Sib Chiffchaff

I missed out on the Siberian Stonechat down at Sandsayre, it was very mobile and was eventually found a good 1/4 mile along the cliffs.

Siberian Chiffchaff

I did come across this Siberian Chiffchaff up at Sumburgh Quarry, one of several in Shetland recently. Still a few common Chiffchaff around as well.

A few Mealy Redpoll have also arrived, again this one was up at the Quarry feeding with a flock of Twite, including a part white headed Twite.

Mealy Redpoll

This Redpoll was very confiding and I had to back off as it came too close to focus.

Still a few Song Thrush among the numerous Redwing in the south mainland. Several Waxwing have also arrived adding a bit of colour. Also a good number of Siskin and Brambling seen.

Pallas's Warbler was still at Hoswick & Burra this weekend but the lighting was poor so gave it a miss having had good views of one last year.

Shetland Hoopoe

Its always good to see an unusual migrant and one popped this week at Burra on the west side of Shetland.

A Hoopoe was seen by a non- birder out of her living room window and although she didn't know what it was, she reported it and it was soon confirmed as an exotic Hoopoe. This is my first Spring Hoopoe the other an Autumn migrant over at Quarff a couple of years ago

This one seemed quiet at home on a grazed field containing Shetland Ponies, lots of Ringed Plover , Oystercatchers and Rabbits.

Although not particularly hilly the Hoopoe spent time in a few dips and behind the odd rock making viewing difficult.

I then approached it from the beach side in better light and found it more or less straight away close to a rock although it kept its distance

It fed among the horse dung finding plenty of insects and when approached too closely would raise its crest before flying off a short distance.

It eventually flew off to another field to the west so I left it, but was relocated by another birder 1/2 hour later.

This has to be the same bird that was on Fair Isle last week and it stayed 3 day on Shetland before leaving in sunny weather

It looked a bit odd sitting it out in heavy snow showers that passed through Burra

Elsewhere in Shetland, two Common Crane on Unst, a few Short Eared Owls south mainland, 3 Garganey and spotted Redshank at Hillwell

#Shetland, #Fair isle, #Hoopoe, #Shetland Migrant, #Spring Migrants

Pied Billed Grebe

Back down at Spiggie the Pied Billed Grebe was still showing at the north end although it was still very nervous. I first spotted the bird midway in a flooded part of the loch which was virtually surrounded by vegetation.

It quickly moved away diving and catching a couple of fish before disappearing into vegetation on the far bank. It was now in breeding plumage and looking a smart bird compared with our first view in November last year.

The black band across its bill very prominent. These birds are normally long stayers so may well stay throughout the breeding season. It will however become more difficult to see when the vegetation grows.

A lot of waders called with Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher in the marsh and Ringed Plover, Turnstone and a single Purple Sandpiper on Peerie Spiggie beach. Skylark and  Meadow Pipit called overhead.

Around the inlet at least 4 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap was located, while a Swallow came over disappearing fast.

A couple of fields had been ploughed the first time I had seen this done at this end of Spiggie and these attracted Rock Dove, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Starling, Skylark, Common Gull, BH Gull, Raven and Hoddie Crow.

Birds seem to be making a landing as they met thick fog on the east side and two fields in particular producing 20 and 30 Blackbirds Min. Elsewhere over 100 Brambling landed on Burra, the highest number of Hawfinch seen in spring and a few Waxwing . Rare birds turned up on Unst with Woodchat Shrike (Found dead today), Gt White Egret, Black Redstart, White Tailed Eagle and a Red Kite in the south mainland.