Pectoral Sandpiper at Deeping Lakes- first for the reserve

Great find by Mike Weedon on my old patch yesterday lunchtime. Went after work and was afforded excellent views of this typically fearless juvenile.

Otters

This morning I have mostly been taking photos of Otter's heads.... Not long after dawn I watched and listened to a mother and her two young playing, fighting and fishing. Eventually I was left with just one which was very confiding and super experience until after two hours it decided to power off upstream, never to be seen again (well..until tomorrow morning!?).

Otters at sunrise

Willow Emerald

A new species for me- at Titchwell RSPB.

Red-necked Phalarope at Titchwell

This juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was mostly distant during our visit to Titchwell RSPB on the 1st. Smart bird nevertheless.

Long-billed Dowitcher at Frampton

Having dipped on this adult Long-billed Dowitcher at Frampton last week, I was relieved by its reappearance on Tuesday. This evening I enjoyed brilliant views in it's favoured ditch all by myself- it was amazing that there were two rare American waders on site (I saw the Stilt Sandpiper again as well) and only two cars in the car park.

Stilt Sandpiper at Frampton

This adult Stilt Sandpiper was found on Wednesday at Frampton Marsh RSPB so I made a quick dash after work. The light was poor and my photos, although okay were really just record shots. On Thursday I had a day off so joined the crowds for more of the same but in better light. Really tested my equipment, right at the edge of it's range.

The last one (and only one) I saw was in 2005 in Norfolk. This is only the third for Lincolnshire and the first since the 1960's!

Black-necked Grebe

As per usual Josh found something decent locally when he returned to south Lincs on Bird Fair weekend. This smart juvenile Black-necked Grebe was at Baston & Langtoft GP. Sadly it just never came close enough for decent photos.

Orcas in Shetland

One ticked off the 'bucket list'. I have always wanted to see wild Orcas. To the best of my knowledge they first became semi-regular in Shetland in the 2000's. Since then I have been longing to see them in Britain. In the past ten years they have become so regular individuals have became recognisable and last year, whilst in deepest Scotland with Pop's, we hatched a plan. The plan was to go and see Orca's in Shetland in June 2018. 

In reality, July is the best time. Indeed now, they are being seen daily and multiple pods and multiple sites at that. Early June however offers the chance of late migrants and great breeding birds as well, so early June was the chosen time. 

This year, prior to our arrival, they hadn't been seen regularly since early May, so I was far from hopeful. But we were lucky. How that luck came about was due to a bunch of boring circumstances which meant instead of seeing a Walrus which had been lost on the Out Skerries, we could be over-looking the Sound of Yell at 9am on Monday the 4th June and watching 'Busta' and 64's pod and indeed continued to watch this pod for nearly 6 hours, from land and sea in the Sound. The levels of luck are several especially since usually they don't go up and down the same stretch of coast like they did that day. As I say we were lucky. 

My father described it as 'almost emotional'. I described it as being deeply addictive. Every time they disappeared round a headland, you found yourself willing them to re-appear and could sense everyone else that joined us doing the same. Unforgettable and the photos don't do them justice. 

Bearded Seal Part 2- there is something your beard

Tystie

In October, whilst watching Black Guillemots in Lerwick, I noticed they often made a rather adorable squeaking noise. These birds on Mousa Island were making the same noise. Fantastic Auks- seemingly quite fearless of man.

Famous Grouse

This drake Red Grouse was very protective over it's family we came across on west Mainland Shetland in early June. At one point it ran at me with wings dragging head and tail raised, calling. Never been attacked by a Red Grouse before- was reminiscent of the Capercaillie a few years ago. Stunning birds. Whilst watching this bird I heard a Wood Sandpiper displaying.