Not posted anything on here for sometime, which I will try to rectify on a regular basis. For now I will highlight the bird of the year for me in 2023 and a stunner that has kick started 2024.

On Fair Isle during the autumn news of several very nice mega's on Shetland mainland were proving tempting to twitch off for. The Blackburnian Warbler unfortunately didn't do the right thing and stay to the next day when I could have gone but a few days later a Veery was found up near Lunna Kirk. I waited for a few days and with the bird still present I took the plunge and twitched off the isle for a couple of hours. Luckily I had my car at the airstrip so I was away immediately after arriving. I had about 45minutes with the bird, often I was the only person present. 

The views of this bird bettered anything I have had in North America and I've seen some excellent ones over there. 

I even had time to go and fit in a Siberian Stonechat just up the road before dashing back to the airstrip for the flight back to Fair Isle. 

From a Fair Isle perspective it was a little quiet but that is still relative with Turkestan Shrike, two Lanceolated Warblers, an American Golden Ploverm a probably Stejnegers Stonechat and the best views ever of a Radde's Warbler (around my feet) being the pick of the bunch. 

Shetland then rounded out the autumn in style when a Yellow Warbler was found in Hoswick the day I was coming off Fair Isle and whilst it showed better for the crowds a few days later I was please to have managed at least a couple of acceptable photo's of it. 

2024 was ushered in with a bang when a Northern Waterthrush was found in mid Essex, 8th record for Britain. I left it nearly a week before going as often brief views left many visitors not seeing it. The first Saturday sounded especially unpleasant with around 450 on site not seeing it all day. I went early afternoon on the Sunday when only 30 or so were present and the bird was showing very well. 

Not a bad way to start the year.

Link to the video of the bird here on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/559283376/videos/673616034925625/