Rustic Bunting , Common stuff and birders

Headed over to Kergord where a Rustic Bunting was showing. Driving past Bonhoga i could see a line of cars just past the farm

Rustic Bunting flying away

I parked here and walked up the road, several Redwing were seen in the conifer wood. A couple of Chaffinch called and a party of Rooks fed further down the valley
 

I passed a stream of birders returning from the site all saying they had brief views of the Bunting. There was still 20+ birders all looking at the same bush, a good sign. Then the bird popped up and they all charged forward pushing me out of the way so missed the best photos as the bird was not far away. I distanced myself away from the pack and managed to see it fly twice more.

 Lucky all birders are not like this but several warnings have gone out in recent days, one where the farmer had got fed up with birders ignoring where they could go and now said he would call the police if any more came onto his land to see the Western Bonelli Warbler. At its peak 150 birder had been present, never seen this many birders before at one place in Shetland.

Others had pulled a wall down climbing over it, left gates open when sheep were in the field and even gone into peoples gardens uninvited.  Several occasions cars blocked the road and others where they had pushed in front of other birders who had waited an hour or two to see a Red Eyed Vireo. On Friday night there was a lot of abuse given to Sumburgh airport staff from drunk birders who couldn't get a flight due to the fog.

I left the Sandwick Red Eyed Vireo site after about 100 birders descended suddenly, parking all over the place, the local bus couldn't get through.  

Not all bad though, visiting birders do provide a lot of records and go to places where locals don't go and often they don't associate with these unruly birders

Let hope local birders  don't have to suffer the consequences once the visitors have left, lets hope the incidents have not left any bad memories with the farmers etc.

It not all like that, its been good to see a few birders who regularly come to Shetland, even a few from Sheffield. 

Shetland Wren

Lots of Brambling have dropped into Shetland these last few days but not the expected Goldcrest fall, but there is still time.

Pied Flycatcher have been seen in good numbers

Lots of Wheatear around