Another fine day

With Jase Atkinson on Whalsay we took the decision to spend the day with him and bird an Island I'd never been to before - after all we were very unlikely to miss anything on the mainland!

We arrived at Laxo in a strong breeze but a beautiful sunrise raised our spirits. We were travelling as foot passengers as Jase was picking us up.

As we approached the ferry our spirits were lifted even further by the sight of a dog Otter hunting on the nearby shore. A good start to the day.

Whalsay was bathed in sunshine but with a stiff breeze blowing - no chance of putting any mist nets up but we did drive the plantation at Skaw where Lanceolated Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Red-flanked Bluetail were all ringed within three days of each other a couple of weeks ago!

We also checked the nearby Heligoland trap - twice - but to no avail.

Jase knew all the local gardens and crop fields to check and we religiously waded through iris beds and ditches but all we turned up was a single Yellow-browed Warbler and a couple of Goldcrests. Poor return for our efforts. Sill the YBW showed well at the base of a large cabbage!!

Who can tire of these little Sibes?

Plenty of Kittiwakes were fishing in a local bay and we took a breather to relax in the sun and try to get some photo's. Its not often you get to see these beautiful pelagic gulls.

A cracking day on a beautiful island & I'm sure I'll be back.