Shetland Black Throated Thrush

The other day must have taken over 850 photos with the Hume's and Sib Chiffchaff. Headed down to Sumburgh head and then up to Compass Head where i found a few hundred thursh. Most had moved south earlier in the day as the weather was just about perfect for southern movement.

Most of the Thrush were Redwing and about 50+ Blackbird and one odd bird. This turned out to be a first. winter female Black Throated Thrush. i Managed a few photos before another car pulled up and the flock flew towards Sumburgh Head

Like the Hume's, this is another vagrant from Asia, normally found October - March with over <100 records.

I processed the photo later and had a thought that it was this species, I sent it to Hugh Harrop and Pete Garrity who confirmed this, with several people confirming this when posted to the Whatsapp group 

Hume's Warbler in Shetland

 A Humes Warbler was found at Boddam by Paul Harvey on Tuesday and i managed to catch up with the bird on Friday morning.

It was a bright but very breezy morning, up to Force 7 winds with an occasional shower

Only three other local birders when i arrived and the bird showed straight away chased by Siberian Chiff Chaffs , three birds plus a (Collybrita race) Chiffchaff and a Robin.

It arrived with a large fall of Thrush, which had now reduced to a few hundred Redwing most on the edge of the road, a few Fieldfare and one Song Thrush also showed.

It was very fast moving flitting among the bushes but occasionally called and pearch on the wall. The wing bar and eye strip could easily be picked out on this Goldcrest sized bird

This is the first time i have seen this species and more confiding than i thought, difficult though to get photos as it was very mobile

The Humes Leaf Warbler is a bird from the mountain region of inner Asia and mainly winters in India.

The Hume's was still in the same garden today

The first Shetland mainland Humes Warbler was back in 11 December 2011 at Kergord, although others had been seen on the islands

Large fall of Redwing in Shetland

Thousands of Redwing continued to pour into Shetland, late Wednesday as rain and fog came back again. Most local birders saying they have never seen anything like it. 

It was  more or less blanket thrushes with many Blackbird but only a few Fieldfare (yet to Come?) and around 50 Ring Ousel

Large falls of Brambling also arrived at the same time

Lots of Gulls down at Sandsayre

15 Curlew in fields at Sandwick

28 Redshank at Sandwick

A nice flock of 86 Golden Plover in the usual field and 38 Lapwing

Big Fall in Shetland

What a week

Sunday was a good day weather wise and for birds. News came in just as we were setting off, that a Red Flanked Bluetail had been seen at Hestingott in the south mainland.

A few cars had already been parked up and a small group of birders stood looking into a sheep pen.As i arrived i saw it flying down off a metal gate to feed on the ground. It then flew up over our headed  and landed briefly on a picnic table then up onto of a fence then disappearing.

Despite one brief view at the back of a garden it then disappeared and was eventually found 1/2 later by one of the 20+ birders present in a small  garden. Most birders have left Shetland but usually one or two good birds normally turn up mid- late October into November.

I decided to go down to Quendale, a short walk away. A couple of Black Throated Divers had been see and as the sea was flat calm it was just a matter of scanning the bay before picking out the divers in the middle way off  shore.

These may be the two that wintered in the same area, BT Divers are a scarce bird in Shetland. On the beach i also picked out a Glaucous Gull with Herring, Common and Black Headed Gulls. It was good to see a flock of 64 Long Tailed Duck and a few Black Guillemot. A pod of 6 Porpoise came into the bay.

A few Red Breasted Flycatcher also arrived, around Sumburgh, Quendale and Hoswick

Red Breasted Flycatcher

Monday came in with gale force winds, fog and rain and this force  a couple of thousand Redwing and Fieldfare to land in Shetland. This followed hundreds of Brambling, dozens of Ring Ousel and a rare Pallas Warbler late on. The Red Flanked Bluetail was relocated in the same area as Sunday joined by a Red Breasted Flycatcher- just reward for those out braving the conditions

Even bigger falls of Redwing, Blackbird and Brambling on Tuesday with Whites Thrush,  Blyth Reed Warblers  Raddes, Humes, Pallas warblers and even a Yellow Browed in the garden, several Little Bunting and Gt Grey Shrike & Gt White Egret. Lots of Ring Ousel, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and other common migrants in the afternoon fog.