Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
American Wigeon at Setter Marsh, Loch of Spiggie.
ISLANDS
White-billed Diver in bay at Baltasound, Glaucous Gull at Easter Loch, Uyeasound, Unst.
It was the best day for what seems like months! Sunshine, blue skies, no wind, no rain and a balmy 6 degrees!!! Checked out my road for any birds and sadly found a deceased Heron at the bottom of the burn, which I hadn't expected to see here. Curlews, Rock Doves, Hooded Crows and Starlings on Gallow Hill along with the sheep and the usual House Sparrows in the gardens along the road.
At Asta Loch I found the Coot and male Pochard that John C. had found earlier and also saw the Carrion Crow which Phil H. had found on Friday. There were also 2 Goldeneye, lots of Tufted Duck, Mallards and in the fields on the otherside of the road opposite Tingwall Loch were around 10+ Golden Plover, Redshanks, Lapwings, Curlew, Greylags and Starlings.
Headed south and for the first time went to Hymhus (the former Kirk) at Bigton to the "Bigton Weekend Bakery" open from 9.30am until 2pm on a Saturday only. Its obviously extremely popular as the only thing left was some Cheese Twists with Sun Dried Tomatoes – I purchased three as had no lunch with me and OMG there were totally scrumptious! Its probably a good job there were not any cakes left if they were as good as the twists were. I was told there is a queue at 9.30am every Saturday! Sat in the coach carpark overlooking St Ninian's for a while.
Took pictures of the seals on the beach at Rerwick from my car on the roadside and then drove to Spiggie Loch. Parked by the RSPB hide and walked along the sandy track to Scousburgh Sands and had a lovely walk to the end of the beach. A pony and rider were galloping along the beach and I realised it was the daughter of someone I know at the hospital, she stopped briefly to say hello. I returned to my car and stopped at Little Spiggie Beach where someone had left their little green plastic bag of dog poo in the small carparking area! I very rarely see this in Shetland and it was disappointing to see. Heron on the south end of the loch, but no sign of last week's gorgeous Pintail. Scanned for the American Wigeon on Setter Marsh but couldn't find it. There were huge amounds of seaweed on the beaches I visited today especially at Grutness.
I went to Grutness to see how the new pier is coming along and there were JCB's working there and its still looking like a building site, so promptly left and parked up and had a look at Grutness Beach – there were 28 Oystercatchers flying overhead and there were several Turnstones on the beach. At West Voe Beach there were 180+ Long-tailed Ducks which were fabulous to see along with 6 Goldeneye, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Sanderlings, several Turnstones and 1 Great Northern Diver.
On route home I checked out Sandsayre at Sandwick to see if the Black Redstart was still around, but didn't see it. Drove home and spent the evening by the fire. A beautiful day out. I think tomorrow is a mixture of sun and rain, oh well at least I got out today!
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