Migration trickle

It was good to see that 4 Two Barred Crossbills are still down at Clickimin. These birds tend to be quiet so you can easily walk past them.

 Family party of Whooper swan at Spiggie, they might be local breeders

As we set off last Saturday morning news came in that a Great Snipe had been flushed down at Dalsetter but had flown south. and up in Unst a Blyth Reed Warbler was seen . Things are picking up and as well arrived at Sumburgh Hotel a flock of Swallow (26) flew over while Greenland Wheatears (12)flittered about down the east side.

Greenland  Wheatear

This is a good number of Greenland Wheatears and on Friday there seemed a lot at Burra, I flushed 18 down one side road.

On the pool at Grutness, a Knot and Dunlin(5) fed down one of the channels but generally it was quiet as the terns and gulls have left their nesting area in the boulders.

 Knot

On the beach at Grutness- Turnstone (12), but on East Voe beach , Turnstone (84) Sanderling (5) Ringed Plover (6) Redshank (3) all feeding in the seaweed along the shore line

 Dunlin

 Turnstone

 Knot

 Dunlin

 Golden Plover - Virkie

 Knot

A good variety of waders gathered at Virkie, including Ringed Plover (97) Turnstone (45) Bar Tailed Godwit (2) Black Tailed Godwit (6) Curlew (10) Redshank (15) Dunlin(23) Golden Plover, Knot (12), Sanderling (6)

Bar Tailed Godwit

Yesterday the Crossbills seemed to have disappeared but a few good birds have started to move through with Barred warbler, Quail, Spotted Redshank, Common Rosefinch & Short Eared Owl

Duck, Diver and Waders

Having seen the Tengmalm Owl at Tresta on Saturday I was surprised to find that it was its last day, it had seemed settled.

Lots of birders have been to see it over the past 14 days, but lots more turned up on Sunday only to be disappointed.

Goldeneye have been present in good numbers especially at Spiggie and on a number of other lochs throughout Shetland

Goldeneye male

Goldeneye Female

Lots of wader about with 100's of Oystercatcher back, Knot also returning in good numbers. These are joining the large wader flocks that have been over wintering

Knot

a swimming Purple Sandpiper

Black throated Diver in Quendale Bay, may be the same bird that was seen in the same area last year, a rare bird in Shetland

It kept its distance from the beach at Quendale

A couple of White Billed Diver have been found in the north mainland and Scaup and Pintail at Benston in Nesting.

It seems to been a bumper year for Frogs with 100's seen at some sites in the north and west of shetland