Sumburgh Puffins

I keep saying that i have enough Puffin photos but then head up to Sumburgh for more.

Incoming Puffins are the hardest to get, coming at you at a very fast speed. With my system, the A1 the auto focus is fast even with a 1.4x converter on a 200-600mm lens

All these were taken at ISO12800 on a dull day, the i have used Topaz AL noise reduction.

Speed was at 1/5000 second at F9

 

Hit and Miss June

Its been a mixed week for birds. At the weekend the weather was warm but very windy around F5.
We headed to Sumburgh quarry first where Black Redstart and Red Backed Shrike had been seen the previous day.

It wasn't surprising that very few birds showed with the strong wind, the two birds in question didn't show to me but I did see Pied Wagtail, Fulmar, Wheatear, Blackbird, Wren, Starling & Sparrow. An hour after we left both birds showed, just typical.

Down at Grutness a small flock of 6 Dunlin, Redshank , 2 Ringed Plover, Lapwing 2 and Oystercatcher 4 fed on the muddy edges. Lots of Arctic Terns were bring in fish which was good to see and lots of tern taking off when a Gt or Arctic Skua passed over.

The day after we went across to Geosetter, as we stopped the car a Quail started to call which happened to be about 10-15 feet away. It didn't show at all even though it called frequently during our two hour stay. It called several times then had a 10 min break before starting up again.

Another Quail also started called in the bottom field , one of these birds may have been the bird from Boddam then Brow marsh.

As a Lesser Grey Shrike had been seen again down at Maywick along with a Marsh warbler and Comon Rosefinch, we took a detour but failed to see any of the birds which may have been scared off by someone putting out washing. We did see a Crossbill and a pair of Linnet.

ON Tuesday we headed to Sumburgh again and after a long two hour wait the Red Backed Shrike appeared on a fence above the quarry, I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't move a bit closer the road. No sign for me with the Black Redstart although it was seen earlier in the morning

A few seals down at Sandsayre taking advantage of the fact that the Mousa boat isn't running due to the virus.

Sumburgh Puffins

The Puffins at Sumburgh Head seem to be having a good breeding season as do the other auks, Razorbill and Guillemot.

We have been up twice recently and there has been plenty of Puffins around, many carrying fish which is great to see.

Its very difficult to capture a photo of those carrying fish as they disappear straight down the burrow

Previous years have been bad for seabirds but this season birds are bring back regular supplies of fish which means they must be catching them locally.

It was only a couple of years ago that a Guillemot was tracked going down to near Aberdeen to catch a small fish and was away from its young for 3 days.

Unlike Puffins which can carry loads of fish, Guillemot and Razorbill catch less fish at one time.

With the increase in the number of Auks bring in fish, its noticeable that there has been an increase in the number of Skua, Gtbb and Herring Gulls patrolling the cliffs.

with more birds arriving back from the fishing grounds, the predator birds cannot attack everyone so the success rate if far higher than normal years.

Still digging 

Kittiwake numbers have been down for 20 years so it will be interesting to see how much success they will have. At the minute, they are just bring in nesting material and are sat on eggs.

It was amazing that we were the only people at Sumburgh head on both occasions, on the first a police van parked next to us (Many other parking spaces available). Two policemen got out and went straight over to photograph the Puffins with their mobile phones.

Scoter

Finally got out having been down with a chest infection.

The weather was good considering we have had severe gales over the past few days . Saturday was still, calm, mild with some sun

Headed down to Sumburgh as a couple of Scoter had been seen in West Voe. On arrival at the south end I could see 6 birders on the sand dunes at the north end.

The was a good number of birds but distant. I first picked up the male Velvet Scoter, then the Common Scoter as well as 6 Gt Northern Divers some with fish.

 even at 1200mm the duck was still a small size

Rafts of Long Tailed Ducks stretched out along the northern end and a few in smaller flocks.

Over at Grutness fewer birds but two Red Throated Diver was a good find, unusual in winter.

Saturday birds
Gt Northern Diver, Red throated Diver, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Lt Duck, Wigeon, Black Guillemot, Shag, Cormorant, Eider, Gt BB, Common Gull, BHG, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Turnstone, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Starling, House Sparrow, Redwing, Fieldfare, Rock Dove., Wren, Blackbird, Fulmar, Twite, Hoddie, Raven, Greylag,