Cranes at Sandwick

Went out on another Otter watch a few days ago, this time no luck despite a 4 hour search. Similar for someone else who had been to three other sites before arriving at my spot.

Arriving back in Sandwick I received a message the cranes had moved from near Leebotton up to a field near the Social club

The Common Cranes have now moved to a stubble field just down the road from us and in fact we can see then from our garden without binoculars.

They are still very wary but I managed better photos in good light. Lots of Rock Doves and gulls in the field.

Down at Sumburgh, one of the Stonechats popped up on a wall, while  several Greenland Wheatear and White Wagtails fed on insects above the single tracked road leading to the farm. A flock of around 20 Swallows still feeding over the crop

Only one Dunlin on the pool at Grutness and several Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the beach. Nothing on the sea either at Grutness or West Voe.

A few American waders arrived on the west side and the Snowy Owl has been seen again on Ronas Hill

 Cranes love to eat seed, grain roots and insects and they seem to find lots of food in the stubble field

No sign of the Cranes the last couple of days so they may well be heading south on migration. These two Common Crane are more likely be from the Scandinavian population than the resident English flock

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

Fly past

After seeing a Crane the other week at Brake, today we had a fly past of 4 Common Crane - a garden tick in Shetland. A bit distant for photos but great to see, this may have been the three which flew over Lerwick and Noss yesterday + the Brake bird.

                                                                                  Gt Skua

During the last few days we have had a fall of migrants which have included- Shorelark, Sub-Alpine warbler, Ringed Billed Gull, Black Redstart, Hoopoe & Osprey in addition to lots of common migrants. Due to work I missed most of  them but did manage a Black Redstart at Cunningsburgh.

                                                                                                  Red Throated Diver

Yesterday the winds change from a SE direction to a NE which was cooler. The expected cloud didn't arrive until teatime so despite a Force 6 we headed first down to Scatness

                                                                                                       Purple Sandpiper

On Moast Beach one lone Purple Sandpiper, Curlew, Oystercatcher (4) Redshank (2) Turnstone (38) the latter in colourful breeding plumage. White Wagtail, Skylark, Wren, Wheatear, Meadow pipit, Twite, Gannet, Shag and Gt Northern Divers the added cast. The Sub Alpine Warbler had disappeared despite a search along the dyke.

                                                                                                                   Turnstone

With the sun shining on the blue/ turquoise sea why would you want to be anywhere else. Down at Grutness the first birds that showed was a pair of Red Throated Diver in breeding plumage and the 4 Common Scoter appeared in the middle of the bay.

                                                                                                Common Scoter flock

It was good to see 12 Arctic Terns pass over, the first of the year. Gt Skua chased a Common Gull over a small flock of Razorbill.

On the pool a pair of Ringed Plover displaying with Chiffchaff (3) Willow Warbler, Blackcap new in. Nothing down in the garden but 2 White wagtail and a Pied Wagtail had replaced the Shorelark .

On the beach Sanderling (12) Turnstone (18) Dunlin (4) with the 4 Common Scoter coming a bit closer into the beach.

                                                                                         Displaying Ringed Plover

Day
Common Crane, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Gt Skua, Common Scoter, Mallard, Razorbill, Shag, Red Throated Diver, Gt Northern Diver, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, White/Pied Wagtail, GTBB, Herring Gull, BHG, Common Gull, Fulmar, Sparrow, Starling, Wren, Blackbird, Twite, Gannet, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Wheatear, Greylag, Arctic Tern, Kittiwake, Raven, Hoddie, Eider, Teal, Shelduck, Black Guillemot, Rock Dove