Shetland, hat trick of Rare birds

The sun was shinning, wind from the east and some good migrants arriving in Shetland. It nearly always happens that all the good birds arrive mid week and the trend continued this week

A large crowd looking at the Stone Curlew (for Shetland)

After the Firecrest, Two Crane, Three Subalpine warbler, Bluethroat, Black Kite, White Tailed Eagle and Buff Breasted Sandpiper I managed to catch up with three good birds

While the birds above were wide spread from Unst to Sumburgh these three all appeared in the south mainland

Quail: This bird called several times but was not seen. It arrived yesterday at Brow Loch in the marshy area. Not heard one before in Shetland so good to catch up with this one

Golden Oriole: Again arrived late Thursday with a couple of people getting photos. The day I caught up with it, it was still and sunny and visible straight away in a field about 100m away. It flew round the field landing close by on a fence and then disappeared for a short while.

Locating it back in the same field, it showed just outside a derelict croft before disappearing inside. It showed a short time before flying up towards some farm buildings then sat on the path for around 5mins but too far away for any photos.

Again it flew low and round the back of the croft before reappeared for a short while at the derelict croft, then onto the croft to the west into some trees.

I have seen Golden Oriole in Shetland before, twice at Kergord and also in Halligarth Unst, but this was the first male.

Another local birder said it was the first time he had seen one out in the open in Shetland, he had been here for over 20 years and is very experienced.

Stone Curlew: I never fail to be amazed how some birds are found, this one originally was seen down at Virkie but soon flew north. A different observer was passing through a large area of grassland when he flushed the Stone Curlew which flew off.

Word was out quickly and when I arrived 10 birders searched the area from a path, very difficult as although it could be considered flat, there was still lots of hollows for the bird to hide in. Also lots of similar coloured rabbits were scattered across the short grass.

Gaining a bit of height helped and the bird was relocated some distance away and it quickly made it way south, passing close to a Oystercatcher.

One local birder said he hadn't seen one in Shetland for around 30 years so a very rare bird here. This is only the 7th record for mainland Shetland.

#Shetland, #Shetlandrarebirds, #rarebirds, #Goldenoriole,#Stonecurlew, #Kergord.

Check out my other Shetland blogs and website

http://amazingshetland.co.uk
http://shetlanddream.blogspot.co.uk
http://shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk
http://ww2preserved.blogspot.co.uk