Sibrerian Chiffchaff in Shetland with pals

 Common Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff

Sib Chiffchaff, grey / brown upper parts with light buff eyestripe to warm buff behind eye

Shetland Black Throated Thrush

The other day must have taken over 850 photos with the Hume's and Sib Chiffchaff. Headed down to Sumburgh head and then up to Compass Head where i found a few hundred thursh. Most had moved south earlier in the day as the weather was just about perfect for southern movement.

Most of the Thrush were Redwing and about 50+ Blackbird and one odd bird. This turned out to be a first. winter female Black Throated Thrush. i Managed a few photos before another car pulled up and the flock flew towards Sumburgh Head

Like the Hume's, this is another vagrant from Asia, normally found October - March with over <100 records.

I processed the photo later and had a thought that it was this species, I sent it to Hugh Harrop and Pete Garrity who confirmed this, with several people confirming this when posted to the Whatsapp group 

Hume's Warbler in Shetland

 A Humes Warbler was found at Boddam by Paul Harvey on Tuesday and i managed to catch up with the bird on Friday morning.

It was a bright but very breezy morning, up to Force 7 winds with an occasional shower

Only three other local birders when i arrived and the bird showed straight away chased by Siberian Chiff Chaffs , three birds plus a (Collybrita race) Chiffchaff and a Robin.

It arrived with a large fall of Thrush, which had now reduced to a few hundred Redwing most on the edge of the road, a few Fieldfare and one Song Thrush also showed.

It was very fast moving flitting among the bushes but occasionally called and pearch on the wall. The wing bar and eye strip could easily be picked out on this Goldcrest sized bird

This is the first time i have seen this species and more confiding than i thought, difficult though to get photos as it was very mobile

The Humes Leaf Warbler is a bird from the mountain region of inner Asia and mainly winters in India.

The Hume's was still in the same garden today

The first Shetland mainland Humes Warbler was back in 11 December 2011 at Kergord, although others had been seen on the islands