Sumburgh Puffins

I keep saying that i have enough Puffin photos but then head up to Sumburgh for more.

Incoming Puffins are the hardest to get, coming at you at a very fast speed. With my system, the A1 the auto focus is fast even with a 1.4x converter on a 200-600mm lens

All these were taken at ISO12800 on a dull day, the i have used Topaz AL noise reduction.

Speed was at 1/5000 second at F9

 

Red Backed Shrike invasion- shetland

An amazing year for Red Backed Shrikes, normally less than 10 spring records, this spring it was estimated that we had over 200 on one day.in Shetland

This one down at Swinster and stayed three or four days always in the same place

 

Sandwick waders

This is a forgotten post from a few months ago

Still lots of Curlew around

Lapwings still holding there own

A few Ruff arrived

 

Curlew in the rain

Shetland Sandwick birds

Ravens seem to be more confined to the western side of Shetland when we first start to come to Shetland back in  the late 1980's but now they are wide spread.

Around Quendale, which seems to be the strong hold, in winter you can see flocks of 100 birds and these seem to breed high up on the moors

They have been responsible for attacking lambs so the farmers are not keen on them

Snipe are always difficult to see and photograph and often they fly off before you can get onto them

Redshank numbers are high in Sandwick during winter with flocks of 100 possible especially around the Wart

Around 300-400 Golden Plover are often found around the Wart along with other waders and if you can find a spot to sit and wait in your car they slowly approach. Hopefully the Redshanks are not near by as they are a nervous bird. Sometime an American Golden Plover can be found in this flock

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