremely disgruntled indeed and trying to find a hole above the green metal area and obviously failing. The sunflower hearts have hardly gone down in the tube since I filled it up a few days ago! In the garden today: 2 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins, 6 Chaffinches, 1 robin, 1 blackbird, 4 Collared Doves, Starlings and good numbers of House Sparrows. I still haven't recovered from my trip to Aberdeen and didn't get anything much done today.
Saturday 13 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
My Phenergan travel sickness tablets prevented me from being sick last night. The ferry was rocking in the early hours of the morning and even though I was laying on the floor, I had to hold onto the floor a few times to stop myself being rolled over! Later on I heard a huge crashing noise – which sounded like loads of crockery smashing to the floor! Eventually it calmed enough for me to get up. I didn't bother with breakfast this morning. The ferry arrived at 7.30am and I walked to the bus stop and caught the 7.50am bus back to Scalloway. A beautiful sunny and crisp morning, cooler than Aberdeen and much more tolerable.
When I reached home, I put my bags indoors and immediately fell asleep. I have been extremely sleepy all day and done nothing at all. The Phenergan tablets always do this too me, you can't drive after taking these or do anything to be honest. Two Goldfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on my feeders this morning.
Friday 12 April 2024
New Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Estate!
Woke up at 5am after a night of tossing and turning, wasn't ill, so all good. Had a full breakfast. Arrived in Aberdeen at 7am. Stayed on the ferry for a while until 7.45am. Caught a bus to Trust Ford.
At last I have found a new car and an estate, which is what I wanted for several reasons including being able to sleep in it if I wanted to and getting wood for the fire etc etc. I nearly didn't buy this, as I thought it would remind me of my written off car, but changed my mind, as its the best car I've seen for the money I had to spend. Can't afford to buy new again, this car is a 2020 model, one previous owner, 16,338 miles. Salesman Donnelly Wilson at Trust Ford in Aberdeen has been extremely helpful indeed. Service being done and 12 months MOT (was 6 months). Three months warranty and covered by any Ford Garage, so this includes the Ford garage in Shetland. Car being delivered to Lerwick next week!
I had no idea what a huge city Aberdeen was until I had a walk round later! Also 19 degrees here and I am boiling hot, roll on Shetland to cool down! Had lunch in Pizza Express.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 11 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
After work I walked to the ferry terminal and caught the 7pm ferry to Aberdeen. No cabins, but I didn't want one anyway, as simply going over to look at a new car. Brought my roll up camp bed, pillow and sleeping bag and slept mid ship.
Wednesday 10 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Tuesday 9 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Monday 8 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Sunday 7 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Friday 5 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 4 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Wednesday 3 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Tuesday 2 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Monday 1 April 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Sunday 31st March
Sunday 31 March 2024
Birding "Sooth" – A Glorious Spring Day!
Saturday 30th March
Rob and Jill very kindly said they would take me out birding today, which I was very excited about since I still don't have a car. I got up to look out of my stable door at the front of the house to see what birds were by the feeders and I was so excited to see three new birds for my garden list! A stonking male Brambling was feeding on the ground along with the House Sparrows and Starlings and then 2 male Siskins flew in to feed from the hanging bird table! A female Chaffinch was feeding almost camouflaged, under a shrub in the corner and the Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to feed on the peanuts! Also Robins x 2, Collared Doves and 2 Blackbirds. Best selection of birds in my garden so far!
Rob and Jill arrived around 9am and from my driveway we watched 2 Goldfinches, 4 Siskins and Chaffinches along with Starlings and House Sparrows in Jimmy's garden next door.
We then drove to the harbours at Lerwick look for gulls, but nothing of particular note seen. Went to Helendale where we saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk appeared above some trees and was then mobbed by a Hooded Crow. Also saw two Goldcrest. Jill could hear a Blue Tit, but we couldn't see it.
We headed south to Grutness and saw a Pied Wagtail, Ringed Plover and some Mallards. Headed up to Sumburgh Head, which was jam-packed with cars and people as the Lighthouse had an Open Day event going on. Jill and I walked down to the 'Roses' and saw around 6+ Robins and 1 female Blackbird flew out. The weather was glorious today with wall to wall sunshine and virtually no wind at all. A message of 'Wheatear' here came up on the WhatsApp group, but we didn't see this. Lots of Guillemots on the sea, Fulmars cruising round and the entire scene looked amazing and felt good to be back at this iconic spot. We then stopped off at West Voe beach briefly, where the light was particularly stunning with cloud formations and blue skies.
Went to The Loch of Hillwell where we had the most distant views of the Bittern that Hugh Harrop had found I've ever seen, but at least we saw it! Also saw a Heron here. We had second better views through Hugh's scope from a higher up area of the road, which was far better, thanks Hugh! Also, Hugh very kindly showed us around his garden, which has matured considerably since I last saw it and very kindly gave us some cuttings of "New Zealand Holly" and a cutting of "Icelandic Willow" for me – so excited about these (planted later at home).
Had a look at Setters Marsh near Spiggie Loch to look for Pintail x 2 seen earlier, no Pintail on show, but Moorhen, Curlews and several Golden Eye seen. On Spiggie Loch we watched 2 Shelduck and some Golden Eye, but mostly was devoid of birds, which was unexpected.
We then headed to Maywick Beach. Jill and I walked down to the beach – very disappointedly there were several piles of dog crap along the very short path, it was far worse than my last visit here that had one pile – as Jill said, going by the size..... it was a large dog, not a Chihuahua! The same large dog as my last encounter maybe?! The beach as always here was stunning and nobody else here. 2 Pied Wagtails on the beach.
On route, Rob counted 48 seals below the cliff on Rerwick Beach. We returned to Lerwick to look for gulls and eventually had fabulous views of the Little Gull along with lots of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, but no sign of the Glaucous or Iceland Gull seen here today by others. A raft of Eider were seen, backed by the first and very large cruise ship of the season called "Ambition". Lovely views of 2 Long-tailed Ducks fairly close in too.
We then went to Veensgarth to look for a Long-eared Owl that was seen earlier on, but after much searching in the exact area it had been seen, we gave up. Headed back to Scalloway via Tingwall Loch where we saw a couple of Golden Eye. Jill and Rob dropped me at home at around 6pm. Still light and a beautiful evening with a night sky full of stars later on. A magical and brilliant day all round and huge thanks to Jill and Rob for taking me out.
Clocks go forward one hour tonight – lighter evenings after work!
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Friday 29 March 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 28 March 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Wednesday 27 March 2024
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
NORFOLK TRIP – 15th to 26th March!
The last time I saw my sisters was the 30th April 2023, its been far too long. As soon as I knew my new house was finalised, I booked this trip up and managed to get reasonably priced flights. It was a good job I had booked to fly, as I wouldn't have been taking the Northlink ferry and driving south with no car! I had NHS annual leave that had to be used up by the 31st March, so it was a good time to book and before Spring migration hits Shetland. Mind you, if I don't get a car sorted out soon, I will only be seeing birds in Scalloway!