Red Throated Diver

 

Grutness returning birds

Good to see Red Throated Divers returning to Shetland waters

Grutness is always a good spot to see these before they go back to their breeding grounds

We still have a couple of White Billed Divers further up north but these tend to stay mid water making it more difficult to see them

Lots of Long Tailed Ducks around the south mainland with 82 in West Voe and 8 at Grutness

Winter males always look smart far better than in the more browner breeding colours

Female LT Duck coming in close in an incoming tide

Turnstone numbers also building up with 76 at West Voe, 28 at Boddam, 36 Grutness and 22 at Sandwick. Also a single Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover, 28 Oystercatcher and 6 Redshank around Grutness / Symburgh farm