Shetland Purple Heron

On the 6 April a Purple Heron was found at Boddam in the afternoon frequenting a channel where the burn enters from the north

It was very approachable and these photos were taken from the roadside. It did fly off but came back to the same spot.

It was superb to see and still present today. We still have an American Coot, Green winged Teal, Ross's goose and a Night Heron as well as a scattering of common migrants

 

Shetland Pechora Pipit

 A rare Pechora Pipit was at Quendale Mill, it was found while ago but i have had problems downloading the photos

This bird was very confiding and showed very well over a few days

Despite heavy showers we set off to see the pipit and found around 30 people present. I was only a short way up the track when the bird flew from the wall down towards the mill.

It didn't stay there long and headed back up the burn and then back on the wall giving superb views. It was perch for a good minute giving plenty of opportunity for photos.

It moved along the wall twice before jumping on the ground so i walked further up towards the dam where a Marsh warbler had been seen earlier. It was there i met two Sheffield birders walking down and it was Roy and Richard, good to see them again.

I walked towards the two large barns to see the two Barred Warbler but by this time the cattle had just been brought down for milking so the area was a no go.

Back to the pipit, this is a bird from Siberia, it is a long distant migrant and is usually found in bushes near rivers and streams. it is heavily streaked brown above with a whiteish mantle. This is a first for me, missing one by 5 mins last year.

Buff Bellied Pipit- Shetland

Arrived at Rerwick only to find three others present, not a good sign

Roger Riddington had found the bird at Clavel about an hour before. Just ten another 4 people arrived and the search started

The bird was re-found down on the beach but then called and flew back up the hill. By this time the wind had really started started to pick up making photography very difficult

 managed to see the bird on a steep slope and got a few shots from a distance. Good VR on the Sony system which helped.

It then flew again back down to the burn, so i decided to leave it as the wind was very strong at this point.

Another American bird turned up the week before and stayed a week, this is the White Winged Scoter at Wadbister (4th from right). I was the only person present. A difficult one to find as it was in a small eider flock but kept flying off. Luckly it came back, so only the swell to contend with

Shetland Rare Black Kite

 If you are birding in Shetland you never know what or when a rare bird will turn up.

I was down at Quendale yesterday looking at a Red Breasted Flycatcher which was being chased by a Garden Warbler.

After an hour in the area i noticed an increase in migrants with a dozen Swallow and 4 Willow Warbler

I was drawn to a raptor in a  clear blue sky, a Black kite !!!, amazing these are rare birds in Shetland

It passed up the valley circling around before coming back down towards the mill and then headed up to Hillwell

A few gulls and around 20 Starlings buzzed it but the kite didn't seemed bothered

Grutness Bluethroat

This spring has been the best for many years. Lots of common and rare birds making it one to remember

This Bluethroat was a good find down at Grutness pool

 

Shetland Garganey

Always good to see  Garganey. This one kept fluing off with two male gadwall and then returning to the pool but staying over the far side.

 

Shetland Pallid Swift

 I had just finished running my photography course when news came in of a Pallid Swift about 2 mins away in Lerwick

It flew over the same area for a couple of hours hawking for insects before flying a mile or so east