Great White Egret meets the arctic

The long stay Great White egret has now moved to the north west end of Spiggie making it a lot easier to see from the road.

It seems settled and is catching a lot of fish. It doesn't seem to mind the Whooper Swans that rest up close by. 

It does seem odd seeing both of these species together with the GWE from the warm southern Europe and the whoopers the colder Greenland/ Iceland area.

Once it stops to preen it looks around to check on any intruders.

There is a maximum of 88 swans still around this north end, most are Whooper families, together with Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank and Curlew with Coot and Moorhen with a Water Rail on one occasion.

Lots of duck with Wigeon, Goldeneye, Mallard, Teal mixing in and feeding round the swans. Skeins of Greylag passed over and 100's of gulls washed on the loch before moving onto the hill to roost

Raven, Hoddie, Redwing, Fieldfare , Blackbird, Meadow Pipit a few Skylark, Starling and Sparrow roamed around the edge. 

Back home we have had Two Blackcap and a Goldcrest these last few days and a few Twite. In the field  today 14 Blackbirds fed with about 100 starlings

Wood Pigeon and Collard doves have become regular this year and are expanding their range in Shetland