November 04, 2005
Pine Bunting
Miracles. They happen sometimes, only very occasionally, which is what makes them so miraculous. Yesterday I bumped into JL down the island, and in an idle moments conversationwe speculated what could conceivably be found by either of us today. I reiterated my feelings that it was going to be a Desert Wheatear, an Arctic Redpoll, or a rare thrush. JL didn't seem so sure, and stated matter-of-factly that he'd go for a nice male Pine Bunting...
...fast forward to this lunchtime, and I come in from working outside to find P casually mentioning that JL has phoned about some bird or other. "Arctic Redpoll" asks I. Nope. I play back the answerphone message - bugger me if JL hasn't gone and found a male Pine Bunting... Nipped down the island (this was a big twitch - all of a mile from home!) and had brief (racing to catch a ferry to mainland) but blinding and close-up views. JL, bless him, had gone there to meet me to make sure I got onto the bird. What a beauty. PINE BUNTING PICTURE
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!
Posted by Stercorarius at November 4, 2005 11:33 PM