Lapland Bunting- Shetland

 Lapland Bunting , always nice to see and this one was very confiding

Shetland Red Breasted Flycatcher

This is the second RBF i have seen this autumn but the only one photographed

The Quendale bird was difficult as it was constantly being chased by a Garden Warbler,

This one was a Grutness and i saw it over a couple of days becoming more confiding

Although there is still a lot of leaves on the bushes it did come onto the end of branches and a post

 

Shetland whales

Although we haven't seen Orca for a few weeks there has been plenty of Minkie Whales

                        In Mousa sound there was at least 4 and with a calm sea easy to spot.

also around 40 Porpoise close in to the lower layby coming up the hill from Cunningsburgh

 

Shetland common migrants

                                                                            Lesser Whitethroat

 

Shetland divers

Whooper swan with young at Spiggie, we normally have more Whoopers breeding than Mute swans

                                                                 Sanderling on the move

                                                                       Red Throated Divers

 

Shetland Rare Black Kite

 If you are birding in Shetland you never know what or when a rare bird will turn up.

I was down at Quendale yesterday looking at a Red Breasted Flycatcher which was being chased by a Garden Warbler.

After an hour in the area i noticed an increase in migrants with a dozen Swallow and 4 Willow Warbler

I was drawn to a raptor in a  clear blue sky, a Black kite !!!, amazing these are rare birds in Shetland

It passed up the valley circling around before coming back down towards the mill and then headed up to Hillwell

A few gulls and around 20 Starlings buzzed it but the kite didn't seemed bothered

Shetland migration starts

Looks like migration has started 

This is one of three Peacock butterflies down at Grutness, a scarce migrant

Lots of Greenland Wheatears can now be seen, this with a beetle on its beak

Always lots of Greenland Greylags making a loud noise as they flew over

Rabbits making a come back

Still Fulmars on the cliffs, making them feel less empty

Gannets passing Sumburgh from their nest sites on Noss