Some Autumn Highlights 2014

Autumn on Shetland produced this stunning Yellow-rumped Warbler at Grutness after initially being found by Roger Riddington in his garden at Virkie . . .it delighted the small crowds for several days.

Yellow-rumped or Myrtle Warbler - Shetland 2014

Myrtle Warbler amongst the flowers of a Grutness garden.

another stunner - this time a Paul Harvey special with a cracking White's Thrush at Durigarth, South Mainland 

Siberian Rubythroat - Levenwick. The best bird of the Autumn and my highlight of the year. This beautiful adult male was found my Dan Pointon during his Autumn birding visit to Shetland. This particular image was chosen at Birdguides Photo of the week which I was pretty delighted about!

This Siberian Rubythroat shot I took this Autumn literally went viral on the internet after putting it on Rare Bird Alert - it has graced many a mobile phone and laptop screen saver since (heres Dan Pointon's mobile phone!) . . . .and was, according to RBA one of the most if not the most memorable image of a rare bird taken in the UK this year!

My first year on Shetland has had so many photographic and memorable birding moments. From the encounters with the Spiggie Night Heron, King Eider & Eastern Subalpine Warbler in the Spring, to photographing Puffins, Northern Gannets, Fulmar and ringing Stormies in the Summer, being on Fair Isle for the Bridled Tern and Phil finding a Laughing Gull in June. Leading Shetland Nature trips and private bird/photo tours, flying the Islands with friends Adam and Daniella. Getting fully immersed in Shetlands smaller inhabitants - the stunning and under-recorded hoverflies & other Diptera, the Wryneck on Unst, the Pied Wheatear, 3 x Red-flanked Bluetails including Phil and I finding one each! The great fun out with the Arctic Warbler finding team. Being part of the exciting Eastern Bonelli's ID, the Lanceolated Warbler on FI, the Red-throated Pipit and OBP's to the creme de la creme of far-eastern gems - the Rubythroat - it's been quite a year!! What will 2015 bring - I can't wait to find out!