Shetland Hoopoe

Its always good to see an unusual migrant and one popped this week at Burra on the west side of Shetland.

A Hoopoe was seen by a non- birder out of her living room window and although she didn't know what it was, she reported it and it was soon confirmed as an exotic Hoopoe. This is my first Spring Hoopoe the other an Autumn migrant over at Quarff a couple of years ago

This one seemed quiet at home on a grazed field containing Shetland Ponies, lots of Ringed Plover , Oystercatchers and Rabbits.

Although not particularly hilly the Hoopoe spent time in a few dips and behind the odd rock making viewing difficult.

I then approached it from the beach side in better light and found it more or less straight away close to a rock although it kept its distance

It fed among the horse dung finding plenty of insects and when approached too closely would raise its crest before flying off a short distance.

It eventually flew off to another field to the west so I left it, but was relocated by another birder 1/2 hour later.

This has to be the same bird that was on Fair Isle last week and it stayed 3 day on Shetland before leaving in sunny weather

It looked a bit odd sitting it out in heavy snow showers that passed through Burra

Elsewhere in Shetland, two Common Crane on Unst, a few Short Eared Owls south mainland, 3 Garganey and spotted Redshank at Hillwell

#Shetland, #Fair isle, #Hoopoe, #Shetland Migrant, #Spring Migrants