March 07, 2005
Aurora borealis (ironically!)
(NB - for those looking for the Little Auk / Gyr Falcon image - click here)
Fabulous clear cold weather here continued all weekend, not producing much of note birding-wise, but sky-watching was amply repaid. Friends came round on Saturday with some slightly annoying news - a leucistic Shag which has been seen around the island all winter had spent Friday afternoon on the shore opposite their house, drying its wings in the sun. I'd dearly love to see such an oddbod bird, and that would have been a golden photo opportunity. A quick scan from the car on my way down the island on Saturday revealed 5 Greylag Geese, 2 male Goldeneyes, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. Nothing scintillating.
Standing outside at 10 o'clock on Saturday night with the dogs (nature call!) the sky over Yell, Fetlar and the Skerries was a mass of slowly shifting green light - the first aurora borealis I've seen this winter. Managed a couple of vaguely okayish photos - unfortunately it was quite a diffuse display, without any really intense waves or spots of colour. Still, not something you see every day!
Over Yell
Over Skerries
No repeat of it last night, but a really good sunset to inflict on you instead:
Glaucous Gull again on the island this morning as I drove to work, this time flying towards B's house. Nice bird to open the curtains to first thing in the morning!
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Posted by Stercorarius at March 7, 2005 09:36 AMThanks for the photos. One day I'll see the Aurora borealis for real.
Posted by: Dawn at March 7, 2005 10:07 PMsomehow I missed this post - thanks for the photos
Posted by: Ken at March 11, 2005 07:55 AM