Cliffcreeper!

This post could be entitled "Yet another one gets away" as Rob Hughes had a small thrush-type bird down the cliff at South Naaversgil this afternoon but without a phone (or a 'scope) he had to run all the way to the airstrip to find someone - Me! who was on plane duty. I sent him back up there and joined him, along with Simon, half an hour later. On the way there, I received a phone message from one of our birder guests, Andy Mears "Del, there's a Treecreeper in the Raevas!" Blimey! A real Fair Isle mega! The last one of those was back in 1998 - the year before I arrived! Unfortunately, Rob's bird had just disappeared before we arrived. We spent the next hour or so scanning the geo for it. There were lots of other birds; Rock & Meadow Pipits, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackcaps, Chaffinches, Bramblings, Siskins etc but no sign of the bird in question. The temptation of another Fair Isle tick meant that I (and Simon) had to leave whilst there was still enough light. We motored to South Raeva but couldn't find the Treecreeper. Andy & Paul (Pearson) then arrived and found it for us, feeding on the almost sheer rockface!! Thanks guys. A nice cold, crisp looking bird, obviously of the continental race familiaris (as have all seven of the other Fair Isle records). Here is one of Paul's pics, plus my blurred effort!

There was a small arrival of birds this afternoon with more Redwings, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around than during the (rather quiet) morning plus a few Yellow-browed Warblers, a Little Gull and a Hawfinch to spice things up a little. The weather forecast looks good for the next few days so we are expecting great things - and judging by what has been arriving elsewhere in Shetland this afternoon http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestbirds.htm, I think we have just cause to be optimistic!

The schools broke up for the October Holidays today so most of the High School bairns came home but Lachlan didn't as he is on a Universities trip, seeing what its all about and seeing which ones he might like to go to, however as he wants to do Veterinary his choice is limited to Glasgow or Edinburgh.....and they are only visiting the latter. They get back to Shetland tomorrow, but he is then going to Orkney for a weeks veterinary volunteering!! I hope we will see him at home sometime!!