peep x 6

Braving the winds and rain, I continue to be reminded how plain my patch is. Indeed, I might have to go to Shetland in a couple of weeks just to see some bloody birds. Still, in addition to late swallow and whitethroat, highlight from the past week or so was Boghall's second whimbrel. This is the first spring record, and gives me hope that my patch is not total gank.Gives us 90.5%, and still need house sparrow (only tree sparrows round my way). And there are all these black and white things all over the place. No idea what they are:

Stiff

Okay, okay, so I know I can't count it but this Lesser Whitethroat would have been a great spring bonus had I connected when it still had a whisper of a heartbeat.

Pick of the breathing birds recently was Shelduck (two south) whilst Little Tern was useful and a few other migrants have duely arrived. Just four summer bakers remaining now I think; Manxie, Arctic Skua, Swift and Surfie. Oh, and I've also still yet to conciously notice a patch Dunnock this year.

91 species (=7-.54%).

Harrier ho!

Bit blowy of late around here... but still managed to clock a distant male hen harrier from the front garden yesterday. Amazed I could even hold the bins up.

Takes me to 86.06%... rats... still in third spot!

New breeding site?

Enjoyed a very pleasant walk around the patch on Sunday and scored two species I never saw at all last year: lapwing (displaying) and tystie. Also saw my first wheatears and an 'on-time' whitethroat on the patch. During the week, I saw my first Manxies flying north.

The tysties were interesting because, while watching from the Muckle Shore in my patch, I saw the tell-tale signs that a bird was showing interest in a bit of coast slightly north of my patch, but out of sight. So I walked around the to a place where I could see a nice piece of cliff and bingo, there was a perfect tystie, sitting on a ledge, squeaking away. Although this is a perfectly suitable spot for them, I believe it is the first time they have been known to attempt to breed away from their regular spot 10 miles south. I shall keep a careful eye on them.

Catch'n up

Well a few moments of excitement in recent weeks to keep Blackdog well poised for a 2nd-half-of-year climb up the table. Key building blocks were Grey Partridge (thought they were a thing of the past after the transfer of ownership of the release site at Menie Links), a pair of Shoveler (real patch gold with just two previous records, including one uncannily silimar record of a pair at much the same season a few years back) and a Med Gull - third year running of occurrance. Was particularly chuffed with this one as I picked it up initially on call flying over from inland.

Among scarcer but just about annual species, Whimbrel appeared and a pair of Tufties called by.

Just remembered a few days ago that I still need to pass on the majestic white owlish creation to Bushveld - find another goodie on the patch and I'll being it with me...

Now on 83 species (=64.34%).

Statto

Gropping my way

Bingo... grasshopper warbler on patch earlier in the week was a real boon to get. Tend not to stick, so always a relief to get them.

The lone collared dove seems to have been joined by a partner, so with a bit of luck they'll become less of a struggle on patch in the future. A singing male blackcap yesterday was another patch year tick... keeping things ticking over nicely. Puts me on 70... or 84.85%... still in third... but crucially still in touch.

ton up

A glorious yellow wagtail (4th ever on patch) and a smattering of whitethroats got me through the 100 species & 70% barriers today! All to play for!

Gurtcha!