Shetland Red Necked Grebe

Having seen a summer plumage Red Necked Grebe in the north mainland towards the end of last year it was good to see the contrast of a winter plumage bird

The summer bird stayed around 8-10 weeks but this one disappeared after a day or so.

This winter bird was down among the boats at Virkie marina and gave close views unlike the summer plumaged bird which was always distant.

The light was perfect for most of the time. I used the OM1-2 with the 150-400mm lens a great combination.

The one below is a massive crop may be 80% so i am please with the result from this 4/3 camera

 

Shetland- two great white egret

Two Great White Egrets arrived at the Sandy Loch near Lerwick a couple of days ago

They were mainly seen in a burn at the north end but today spent sometime at the south end of the loch

I had just made it to the north end spotting Redshank, Snipe, Curlew, Greylag, Skylark and meadow pipit

Another birder was already walking the burn and although he had seen them earlier they had disappeared

News then came in they had flown to the south end and could be seen on the east bank. They flew a few times but just managed a couple of photos

 

Shetland Purple Heron

On the 6 April a Purple Heron was found at Boddam in the afternoon frequenting a channel where the burn enters from the north

It was very approachable and these photos were taken from the roadside. It did fly off but came back to the same spot.

It was superb to see and still present today. We still have an American Coot, Green winged Teal, Ross's goose and a Night Heron as well as a scattering of common migrants

 

Sandwick - Turtle Dove and cattle egret

 

Black Kite- Shetland

Still catching up on the photos i took this autumn

This Black kite was a surprise fly over.  i had only just got down to Quendale when this kite flew over flew up the valley and then circled around before coming back down and then disappearing to Hillwell

A few moments later a Honey Buzzard passed over but i didn't see it until it was on the horizon

 

Shetland Pechora Pipit

 A rare Pechora Pipit was at Quendale Mill, it was found while ago but i have had problems downloading the photos

This bird was very confiding and showed very well over a few days

Despite heavy showers we set off to see the pipit and found around 30 people present. I was only a short way up the track when the bird flew from the wall down towards the mill.

It didn't stay there long and headed back up the burn and then back on the wall giving superb views. It was perch for a good minute giving plenty of opportunity for photos.

It moved along the wall twice before jumping on the ground so i walked further up towards the dam where a Marsh warbler had been seen earlier. It was there i met two Sheffield birders walking down and it was Roy and Richard, good to see them again.

I walked towards the two large barns to see the two Barred Warbler but by this time the cattle had just been brought down for milking so the area was a no go.

Back to the pipit, this is a bird from Siberia, it is a long distant migrant and is usually found in bushes near rivers and streams. it is heavily streaked brown above with a whiteish mantle. This is a first for me, missing one by 5 mins last year.

Shetland Rare Black Kite

 If you are birding in Shetland you never know what or when a rare bird will turn up.

I was down at Quendale yesterday looking at a Red Breasted Flycatcher which was being chased by a Garden Warbler.

After an hour in the area i noticed an increase in migrants with a dozen Swallow and 4 Willow Warbler

I was drawn to a raptor in a  clear blue sky, a Black kite !!!, amazing these are rare birds in Shetland

It passed up the valley circling around before coming back down towards the mill and then headed up to Hillwell

A few gulls and around 20 Starlings buzzed it but the kite didn't seemed bothered