Shetland- the rare and rarer

The Gt White Egret has been present down at Spiggie since the 5 March and showing well today. Alot closer than the lat two visits.

Two other Gt White Egrets had also turned up at Brow Marsh just south of Spiggie

Its been happy eating small and large fish as well as eels

 Even rarer was the Canada Goose at the middle of Spiggie, opposite Noss, only the second i have seen 

I was just aproaching the car at the north end of Spiggie when i glanced up to see a Common Buzzard getting mobbed by gulls, but unfortunatley it quickly moved out of view and any possible photos. This was the second day it had been see. Again rarer than the Gt White Egret and my first for Shetland, Ruff Legged Buzzard are commoner.

Shetland Gt White Egret

 Its been good watching the Gt White Egret that has been present down at Spiggie since the 5 March, which may have been the same bird seen on Yell the day before.

Its been at the north end of the loch tending to keep to the edge of the water

Shetland Waders +

Big arrival of Fieldfare these last few days, just refuelling before heading back to breeding sites in Scandinavia

Greenland Greylag seem to be everywhere in large flocks, last time i saw an estimate on numbers the total was at least 16,000 but that was a few years ago

Purple sandpipers still in good numbers down at sandsayre, most in a rocky area but a few coming up on the jetty

Same for Turnstone, around 60 present most days with 22 Purple Sandpiper and several Redshank

 

Large flocks of Oystercatcher have been n the south mainland since January earlier than usual. They dont seem to have spread to north Shetland in numbers as yet according to a few people