SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

Western Subalpine Warbler 1w in garden east of northern road junction at North Levenwick.

Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater, Black-throated Diver flew past Sumburgh Head.

Barred Warbler just beyond blue post at entrance to footpath at Westerloch Drive, Yellow-browed Warbler at Clickimin Loch, Lerwick.

Lapland Bunting at Fitful Head.

Blue-winged Teal SE end of Setter Marsh at Loch of Spiggie.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Gulberwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Isbister, North Roe.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Easter Quarff.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler at Brae Community Wood.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Da Gairdins, Sand.

 

ISLANDS

Red-breasted Flycatcher in plantation at Cullivoe Marina, Common Rosefinch at Hillend, Mid Yell, Yell.

Short-toed Lark still by road, east of road bridge at Burrafirth, Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie, Unst.   

Yellow-browed Warbler at Glebe Park, Isle of Bressay. 

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html 

Found two Goldcrests and a Robin feeding in the sycamores by Loch of Asta. House Sparrows and Blackbirds were feeding in the garden opposite. It felt quite sad that the Siberian Thrush had departed, but what a bird and I read somewhere today that it was the longest staying Siberian Thrush in the UK! The question is, has it departed or has it simply relocated to a new berry feeding spot in Shetland?!

 

I spent a long time at Ireland hoping to the see the Ortolan Bunting. James was there and had been waiting for over an hour with no sightings. Drizzly rain, sunshine and rainbows. The crop field by the first house at Ireland is obviously doing wonders for the Twite population and other birds such as House Sparrows etc as there are tons in there! A Redpoll appeared on the fence for a few seconds only, which was lovely to see. James left and I decided to sit in my car for a while to shelter from the rain. Fabulous views of Twite and House Sparrows feeding in the corner of the field nearest to the road and on the road and verges in front of my car, but sadly no sign of the Ortolan Bunting for me!

 

Headed to Levenwick. Parked up in the layby by the north end and had just started to walk down the hill to try and see the Western Subalpine Warbler when a car full of birders pulled up next to me – the man in the back said "hello how are you" with a smile – it was Richard from Norfolk!!! As in Richard, Paul, Ian and Chris crew, who were some if not my favourite birders to bump into, always enthusiastic, always laughing, always fun and extremely good birders! It was so nice to see a familiar face! I asked Richard if the others were here and he said "no" and that they "didn't want to come". Apologies if you are reading this, but I didn't recognise the other birders in the car. Had a lovely little catch up! Thank you for stopping to say hello, much appreciated and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your stay here.

 

Walking down the hill I was lucky and saw the Western Subalpine Warbler fairly quickly, but no photos as it was bombing about. A lovely surprise of 4 Redwings in a tree opposite the garden with the pond and even more of a surprise was that they seemed unbothered by my presence. As we all know, Redwings have a habit of flying off the second they spot you, how ever far away, but one of the Redwings stayed to be photographed and very handsome he was too! Also 2 continental Blackbirds in the same tree. As I drove home, news of a Great White Egret at East Burra was posted and last seen flying south of Loch of Papil. What will tomorrow bring, probably nothing major with these westerlies!

 

Redwing in Levenwick