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#Post#: 54--------------------------------------------------
Days out
By: George Date: August 23, 2010, 4:13 pm
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I'll need to get Days Out.. added to the forum.. Then anybody
can make a blog about their days out.
Today I had a fantastic day out at Nibon, I took 55 photos, it
will take me awhile to get them sortied..
It started with a spell of Whale watching, then the Otter showed
up, then finished with a Raptor at Sullom plantation.. think it
was a Sparrow Hawk.. So I will spend a while in Photoshop. and
finish the whole blog with photos as a slideshow tomorrow.. And
a bonus for me, Scott fixed my Epsom R800.. now I can print my
own photos..
george..
#Post#: 55--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out
By: George Date: August 24, 2010, 4:08 am
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Well, yesterday started with a spell of looking out for Orcas &
Minke whales, but did'nt see any at all..
Then a wee lovely Gull caught my eye.. It was a beautiful
Kittiwake, after I took a few photographs of it, an Otter showed
up, it was feeding along the shoreline..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/Kittiwake_filtered.jpg[/img]
Then it was off to Toft and Toog for more Whale watching, blast,
none were seen.. but I did get a photo of a Raven, these guys
are a bit camera shy.. so I was lucky to get it..
Then it was off again to Nibon, stopping at Brae for a bite to
eat..
Then onward to one of my favorite places on Shetland, it really
is a wild looking place, steeped in long forgotten history..
Up on the moors many years ago, I found the remains of an old
settlement called Mannies Pund, it had its old mill house, otter
trap by the burn, and an old Laxigird to trap the Salmon &
Seatrout.. The settlement is'nt even mentioned in the OS
landranger map, which is a shame..
Then it was time for wandering about the banks..
Lots of signs of Otters to be found in this area..
Then it was back to the car..
On the way home, I thought I would go through Sullom, glad I
did, as I spotted a RAPTER in the plantation, no photo of it
unfortunatly, but i'm sure it was a Sparrow-Hawk..
Then it was into P/Shop to get my photos ready for the web,,
You can find them here. click
HTML http://cid-1f525273e68e8532.photos.live.com/play.aspx/Flowers/Days%20out?ref=1
george..
#Post#: 217--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out. Sumburgh Head..
By: George Date: September 28, 2010, 2:42 am
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Yesterday I finally made up my mind to go to Sumburgh. despite a
migrant in my garden..
It was a buff coloured warbler, but really difficult to take its
pix in the foliage of my sycamore tree.
I did get a few of it, but always marred by it being behind
leaves, only showing part of it.. so not enough to get an ID for
the bird..
So I set off, first checking the pier at mossbank, lots of shags
close in to the shore..
Then it was off ..
My first stop was Bigton, there I had breakfast, then a chat
with the chef. he got out his OS map and we discussed the area..
then it was off again..
I passed by Ireland, thats where the Olivaeous Warbler was
filmed on the 12th. of august, i think it was only the 15th bird
spotted in the UK..
Then i stopped to take a few pix. of seals basking on the sand
near Spiggie beach.. soaking in the sunshine..
[IMG]
HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/ANIMALS/SEALS-2.jpg[/img]
Then it was onward to Sumburgh, I had read the reports about all
the migrants around that area, needless to say, I saw none,
apart from a few Twites at Virkie, I had obviously chosen the
wrong time, as Virkie Pool was full with the sea.. so no waders
about..
So, I headed north for the long drive back home, stopping at the
long Kames for a drink of orange and a ciggie..
From my car, I watched a young rabbit running down the hill
towards me, followed by what I first thought, was another
rabbit, I was wrong, it was a Stoat, they passed my car about 15
feet away, so I grabbed my camera, jumped out the car, only to
find, they had disappeared, then it was off again.
When I got home I set up my camera on the tripod, in my garden,
hoping the Warbler was still hanging about my garden, but no
sign of it..
So, I did enjoy my day, albeit, not many birds spotted..
Hope you all enjoyed yours..
george..
#Post#: 262--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out.. the quest..
By: George Date: October 9, 2010, 12:54 pm
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Today was my quest for the Buff bellied pipit & the Buff bellied
sandpiper..
Mark had told me the location of these rarities..
So i got up early this morning, and got my outdoor gear on, i
set off for Eshaness at 0900am..
My first stop was the Brae coop. there i got a couple o
sandwiches, just in case the Braewick cafe was closed..
When i arrived at Eshaness, i spotted a flock of Lapland
buntings, so i took a few photos of them..
Then it was up to the lighthouse, and parked up..
Loaded myself with my gear, and wandered down to the Gerdi
water, just before you reach it, i found the pool that Mark had
told me about.
They were'nt home.. blast.. i knew i should have went sooner,
but i set up my tripod, sat down on a rock, and waited..
One other birdie watcher was about a half mile further on from
me..
As i watched. i noticed a very large flock of Snow buntings,
they reminded me of large flocks of Starlings, only they were
white, there were that many of them, that it looked like a snow
shower..
After a while, with no showing of the Buff bellied sandpipers..
I decided to explore the Gerdi Loch and the nearby lochans for
them.. but no sightings of them..
So i headed back to my car..
Next stop was at Tangwick for the Buff bellied pipet..
Another disappointment, it was'nt there, but i got really nice
photos of a few Sky larks and Meadow pipits.. so i was'nt
bothered about the rarities..
Then it was lunch time, so i dropped in to the eshaness hall, it
was closed..
I then headed to Braewick cafe.. it was also closed for the
winter..
So, just as well i had the forsight to get my sandwiches from
the coop.. as i was starving by this time..
So, all in all, although i did'nt get the birds i wanted.. I did
get the Lapland bunting, a bird i have never photographed
before, so I was quite happy..
I will post it on a wildlife forum i'm on, they have a bird
challenge on going, and the Lapland bunting will be a welcome
addition to it..
I enjoyed my day out.. I hope you all enjoy yours..
george..
#Post#: 275--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out
By: George Date: October 12, 2010, 1:57 pm
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Today i decided i would'nt go out anywhere..
I was so tired, late to bed, after the Aurora, then into
photoshop to get my pictures ready for the net..
But i've recharged my batteries, so tomorrow i'll be out
somewhere, really not too sure where to go. Any suggestions ?
The buff bellied pipit & the buff bellied sandpiper have been
spotted again in eshaness, so i might go there, there again, i
might go to sandgarth and use my camera mounted on my tripod,
for a decent photo of the goldcrest, the last photos i posted
were all handheld, or should i go to strand, a spotted sandpiper
was spotted there..
Wherever i go, i hope you all find something interesting,
whatever you get up to.. you might even post on the forum, it
gets a wee bit lonely at times on here..
george..
#Post#: 277--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out.. after the sandpiper
By: George Date: October 13, 2010, 12:11 pm
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This morning I made my way to eshaness, I was after the buff
bellied sandpiper..
I was dressed in my full camouflage gear, loaded down with
camera, binos, and tripod..
I found a place to settle down and waited and waited..
I then seen a woman wandering down the field with her dog..
When she got really close, I stood up, she screamed, the dog put
its paws ower its eyes and wailed..
It must have been like the rocks came alive.. ;D
When i tried to apologize to her for giving her a fright, all i
saw was her heels running up the hill.. 8)
So, after the hilarious scene, I decided the sandpiper was gone,
so i made my way back to my car, and headed to stenness, just at
eshaness cemetery, stopped and watched a large flock of lapland
buntings, then it was on to stenness, there i watched a
skylark.. and more buntings..
Next stop was at sandgarth, there i was entertained by a
goldcrest, then blackcaps, then it was time to go home, when i
got home, i took photos of the blackbird..
I enjoyed my day out, hope you enjoyed yours..
george..
#Post#: 292--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out
By: tracy Date: October 19, 2010, 2:52 am
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hi george i spoke to the health centre yesterday and my insulin
is ready so if ur in brae could you pick it up for me ;D
#Post#: 296--------------------------------------------------
Re: Days out
By: George Date: October 19, 2010, 5:36 am
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I'll go for it later Tracy, unless you need it now. ;D
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