Seasons Greetings

Quick patch tour this afternoon was both therapeutic and productive. One each of Little Egret, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail on Horton Burn. Arcot was busy - three Shovelers inc. a waxing drake were nice. Wessie H had the reliable Great Grey Shrike and wade through the reeds yielded two Jack Snipe and heaps of Commons. Here's to a better 2015 - and Merry Christmas 2014!

Izzy, Whizzy, Let's Get Busy!

Too good to pass up; a fine afternoon, a clear(ed) work diary (no professional conscience as I was in for 10 hours yesterday), and a reportedly very obliging Mega and Lifer to boot, so after collecting Crammy, off to Smoggy Land to address the Sooty catchphrase and see the Izzy (or is it Issy?) Wheatear. Fecking hard to see against a sandy shore-line with dark patches such as seaweed or sea coal, until it got its beady eyes on insect prey and it ran like a roadrunner after the snack. Two Lifers in three days - ain't birding brilliant! And so to the shitty-shotties.....

Hume's

A very welcome break from the comparative birding boredom of late, with news of a Lifer at Brierdene and along with the low sun emerging from the November gloom, and chores done, a 'selfish' hour and a wee throng and the little chap accompanying his frantic insectivoral foraging with lots of calling. And a duo of flukey distant shots to boot! Does it get any better (probably, but not in my world)!!!