Shetland Puffin

No need for words, just enjoy

 

Shetland Shorelark

This Shorelark has been present around Sumburgh Head carpark for the past five days and is showing well

You can understand why the Americans call it a Horned Lark, with the horns showing well in these photos

I located this bird just below the plastic Orca feeding on the side of the path, it called several times

A couple of other birders arrived and i directed them to the bird just as it flew off towards Compass Head

It started to feed on the hill with Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Starlings and was unconcerned when a flock of sheep approached

Its a smart bird tending to visit coastal areas during Autumn and winter but breeding up in the mountains

A scarce visitor to Shetland

Sumburgh head action

We now visited Sumburgh Head twice in recent weeks and its been very quiet from a visitor point of view. in fact we were the only visitors for most of the time.

 Good news is that lot of Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill are bring in food, seems the best for many years.

Arctic and Gt Skua

 This has attracted a lot of Skuas, mostly Gt Skua but a couple of Arctic as well but the Gt Skua seems to be top dog

 Kittiwake with nesting material

 Gt Skua brings down Guillemot who releases fish to right

 Lots of Guillemot on the stack down at Sumburgh Head

 Rock Pipit and Wheatear also seem to be doing well

 That's why I haven't seen many Killer whales this year, have been looking on the sea

 Puffins bring in fish have normally gone straight down tunnel

 Good to hear the Kittiwakes although numbers have been greatly reduced since the 1980's