Bird race

The day of the walrus, if I hadn't been committed to bird racing, and I'd borrowed Louises car and was driving I might have just jumped on a plane.

We made an early start in order to track a few things down, largely successfully, although the Red-necked Grebe played hookie and the Blue Tit at the Hope was too elusive. JB managed to see the Blue Tit but by the time I'd run the 200m it had disappeared.

However, great views were obtained of the White-billed Diver once we'd tracked it down to Cara and once the official start time of 9 was past we nipped back from Barrier 4 to put it on the list.

Bananabill - nice

JB tried to keep the team to a tight time schedule but I was always keen to stop for a crow or two, we saw one apparently genuine Carrion Crow and a handful of hybrids. Holding the car keys was a definite advantage.

Glaucous Gull on the PDC

Anyway we eventually made it just in time to our garden where the Tree Sparrow duly obliged, along with Brambling, Reed Bunting and Wren. Even better the first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year was on The Shunan, although we did subsequently find one at Stromness too. En route we'd seen at least 40 Great Northerns, and probably the same number of Slav Grebes.

Confiding Shag at Scapa pier

The final act was dipping on Shoveler, grabbing a late SEO and then getting to Finstown with four minutes to spare where we relocated the American Wigeon, found early in the morn but absent since.

So a total of 94 was our best yet and again secured the victory against some strong competition. Thanks to Dick for organising the event and the team for a great day out.