Shetland Storm Force Photography

A missing day
They are here, birders and birds, well its that time of year. Autumn migration is underway and has been for a fortnight

Thursday rained, with birds but mainly water, it came down in buckets and had a Force 8 gale with it making birding very difficult

I spoke to some Newcastle birders that spent three hours searching in very difficult conditions, most seem to have colds now.

Friday was completely different, hardly any wind , or rain and some sun. Birds were not as numerous as everyone had expected, even with easterly winds

I started down at Swinster a few mins away from home. Apart from the common birds a few migrants showed. A Grey Wagtail on the grassy area at the Hoswick end, then two Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Fly.

Then up popped a Little Bunting onto the fence, one of three along the burn and a Yellow Browed Warbler flew up into the bushes. A Song Thrush jumped onto a fence, it was a good start.

Down at Quendale, a good number of birds had already been reported. Near the bridge and beside the mill Yellow Browed Warbler (5)  with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

The Red breasted Flycatcher had moved from the quarry to an iris bed a short distance away and showed well for 10 mins before flying up the small burn

Up at the Quarry, Redstart, Goldcrest, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wren and Blackbird. Just opposite in the iris bed a Red Breasted Flycatcher showed well but the tail-less Little Bunting had disappeared. A Kestrel flew over putting up a large flock of Skylark and Meadow pipit

The Turtle Doves(3) had just flown north just as a shower arrived, a large flocks of Starling fed in the stubble field with Rock Dove.

I stopped off at Scatness where around 1500 Barnacle Geese took off  while on the loch Wigeon (150) Pintail (2) Mallard (12) and Moorhen (2)

A drive down to Grutness found better weather, here Turnstone(12) on the pool but the wood sand had gone.

Only a Willow Warbler in the garden and a nice Redstart sat still in the paddock allowing a close approach along with Twite (20)

Over at Spiggie beach, Little Stint (3) , Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone and Ringed Plover fed along the tideline. On the loch Whooper swan (33) had arrived along with many wigeon