Quendale Great Grey Shrike

 This bird had been down at Quendale for a few days before i managed to see it. A trip the previous day drew a blank, even though a couple of birders had seen and photographed it around the mill

Scanning around the bushes revealed around 100 Starling and House Sparrow but no sign of the shrike

I headed up to the dam flushing several Wren and Meadow Pipit and one Siberian Chiffchaff

Just before the gate the Shrike flew up from the ground onto the posts near the gate and gave good views.

It allowed a closer approach before flying along the path resting on a gate and seem settled

It was good to see this Shrike so close and all by myself. Good to compare it to the Hillswick GGShrike

It was collecting a few bees as i left it

Swallow

 There are around 40 pairs of Swallows breeding in Shetland, most in the south mainland

These young swallows appeared around Quendale Mill with adults bring in food while the young called

They will be soon off to Africa, this is a declining species in the UK with nest sites a problem. 

Quendale Birds

 Had a trip down to a very quiet Quendale, no one about. Lots of lambs about with a few to be born

Just over the bridge House Sparrows constantly flew in with food for young birds, while Starlings still brought in nest material

A fair few Twite calling and flying down to the burn

It wasn't long until a few birds came up from the burn and started to move along a stone wall. The first a Spotted Flycatcher one of three catching insects

Several Blackbird showed

Two may be three Garden warblers flittered along the wall. Living down in England you hardly ever saw a Garden Warbler and you only knew they were about when singing. Just after leaving a report came in that two Common Rosefinch had appeared not far from where we parked.

With very little cover in Shetland they are a lot easier to see. Several arrived at various sites in Shetland. 

Just down the road at Swinster, a Marsh Warbler sand from near the picnic area,. They usually arrive towards the end of May.

Up in Unst a Bee eater, Rustic Bunting, Iceterine Warbler, Shorelark and a couple of Bluethroats. A Long Tailed Skua is still down at Dalsetter and may be the same one which stayed for 3 months in the same area.

Shetland Bird Invasion

The weekend provided plenty of chance for birds to arrive in force with easterly winds. Both common and rarer birds arrived throughout Shetland.

I was down at Quendale on the Sunday and it was buzzing with migrants. I didn't have to go far before seeing two Yellow Browed Warbler in the bushes near the bridge.

Lots of calls came out of the bushes before a few Goldcrest showed and then my first Blue Tit, yes that's right a first for Shetland for me. It coincided with an arrival of about 15 others, these are still rare in Shetland.

Birds moved on both sides of the bridge, with Siskin(4) coming close feeding on weeds. Several Willow Warbler moved between the bridge and the burn and they were joined by Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Siskin

Beside the barn at least Robin(4) fed with the odd Greenland Wheatear and Meadow Pipit. A brief view of a Little Bunting down by the burn was followed by an even briefer view of a Turtle Dove which then flew west.

A Kestrel came over just as a flock of 70 Barnacle Geese flew up from the dunes. A Sand Martin flew in to join the party and then a Grey Wagtail flew up from the burn into the farm yard.

Several Robin showed and fed with a small flock of Shetland Starling. A Shetland Wren sang briefly as well

Chiffchaff

Just up the road at Hillwell a Great White Egret fed in the reeds, may be one of three about. On the Loch Tufted, Pochard, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen fed and they were joined by a Grey Heron. A large flock of Gulls congregated on the far shore while Rock Dove, Hoodie, Raven, Redwing and Skylark showed from the barn

Other rarer bird arriving include: a Few Raddes Warblers, Bluethroat, Grey and Red Backed Shrike, Olive Backed Pipits, Surf Scoter, Hen Harrier, Rose Coloured Starling. Lancelated Warbler, Hawfinch and the Tennesee Warbler was still in Yell after a week in the same garden.