Shetland Breeding Birds

Just finished my Breeding bird survey for this year, same two squares covered again 

I have now been doing this survey for the past 6 seasons and its always interesting to compare years

This year has seen an increase in Skylark numbers, plot 1 up by 2 pairs while plot 2 by 1 pair, going against the uk trend which has seen a massive decline. meadow pipit have showed a steady increase since the survey started, plot 1 at 9 pairs and Plot 2 at 7 pairs

Shetland is well know for waders and although Plot 1 saw some large drainage ditches dug out in the breeding season there has been some effects

Plot 1 has no Lapwing but Plot 2 has seen a drop from 3-2 pairs. Curlew are steady on both plots as re Redshank with one pair.

Oystercatcher have seen the biggest increase, plot 1has continue to show an increase. With 2 pairs in 2015 this year there was 6 pairs while plot 2 continued with one pair.

Snipe numbers are just one pair in each plot.

Wren, Blackbird and Wheatear numbers remain steady but Twite have decreased. Collared Dove are new at Plot 2.

Although migrants are not counted in the survey, plot 2 has had a number of interesting birds this year with Red Backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Black redstart, Grasshopper warbler, Willow Warbler, Grey Wagtail

Minkie Whale- Shetland

Minkie Whales are a common summer visitor to Shetland during the summer months mainly seen May - September

 With three others reported further north in the last few days it was no surprise when a Minkie Whales was spotted close to Sandwick

 I arrived two hours after word came out and the whale had moved south just above the Sandwick layby.

 Minkie Whales are always difficult to spot never mind photographing, they only surface briefly and then can move a great distance or circle round before resurfacing

 This one came fairly close in shore and was quiet small, I did see another further out close to a flock of feeding gulls

 It amazing that they spent more than 7 hours in more or less the same spot and didn't seem distracted by three small fishing boats close by.

 The larger adult surfaced just in front of one boat and then re appeared far to the left. They can be very inquisitive

 As they feed, they can dive deep and circle round

 Minkie whales are part of the Baleen family, and have large flattened heads and only show a small part of their body above the water

 The dorsal fin is located about 2/3 along the back

 Minkie Whales can grow up to 10m long.

 Minkie's hunt a wide variety of prey including herring, cod, mackerel, sand eels and squid.

Minkie Whales are one of the most difficult to photograph only appearing at the surface for a very short time

Shetland Savi's Warbler

I was down at Scatness again this week this time hoping to see the Savi's warbler which had been present for the previous two days.

Having missed out on the Serin at the far end of Scatness, the Savi's proved equally elusive but at least it was there somewhere in deep cover.

Meadow Pipit doing well

A couple of birders came and left but I waited and waited changing position to the north side of the garden with Steve and Gary (keeping the 2 meters away) who had been present before I arrived. Steve was the owner of the garden and had put out three excellent photos.

Rock Pipit

An hour and half passed before it started to sing from deep cover, about five minutes later it popped up and headed across the garden to the west side still in deep cover.

Wheatear with more nesting material

I headed round and saw it straight away, it made its way down a branch and I managed to get one decent photo with another two obscured by a branch, then it was back into deep cover but came out again later in the evening

I had seen another one in Sumburgh Hotel gardens a couple of years ago which was distant but more visible. It was still present today

Dunlin at Grutness Pool

A few Rose Coloured Starling about, similar situation to England. It is almost a year ago that I photographed one in Lerwick.

Other Scarce birds included Quail, Ringed Bill and Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret, Blyth Reed Warbler, Greenish Warbler, as well as Humpback and Killer Whales

Shetland- singing Booted Warbler

I have now seen 3 Booted Warblers in Shetland although this was the first in song. According to one magazine, this is the earliest Booted Warbler found in Scotland

It turned up in a garden at Bakkasetter and thanks to Rob Fray we were able to respond quickly making our way down from the north side of Spiggie taking only a few minutes

I instantly saw the bird on a fence beside the house, not normal for me as when any rare birds turn up they hide away.

It flew up and then appeared in the main part of the garden and burst into full song. Five or so minutes after this a couple of other birders turned up but  we were still able to maintain a save distance from each other , complying with the Covid 19 rules
.

It moved along the tree line, occasionally flying out of the garden but came back to the same area a few times before it flew off and didn't return until later that evening

Having missed out on the Serin a couple of days before, it was good to see this rare warbler from Asia. Like most spring birds it didn't stay for another day.

While common migrants haven't been that plentiful,  rare migrants have been popping up throughout the isles. A good number of Red Backed Shrike, Blyth Reed Warbler (3) Marsh Warbler, Gt White Egret, White Tailed Eagle, Common Nightingale, Bluethroat, Red Rumped Swallow, Turtle Dove, Lesser Grey Shrike, Black & White Warbler, Rose Coloured Starling, Bee-eater, Golden Oriole and several Osprey have visited the isles in recent weeks

Northerly winds this next few days so we will see if any other goodies turn up. It certainly quieter times with regard to birders present, no one allowed to travel to Shetland