Shrike day

With easterly winds for the past couple of days and a chance of a sunny dry day i headed out looking for migrants

I was going up to Yell to see the Tennesee Warbler on Monday but it had decided to leave Shetland so i headed south seeing several Robin and Swallow on the way down.

At Grutness there was a chance to see a Gt Grey Shrike which had been present for 5 days, with the light coming towards the carpark i went to the top end and viewed north which gave a better opportunity to see the Shrike form a slightly elevated position for an old WW2 building

It wasn't long before i picked it up further down towards the carpark i ad just left. It flew into the area of boulders before finally showing better close to the second green marker from my end.

It was good to get these unobstructed views for a change and it performed for a good 10 mins before flying towards the farm. A good number of Redwing with an odd Fieldfare fed in the paddock 

News came in of two Bluethroats at Toab, so i went into the village and found the track down to where it had been seen. It was in a crop of beans, next to a stubble field. It showed straight away but briefly and with views into the sun no photos.  The second Bluethroat not far away must have moved on with no birders around and no sign of the bird.

I headed back to Quendale  where a lot of migrants had been seen yesterday. Passing Hillwell no sign of the Gt White Egret but a flock of 20+ Barnacle goose was a nice sight.

Parking up near the bridge i flushed two Yellow Browed warblers which flew into the bushes never to be seen again. But i did get good views of

Blackcap(6) Chiffchaff (2) WW (2) Brambling, Siskin(4) Robin (5) Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest (4) and a flock of at least 200 noisy Starlings. Lots of Raven and Curlew passed overhead.

News of a Barred Warbler at Dalsetter got me heading across to the east. Only one birder when i  arrived and we both watched a Yellow Browed , Blackcap and the Barred Warbler. The Barred Warbler is a very difficult bird to photograph and this was no exception, disappearing as i raised the camera.

I was down at Boddam seeing lots of Redshank (40) Turnstone (55) Dunlin (6) Teal 12) Mallard (6) and a couple of Seals when news of a Red Backed Shrike came in. It was only at the far end of Boddam so i headed across for good views and photos. 

Also in this well vegetated garden was Yellow Browed, Blackcap and Pied Wagtail

Don't forget to check out my other Shetland blogs

shetlanddream.blogspot.co.uk

shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk

Hit and Miss June

Its been a mixed week for birds. At the weekend the weather was warm but very windy around F5.
We headed to Sumburgh quarry first where Black Redstart and Red Backed Shrike had been seen the previous day.

It wasn't surprising that very few birds showed with the strong wind, the two birds in question didn't show to me but I did see Pied Wagtail, Fulmar, Wheatear, Blackbird, Wren, Starling & Sparrow. An hour after we left both birds showed, just typical.

Down at Grutness a small flock of 6 Dunlin, Redshank , 2 Ringed Plover, Lapwing 2 and Oystercatcher 4 fed on the muddy edges. Lots of Arctic Terns were bring in fish which was good to see and lots of tern taking off when a Gt or Arctic Skua passed over.

The day after we went across to Geosetter, as we stopped the car a Quail started to call which happened to be about 10-15 feet away. It didn't show at all even though it called frequently during our two hour stay. It called several times then had a 10 min break before starting up again.

Another Quail also started called in the bottom field , one of these birds may have been the bird from Boddam then Brow marsh.

As a Lesser Grey Shrike had been seen again down at Maywick along with a Marsh warbler and Comon Rosefinch, we took a detour but failed to see any of the birds which may have been scared off by someone putting out washing. We did see a Crossbill and a pair of Linnet.

ON Tuesday we headed to Sumburgh again and after a long two hour wait the Red Backed Shrike appeared on a fence above the quarry, I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't move a bit closer the road. No sign for me with the Black Redstart although it was seen earlier in the morning

A few seals down at Sandsayre taking advantage of the fact that the Mousa boat isn't running due to the virus.