[Jos Stratford]

Originally Posted by username

'User' in the Leicester-land of cold drizzly rain...[just come out of pub]..!

No rares here, but do have snow too!

[Dryocopus]

Originally Posted by Gastronaut

Fantastic analysis Gavin. Another factor not yet mentioned is the vegetation and other hiding places for rares. Shetland has none and all rare birds are stood out in the open all the time fluffing themselves up to look as big and noticeable as possible.

Yes, I noticed that in October.

I learnt a whole new style of birding , just go and point your bins/scope/camera lens outside and the rares will fly down and pose!