I know I've blogged about the weather before, but it is driving me potty!
Early this morning I took a walk on the beach. With a howling gale, waves crashing against the shore, sand stinging my face - it really felt like winter. On looking to the sea, however, instead of winter birds like long-tailed ducks, there were Arctic terns. On the shore there have been a mix of sanderlings, ringed plover and dunlin so it could be any time of year, except some are in their gorgeous breeding plumage.
When we arrive at Sumburgh Head, we put out seed for the twite as we do all year. Sure enough today, twite are there but with a rather more exotic looking companion. A rosefinch! It's been here a few days now, but this is the first time I've got views of it when it hasn't been bedraggled with rain (apologies for the photo).
I remember seeing my first rosefinch in the nearby Sumburgh Hotel garden. It was in autumn, so the bird was not quite so stunning as it is now in spring. Or is it summer? There's a guillemot egg in the foreground and the rosefinch is in there too - honestly!
I'm afraid I cannot give you much good news about guillemots and other seabirds. On Mousa, only three pairs of the hundreds of Arcitc terns present look like they are attempting to breed and both species of skuas are down in number of territories. Guillemots on Martin's plot which relaid are now hatching out chicks. On the 12th there were twelve chicks present. As you can see, the guillemots are open to predation. This egg may have been taken by a bonxie or gull.
Puffincam is our big hope at the moment. Our chick is due to hatch any day now, so do stay tuned and watch the live images on the website. If you visit the cameras on www.shetland.org, you will find sound on the external camera. It's brilliant! Thanks must go to Martin Hughes-Games for including it on BBC Springwatch Unsprung. It's great to get national publicity for our peerie puffins.
There are a few puffins bringing in sandeels, so there are some chicks on the reserve. A visiting couple from East Anglia saw our first puffins returning with fish a couple of days ago. Soon after their experience, they became members of the RSPB - thanks Lynda and Keith! We hope you had a safe trip back home.
It is heartening to see puffins bring in some beakfuls of fish, as other seabirds are having a poor time of it. It is also heartening to hear of visitors holiday experiences and love of the RSPB. Newton met a couple today, whom he had met last year when they were up for a few days as a part of an Ireland, Orkney and Shetland tour. They told him that since meeting him last year, they love the RSPB. They've returned to Shetland for three weeks, and also became RSPB members. Thank you!
Botanically, it is a mix of spring and summer and autumn. I here from visitors to Shetland that we are six weeks behind the south of England when comparing species. A walk around Mousa will reveal butterwort, lousewort, milkwort, heath spotted orchid and more. At Sumburgh, following the blue of the spring squill, the cliffs are becoming flushed with pink of the thrift. It's beautiful - even on a grey day! Looking in my garden, it feels like autumn as the leaves on the trees have been burnt off with the salty winds.
Unfortunately, my visit to Ramna Stacks and Gruney scheduled for this week has been cancelled due to the weather. I had been hoping to undertake a survey of Leach's petrels but it is far too dangerous to attempt to land there by boat in these conditions. There is time enough to reschedule the survey, and it has meant I have had time to write this quick blog. Every cloud has its silver lining!
Finally - a quick thanks to everyone who helped with Shetland's RSPB Wildlife Explorer Group Sunday Teas at Bigton Hall. We raised around £800! So wehether you contributed with baking a cake, eating a scone, washing the dishes or manning the raffle tickets - every individual helped to make a difference and our sincerest thanks go to every one of you.