... appears to be the answer to yesterday's question. Indeed all have shoved off, a new female Red-backed Shrike on Deerness being the only "rare" interest remaining.

Franklin's Gull

This is a species that I'm keen to see; although I'd much rather find one; will it hang on?

This post was a bit of an experiment, to see if I could post from my mobile, which I can. I've now edited it to tidy it up ... can I send a picture? Next attempt coming up.

GWE proof(ish)

Louise produced a very blurry picture of the Great White Egret as some sort of proof, pah!

Crossbills again and gripped off

The crossbill invasion continues. It appears that I was over-optimistic about the identity of the wing barred birds as Lindsay Cargill reckons they are most likely Common Crossbill. Wing barred Crossbills can be tricky as evidenced by these and others in the past. There are some interesting photos in the Common Crossbill section on BirdGuides of other wing barred birds. Lindsay's blog posts on this issue make interesting reading too.

Absolutely and totally gripped off ... Louise has cunningly obtained directions to the Great White Egret at Graemeshall Loch and twitched it, rubbing it in by phoning me during the observation aaaaaggghhhhhhh!!!

Crossbills

Currently a crossbill invasion going on - have a look at Orkbird for info.

The birds posted on Birdguides are of interest, I suspect both of these are 2-barred xbills - but I'm prepared to stand corrected.

Glastonbury - term time - cry

Click here

Just to say "On the beach" is my favourite album. But, I would rather hear Neil in a bar in Canada than at a huge venue like Glastonbury. (Snobby beggar.)

Tunng will be there, go see.

Arctic Terns Burray

Arctic Terns feeding off Burray one May evening

Burray week

Fulmar and Thrift

Last week we spent a week on Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay. Mostly good weather, too good for migrant birds unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately as I had very little time for birding.

I did manage to see a superb summer plumage Great Northern Diver off Orphir and found a couple of pairs of Little Terns, both fairly uncommon birds for me. The greatest impression was left by the hundreds and hundreds of Arctic Terns which were just everywhere (and which I somehow failed to photograph).

R-bMs, there were 40 or so in a flock off Burray with three Long-tailed Duck nearby

Nesting waders were of interest, especially the density in good habitat which was very impressive. Wigeon were seen with young, two broods, something I can't recall seeing before. The Bonxies were doing their thing, cruising for a bruising, see below, and Twite were encountered frequently, especially on Deerness. Hen Harriers were especially impressive, a male even hunting Starlings in someone's (small) garden.

Bonxie

Interesting behaviour - Bonxie kleptoparasitising Rook

Arctic Skua, one of my favourite birds

Cetaceans were unfortunately avoided but seals and a new bumblebee made up for that (well sort of) and we had one brief view of an Otter.

Bombus muscorum - an Orkney speciality and found quite widely

My Orkney bird list is now .... ah must go and count up. Will be back fairly soon.

Totally gripped off more ....

Check the Orkney and Shetland links for loads of birds .... Red-backed Shrike reported at Saltwick and Dotterel by the Beacon are all that can be managed here, none for me, too much work.

Gripped off

Totally gripped off by these ...... click here

The genius of Bill Bailey

Paul Merton followed by Bill Bailey, a BBC2 comedy treat. Bill had the BBC Concert Orchestra as his backing band. Sublime was Saint Saens The Swan (oh yes this blog does have birding at its heart) played by Bill and the orchestra's percussionists on tuned cowbells. The William Tell Overture was played in Bill's Cockney style. Stunning, original comedy.

Junkyard classic

Jeff makes great album ..... have a listen - just love Roll Bus Roll, try it here.

Jeffrey Lewis & the Junkyard are playing Leeds and Newcastle over the next few days, not sure I can get there. Stand out songs are the afore mentioned Roll Bus Roll, the wonderful The Upside-Down Cross, the once-called Wildflowers (previously featured on WhitbyBirding) and now retitled as Bugs & Flowers.

Don't just believe me, The Observer review is here and The Guardian one here (oh, can't find it now it was there the other day). Enjoy.

Posters