More Waxwings

  The last couple of weeks has been a real treat having Waxwings feeding in the garden daily. At the most there were 6 and this has now sadly dropped down to 1 today (20th Nov). As I've mentioned before, the birds were very confiding and even came and fed on an apple I was holding whilst I lay on the ground. The link to the (rather shaky) YouTube video is here taken on my mobile. Below are a few more of my favourites from the last week or so...........

 

  The Autumn migration period is now over with just one or two late stragglers passing through. Recently I had a new tick for both my Shetland list and the Unst one in the form of a Great Tit at Haroldswick (and another a week later - or maybe the same one? at Norwick). Last week I saw a pipit along at the end of the road by The Houb several times, but couldn't pin it down. Finally in the fading light on Saturday afternoon, I managed to photograph it perched on a fence. Looking at the picture, I came to the conclusion that it didn't look or feel like a Meadow P so maybe it was a Tree or even an Olive-backed' ? I do find sometimes that even a 'common' bird out of context - or not in a place that you'd usually see one - can 'throw' me off course so to speak. I'm certain that if I'd have seen the bird down in the Cotswolds rather than skulking about in some wet marshy ground, I'd have known straight away it was a Tree Pipit. On this occasion, I needed Brydon and then later Mike, to confirm its identity. As it turned out, Mike said it was the latest ever record for the species in Shetland.....

 

 

  One species which does turn up in varying numbers each Autumn is Water Rail. I find it hard to believe how they manage to fly across the sea; whether its from Scandinavia or mainland Scotland when they seem to have difficulty flying 50yds ! Catriona saw one running down our drive in front of the car last week but unfortunately I didn't get to it. However, the following afternoon, I saw a bird fly up almost 4ft in to the air from the Rosa bushes closely followed by a cat. The cat stretched out a paw and brought the bird down like some wild cat in the savannah. I shouted and fortunately the cat let go and the bird scurried off unhurt.....

 

Water Rail at Norwick

  We're are now i to the 3rd week of November and we still have a number of Hedgehogs of various sizes wandering around in both the night time and daylight hours searching for food. I'm sure that down south many would be hibernating by now and most would probably not be out and about during the daytime. I think that they do that here possibly for two reasons, one they are trying to build up their fat reserves for when the cold weather really does start and secondly, they don't have any predators - apart from vehicles that is. This one was out in the garden today......

   Last week I was asked to do a 'photo shoot' - or rather take some pictures of my friend Brydon wearing some of the latest Paramo outdoor gear. I took some last year while we were out around Flugga' and one of those was then used in various magazine ads' including RSPBs 'Birds'. I must admit not to like taking 'formal' pictures of folk, but on these occasions it's fun.

  Also last week, I had a trip off island to the bright lights of Lerwick. I quite like going from time to time - it reminds me that we are lucky to live in such a quiet and lovely place (not that I need much reminding I hasten to add) I went to get a few things and to have 4 tyres fitted on my trusty old Suby' - ouch ! I also picked up some spares for a quad bike that I bought a couple of months back. The trip down was really nice, it was a perfectly still, sunny morning (or rather sunrise) and I just wanted to stop every few miles and take pictures. Unfortunately due to time - getting there early enough for the garage, I couldn't stop. Going over Bluemull' I did take a few of my favourite non wildlife type pictures and they were of the bow waves created by the ferry on the very calm water. One similar shot I took last year has been quite a popular picture and has sold a number of times this summer......

   Back at home, I've been busy outside with a number of jobs around the cottage. This has involved concreting some steps, redoing a path and clearing piles of stones and soil from the cottage garden etc. This is where the quad has been invaluable as I've been able to move much more rubble at a time than I'd be able to move with a wheel barrow and with very little effort. Outside of the walled area of the garden, the ground is so rough in places that it would be very difficult ( or impossible) to move anything using a tradition wheel barrow. I then tipped the rubble down in a fenced off area in the field where there is a large hollow in a slight bank. My intention is to build up two of the sides and turn it in to a pond roughly 8 metres by 7metres. I have also just inquired about buying a quantity of Sycamore cuttings /saplings and also some Rosa Rugosa cuttings to plant along one of the boundary walls. It seems silly to buy some of the Rosa's as they grow like weeds in Shetland, but as they are only £1.50 each and also grow very quickly, it will save a lot of time and work.

  As to the cottage? Now it has been re-carpeted, we're going to start advertizing it as a holiday let for next year. Over the next month or so, I'm going to do a blog page for 'Ordaal Holiday Cottage'. It won't be update regularly as it will be just for giving details of the cottage and having pictures of the cottage (inside and out), contact details, links to ferries etc etc. A link to the cottage will then be put on other sites to publicize it - watch this space.

  Robbie