Shetland Red Breasted Flycatcher

This is the second RBF i have seen this autumn but the only one photographed

The Quendale bird was difficult as it was constantly being chased by a Garden Warbler,

This one was a Grutness and i saw it over a couple of days becoming more confiding

Although there is still a lot of leaves on the bushes it did come onto the end of branches and a post

 

Shetland Bluethroat

Lots of migrants about these last several days and having already found a Wyrneck at Grutness I came across this superb Male Red Spotted Bluethroat

It is always good to find a good bird and there is plenty og opportunity in Shetland to do this.

I had only just entered the quarry at Quendale when this Bluethroat appeared over to the left and spent 5 mins working away to get to a manure heap but was then chased off by a wheatear.

It quickly came back and started feeding again. This was a well marked bird, always better in spring

 

Shetland woodpecker

 Its not often you see woodpeckers in Shetland but we have had an influx this year with about 10-15 birds seen in the isles

This female at Helendale has been present for about 2 weeks and is occasionally joined by a female

I heard the bird before it landed close by and dont seem bothered by me or the postman who was coming the other way

seems well content and finding plenty of food in this small area of woodland

Hudsonian Godwit- First for Shetland

This Hudsonian Godwit turned up at Grutness this afternoon and is a first for Shetland. Only the 5th for Scotland

                 The first impressions was this was a small Bar tailed Godwit but looked a bit odd.

Certainly the supercilium was very distinctive and it had dark underwing although it only showed once

       This Godwit only has a restricted breeding range in Alaska and is a very rare vagrant to the uk. 

                It was still present as darkness fell allowing many birders to catch up with  the bird.

I left it asleep on the far bank but later it flew off to the beach before quickly returning to the pool

It was joined by two Turnstone, Dunlin (5) Redshank (3) Oystercatcher (6) Ringed Plover (2)

                      The first British record was at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve in September 1981