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

Tengmalm Owl in Shetland

You may have noticed that a Tengmalm owl turned up in Shetland Tuesday, 19 February 2019 but was not seen today although it could well be present in deep cover

Hundred's of people have turned up from down south and have seen the owl. Some have caused problems with parking and staying until all hours. Some arriving around 5am  causing noise and why anyone would stop until after midnight it would be anyone guess.

But the truth was revealed recently when people were found to be using  high powered torches to find the bird among the trees during the night, (no need as it was visible most days during daylight hours) not just on one night but at least three. People who told them to stop were then verbally abused

The people who own the garden at Tumblin, Bixter, got frustrated with park outside the house, the noise and torch light and I cannot blame them. I know its only a minority that are causing problems, but I can see Shetland people starting to withhold information if this continues.

I have encountered problems at other sites, both in Shetland and down in England. Some are very aggressive and arrogant  making sure they see the bird no matter what the cost to others or the welfare of the bird - rant over.

I finally managed to see the bird on day 8 of its Shetland stay. It had moved a short distance down to Lea Gardens at Tresta roosting in the pines. On the first day  at its new location, it caught a Ringed Plover and ate it in a near by tree.

I didn't get the best view as it was mostly hidden, but I returned yesterday and had a lot better view in a different place in the gardens

With only about a dozen birders it was easier to get a viewing place. In the 1.5 hours I was present everyone behaved and kept to the owners wishes of keeping to the path and not venturing onto the borders where plants were just coming up.

It was good to talk  to the other birders including a group from Barnsley, who had talked to Russ Haywood a few days before ( left Shetland to return to Rotherham a while ago). Two had driven up from Southampton to Aberdeen then caught the ferry. They had the day in Shetland before returning on the ferry experiencing a rough crossing and then back down to Southampton with a brief stop.

Another Shetland birder who is on a long holiday in Sicily flew back for the day but failed to see the owl

The last Tengmalm owl appeared in Shetland 107 years ago in Unst, the bird was caught and promptly disappeared and may have been stuffed !, so this is very special bird. These Owls normally are found in Russia, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

If you are coming up to see the Owl just be aware that the garden will have no access after the 6 March for an extended period due to scheduled work and no birders will be allowed in

A collection box was put out and local and visiting birders have contributed a good amount for the MRI scanner appeal , so well done to everyone

A Snowy Owl was also present on Ronas Hill the other day

#Tengmalm Owl, #Shetland Rare birds, #Shetland, #rare Owl

West voe birding, Shetland

Its good to see some Red throated divers in the south mainland, these will soon be back in good numbers ready to breed on the Shetland lochs

Always wanted to photograph a wading bird swimming and this Purple Sandpiper did it several times

Birding in the sun

A sunny ,warm, windless day arrived earlier in the week and i was off work so headed down the south mainland.

Stopping off at the beach at Grutness a group of south birders congregated trying to find the White Rumped Sandpiper that had turned up late yesterday. Not seen today and neither was the Pallas's warbler from the garden.

Twite

Up at Sumburgh Head a flock of around Brambling (50) Twite (28) House sparrow (34) filled the rose bushes, a Merlin came over and spooked the lot and the flew up together. Lots of Gannet diving into the sea below the cliffs while a flock of Raven (14) came passed calling.

Brambling

Blackbirds started to appear on the east side and a flock of Skylark (28) headed out to sea going south. A couple of Robin were found around the lighthouse.

Down at the quarry the Redstart was still present and a few Goldcrest but little else , while the Barnacle flock opposite had reduced to 28 birds

Goldcrest

Back at Grutness garden another Redstart put in an appearance with Chiffchaff(2) and Robin (3) but no Pallas's Warbler. News came in that a Shorelark was present down at the point, so i headed down with a couple of others

Its been a while since i saw my last Shorelark which gave good views in Norfolk, this bird would be my first for Shetland.

Shorelark

It showed briefly before flying south, calling. Then arrived back in the same place and began feeding. It gave some distant views before i left going over to West Voe for another look at the Booted Warbler. It wasn't present at the spot i saw it yesterday.

Hoddie Crow

Later i found out that it gave excellent view in the park (Field) near the cattle shelter.

 Chiffchaff

On the way back i called in a Clumlie where a Ring Necked duck had been reported yesterday. All the duck including three Scaup and 15 tufted were all over the far side with most of them asleep  the Ringed Necked was still present but too distant to photograph being on the far bank.

 Scaup

A flock over at least Fieldfare (30) and Redwing (20) flew off the moorland and into a grassy area flushing a couple of Snipe.

Teal in early morning light at Boddam

By the end of the week it was  heavy rain all day so i decided to bird from the car and called in first at Clumlie where a female Ringed Necked Duck, Scaup (3) Pochard , Goldeneye (2) and Tufted (16) showed in the distance and a short while later i was watching another female Ringed Necked duck over at Spiggie,with the Pied Billed Grebe showing to the east of the fishermans hut at the north end.

Good numbers of Swan have arrived with Whooper (175) Mute (6) on Spiggie and Whooper(4) at Clumlie. Lots of Redwing and a few hundred Fieldfare, falls of Brambling in the south mainland with 50 coming in off the sea and three Great Grey Shrikes