Shetland -Lesser Yellowlegs

On Sunday the Quail was still singing at Brow Marsh , now into its second week. The Lesser Yellowlegs returned for distant views at Scatness.

It was chased away first by two Redshank and then by some children.

This is a north American wader normally found in autumn August - October

Kittiwakes collecting mud

On Thursday a Great Knot turned up at Skaw Unst only the 6th UK record and it is still present today

Arctic Terns

You just have to admire the Arctic Tern, it travels more than 22,000 + mile a year as it flies from the Antarctic to Shetland and back each year, seeing more daylight than any other animal.

The Guardian newspaper claims that an Arctic Tern returning to the Farne islands in England clocked up  59,650 miles in one year, the longest migration ever. As Arctic terns can live up to 30 years of age they will clock up thousands of miles

Tern colonies in Shetland have been suffering for many years as adult birds have failed to find sufficient sandeels. The last two years have been better but so far this year i have only see a few terns with small fish- not a good sign.

Sea birds always like to bathe in fresh water and terns are no exception. Places such as Grutness, Scatness & Spiggie give plenty of opportunity and the birds gather together for safety

In 1980 a study (Bullock & Gomersall) revealed that there was 32,000 arctic terns in 369 colonies in Shetland. Numbers in 2014 are thought to be around 43% less than in 1986, for instance on Mousa in 2015, 300 Arctic Terns were present but on 20 pairs attempted to breed

On Noss in 2016, 72 nest had been recorded , the most in a decade. Only 5 chicks survived due to heavy predation from Skuas and gulls.

With 73% of Arctic terns concentrated in the Northern Isles , Shetland is an important place for all seabirds with 21 species breeding

Although this report does not contain information on Arctic Terns it is well worth a read

https://www.soteag.org.uk/files/2017/03/2016-SOTEAG-seabird-Monitoring-Report.pdf

This contains information on the beached bird survey i take part in

My other blogs etc you may be interested in

shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk
shetlanddream.blogspot.co.uk

www.amazingshetland.co.uk

facebook: Shetland Aurora Hunter - send a request to join

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