Rare Wheatear

Rare Migrants seemed to prefer Unst these last few days with another Siberian Accentor (3rd for Shetland in as many weeks) , Little Bunting, Waxwing, Wood Sandpiper, Icterine warbler, Arctic Redpoll, Red backed Shrike

Down in the South mainland i was hoping to catch up with another two rare Wheatears. First stop was Scousborough beach. No one else in sight as i entered the beach making my way down to the eastern side where a Desert Wheatear had been present for a few days.

With most of the visiting birders having left Shetland it was good get out and find birds , however a dog walker had found this rare Wheatear.

The bird soon showed a 100 yards or so away near the sea. Sand here is like the desert and with the sun shining and a good warm day why would the Desert Wheatear want to leave.

It is normally found in North Africa or the Middle east. This cracking male bird was very confiding coming within 6 feet, too close to focus. It spent time down near the sea, up on a rocky area and into the dunes.

Males are  a warm sandy colour, with a jet black throat and wing. It stayed 4 days

The second was an Isabelline Wheatear just a short distance up the road at Noss, this bird never showed despite an hour wait. It favoured a stubble field for a 6 day period. Some people tried several times without success others saw it well on their first visit. I did see the Pied Wheatear still down at Scatness and a Greenland Wheatear, still not bad 3 species of Wheatear all within 8 miles or so.

News came in that a Pine Bunting had been found with an Arctic Redpoll in the Ortolan field. I arrive with three others and could find no trace. The stubble field held a couple of Lapland Bunting , 150 House sparrow in two flocks, around 50 Twite as well as Skylark, Meadow Pipit,Starling and Rock Dove. Despite a long search no sign of either bird

At Maywick only a couple of Robin, Goldcrest and Blackcap. Ireland neat Bigton, had a Jack Snipe a couple of Brent Geese, 20 Pinkfeet flew over and 85 Curlew fed in a grassy field. On the sea 38 Mallard as well as Shag and a couple of Grey Seal.

Booted

Saturday was spent looking for the White Beaked Dolphin which had spent nearly two weeks in Weisdale Voe. We knew the location where it was seen on Friday and started to scan the large area of water for a single fin.

For over an hour we looked carefully but without any joy. The sea wasn't the calmest so any slight waves took our attention. We did however see a few Lion mane jellyfish, Gt Northern Diver (2), Black Guillemot (12) Shag (32) Red Breasted Merganser (4) Redshank, Curlew, Skylark, Meadow and Rock Pipit and a few Grey Seal.

Heading back to the car we met a couple of people who lived in the house overlooking the Voe and they pointed out this was the first day they hadn't seen the dolphin.

                                                                                                Booted Warbler

Recently a pod of Killer whales had been seen close in at Levenwick just as it was going dark and a few Minke Whales have gone through Mousa sound, with one at Bronnies Taing followed by a large pod of Porpoise.

                                                                                               Booted Warbler

After a short spell of rain on Sunday we headed down to Sumburgh. A report of an early morning Booted Warbler and Saturday's Arctic Warbler at Scatness, Geosetter & West mainland with a Wryneck at Hillwell gave an indication that autumn has come early

                                                                                         Booted Warbler

We stopped at Sumburgh gardens and three Willow Warbler showed well, after around 1/2 hour I still could not make out a bird which kept low in the bushes. A couple of people walked round the back of the bushes which saw the willow warblers and a female Pied Flycatcher come out, but the other bird still lingered, eventually showing as a Whitethroat.

                                                                                                Pied Flycatcher

On the way round to Grutness several Greenland Wheatear showed as did Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail. On the beach Sanderling (5) and  Knot (24) showed well until a dog came along and most of the waders headed for the pool.

                                                                                                  Pied Wagtail

With the Knot,a lone Ruff was found taking a sleep with its beak tucked in but  a eye on me, a number have a been seen in the south mainland this week.. Fulmar , Gt Skua (3) Gt Bb and Herring gulls flew over.

                                                                                                                 Ruff

A walk to the farm produced more Wheatear, all brightly coloured Greenland race birds. Near the garden a brown bird flew up and onto the lawn and for a brief second I could make it out as a Wryneck. Three more Willow warblers and another female Pied Flycatcher all found in the garden.

                                                                                              Willow Warbler
Just I returned to Sumburgh Garden a small warbler which appeared to have a very light coloured body flew up onto the wall near me and quickly disappeared just as Mick Maher joined me. It showed again lower down the field, it was a Booted Warbler possibly the same as the Sumburgh Head bird.

                                                                                               Booted Warbler

It then gave good views for around 20 minutes spending a good amount of time both on the walls and among the vegetation but moved around a lot. Hugh Harrop had joined us by this time and the bird was becoming more elusive. As we left another birder joined in but the bird had disappeared reappearing later in the day

I did see the Booted Warbler at Sumburgh Farm about the same time last year. I gather that the Scatness  Arctic Warbler was as elusive as yesterday but another one had showed up on the west side of Shetland .

On the way back a Sparrowhawk flew over Fleck while a Kestrel was seen in Sandwick