Sub Alpine warbler- Shetland

A Sub Alpine warbler had been present down at Quendale for 4 days so we made this our first call with rain and gales expected later in the afternoon.

A couple of birders had already gone away disappointed but Dougie (From Yell) was still present but had not seen it either

He disappeared after a good look round only seeing Robins & Blackcaps. The garden it had been seen in was very small but it had been favouring a Hebe which attracted a good number of insects to its lilac flowers.

The owners of the cottage opened the door and it was someone we know from Bressay who rents the cottage out, mostly to birders

They had found the bird and had seen it feeding about 1/2 hour before I arrived. So I stared at the Hebe and saw a bird moving inside it then flew, but this was another Robin which no doubt arrived in a big fall a couple of days ago

Another bird flew in low and called, this time identified by its call - the Sub Alpine Warbler. It flew straight out around the back of the cottage

About 20 mins later a bird flew over my shoulder and landed in the small hedge. It showed well this time and was the Subalpine Warbler

It moved in and out of the hedge giving great views from about 20 feet away, totally unconcerned. By the time I had been joined by Dougie and he also managed to get a few shots

I have seen a Moltonii race Subalpine Warbler up in Unst a few years ago, a male in breeding plumage which was collecting nest material, but this was equally as good being so close.

This was identified as a western species from its calls, which comes from Iberia, Southern France and parts of Italy.  I have seem a few in the hilly region just north of the Camargue but always distant

Birders with patience and time

Birders have to have a lot of patience and time. The other day i spent 3 hours looking for the Lunna Melodious Warbler. Gazing into lines of Sycamore bushes may not be most peoples idea of fun but it can be worth while especially if you know a bird is present

I met Simon Colenutt who was up from Hampshire and had been on site for about 45 mins before i arrived and had no sign of the warbler. After splitting up we had to shelter as a heavy rain shower moved in before starting the search again.

Simon called to say he had a brief view down near the entrance to the Kirk so i head down to find it had disappeared again and despite an extensive search we could not find the bird again. We packed up, i headed down to the pier and Simon back to his car where he met a couple of non birders who described the warbler and confirmed its ID when shown a photo. They had it in the Kirk grounds, along the wall then on the grass, typically we couldn't re-find the warbler. That's how things go and made worse when Simon found the bird again about 1/2 hour after i left Lunna.

A second visit was just as unproductive and no Melodious warbler seen in 2.5 hours, but at least the sycamore bushes looked good. Another birder turned up and spent about the same time but the bird must have gone with no sighting.

The Citrine Wagtail could have been a similar tail, with a quick ferry journey across to Gardie on Bressay in the rain

The Wagtail had been present for about 10 days and according to reports favoured the gardens. I check these out first and apart from a dozen Blackbirds no wagtail was found. I walked back to the drive in the rain and started to scan the field and there it was, briefly perching on a broken branch before shooting off up the field and out of sight

After an absence of over an hour checking the gardens on a regular basis i went up to the top of the drive and looked over the small pool which held Redshank (63) Snipe (12) Turnstone (18) Ringed Plover(6) common Gull (12) and many Starling.

Just as i was leaving the Wagtail flew up from the field and perched on wires for a couple of photos then flew down towards the hedge, distant views but worth the trip

Again another couple of photos before it flew north and over the gardens but despite a long search could not be found. With no other birders around to help i headed back to the ferry seeing a Slavonian Grebe just as i was called onto the ferry.

A lot of birders have headed north to Fetlar with the male Snowy Owl showing well while others have been in the south mainland where a Corn Bunting (rare in Shetland) and a Red Breasted Flycatcher were the main attractions