SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Saturday 7th March

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinches x 5 (3 males) at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

American Wigeon ad. drk on east side of Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS 

Kumlien's Gull or Thayer's Gull 3w still at Easter Loch, Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Uyeasound, Unst.

 

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

 

Another beautiful sunny day here. Spent the day down south and started off at the Bigton Bakery at Hymus, which was jam packed with folk enjoying coffee and very little left. I got lucky and managed to get a loaf of sour dough bread, the last 2 cheese twists and last cinnamon bun.

 

Geosetter Burn – flushed a Sparrowhawk and a Woodcock at the very far end of the burn up the hill, which was a lovely surprise and there was also one Blackbird. Retraced my steps and went to Hoswick for an amble to the beach and found a lovely piece of driftwood. Returned to my car and then walked to the Clifftop garden which held a couple of Collared Doves and a Blackbird. Found a single celandine and a fabulous bunch of orange crocuses growing on the clifftop! There was a Goldeneye and a Guillemot on the sea – found another piece of driftwood here on the stones by the water's edge. At The Orca Inn there was one Blackbird foraging under the trees. Lots of crocuses and snowdrops along verges and gardens.

 

Had lunch at The Hoswick Visitor Centre. I have not been here for ages and there is an improved menu since I last came. I had a scrumptious brie and cranberry panini (with salad garnish and the best salad dressing I've every tasted along with a mug of tea. Bought presents for Lucy and Vivien and a 'seascape' (turquoise shades) lambswool headband for me, made in Shetland by a local artist.

 

It was the perfect day for driving up to Mossy Hill – fabulous views of St Ninian's up here, only found two Hooded Crows though – the road descends to Scousburgh and I then headed to Loch of Spiggie. From the small car parking area by Little Spiggie beach I counted 27 Ringed Plovers on the loch, which were beautiful to watch in the afternoon sun along with 4 Snipe, 1 Goldeneye and all the usual Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Goldeneye, Tufted Ducks, Teal, Mallard, Whooper Swans and Greylag Geese. Not far from the pull in area for viewing Setter Marsh I notice a flock of birds land on the marsh on the other side of the loch – they were far too distance to identify with bins and my first thoughts were Golden Plover, so got the scope set up and to my delight discovered they were a large flock of Fieldfares! I counted 64 in the end! All happily feeding amongst the Starlings. Another birder earlier had had 18 Barnacle Geese, but I couldn't find these anywhere.

 

Sumburgh Head was exhilarating! Too early for Puffins yet, but fabulous to see Fulmars swirling round the cliffs and many paired up in their chosen nesting spots and tons of Guillemots on the cliffs and stacks. There was a Blackbird in the roses. Took some scenic pictures and then cruised home as the sun was setting. Last stop at West Voe beach were there lots of Long-tailed Ducks, but I didn't count them. Northern Lights showing well this evening.

 

PICTURES TO BE ADDED.