Common Crane drop in

An early morning start failed to produce the Red Backed Shrike that arrived at Boddam the night before.

However the two cranes decided to stay around Hillwell, viewed from a distance. Having had good views they suddenly took off when a tour group decided to get out of the mini bus far too close to the cranes.

They headed north towards Spiggie but despite a search I couldn't relocate them but apparently they returned to Hillwell late in the day. This is normally a good spot to find Cranes, one stayed throughout last summer

These two birds are the ones that have been up in Unst for the past few days.

The Marsh Harrier, again another late arrival last night had gone from Spiggie, this is normal for migrants at this time of year.

Several Swallow took a liking to a newly cut field and perched on a nearly fence post. They were also landing on the grass and feeding.

A few Whooper Swan remain and a pair of Mute swan have nested at Spiggie although I couldn't see any young.

Lots of Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Curlew could be seen along the western side with a few Greylag.

Meadow Pipit , Wheatear and Skylark flittered among the grass.

Other migrants these last few days have included several Hobby, Sandwick Tern, Cuckoo, Reed & Marsh Warbler, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Grebe and a Pinkfoot. A Dead Scops owl was picked up in Bressay

 Common Seal

A fall of Migrants

After last Saturday things started to pick up with a good few migrants at Quendale. 

On arrival the first birds I came across were 3 Yellow Browed Warbler in the bushes near the bridge. However these were very mobile birds, chasing and calling to each other and with the dense vegetation made viewing them difficult.

Occasionally one would fly off into the bushes beside the mill. Here a Willow warbler and Blackcap joined the numerous Starling and Sparrow.

The Common Crane flew overhead, this has now been around since early spring and provides regular views normally around Hillwell.

It was though the train had finally arrived with these migrants, all of a sudden a Kestrel came over and hovered above the burn, Swallow (14) House Martin (3) Grey Wagtail showed along with Pied Wagtail (4) and two flocks of Twite totaling 25 birds.

                                                                                               Grey Wagtail

Back home and the field was still attracting a good number of birds with over Starling (300), Common Gull (23) , Meadow Pipit (8) , Rock pipit (4), Rock Dove (12), Herring Gull (8) Hoddie (4) & Blackbird (5) .

                                                                                               Willow Warbler

Elsewhere a Golden Oriole , around 30 Yellow Browed but also a trio of Mega birds
a Black Billed Cuckoo, Siberian Warbler and a Yellow Breasted Bunting. Things are really picking up

                                                           Yellow Browed Warbler the first of many i hope

Migration under way

Migration is underway, well just. Its very, very slow at the moment. While birds are turning up elsewhere they seem to have missed  Shetland mainland

On Friday we visited Unst but only found a Sparrowhawk and several Swallow

Most of the Arctic Terns have left Shetland heading south on their long journey to the Antarctic. A few linger but after the heavy rain and gales on Thursday I bet they wish they had left early

A few Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Wood Warbler & Lapland bunting have arrived but little else

A good number of House Sparrow can be found in a several of areas in the south mainland

Not seen a Willow warbler with bright legs like this before, even in the shade they were a lot lighter than normal

A lot of waders are around in Sandwick. The other day a mixed flock of Golden Plover (154) , Lapwing (68), Redshank (38), Oystercatcher (77), Curlew (28),  Ruff (6) & Turnstone (45) could be seen in the marshy area.

Ringed Plover numbers have built up in Virkie with over 90 birds feeding on the mud flats

The Common Crane is still around Hillwell it seems to be a regular now. A few Sooty Shearwaters have been seen off Lambaness (Unst) and Sumburgh. but little else