Shrike day

With easterly winds for the past couple of days and a chance of a sunny dry day i headed out looking for migrants

I was going up to Yell to see the Tennesee Warbler on Monday but it had decided to leave Shetland so i headed south seeing several Robin and Swallow on the way down.

At Grutness there was a chance to see a Gt Grey Shrike which had been present for 5 days, with the light coming towards the carpark i went to the top end and viewed north which gave a better opportunity to see the Shrike form a slightly elevated position for an old WW2 building

It wasn't long before i picked it up further down towards the carpark i ad just left. It flew into the area of boulders before finally showing better close to the second green marker from my end.

It was good to get these unobstructed views for a change and it performed for a good 10 mins before flying towards the farm. A good number of Redwing with an odd Fieldfare fed in the paddock 

News came in of two Bluethroats at Toab, so i went into the village and found the track down to where it had been seen. It was in a crop of beans, next to a stubble field. It showed straight away but briefly and with views into the sun no photos.  The second Bluethroat not far away must have moved on with no birders around and no sign of the bird.

I headed back to Quendale  where a lot of migrants had been seen yesterday. Passing Hillwell no sign of the Gt White Egret but a flock of 20+ Barnacle goose was a nice sight.

Parking up near the bridge i flushed two Yellow Browed warblers which flew into the bushes never to be seen again. But i did get good views of

Blackcap(6) Chiffchaff (2) WW (2) Brambling, Siskin(4) Robin (5) Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest (4) and a flock of at least 200 noisy Starlings. Lots of Raven and Curlew passed overhead.

News of a Barred Warbler at Dalsetter got me heading across to the east. Only one birder when i  arrived and we both watched a Yellow Browed , Blackcap and the Barred Warbler. The Barred Warbler is a very difficult bird to photograph and this was no exception, disappearing as i raised the camera.

I was down at Boddam seeing lots of Redshank (40) Turnstone (55) Dunlin (6) Teal 12) Mallard (6) and a couple of Seals when news of a Red Backed Shrike came in. It was only at the far end of Boddam so i headed across for good views and photos. 

Also in this well vegetated garden was Yellow Browed, Blackcap and Pied Wagtail

Don't forget to check out my other Shetland blogs

shetlanddream.blogspot.co.uk

shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk