Big Fall in Shetland

What a week

Sunday was a good day weather wise and for birds. News came in just as we were setting off, that a Red Flanked Bluetail had been seen at Hestingott in the south mainland.

A few cars had already been parked up and a small group of birders stood looking into a sheep pen.As i arrived i saw it flying down off a metal gate to feed on the ground. It then flew up over our headed  and landed briefly on a picnic table then up onto of a fence then disappearing.

Despite one brief view at the back of a garden it then disappeared and was eventually found 1/2 later by one of the 20+ birders present in a small  garden. Most birders have left Shetland but usually one or two good birds normally turn up mid- late October into November.

I decided to go down to Quendale, a short walk away. A couple of Black Throated Divers had been see and as the sea was flat calm it was just a matter of scanning the bay before picking out the divers in the middle way off  shore.

These may be the two that wintered in the same area, BT Divers are a scarce bird in Shetland. On the beach i also picked out a Glaucous Gull with Herring, Common and Black Headed Gulls. It was good to see a flock of 64 Long Tailed Duck and a few Black Guillemot. A pod of 6 Porpoise came into the bay.

A few Red Breasted Flycatcher also arrived, around Sumburgh, Quendale and Hoswick

Red Breasted Flycatcher

Monday came in with gale force winds, fog and rain and this force  a couple of thousand Redwing and Fieldfare to land in Shetland. This followed hundreds of Brambling, dozens of Ring Ousel and a rare Pallas Warbler late on. The Red Flanked Bluetail was relocated in the same area as Sunday joined by a Red Breasted Flycatcher- just reward for those out braving the conditions

Even bigger falls of Redwing, Blackbird and Brambling on Tuesday with Whites Thrush,  Blyth Reed Warblers  Raddes, Humes, Pallas warblers and even a Yellow Browed in the garden, several Little Bunting and Gt Grey Shrike & Gt White Egret. Lots of Ring Ousel, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and other common migrants in the afternoon fog.