Added bonus

 The last few days have been very very wet with properties in town getting flooded out. It's meant time indoors processing and deleting photo's. We had been planning a return to Unst in Saturday, but the weather forecast is bad this weekend so we left early, and went today. We had a bonus with the Orca at Tresta, on the way. By to help time we arrived, they were distant, but still lovely to see.

As they headed out, we left for the ferry.

We got there in good time. Rob was keen to see the Chestnut Bunting again as he hadn't had great views as it was ranging. Today it was settled and confiding, almost running to our feet. It was just us and Brydon, who was really helpful getting Rob in the right spot. Thanks Brydon!

It was cracking!

Eventually the rats that were feeding in the same area, pushed it away.

There was also a Great White Egret the other side of the sound.

We went to Valyie for a while to the barn owl seen there first thing, wasn't in sight and we didn't find the Great Grey Shrike, but we spotted his brambling larder in a pine tree.

It was busy with redwings and bramblings.

A quick scout of Easter Loch for the Scaup there, before heading back to the ferry. It was good to see the Long-tailed ducks are back.

What a lovely day!

End of season

 It's been a bit quieter as we wind down after a really successful year. Over 500 guests and we are still on 9.3 on booking.com!

We have done a bit of local birding, as the winter visitors are coming in and some migrants are passing through. There are also over 100 twite on the local patch

A bit of an aurora and a pretty sunset for our last of season guests.

Today, after guest breakfast, we headed to Unst as a Chestnut Bunting was seen Sunday evening, at Baltasound. It was still there. We had a problem with a ferry that didn't go, knocking out our onward to Unst , but we got there at lunchtime.it had been showing well on the path until we arrived!

It then took a while to be found again, but it was Jill that found it in a ruined barn.

It then bounced around and was then refound under trees in the old garden.

It was with a bonus bird, a red flanked blue tail

Just as we were thinking of heading out, the bunting showed again

What a smart bird.