March 31, 2005
Of fat finches and porky pigeons
(NB - for those looking for the Little Auk / Gyr Falcon image - click here)
Some interesting odds and sods in around Shetland as a whole recently, most notably a Common Rosefinch in the south Mainland; a ridiculously early record. Doubtless there is some room for speculation as to the origins of this bird, but just because it's exceptionally early doesn't necessarily make it dodgy in my books. Here's the thing though... I'd call it the Red-headed Bunting Effect... if it's a "real" rarity (rather than a scarce migrant), and has a history of being kept by aviculturists, a bird automatically seems consigned to be trashed by the cognoscenti as a likely escape. In this case the un-rarity of the species means this rosefinch won't suffer that besmirching.
Apart from the bastard grotfinch (a far more appropriate name) there are a few Hawfinches and Woodpigeons, seemingly mostly on Unst. Imagine how thrilled I was to share in this early Spring event while out walking the mutts with P yesterday evening... And imagine how much more I'd have rather seen 2 Hawfinches than the 2 Woodpigeons we saw instead... Still, better than nothing, and after last week's little flurry of migrant promise this helps to keep the tiny flicker of anticipation alive. In the meantime I'm still seeing Iceland Gulls in Lerwick every day, all 1st winter birds, and there are a pair of Whoopers and a handful of Goldeneye still on the freshwater lochs as I drive down the island. Winter hasn't gone altogether yet.
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Come back soon!
Posted by Stercorarius at March 31, 2005 10:38 AM