OFF WE GO - AGAIN !!!!

Apologies for the complete and utter lack of posts recently, but Ethiopia got in the way - and I ran out of birds to see.

Had a memorable time in Ethiopia - fantastic scenery, great people, interesting food, over 550 species of birds and a very friendly Amoeba. The Dr who treated me for the Amoeba (and Salmonella poisoning), reckoned I had almost certainly picked my ailments up by licking my thumb whilst counting 1 Birr notes. These notes are worth c.4p, and look as though they have been marinaded in a cess pit for two or three weeks, before being baked in the sun. Urrrrrggghhhhh.

Ethiopia is a truly splendid place, we booked through Ethiopian Quadrants who were brilliant. If anyone is considering going, please get in touch for more info.

A few pics below - stand by for more!!

First birds we saw just outside Addis - dread to think what they were having for breakfast..

Pied Kingfisher - posing well.

A beautiful Marabou Stork - a combination of dustbin and vacuum cleaner with feathers.

Crowned Eagle nest - with baby.

Ruppells Vulture - looking for dinner as we dropped down off the Sanetti Plateau.

Bird of the trip ?? - Ethiopias third ever Pectoral Sandpiper.

My personal highlight - Simien Wolf. Another "things to see before I die" crossed off the list. AWESOME.

NINE AND SIX - 96

Well, the remorseless pursuit of 220 continues, but has nearly ground to a halt. Partly because I am now the proud owner of six stitches in my shin and partly because I am running out of new birds to see.

I have steadfastly refused to drive all the way - 10 miles - to Deerness to twitch Sanderling, or creep furtively around a nearby garden trying to find a Dunnock. They will both fall in time.

Whilst doing Winter Atlas work I have resolutely tramped up and down every burn/boggy patch I can find in a so far fruitless attempt to find a Jack Snipe - its starting to annoy me.

A fine pack of 14 Black throated Diver off Sandoyne, Holm and a Waxwing in Bob Simpsons garden in Stromness are the latest to find their way onto the list.

Hoping to see 110 by the end of January, exactly half way there, in time to head off to Ethiopia for two and a half weeks of rest and recuperation.

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BULLY FOR ME

An attempt to work today was thwarted by strong wind and heavy seas, so I consoled myself by wandering aimlessly around Finstown - up and down and around and down and up and back down and around and back up and along and ....you get the picture.  A fine male Brambling graciously surrendered to the Year List without a fight,  and then, after twelve rounds, three submissions and a knock out, a female Bullfinch was dragged screaming from the shrubbery and ceremoniously red inked on the Master List.

Pheewww - glad to get that one out of the way.

A Snipe lurked under the bank on the Peedie Sea as I returned from buying bizarre ingredients for tea. Beginning to wish I had never bought the latest Nigella Lawson book for Jan - hot Beef Stew on a cold salad base ????, think the publishers may have got a couple of recipes mixed up..... it was a bit like eating a starter, a main course and a pudding all at once. I know all the courses end up in your stomach eventually, but I would prefer to place them there in some sort of logical and enjoyable order.

A fine 1st winter Iceland Gull cruised gracefully past me at eye level along the 4th Barrier on the final leg home.

Things are going sweetly.


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LESSER SCAUP - AT LAST

Dawn this morning found me down at the Kirk at Westersand in Holm waiting for enough light to find the Lesser Scaup. This is one bird I really need to see if I am to have any chance of getting to 220.
After about twenty minutes of scanning the bird was found just beyond the surf diving almost continuously - obviously hungry - I know I was, so it was straight home for a fry-up.

Thanks for re-locating it Mr Hague.

That is now 89 for the year, some good birds seen - Goosander, Smew and  Common Scoter - nothing really rare, but good to have "out of the way" in the first winter period.

The only birds outstanding on the Isles are Lapland Bunting - North Ron, Bewicks Swan - Shapinsay and Great Grey Shrike - Rousay. I think a look at the inter island ferry timetable is in order.

YANKEE DOUBLE DANDY

The second was spent kerb crawling in Finstown before and after work. Three Owls where seen south of Kirkwall. One was definitely a Short eared Owl, so I am assuming they all were.

Weather rather awful  on the third so went shopping with the loved one in the am and planned to spend the rest of the day getting up to date with paper work.

A call to say the Surf Scoter was showing in Tankerness tested my resolve somewhat, and I cracked immediately on the news of a flock of 20 Canada Geese in Toab. Both species where soon firmly in the bag, and a stop at Langskaill Plantation east of Kirkwall produced Goldcrest and Wood Pigeon.

The total now sits at 77 - c. 35.00001 % of the target acheived - we are getting there.


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NEARLY THERE

Well the relaxing day out has come to an end with 65 species seen today.

A rough reckoning means that I have seen approx 29.545455888% of the target I have set myself - more or less.

Highlights of the day where a Goldfinch down at the South end of South Ronaldsay, a fine flock of 60 Barnacle Geese at Hestily and a Buzzard being given grief by a Raven. A Pied Wagtail in The Hope was also of note - when I first came to Orkney over 6 years ago, you had to wait until March to see one. Also Coots are widespread now on any sizeable water body - Loch of Harray used to be the only place you could guarantee one in the winter.

Now waiting for the news to filter through from other folk. Off to work tomorrow, but there should be enough light left on the way home for a little "twitch"

The "CAST" in order of appearance should be somewhere down the right hand side of this blog - I hope.

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AWAY WE GO - 220 in 2011 ???

Well, the fun has started. Let the dogs out at 02.00 hrs and a gaggle of Greylags flew over the house - Number 1 bites the dust.
Have been awake since 04.00, can't sleep with the anticipation....

Had a quick ring round last night, and it looks like my three main targets of today have cleared off when the thaw started. Lesser Scaup at St Marys - gone, Smew on Stenness Loch - gone, and Waxwing in The Hope - gone.

Doom and gloom setting in already - may as well give up now!!!! I am sure they will all be re-found in the next couple of days by my gallant bunch of helpers - the folk who post on our Yahoo group orkbird. There are nearly 150 members of the group, and I am sure they will be spending every daylight hour for the next 365 days searching for new birds for me.

So, shall soon bundle my brother into the back of the car and head out for a pootle around South Ronaldsay - let the fun begin.

More to follow as the day unfolds.