WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
In the Rosa at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
This is mind blowing!!! Jim Dickson's footage of the Blue-cheeked Bee eater on Iona this morning! First record for Argyll.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mull.nature.watch/permalink/4155519118017125/?rdid=QEvObpBVScGVOfek
Another gorgeous day here with wall to wall sunshine. I really wanted to get out and go birding, but I need to get this house finished by Autumn migration and all my boxes unpacked. Spent ages filling the two sideboards (as planned) with rugs, blankets and bed linen for guests. You are supposed to attach the sideboards to the wall, but they are now so heavy, I doubt very much they will tip over, plus there are no children in the house to pull them over! I can now start to hang some of my paintings above the sideboards, but this is difficult to do when you are on your own, I really need someone to hold them up to decide where they look best. My only other option is to lay the pictures out on the floor, which is what I will have to do. I wanted to paint the house this year and the long wall alongside my drive, but don't if I will have time or not, I'll maybe do this in July or August.
Vivien visited Lucy today and we all did a WhatsApp video call which was nice, although Lucy didn't look particularly excited to see me on Vivien's phone. Went to Planticrub and bought a few more plants. Last year I bought a Osteospermum "Purple Sun' from COPE, which I absolutely loved as its so vividly bright with pink centre and orange petals and flowers from June until October – COPE didn't have any this year and neither did Planticrub until today! I bought three and put them altogether in one turquoise pot – can't wait for them to all come out in flower.
On route through Loch of Tingwall, there were lots of Tufted Ducks and all the lovely yellow irises have started to come out. I have decided to sacrifice the small lawn in my front garden and fill with plants. A Hebe I bought last year and potted has got too big for the pot, so planted this out in the front lawn, a new buddleia, and a very hardy shrub that I can't remember the name of right now, but it has holly shaped leaves with daisy like flowers. I was gardening until 11.30pm!
Hairdressers this morning, few jobs in town and then back home for washing machine service person appointment to look at my washing machine, which has not been working effectively for a good while – call out charge and parts are not cheap, but cheaper than buying a new machine. GP telephone appointment after that and then chores, tea and getting two lines of washing in. Loads of families of House Sparrows and Starlings stripping my feeders along with a couple of Blackbirds, Collared Doves and Rock Doves. Gorgeous sunny day here.
Yesterday my two Dunelm sideboards arrived and not flat-packed for a change, such a joy – they look really smart in my long corridor. Spent ages cutting out and folding wallpaper to line all the shelves and draws this evening. Waiting for my builder to give me a date to put my flat-packed library bookcases together. Now on holiday for another week!
I just had to go and see this after work. This cracker of a bird was found by Phil Harris earlier today. I arrived at the Noss Junction at Loch of Spiggie – no other birders here. I checked with two local people that it was ok to walk through the sheep field to the shore of the loch and they said there have been a lot of birders here today and fishermen go down there two. I slowly walked down to the area where there is a small beach. Anne E. turned up and together we tried to find the Grey Phalarope, crossing two dykes and made our way to the beach area. No luck for a while and both of us were beginning to think it had disappeared. Anne and I decided to split and said we would wave like hell if either of us found it. Anne retraced her steps to the area we had just walked past and I walked further on.
I happened to glance round and Anne was waving! I quickly joined her and honestly I have never seen such a stunning and striking bird as this, there are not any words to fully describe the joy of seeing this bird. I have never seen one in this plumage before and maybe never will again! Just WOW! Dare I say that it has has more than possibly outshone the Eyebrowed Thrush for me and that's saying something! The wind was very strong and it was a challenge to hold the camera steady. What a week so far! A few House Martins and Swallows graced the loch along with some Mute Swans – a beautiful scene all round. Kevin Kelly joined us a bit later and then Jim N. and Alan.
I left here and had a drive around Boddam Voe. Saw four Shelduck, but no young – hope they are all ok! Raining now and best of the light had gone. Drove to Levenwick and was shocked to find all the belt of trees next to the pumping station down by the beach had been chopped to the ground! Its a real shame as this has spoilt the view of this little area and the pumping station now stands out like a sore thumb and isn't exactly pretty to look at, the trees here obscurred most of it and those trees and area held a Lanceolated Warbler last Autumn! I asked a local man if he knew why and he did tell me, but I feel I need to check on this information before writing something I shouldn't be. Returned home and as expected I didn't have many 'keepers' when I downloaded around 380 photos, but very pleased I managed to get some pleasing shots. Torrential rain again as I finish this post.
Posts
All Comments
