Osprey

I decided to go down to Spiggie late yesterday afternoon as a Honey Buzzard had been seen in the area earlier in the day and it was a good a place as any to start

The weather didn't look too promising as i journeyed south, thick fog moving in and the wind picking up.

As i arrived at Spiggie, i found the area completely clear of fog but the wind had picked up from virtually nil earlier in the day

I searched the north side of the RSPB reserved first noting a pair of Mute swan and several Tufted, Mallard and Teal.

Moving slowly down the west side it was easy to see a number of waders close up with Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Snipe,Dunlin,  & Redshank. Plenty of Greylag as  well with large number of Starling feeding in the fields.

At the southern end marsh i checked to look through a large flock of Tufted, over 95 present North - South. A female Goldeneye was a nice find and two Grey Heron resting up near one of the pools

Checking the fence posts a large raptor caught my eye, first i thought female Marsh Harrier but as it turned its head it revealed its self to be an Osprey. It had caught a fish and had virtually finished it 5 mins later.

Harassed but several Oystercatcher it decided to take off flying low south over the loch and finally ended up on the small beach which separated Spiggie from Brow marsh

It sat in the water for a while before flying back up the loch, by this time the wind had strengthened and it had become quite cold so i left after reporting it. This year has been very good for Osprey sightings in Shetland and this one a late bird, my first Shetland Osprey

This is more likely to be  a Scandinavian bird rather then one form the increasing Scottish population

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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

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Spring continues

Although spring migration may nearly have come to an end, it is still an important time for the breeding birds in Shetland. With only around 75 regular species breeding here everyone becomes important.

                                       Male Wheatear, a stunning bird that is fairly common on the moorland

Skylark is reasonably common here unlike England where it has become very uncommon. Its great to hear them sing from the front door

Starling having one of its 5 a day, a very common bird in Shetland and very noisy

Blackbird is the commonest and only breeding thrush, apart from the odd Robin at Kergord

Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff still passing through the islands. More rarer warblers have been present these as few days with Blyth Reed Warbler at Sullom and Icterine Warbler at Sandwick and Scatness

It was good to see a party of 12 House martin with 6 Swallow at Sumburgh Head. Also here a female Bluethroat, no photos but four reasonable views among the roses.

6 Long Tailed Duck at Scatness (5 above), more common spring and summer visitor 15 years ago

Still hoping for late Spring migrants with Marsh warbler, Red Backed Shrike and possibly Bee eater.

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Gt Northern Diver Close encounters

On my last blog i discussed a close encounter with a male Scaup, while photographing this duck a superb Gt Northern Diver surfaced very close by

                                This is one of my favourite birds either in winter or summer plumage.

On one occasion it surfaced with a small crab, but this caused so many problems. The crab was very lively and just didn't want to be swallowed.

As the diver shook its head to get a better position on the crab it flew out of its beak much to the divers disgust

It quickly got hold of it before finishing it off.

Although I have seen many Gt Northern Divers the last very close encounter was in East Voe Scalloway a few years ago. This encounter was made even better with the great weather. Gt Northern Divers can be seen around the coast any time of the year. West Voe at Sumburgh is a place where large numbers gather before heading to their northern breeding grounds.

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