Arctic Terns

Arctic Terns breed in Shetland, estimates of 73% of the British population. Yet numbers here have  dramatically decreased with sand eel numbers very low for many years. There may be only around 7,000 birds down from 35,000 back in the late 1980's

For 2015 and 2016 things sort of improved with young birds being fed large sandeels. It was good to watch Arctic Terns catch fish in Lerwick harbour and feed young close by both years.

This year the courtship period where they rebuild bonds saw large sandeels being brought in at the two colonies i watched. However as the breeding season progressed large sandeels seemed to be in short supply.

Terns from the Grutness colony tend to fly over to West Voe to collect food. On the return trip, if they have been successful they are often mugged by Arctic Skuas.

A few days ago i could see four Arctic Skuas working the area causing the whole colony to go up and mob the Skuas.

I was checking birds coming back to the colony and counted about 1 in 6 birds bringing large sandeels back to young. With other birds bringing very small fish , very difficult to see the fish in the beak of some. I couldn't see many young birds due to the nature of the terrain.

Over at Scatness i counted 38 Juvenile birds around the loch, much easier to check. These occasional got fed but only with small fish

At least this colony seem to have raised a reasonable number of young. Lets hope i have under estimated.

With Arctic Terns travelling around 22,000 a year its a small wonder they come all the way to Shetland for a few months, only to find there is very little food

My other blogs

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

Shetland Aurora Hunter (Facebook) send me a request to join

www.amazingshetland.co.uk (Canvas prints)

Oystercatcher

Oystercatchers seem to have a good breeding season and i have seen several pairs with young in the south mainland. These are known as Shalders in Shetland

Young birds tend to stay close to a parent and are taught how to catch worms

An intruder is chased away, the threat from Skuas and Gulls cannot be under estimated

Lapwings have not been so lucky with a large number robbed, Hoddie Crows been the main culprits

Check out my other blogs

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

send a request to join Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook

Turtle Dove

We are now well into Spring with plenty of lambs running around but the weather is not that good. Over the past three days we have had thick fog and force 6-7 winds as well as rain.

Monday was the first day out for a while so i decided to go to Quendale to see what was about. It was still windy but at least there seem to be some migrants around. Crossing the bridge to the mill a Common Sandpiper flew onto the burn. Not a common bird in Shetland with only a few breeding pairs mainly over in the west and north

Pied and White Wagtails could be seen feeding along the burn. Around the small area of shrubs Pied Flycatcher (f) Chiffchaff (3) Whitethroat, Robin and a few house Sparrow. Further Chiffchaff up the burn and then at the dam Swallow (4) Lesser Whitethroat and several Twite.

Ravens have come in for a lot of criticism over the last few weeks as the have killed some lambs, pecking out their eyes and tongue. Quendale holds a large number of Ravens so the lambs tend to be kept near the farm buildings.

A large flock of Oystercatcher feeding in a ploughed field had been joined by Gt BB and herring Gulls.

At Brake 20+ Ravens could be seen feeding around the Cattle shed with several feral pigeons. Just as i arrived back at the junction near the bus stop a Turtle Dove flew up from the road , landing briefly on one of the farm building and then taking flight over the other buildings and disappearing.

 I headed back up the valley but it couldn't be found. This is the first Turtle Dove i have seen since in Shetland since the Helendale bird several years ago

Today after another foggy night i found an Iceland gull at East Voe Scalloway on the way into work

Don't forget to check out my other blogs

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

also join our facebook group- Shetland Aurora Hunter just send a request to join