Hello from a cold 60N.
Following the drama of last weeks humpback whale, I wasn't quite sure what to write in a blog entry this week. I decided I would write about the first bird I saw today which made me smile. So it happened to be that it was a flock of a dozen Linties, as they are called in Shetland.
Whenever we come up to the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, where the main RSPB Shetland Office is based (the other is in Fetlar), the first task of the day is to sprinkle canary seed near to the fog horn. The seed is for the benefit of twites. We put the seed on bare ground, as this is where the birds prefer to feed. A handful of pairs breed on the reserve, but it is during winter months when we usually have larger numbers at Sumburgh Head. Twite have declined all across Shetland, with the main reason being the change of land management over the years. Less crops, such as neeps, are grown so there are less weeds and thus seeds. We've encouraged crofters to grow crops, through the "Neaps for Linties" scheme (turnips (or swede) for twite), but interest has dwindled in recent years. However, the birds know that we put out the seed here and I've heard that Sumburgh Head is one of the best places in the country for getting good views at any time of year.
This cold morning there wasn't a twite to be seen, but no sooner as I had put the seed out 3, 6, 10 then 12 twite appeared to feed, calling in their delightful delicate manner. This is the shortest day in what feels like an exceptionally rotten dark windy winter. So, an encounter with these gorgeous peerie birds lightened my spirits. Flocks of up to thirty can be seen here most years, occassionally reaching triple figures.
This picture isn't from today (if only the sky were so blue!), but it shows three twites in a favoured perching places.
To find out more about any bird in Shetland, I always reach for The Birds of Shetland (Pennington et al), which is where I found the quote in the title. In "The Ornithologists Guide to the Islands of Orkney and Shetland" (J.Dunn 1837) wrote that "in winter it appears in large flocks, frequently in the company of sparrows and snowflakes." Snowflakes being snow buntings. Isn't that charming? Twite were once considered an agricultural pest, with flocks of thousands appearing in winter. Over time though, winter flocks of thousands became hundreds and these days flocks of hundreds are seldom recorded. Their breeding habits were broader in the past too, nesting in buildings, peat stacks and bushes, compared to today where they are largley confined to sea cliffs.
RSPB does great work all across the country to help conserve twite, including research and working with crofters and farmers to manage their habitats. Whilst we may not have the large flocks of the past, I am always heartened to see twite at the lighthouse and often on my beach walks. They are just lovely.
I'll leave you with a rubbish picture of a wonderful animal which I came across one lunch time last week just outside the office (you may recognise the bench which gives you a view back towards Sumburgh Airport and Virkie). If you can't work out what it is you need to get the punchline of the following joke "What animal would you most like to be on a cold day?"
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"A little 'otter." Boom boom!!
Have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
From all in the Shetland Office x