Friday 28 September 2012

Cold Turkey

Normally at this time of year I’m in a state of high excitement preparing to go to Shetland. There will usually be at least one blog post in the week before we go with references to ironing my pants and endless perusing of weather websites. But as I’m not going this year, the pants will have to remain unironed. The weather websites are still being closely monitored, but this year, rather than south-easterlies I’m desperately hoping for continuous westerly gales (a bit like last year in fact!).

And so far, after a worrying start, it’s looking good for the weekend. But no, in all sincerity (yeah, right), ‘good luck to anyone going’ as they say. I’m very envious, as you can probably tell. If the currently forecast westerly gales don’t materialise I might go out and look for my two most-wanted county ticks, Lapland Bunting and Richard’s Pipit. But most likely I’ll be sitting here looking at the weather charts and the Shetland webcams – give me a wave if you’re passing one of them...

Not sure whether this will look as good once Blogger have mangled it, but this is a black & white HDR shot of the view across the airport to Sumburgh Head from Rob's house at Virkie, complete with just about south-easterly airsock.

13 comments:

Rob said...

That same view is currently showing a very westerly windsock, which is where it's forecast to stay for the next week. Think everybody would be better off going to Scilly. Nothing to see here.

beast said...

Although the birding has been fantastic up on Shets the last week i wouldn't be too concerned Andy....

There might still be a 'wow' bird to be found but the shutters are firmly down on an easterly flow for at least the next 5 days so no new arrivals...[unless from States]..i'd guess..

ps...can't believe you haven't seen a Lappy in Leicestershire...!

pps...B&W photo looks great...very nice cloudscape backdrop...

The Leicester Llama said...

Excellent Rob, that's what I like to hear. Did you get the Isabelline Shrike on your house list?

The Leicester Llama said...

Windsock. Don't know why I said airsock, other than creeping senility.

Jeff Higgott said...

If you give Steve Close a call he should be able to find you a Lappo and a Richards Pipit.

John Hague said...

Isn't an airsock something you find under the bed of confirmed bachelors... like Dave?

Rob said...

Yes, Isabelline Shrike is on the house list. Windsock now north-westerly

Rob said...

Probably time to start getting worried. Weather forecast for the middle of next week looks quite interesting. Windsock update: fuck knows. It's dark.

The Leicester Llama said...

Probably just the usual 'easterlies in three days' thing.

Jeff - Steve found the Spotted Crake at Birstall the other week.

Rob said...

Easterlies - pah. Old hat. Any time between 25th September and 5th October, if the weather goes calm, is when the birds turn up. Light north-weaterlies are great. Tomorrow could be fun...

The Leicester Llama said...

What's the 'crowd' situation like up there at the moment? LGRE was apparently bandying a figure of '350 birders on Shetland' around the other day. No doubt that's his usual wild exaggerating, but it's a lot more than his guess last October!

The Leicester Llama said...

Magic Seaweed's currently showing westerly 5-6 for Shetland tomorrow. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Saturday looks a bit more promising though.

Rob said...

It was all shit