What a Trill . . . 

More fabulous local Waxwings today to keep me happy! 

Waxwings at Rendlesham - Suffolk. 4th January.

Following on from an unproductive mornings ringing, we decided to go and try for  the Waxwings which had been on the pager as being present in Rendlesham for the last few days but not today. After about  half an hours searching we successfully refound the flock of over 35 roaming individuals. What a pleasure to see such a good flock of these very vocal and stunningly beautiful birds just outside Woodbridge. The flock would not settle and proved difficult for photos as they roamed the urban gardens, though a few quick shots were obtainable. Of particular note and interest was the realisation that two of the birds had colour rings on, very likely from the Aberdeen/BTO Waxwing ringing project currently taking place.  Another bird also had a foreign ring on, but we could not see the ring details. . . . . a very enjoyable afternoons birding. Other colour ringed Waxwing records should be sent to: raymond@waxwing.fsnet.co.uk. . . . . 

RSPB Guide to Birdwatching . . . .
I was pleased to supply the front cover images for the NEW 'RSPB Guide to Birdwatching' publication shown below. This book is now available from all good book shops! I have also been involved with several other major publications over the last year, including being the commissioned photographer for the 'New Naturalist' title: 'A History of Ornithology' by Peter Bircham, one of the top ten contributing photographers for the two volume SOC 'Birds of Scotland' by Ron Forrester and Ian Andrews and a contributing photographer for 'Petrels night and Day' by Magnus Rob and Killian Mullarney.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE . . .

My 'Shetland Exposure' Blog will be 'Southern Exposure' whilst I'm not on Shetland/Fair Isle. . . . Yesterday, on the 18th November, Phil and I successfully twitched the Steppe Grey Shrike on the  Lincolnshire coast. A great bird and extremely tame. High quality, pin-sharp colour prints available from 6 x 4" to A3 ! Please email me with requests: rebecca@rebeccanason.com

Sibe Sunday at Quendale - 2nd November . . .

Birding at Quendale on Sunday gave us some great views of 3 Siberian (Tristis) Chiffchaff which showed well for photos.  After catching up with Roger R who was also at Quendale & had been grilling the Sibe Chiffs earlier that morning, we headed back to Toab & then out for a late lunch with Helen at Bonhoga Gallery at Weisdale Mill. The evening was spent packing as our Autumn on Shetland has come to an end! This blog will now be 'Southern Exposure' until the Spring when we return!

'NICE ONE NIKON'
The new Shetland Blog below & all images created in Autumn 2008 have been taken with the new Nikon D300 with Nikon 200-400mm VR lens -no converters & all hand-held. All taken at ISO 1600 at F5.6 !!!!! unless otherwise stated.

Please visit www.nikon.co.uk for the latest in the ULTIMATE digital camera equipment available today . . . it's NIKON all the way!

Saturday Clean up . . .
Another great day & an Island tick! We visited the Island of Mousa in the morning & helped count seals & pups - a real priviledge! During the visit we spotted a large flock of Common Eider & the elusive King Eider amongst them. Later in the afternoon after lunch in The Peerie Cafe in Lerwick (my favourite lunching spot!), we looked for the Ring-neckd Duck again. Whilst scanning the Tingwall Loch & Tufted Duck flocks a bird flew in to join them - at last we had caught up with another Shetland tick.