Fall

The weather finally cleared to produce a clear still day , after a few days of  fog and gales it was good to get out and we decided to head to the south end.

                                                                                                    Song Thrush

On the way down we stopped off at Fleck to see the 4 Barnacle Geese and 13 Pinkfeet feeding with 22 Greylag, winter is coming on fast

Our first real stop was Sumburgh Hotel where a Black Redstart and Yellowhammer had been seen. After a good search we couldn't find either but a large number of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbird  had arrived and they were very vocal.

                                                                               Only a few Wheatear left

At West Voe Long Tailed Duck (64) Red Breasted Merganser (6) Gt Northern Diver, Eider (4) Shag (6) . Working our way on foot round to Grutness a few Goldcrest flew up from dense vegetation and in the fields a Song Thrush in addition to the other Thrushes, which were even more numerous here.

On the beach a large mixed flock of waders, around 250 birds was impressive as they flew up from the beach, disturbed by a dog walker. Knot, Sanderling, Redshank, Ringed Plover ,Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper , Oystercatcher and Turnstone

At the garden only Robin(3) and two more Goldcrest, but beside the first quarry a Ring Ousel with around a dozen Blackbird, Robin (4), Meadow Pipit (6) Twite (25) Hoddie (6) Raven and Rock Dove (8). The rain started to fall as we walked to the second quarry.

A few sheep grazed inside the second quarry but it didn't stop a number of birds feeding. No sooner than I opened the gate when Brambling (4) Lesser Redpoll and Common Redpoll(2), Reed Bunting flew up from a bare patch of ground. Here Robin (10) Blackbird (12), some singing was a welcome sight as the rain fell for another 10 mins.

Fulmar (numerous) Hoddie Wren and Twite (30).  and a chaffinch made up the cast. It was good to see Paula and Helen out photographing as well and they were pleased to be shown the Redpoll.

                                                                        Showing signs of a Lesser Redpoll

In addition to the other migrants, several Blue Tit & Gt Grey Shrike have arrived with two Firecrest , a Humes Warbler on Foula, Steppe Shrike on Whalsay, half a dozen Arctic Redpoll on Unst and a White winged Scoter initially on Yell then Unst provided a good end to October

Quarry

Last weekend was poor weather wise but very good for birds. Apart from the Pied Wheatear a female Common Scoter gave very close views at Scatness.

This is a Red listed species with only about 50 pairs breeding in the UK. Four passing Long Tailed ducks were good to see

Geese were very evident with Greenland Whitefront(6) flying over to land among other Geese at Scatness point. The flock  was disturbed  and took off, while the Whitefront flew north around 200 Barnacles circled round before landing in the same place, Greylag (15) did the same.

Down at Grutness one Pinkfoot fed in the horse paddock with at least 20 Meadow Pipit.

On the pond Turnstone (15) Dunlin(3) Redshank (6) and Teal(3) Mallard (4) and on the sea Eider (8) Shag (6) Gtbb (2) Herring Gull (4) and the beach held Sanderling (12) Ringed Plover (4)

Only a Robin in the wind swept garden, but moving to the first quarry Northern Wheatear (4) Twite (20) Starling (12) . In between the quarries Redwing (22) fed on the moorland area.

Entering the main quarry which offer a little protection from the wind a Woodcock took off and landed in the field at the bottom joining another flock of Redwing (30). It was now becoming very windy so only managed a few photos before the Woodcock took shelter behind a ridge. I tried to get a better view but it was keeping its head down and by this time my hat had blown off twice.

                                                                                                            Woodcock

In the quarry two Robin showed at the entrance, Chiffchaff (3) fed along one of the sheltered channels and these were joined briefly by Goldcrest (2) until the wind got hold of them and took them up and out towards the farm. A Yellow Browed Warbler landed on the grass then got blown out of the quarry

Several dark billed Blackbirds, first summer males seemed very nervous, at least Wren (5) showed, Blackcap(m/f) Twite (12) and Fieldfare (3) flew in as i went out.

News came in that around a dozen Waxwing had arrived, a Siberian Stonechat  briefly at Toab, new Red Flanked Bluetail at Kergord along with Olive Backed Pipit. Its a great Autumn for birds with less and less visiting birders now present. Despite the terrible weather on Sunday An Isabelline Wheatear turn up at Spiggie another very rare bird

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