Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Red-breasted Flycatcher at Dalsetter, Boddam.
Arctic Warbler 1w. in garden of pink house at top of hill, east of road, Yellow-browed Warbler, Snow Bunting at lime kilns, Fladdabister.
Little Bunting still on path to lighthouse, Siberian Chiffchaff at Sumburgh Head.
Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at top of Upper Burn of Sound, Olive-backed Pipit at north end along burn by school at Loch of Clickimin, King Eider fem still viewed from Twageos Road, Lerwick.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in big garden, Siberian Chiffchaffs x 2 in garden by loch shore, Yellow-browed Warbler at Voe.
Pied Flycatcher in SW garden at Busta House Hotel, Yellow-browed Warbler at Community Wood, Brae.
Western Bonelli's Warbler, Barred Warbler in garden above burn at Skelberry, NE of Boddam.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Papil, West Burra.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Isbister, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Sandvoe, Lapland Bunting flew over Burra Roe, North Roe.
Yellow-browed Warbler in Grutness Garden.
Bluethroats x 2 on rough ground opposite roofers at Boddam.
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Common Rosefinch in crop field at Burn of Scousburgh.
American Wigeon ad. drk still from RSPB hide at Loch of Spiggie.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Hillswick.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wadbister, SSE of Girlsta.
Eastern Stonechat sp. (probably Western Siberian Stonechat) 1w still by pumping station, Levenwick.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Greenbrae, Collafirth.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Ollaberry.
Rustic Bunting briefly in burn plantation between Culswick and Selivoe.
Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Voxter.Quail in wet field at Aith, Cunningsburgh.
Lapland Bunting east of Calder's Geo, Eshaness.
Red-breasted Flycatcher still in garden near crossroads at Exnaboe.
Siberian Chiffchaff at Hoswick Burn.
Yellow-browed Warbler at ponds, Sullom.
Nightingale in garden viewed from SW corner at Orbister.
Barred Warbler at Swining.
Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler at Hamnavoe, Lunna.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale Mill.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Kergord.
Yellow-browed Warbler in garden opposite school at Sandness.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Housetter.
GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH in flooded willows along track opposite bus stop, then flew into gardens, last seen at 6.05pm on fence briefly at Easter Quarff.
Yellow-browed Warbler at North Gluss.
Siberian Chiffchaff at Isleburgh.
Olive-backed Pipit seen briefly in sycamore near house at Wester Quarff.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Aith.
ISLANDS
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wigwams, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Burravoe, YELL.
Red-eyed Vireo trapped and ringed and then released into plantation (not seen again), Olive-backed Pipit, Gorie, ISLE OF BRESSAY.
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER still in beach area at Norwick, Hawfinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, UNST.
Olive-backed Pipit in willows at Funzie, ISLE OF FETLAR.
Quail on OUT SKERRIES. Woke up this morning to a blue bruise on my chin after yesterday's fall and then sliced my finger on a knife, the most important finger of all – my shutter button finger! Glorious morning sunshine which then switched to heavy rain showers in the afternoon.
Fell asleep this evening after having to light the fire to get all my very wet gear dry, so a very quick write up and will update, add pictures and write more tomorrow.
I had fabulous close views of a Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll at the top of The Upper Burn of Sound this afternoon, found by visting Norfolk birders Ian Brittain and Richard Preston et al – so lovely to see you all and have a catch up and thank you very much indeed. Stunning bird to watch and feeding so close, completely unphased by people watching it. There were a few Mealy Redpolls here too, but it always fed alone. Lovely to see other familiar faces too, including Marcus Nash, Jason Stannage and others. Got totally drenched here. When the redpoll disappeared into the lower part of the burn across the road, I nipped into town for a couple of things, mainly petrol top up and then returned to the Burn of Sound. News broke of a Grey-cheeked Thrush at Easter Quarff!!!
Arrived at Easter Quarff and parked on the verge along the main road. At this point I had no idea where I was going, but I just caught glimpse of a man running up a road, so followed them to find a crowd of birders all looking a bit stressed. I came here the second the news broke and I was only 4.5 miles away, I couldn't believe how many people had got here before me! The road goes past where one of my favourite physiotherapist work colleagues lives who sent me a video of the birders here! The road leads to a track with loads of willows and ditches, it looks like a fantastic spot for birds and I don't know why I haven't been up here before. Long story short, after much waiting and looking with a good number of birders, local birder Matt W. suddenly spotted it perched on the top of a fence panel – I was one of only a very few that managed to see it as I was standing close by and as I lifted my camera up to take the first photo it dropped from the fence post inside the garden and that was it, no more sightings. So I had seen my first GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH, but no picture to show you I'm afraid. Huge thanks to Matt!!! WOW!
The usual derogatory remarks were made about 'Twitchers' on the FF Shetland Road Conditions page this evening with the usual comments like bib your horn, they won't like that, peeping through windows and several sarcastic and horrible comments, so much so I replied with a massive rant as did another female birder. Later on the entire post was removed shortly after I posted, which I expected it to and I know why. I kept a copy of what I wrote and I will post it here tomorrow when I update my post. Another post was posted "Watch out in lower quarf bunch of bird watcher out to cause a crash" which hasn't been deleted yet. All birders were parked neatly on a wide verge and none were on the road. The only people that were going to cause a crash were the multiple, yes multiple 'lads/lasses' rallying along the road at approximately 80mph plus along this stretch of road whilst I was there and I don't think they were visiting birders, just saying!!!
My rant in response to the post was:
"I didn’t realise how many local people detest people watching birds and enjoying nature. It’s very very sad indeed. Some of the people in that crowd were born here. Not one of you has asked what it was… it was a Grey-cheeked Thrush. Why would you want to beep your horns to spoil people’s enjoyment and also disturb the bird - selfish and petty comes to mind. The rare bird at Quoys was a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll - a beautiful bird to see. The Bird at Fladdibister is an Arctic Warbler. You should all be proud that Shetland produces so many exciting and wonderful birds for all of us to enjoy. The birders visiting here pay a lot of money to travel here, accommodation, eating out etc. Give birders a break, they are simply here to enjoy, watch and find birds. None of them are peeping toms, how insanely ridiculous - the only time a birder would be looking in a window is if you left the window open and a rare bird flew in and landed on your kitchen table which is never going to happen. If you don’t enjoy the rich nature and birds we have here that’s fine, but don’t begrudge others enjoying it."
Then I got ticked off for writing 'no sign of' on the WhatsApp groups, apparently I do this too much and there was me thinking I was helping with info for birders on route who may be far way away – I won't ever write it again. Felt very sad this evening when I should have been feeling very happy. People who have moved here talk about local people being very friendly and the fabulous community spirit, this is not always the case if you enjoy watching birds. If you dare to mention you enjoy watching birds the usual response is "oh, you're one of them twitchers". Some people are forgetting that very much respected and loved birders such as Dennis Coutts and his son John who are the loveliest people were born here and also Jim Nicholson too. When these nasty things are written, are they intended for all the birders who were born here and live here or just the visiting birders? There are many local folk who seem to detest birders or 'twitchers' as we are all labelled which I find very sad indeed, very sad😞
Glorious day of sunshine tomorrow with no rain and then the weather deteriorates from Monday onwards. I think its obvious to most where I will be at first light!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.