Thurs 1st Oct
What a day, didn't see any new birds but got better views of the Pechora and some pics then crippling views and pics of the Buff bellied before seeing 2 Arctic Polls together at Harrier and one in Ham.













After such a cracking day I couldn't imagine anything ruining it, then Janne and Hanna turned everything to rat shit when they found a Veery in the scrap pile on the quay (Gavs words were echoing round my head when I heard where it had been found, why didn't I check there? Well Ok cos its shit and the only bird I ever thought would have such little self respect to feed in that shit pile would be Rock Pipit!). The bird jumped out right in front of them, Janne turned to Hanna and calmly said 'Hanna take fuckin pictures!'. The bird then quickly made its way north along the cliff edge and disappeared. Frenchy connectd with it too so that leaves half of us with long faces! After missing the one on Unst a few years ago when the bastard cat at Northdale ate it before I got there I'm begining to think I'm destined not to see one! I get back to Ristie after checking the likely areas on the island and drawing a blank, We leave the islandat 10.15 in the morning so I'm hoping but not optimistic. I feel like drowning my sorrows but we have no beer left!

Wed 30th
Foula finally comes good with everyone getting brief but tickable views of Buff bellied Pipit, well everyone except Gav who only had it fly over him calling, dodgy git is threatening to self find tick it!
Whilst trying to refind it Paul Wright finds a Pechora in Ham, result it's the one I want and the only regular sibe I need. After this double act expectations are high and we thrash Harrier til dusk, with nothing to show for our efforts we retire to Ristie and the massive roast pig Isobel has cooked us.
Last full day on the island tomorrow and expectations are high, we get elephants trunk!

Tues 29th
Westerly was crashing round the room all night the little twat woke me up rattling the beer cans we used for the bowling pins and munching on a rug all night lucky bastard!
Birds today included a Corncrake at Hametoun in full view sunning itself and a prob Arctic Poll that flew over calling whilst we failed to refind the Buff bellied Pipit Kev Shepherd has seen, arse.
We helped out the islanders today loading scrap onto the boat that comes and removes it twice a year, judging by the amount lying around they could do with it twice a week! Gav commented that the pile of scrap is now workable habitat and we'll find a Blue Robin in it in a day or two! Anyway the islanders seemed pleased we helped out so should have got birders some brownie points with them, it's worked with Isobel anyway she's lending us her old car for the next few days, result no more walking.

Mon 28th
No Sign of Frenchy's Poll today but I managed to find one at Hamnabreck, I thought yesterdays was pale this thing is fuckin stupid it's a proper snedgeball! It flew towards Leraback and what we assumed was the same bird was seen in the garden there, I didn't get views of it there cos I'd wandered off, comparing my pics with Gavs tonight it's clear two birds were involved. Janne and paul had also found a bird at Harrier in the morning and it looks like the Leraback one is their bird. Also got brief views of a rostrata at Hamnabreck.

Sun 27th
Last night westerly found his way into the house and spent the night eating the rug next to my bed!
AT LAST something new! Gav found a Hornemanns Redpoll flying over stromness, then Frenchy relocated it at Harrier, it gave us all the run around before finally returning to Stromness and showing stupidly well, it's a stunner and tame as feck it tried to land on my shoulder twice and kept harrassing the photoraphhers! At least now we're not going home without a BB. Whilst watching it Grievious came over and stated talking to Paul about the RSPB, he avoids us for a week then we couldn't shut him up very strange bloke.
Apparently it's going easterly tomorrow night, Gav says if it doesn't he's just gonna turn the pole round that the weather vane is attached to!
The beer has run out, supplies should arrive Tues, if the wind doesn't change we're gonna need some.

Sat 26th
Only 3 went out again today still windy enough to knock you over. Frenchy, Gav and me decided it was sports day and listened to footy in 5 live and set up a bowling lane with an old fishing net float and some empty beer cans, god it's dull on here, surely it can't last forever?

Fri 25th
2 out of the 6 didn't go out today and I went seawatching, it's too windy to walk round just ridiculous. Saw 3 Blue Fulmars and not a lot else. The ones that did venure out saw nothing at all!