Shetland Woodchat Shrike

 Managed to take a chance and headed over to Aith on the westside where a Woodchat Shrike had been reported  on the 30 September, but not for a few days

I made my way down the road to the back of the houses and the Shrike showed straight away on the garden fence but facing away from me.

It flew round the trees at the end of the garden then reappeared a few mins later flying strongly across the field and landed on a bank next to moorland then disappeared.

With no other birders around i got into the field but couldn't relocate the bird. I made my way back to the garden fence to find a black and white cat sitting in thick grass.

About 10 mins later it flew onto a fence post running at the side of the moorland and started to making its way along , occasionally dropping to the ground to feed.

It flew off again and returned to the same part of the fence about 10 mins later. It stayed for a few moments before dropping and feeding again, slowly making its way east along the fence

It then flew further east and out of sight and didn't return while i waited another hour. Just as i departed another birder arrived and started a search to the east.

I had a message that he had not found it during an hour search

Woodchat Shrikes are found in central and southern Europe, and this juvenile arrived after easterly winds .

These photos were taken on the 6 October

More migrants

We have had a good run of rare migrants in Shetland the last few days and the number of birder visiting has increased substantially.

It is also good to see common migrants, we are starved of small birds for most of the year so any little jobs are worth looking at.

Flocks of Twite, Meadow Pipit and Skylark are now regular in the south Mainland and these are attracting Merlin and Sparrowhawks (The Latter a rare breeder in Shetland).

Lots of brightly coloured Greenland Wheatears seem to be everywhere. The other day i must have flushed at least 20 along the road to Quendale

Willow Warbler

A few Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher have become regulars and in the recent fall lots of Chaffinch are also showing

Common Redstart

Spotted Flycatcher one of three at Geosetter

Spring migrants

Spotted Flycatcher, seems to have been a good spring for this species in Shetland, with 5 seen at Geosetter

Meadow Pipit with plenty of food

Birders out to see the Marsh. Icterine and Gt Reed Warblers at Quendale recently

Gulls at the Ebb

W

White Wagtail, seems to be at least 3-4 pairs in south mainland, Pied Wagtails are the most common breeders

Curlew numbers seem to be good again this year

 Meadow Pipit

Red Rumped Swallows in Shetland

It was great to cacth up with Red Rumped Swallows yesterday, not one but two

This was at Vidlin in the north mainland, close to a small plantation and well vegetated gardens

I walk up the road and there they were, both sat on a fence and not bothered about a close approach

 These are my first for Britain but i have seen them in the south of France and in Spain

This is where they came from and spent two days at Vidlin before moving to Brae for another day

At Vidlin they were joined by a Swift (Scarce in Shetland) House Martin(2) and Common (Barn) Swallows (2)

The RR Swallows were quick movers and difficult to photograph in flight on a dull day

They mostly flew over the plantation , where i also saw Common Crossbill and two Siskin

They came down to land twice, landing close together on the second occasion.

I was surprised that they allowed an slow approach to about 20 feet, the dark area around the beak on this one are ticks,  which should eventually drop off

They are beautiful birds and well worth the wait

Not quiet a Red Rump more Orange

A dull day brightened by these birds.