Spring migrants arrive in Shetland

This weekend the weather was perfect for migrants to move north with either easterly or southerly winds and it was warm as well.

A good number of Gt Skua passed over along with Gt BB looking for suitable prey.

                                                                  Gt Skuas feeding on a Moorhen at Spiggie

Down in the Shetland south mainland it was good to see a number of Puffin back on the cliffs at Sumburgh with a good supporting cast of Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar and Shag.

Down at Grutness a flock of 18 Turnstone many in breeding plumage stood around the fresh water pool and a couple of Ringed Plover flew in to join them. A few pairs of Common Gull were mating in the tern colony, which was now filling up with Arctic Terns

A winter plumaged Gt Northern Diver came close in and later a female Common Scoter was showing. A Chiffchaff sang at the garden and a couple of Pied Wagtail flittered around. Nothing was found at the Quarry or farm.

Down at West Voe , Gt Northern Diver (5) showed very well and these were in breeding plumage as was a couple of Long Tailed Duck. Kittiwakes (83) resting in the middle of the bay.

 A flock of over150 Arctic Tern and a couple of Common Tern were noisy with a few carrying large Sandeels waiting to engage in breeding activity.

Again, Turnstones came close in with a flock of 26 among the rocks and these joined by a few Sanderling still in winter plumage & White Wagtail(2) . Going round to Grutness many Skylark and Meadow Pipit sang and a small flock of Swallow (5) flew over the airstrip. Up at Hillwell a flock of at least 70 Swallow and two House Martin was a good sight.

A couple of Arctic Skua came in off the sea attracting the attention of two pairs of Oystercatcher who chased them off. Down at Quendale a Glaucous gull was found aamong the large flock of resting gulls

Gt N Diver, Red Throated Diver, Common Scoter, Long Tailed Duck,  Mallard, Shag, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, House Sparrow, Twite, Linnet,  Lesser Redpoll, Common Redpoll, Blackbird, Wren, Puffin, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Arctic Skua, Gt Skua, Raven, Hoddie, Rock Dove, Wheatear, Swallow, Gannet, Pied/white Wagtail, Common Tern, Arctic tern, Common Gull, Herring Gull, BH Gull, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Greylag, Chiffchaff, Shoveler, Tufted, Shelduck, House Martin, Coromorant, Whooper, Mute swan, Sanderling, Dunlin, Glaucous Gull, Coot, Moorhen
(56)

                                                                                              Shetland Wren

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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