Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
King Eider 1w. fem off Gardie, Bressay, Lerwick.
Ring-necked Duck drk still at Loch of Asta.
Icterine Warbler still at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.
Pectoral Sandpiper again at by Sandsayre Pier, Leebitten, Sandwick.
ISLANDS
Red-spotted Bluethroat male still, Nightjar at Skibberhoull, Isle of Whalsay.
Red-spotted Bluethroats x 2 (1 male), Blue-headed Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper at Out Skerries.
Icterine Warbler singing in cottage garden, Haroldswick, Unst.
SW winds again, mostly dull and cold and rain this evening and forecast heavy rain overnight.
I was in a low mood today and didn't go out until...... Julie Redpath found two Drake Mandarin ducks this evening, in the pull in area where tourists meet to see the Shetland ponies just before the Loch of Asta – this is 5 minutes from my house. I check this area marshy wet area regularly and did so last night as it looks good for wagtails eg a Citrine is what I'm hoping for eventually. When I arrived there was no one there and the Mandarins were feeding with three Mallards and a supporting cast of Lapwings + chicks, Curlew, Rock Doves and gulls. I positioned my car right next to the wire fence at the lowest point near the gate so that my camera would reach over the top rung of wire. Three other cars turned up, two stayed in the car and the third car didn't – as the people in the car got out of their car, the mandarins walked further away. All cars left and I was on my own and something spooked them (probably the unhappy Lapwings) and the Mandarins and Mallards all flew off over the road to a dyke in the valley, where they were now distant to view.
Jim N. turned up and I showed him where they were. I didn't realise for a while that Jim had a dog in his car who he told me was also called Jim! As many of you know I'm not a dog person, but this was an exceptionally nice and very sweet dog. Jim said to say "cuddle" and the dog will put his paw up, which he did! It was a long haired multi coloured type of sheepdog and I even gave it a hug. This dog reminded me of a lovely dog calle Sandy who belonged to the late Geoff Want who lived in Norwich, Norfolk – Geoff was a bird artist and part of the clan including RAR in the old days at Holme Bird Observatory. Anyway it was nice to chat to Jim who is always fun and pleasant company. Thanks to Julie for finding the Mandarins and getting me out of the house and to Jim and Jim!
Lucy is too hot in Norfolk (26 degrees) and Vivien and Ray are even hotter (30 degrees) in the Peak District, which is where they are currently in their narrowboat. Viven said all their fans are on and she had to have a cold shower to cool down. I'm fed up with the cold here which is 10 degrees – wearing my coat indoors as I refuse to turn the heating above 14 degrees in May and left it too late to light the fire this evening. Think I will do some gardening and potting up my plants tomorrow, go birding on Sunday and then its back to work on Monday. Enjoy the flamboyant Mandarin pictures!
DRAKE MANDARINS
Shetland pony field near Loch of Asta
Found by Julie Redpath
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