November 02, 2005
Autumn's over here
The vicarious thrills of hearing about the incredible Azores fall could only last me so long, and the increasing numbers of Chimney Swifts in Britain and Ireland have failed to produce one here yet (haha, laughs hollowly), though one today on Holy Island is cause for some optimism. If it happens the damn thing will be in the south mainland, in which case I shan't bother stirring for it - I saw 2 in Cornwall in 1999 at the end of a brilliant week birding down there, so it's all about finding my own on my patch, or not at all!
Really though, that ain't gonna happen. Managed another Mistle Thrush yesterday, and there are still reasonable numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares lobbing around here. If there's to be a final rarity on here this autumn, it's going to be either a good thrush (odds on favourite Black-throated, though I'd much prefer an Eye-browed or a Siberian - wouldn't we all, though...) or more likely an Arctic Redpoll.
Five Whooper Swans in today, and still odd trickles of geese overhead. JL had couple of Waxwings in the plantation a couple of days ago, so there's some colour out there to be seen yet. Won't stop me hoping for a small, bat-like swift until the next week or two's over...
Follow the Weather Starling for a forecast, or see Shetland live on the NAFC webcam… 
Today's North Atlantic chart
An Icelandic Birding Diary (Iceland, funnily enough)
Nature in Shetland website - all the up-to-date bird, insect, cetacean etc news for Shetland, plus photos... indispensable.
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Come back soon!
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