Down on the beach

At this time of year we have plenty of waders on beaches in the south mainland.

Down at Grutness both Turnstone (14) and Purple Sandpiper (12) could be seen feeding among the sea weed

Down at East Voe Purple Sandpiper (18)  and turnstone (26) with  a Snow Bunting. Out in the Voe LT Duck (2) Shag (12) and a several Grey Seals

Rock Pipits

 

Red Breasted Merganser with fish

 

Although Red Breasted Mergansers are reasonably common in Shetland we dont get many in Grutness bay, but there are always some across at west Voe

This one caught a flat fish and then it struggled to eat it over a 10 min period

It was tricky conditions to photograph birds with a force 6-7 wind blowing 

Normal day at the Office

Most visiting birders have left Shetland so its down to the few local birders to turn up the birds

I took a trip down to Grutness and headed out to the point. I was thinking that it was about time a few Snow Bunting turned up and there they were, 4 on the path just in front of me

They flew off into the boulder field making it difficult to follow them, but i did see them twice more flying high and calling

Snow Bunting are always nice to find and brighten up any dull day

Goldcrest

Goldeneye disturbed at West Voe

One of 3 Guillemot close inshore, i watched this for a good 1/2 hour and it never dived to catch any fish just paddled up and down

 Two of the three Gt Northern Diver at West Voe

Grutness

Snow Bunting (3) Mallard (14) Linnet (4) Goldcrest, Robin (3) Blackbird 24, Redwing (23 + 200 in off the sea, Fieldfare 3, Long Tailed duck (30 Shag (5) Gt Northern Diver, Herring Gull, Gt BB, Rock Dove(12) Meadow Pipit (6) House Sparrow(50+) Starling (20), Chaffinch (2), Wren(3)

West Voe

Long Tailed duck (86) Gt Northern Diver (3) RB Merganser (6) Goldeneye(3) Guillemot (3) Turnstone (82) Purple Sandpiper  (18) Redshank (2) BHG (4) Meadow Pipit (20) Starling (100) Shag (6) Grey Seal (4), Herring Gull, GBB, Kittiwake, Wren

Sumburgh Hotel

Meadow Pipit(15) Starling (30) House Sparrow (20) Curlew (4) Redwing (60) Fieldfare(4) Rock Dove (25) Greylag (36 over) Blackbird (4)