SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Quail at Griesta, Loch of Tingwall.

Greenish Warbler singing in plantation by track by caravan park near school at South Nesting. 

Quail in grass by cemetery, Ireland. 

King Eider 1w. fem off North end of Twageos Road, Lerwick. 

Marsh Warbler singing at Scousburgh.

Temminck's Stint on pool west of B9122, south of Channerwick.

ISLANDS

Red-throated Pipit on seaweed on beach at Norwick, Unst.

Icterine Warbler in Marsh Marigold Field (elusive), Skaw, Isle of Whalsay.  

Marsh Warbler, Quail on Out Skerries.

 

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html 

 

I was in the hairdressers for the usual three hours, then went to the only three shops here to look for walking boots. I have the best walking shoes ever, a pair of Grisport Dartmoor shoes, but I want to return to having a pair of stout and good quality leather walking boots to support my ankles. I used to have a pair of Zamberlan boots in my late twenties and they were the best boots I've ever had – they fitted perfectly and you could walk straight away in them. I used to suffer with achilles tendon so had to switch to shoes. A few months ago I decided to buy another pair of Zamberlans, but the only pair I could find that were labelled as "wide fit" were a men's pair (makes no difference) being sold by Uttings who are based in Norwich, Norfolk – they didn't have a size 6 and had to order a pair from the manufacturers in Italy, I waited a couple of months. The boots were delivered whilst I was on Fair Isle. I was shocked to find they they were not a wide fit at all and were a tight fit width wise and also the leather was no where near the same quality as they used to be, so they are packed up to return! Shoes have been made narrower and narrower over the years, my late mother also used to say that and my sister Vivien has been having the same issues with finding a pair for Ray. Nothing seemingly is made of the same high quality as it used to be, which is very frustrating. Boots that are too tight width wise became painful when you have walked a long way. The only shop that had a pair that I liked was "Cee & Jays" who do a big range of footwear for outdoor activities, more so in men's though I noticed. I was pleased to find that they had a pair Grisport FUSE boots, but in the wrong size and so they are going to order a size 6 for me to try – lets hope they will be wider enough!

 

Just made it to my doctor's appointment for 3pm to review my sore thumb from driving in Norfolk which is even worse and extremely painful. It hurts to write and put any pressure on it all and affects every single thing I try to do. The doctor I saw is referring me for an X-Ray and a steroid injection. I need to strim the grass which is the longest its ever been, but don't know if I will be able to do it, I will have a go over the next day or to. Will finish adding all the pictures to my Fair Isle posts tomorrow, although all the phone pictures are added and a few of the SLR shots.

 

Gorgeous day here with lots of sunshine, hope to get out birding soon!