List secured

After the Pallid Harrier the other day, Shetland migration season is producing a range of good birds. We headed down to the south mainland  where there are several excellent birding spots. On Friday fog and easterly winds looked promising.

The fog  started to cleared later but by then a superb Red Flanked Blue-tail, Barred Warbler (2), Little Bunting & Red breasted Flycatcher,  had all given great views

                                                                     Superb Red Flanked Blue-tail

With a supporting cast of Redstart (4), Goldcrest (5), Robin, Blackcap, Brambling, Redwing, Swallow, House Martin, Kestrel (4), Willow warbler(5) Chiff Chaff (2) Knot (34) Oystercatcher (8)  Redshank, Snipe(6), Curlew (19), Lapwing (6), Raven (6) Twite (30) White Wagtail, Hoddie, Gt Skua , Wheatear (8), Starling (300) House Sparrow (150) , Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag, Rock Dove (12), Meadow Pipit (30) skylark (12), Blackbird (15), Herring Gull (22) Gt BB (2) Rock Pipit (6) Mallard (12)

                                                                                                           Goldcrest

I bet that a lot of people (Birders) are relieved that the vote for a Scottish independence was a NO. I have met many birders that are listers and they need as many birds on their lists as possible. If the English birders had lost their Scottish birds then they would have seen a big drop in their lists. I know of a few that would have instantly struck off the Scottish birds - so bye bye to birds like Golden eagle, Ptarmigan, Capercaille, Crested Tit.

                                                                                        Redstart

                                                                                         Willow Warblers

As for Scottish birders then they would have lost birds such as Avocet, Cirl bunting, Nuthatch, Magpie. All birders keep some sort of list, either on paper or in their head, its all about competition and providing evidence of expertise. Well I say expertise but many people just respond to birds found by others and don't really identify the birds for themselves.

                                                                                   Red Breasted Flycatcher

I met a couple of birders a few years ago in Shetland that spent the whole holiday chasing other people's birds and couldn't  even identify a Siskin that appeared at Kergord. That life !!!!!

In Shetland there are a lot of very experienced birders, who have lived in the isles for a number of years. They may be ringers, study a patch or spend time really looking at birds so if something unusual turns up, which regularly happens in Shetland then they are in a better position to identify the new bird.

                                                                     Lets not forget the little house sparrows

For those new to bird-watching then most birds are rare in a sense that they haven't been seen before by the observer but they may not be rare nationally. Lists are very precious and there is an element of one up man-ship so birders have to see a new bird and they will travel the length of the UK to see this bird spending hundreds of pound to get there as quick as possible. Sometimes it works , but a bird can be here one minute gone the next.

Several years ago I got talking to some birders that had come to live in Shetland for a few years to bump up their lists, they worked at the fish factory and would work all hours but would disappeared if a rare bird turned up. Its quite noticeable that during the past few days a number of twitchers have turned up, eager to boost their own lists.

                                                                   Fulmars ever present around the cliffs

So back to lists and at present the number of birds seen in Shetland stands at  453 inc Fair Isle (2012) - Shetland Bird Report (596 birds on UK list at December 2013), which represents a fair number of migrants as Shetland has only around 70 regular breeding species

                                                                           Gannets pass Sumburgh Head

Pallid and more

I was very sad to hear about the death of Jim Wood, many of you will have seen his superb wildlife photos taken in Shetland and the Spey Valley. I met Jim on the first day we moved to Shetland back in April and we used to meet up to photograph the birds in and around the south mainland. Jim knew all about where and when to go to certain spots and could be seen out during all weather and at all times of day. Jim will be missed by many people.

Meadow Pipits are still moving through Shetland, corresponding with the national trend. Flocks of over 40 have been see feeding on short grass at Scatness, Sandwick, Grutness and Compass head during the past week

                                                                           From  BTO / Bird track

A couple of Buff Breasted Sandpiper showed down in the south mainland along with a couple of Little Bunting and two Red breasted flycatcher but I was unable to get away from the house with builders present. Migration is hotting up, with Yellow Browed Warbler & Barred Warblers further up north, flocks of Pink footed geese are passing over , with 20 over the house the other day.

I did manage to catch up with a distant Pallid Harrier down at Hillwell which returned the following day. Thanks to Hugh Harrop with the identification.  

It was also good to hear that Hen harriers bred in the Upper Derwent Valley near Sheffield this year. Unfortunately out of 5 young 3 died

                                               Long distant Pallid Harrier on Wednesday 17 9 14

A bird that will be in Shetland throughout the year is the Raven. Back in the Sheffield, Ravens could be seen in the Derwent valley but didn't manage to breed due to persecution. Here Raven are common, especially at Quendale where 100's gather, coming down off the hill to feed in the surrounding fields. They always seem wary but occasionally you can get close, they are large birds with a powerfully beak

Still a few Butterflies about, with a couple of Red Admiral in the garden on Tuesday and Large White Monday and Thursday.

On the mammal front several dead Polecat/ ferret have been seen on the main road , this follows the spring trend. A couple of very active brown rats scurried among the rocks down at Boddam and as usual many seals, both common and Grey are very evident where ever you look on the sea.

On Clickimin Lock 40 Tufted Ducks gathered, this species is certainly more abundant now than when we first started coming up back in the late 80's

Flocks and things

Despite light easterly winds not that many migrants turned up. The best was a Common Rosefinch at Grutness but now flocks of birds are starting to gather. Groups of 50-150 starlings are roaming about, especially around seaweed which provides a lot of insects to feed on.

On shorter grass a flock of Meadow Pipit (32) skylark(6), wheatear (8) and White/ Pied Wagtail (8) but no Citrine wagtail which was seen a few days ago near the pool at Grutness. Skeins of Greylag Geese are very vocal as they fly over.

The beach at Grutness held many waders until recently but during visits over the past few days very few have been seen. On the last occasion only Knot (1) Redshank (1) oystercatcher (1) Sanderling (1) Turnstone (1) and a flew over Curlew was present.

                                                                                            Oystercatcher

                                                                                                       Turnstone

Overall it seems quieter with all the main seabird now departed and  the Skuas have followed. Fulmars and Gannets are still around with plenty of young Herring gulls. Ravens and Hoddie Crows are moving further field with a few flying close to our house finding the occasional  meal put out for the smaller birds.

                                                                                               Gannet

A few bees especially Northern White tailed are visiting road side plants and coming into gardens, especially as the weather is so good. Even the odd Red Admiral and Painted Lady butterflies can be found, a great year for both.

                                                                                                      Sanderling

As the migration season is now underway I am looking forward to seeing falls of birds and more unusual warblers. On a different subject was this Sea Kale which is only the 3rd reported plant for Shetland, found by Logan Johnson (thanks for the location) on a beach near Tesco. Its about 1-1/2 feet wide on a shingle beach.

                                                                                                        Sea Kale

Having visited Boddam several times recently its hard not to see Brown Rats running about among the rocks especially on the west side.

                                                                                            Brown Rats

Autumn delight

The week started with problems with my 800mm sigmonster lens, the aperture wouldn't open or close so it was off to the camera centre in Lerwick at the beginning of the week. The heavy weight around 14 lbs in old money would cost a bit in postage to send off, but its a lens I have used a lot since i bought it off e-bay back in 2007 and I wouldn't want to be without out it during the migration period.

Having to use the 500 mm sigma 150-500 mm lens is still a good bet, with the crop factor it gives me 50 mm lens, the 800mm lens using the converter in the Nikon D7100 gives an incredible 1600 mm lens.

With the great weather Friday and Saturday we headed to the south mainland, always a good bet for a mixture of birds. With the Puffins, Guillemot and Razorbill long gone from Sumburgh cliffs we decided to stay at Grutness.

On the pool a Little Stint was still present along with three Dunlin

                                                                           Little Stint on the pool

                                                                                               

 
                                                                                      Ringed Plover

Making my way over to the beach a large flock of about 150 starlings flew over and landed on the top of an old barn. Also over 30 House sparrows fed on the jetty closely watched by two Eider which sat right at the edge near the sea.

                                                                                                Sanderling

At the beach a lot of seaweed had been washed up which attracted waders, starling, wheatear, white wagtails and a couple of Hoddie Crow. At the waters edge two Curlew Sandpiper looked impressive, the first I have seen since a summer plumage individual at Boddam the other June. This species is a scare migrant to Shetland with most being seen in September- six had been seen earlier in the day by Rebecca Nason.

                                                                                          Curlew Sandpiper

Other birds present included Knot (62) Sanderling (82) Dunlin (12) Ringed Plover (11) Turnstone (5) Oystercatcher (8) all looking superb in the afternoon sunlight.

                                                                                                 Knot

Heading back to the car two Red Admirals took flight, a good year for this migratory species, while a Large White the only species of butterfly to breed in Shetland was in flight around the garden area, Two Shetland Bumble bees also caught my eye as they fed on wildflowers along the roadside.

The following day we made our way around Scatness, a lot of standing water to the west of the main lock attracted Ringed Plover (42) and Sanderling (12) with small flocks of Skylark and Meadow Pipit flying over. Again only two Arctic Tern could be seen and these attracted the interest of a light Phase Arctic Skua. Right at the far end on a rock was a Grey Heron looking out of places as it stood close to 12 Shag

Autumn arrives

Its been a busy few weeks as we moved into our new house. What with various tradesmen coming and going and decorating it been difficult getting out. Autumn is upon us now and the bird migration season is starting up with plenty of variety.

                                                               Fulmars will be around all year

Lots of waders have been moving through, the south mainland the main attraction with Little Stints, Knot, Ruff, Godwits, Turnstone, Sanderling brightening up the beaches. More small migrants have been seen and we had good fortune to see a Black Redstart in Sandwick yesterday.

A couple of days ago we also located a Common Rosefinch, lesser Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher at two locations and several Chiff-chaff and Willow warbler. Swallows  may have nested  Cunningsburgh as they have been regularly seen at the south end of the village and a House Martin flew over.

The cliffs have become a lot quieter, sadly the Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbill left some time ago but it seems that they have had a good breeding season. Gannets seem to be finding plenty of fish judging by the numbers clashing into the sea in Mousa bay.

A few Arctic terns are still a round, but large numbers have already left Shetland to start their 10,000 mile journey south. The Skuas will also be leaving following the terns south, few numbers now seen each day.

                                                                   Young Arctic Terns with food

Judging by the number of hedgehog road casualties, it seems that a large number of young are born and die on the roads, these are providing food for gulls, Hoddies and Ravens

Large flocks of Starlings are moving around with many feeding amongst the seaweed. Although I saw a large flock down at Sandsayre yesterday when i did my first beach survey count they at least seem untroubled by the large amount of fishing nets washed up. Its always sad to see Gannets with fishing line or nets around their feet, a common item they use for nesting material. A trip up to Hermaness will show the amount used and the threat it causes. Back to the beach survey, and no birds found dead which is always good.

I have started a garden bird list, in Shetland they count birds in the garden and any seen from the garden which is interesting. This has allowed me to collect Whimbrel, Lapwing, Curlew, Oystercatcher Gannet, Arctic tern and common birds such as starling, sparrow, Wheatear and Blackbird- must get some bushes planted up soon