I went to the ruins past the last house, set up my tripod with camera mounted, then attached my camo. kagoul to the auld wall..

Then it started to rain, and it was a very chilly wind..

Then my attention was raised by ravens up on the moor, they were mobbing the buzzard..

I watched them for a while, hopeing it would fly closer to me, but it did'nt, it settled down on the moor..

Then a car pulled in, I thought it must be birders, but it was'nt, it was two tourists who were up to see up helly aa..

Then the crofter arrived with his trailer, unloaded his quad bike, loaded up a small trailer with fence posts and his two dogs who were quite boisterous..

The tourists moved their car to let him by, and promptly bogged the car in the mud..

Because of all the noise and people moving about, I knew I had no chance of the buzzard getting close to me..

So I put my gear together, and made my way back to my car..

The following pics were taken a long way off..

For the people that know the area, I was at the ruins on brough rd. the buzzard was beyond the track to the radar mast..

Images..









george..

Hello George, it is good to read your reports on your outings and the Rough Legged Buzzard seems to be giving you plenty to think about, enjoy it mate.

Talking of Grey-lag Geese George, your photos posted today and the ones from January 21st are brilliant, a study in wing movement, well done.

Hi' gain George, yes I did pack up fishing, the waters I was fishing are packed to overflowing with fish and it was too easy to catch, not enough challenge to it, although I fear they may have suffered with the intense cold we had late last year.
The angling forums I read have been reporting high volumes of fish deaths and some trapped in solid ice.
Birdwatching has gone for a Burton also, where I live is too far away for very good birdwatching opportunities and the price of petrol is a big problem as well as the crowded roads.
Having said that,
 what good places there are around this neck of the woods are very risky to park your car for fear of them being broken into and vandalised.
I made the decision last Autumn to pack up and start to learn myself Watercolour and Acrylic painting.
I set about tarting up the garage, ie: put down a carpet, improving the general feel of it, improved the lighting and heating and made a start.
Then we decided we needed a downstairs toilet so arranged for a ground level extension to be built to provide a cloak room and toilet.
I gave them half of the garage to store their tools and equipment but they gradually took over most of it and this was made worse by the delay caused by the severe weather.
Coincidentally they finished today and I have the garage to myself again although I have to have a major clean up starting tomorrow.
So when and if you are out in the morning give me a thought as  I begin to reclaim my work place
 

Thanks for the reply Aitch..

Well up in Shetland we don't have a problem with car break ins, and as you know the roads are relatively clear, as your been up here on holiday, off the beaten track you seldom see a car..

But the price o fuel is getting ridiculous, I think a litre o diesel up here is £1.45.9 ..

That is the reason I did'nt go looking for the American Widgeon at Gossa water [easter skeld] I did'nt fancy going all the way to Gossa, for it to be gone..

So I spent a couple o hours looking for the R.L.Buzzard, which is much closer to my village.

But did'nt see it at all, It might have roosted up somewhere after a good feed the day before..

See thee later Aitch..

george..

The R.L.Buzzard is still at Toft..

It was seen at 0900 this morning by John Laurenson..

It was perched on the gable end of the ruined croft house, then it drifted west..

I spent two and half hours looking for it, but no sightings..

I got a couple of pics of a rock pipit. whilst looking for otters..

Rock pipit..







For the otter, look in the Animal section..

george..

lovely pics george i like the last 1 best
you cant beat a nice cosy attic to sit in that was very nice of him and good to know you were birdwatching in the warm instead of sitting out in the freezing cold  roll on the summer months 

George

Not sure what that other bird is = maybe post a high res of it?

Stay warm!

Hugh

The R.L.Buzzard is still at Toft..

It was seen at 0900 this morning by John Laurenson..

It was perched on the gable end of the ruined croft house, then it drifted west..

I spent two and half hours looking for it, but no sightings..

I got a couple of pics of a rock pipit. whilst looking for otters..

Rock pipit..







For the otter, look in the Animal section..

george..