Monthly Archives: May 2015

Bonxies, solans and a draatsie

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Jon Dunn

Ever since I can remember, birders all around the UK have referred to Great Skuas as bonxies. Why they chose to adopt this Shetland dialect name in particular I’ve no idea. I suspect tammie-noorie (the Shetland dialect name for Puffin) … Continue reading →

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Day Out Skerries

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Jon Dunn

As a birder growing up in the southwest of England in the 1980s, Shetland seemed impossibly far away. Back in those pre-internet days, it was a place that featured primarily in the odd edition of ‘British Birds’ (a worthy and rather … Continue reading →

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Fair Isle calling

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Jon Dunn

When I first set eyes on her, I fell immediately in love with her. She was astounding – beautiful, outwardly inaccessible, and more than I could ever have dreamed of… Returning to Fair Isle last week, I was reminded of … Continue reading →

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Birds of the Iberian Peninsula

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Jon Dunn

I’ve a lot of affection for Spain and Portugal – many years ago I went to school for a while in Alicante; I’ve worked off and on in both countries on various European projects; and lately, I’ve been spending a … Continue reading →

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I must down to the sea again…

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Jon Dunn

I’ve spent a fair bit of time lately walking the coast of the island, and in particular down at the small beach below my croft. It’s not been beach weather here in the conventional sense of the expression – it’s … Continue reading →

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