Shetland getting better for migration

The number of birders have increased dramatically as it usually does at the beginning of October- normally the peak week for migration in Shetland. If you are on holiday you would have time to get around to see the birds, many were well spaced out between the islands, not so good when work gets in the way

The wind though has been a big problem with Force 6 most of the time with some heavy rain as well, not the best for photography. Ok if these had been easterly winds, but they have been coming across from the west or north

Northern Wheatear

Onto the birds- well this Autumn has been very poor compared to the past few years. But with the increase in birders the coverage has gone up and more good birds have been found. Despite the Yellow Breasted Bunting on Whalsay the places to be have been Foula and Unst, both time consuming trips.

 Raven

On Foula, American White Crowned and White Throated Sparrows, Buff Bellied Pipit , Blythe Reed Warbler and a Turtle Dove. On Unst River Warbler, Bairds Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Buff Breasted Sandpiper , Citrine Wagtail and Pechora Pipit - so not bad if you managed to the islands.

Grey Heron

In the south mainland the Pied Billed Grebe turned up in the same spot it was found earlier in the year, (see earlier blogs for photos in Spring) most people assumed it had been elsewhere in the summer, perhaps Iceland. It gave good views and attracted a ` lot of birders' Lol, may be 30 when i was present. A Slav Grebe was also present with Goldeneye, Tufted and Wigeon. Also on Spiggie Whooper Swan (28) Mute (6)

The Marsh Warbler however proved more difficult and despite seeing it about a dozen times in two hours it would just not rest more than a second. Again the vegetation seemed more dense that at the same point last year and it was a Force 6 wind .

 Whooper Swan

Meadow Pipit

There have been two Little Egrets, one out at Tingwall and the other which i saw was down at Cunningsburgh opposite the marina and gave good views despite the strong winds.

Little Egret

Redwing are still arriving in small numbers and geese have increased as have Golden Plover with three hundred in four flocks in the south mainland.

Redwing

Golden Plover

Saturday
Grutness was quiet with only a few birders present looking at a flock of Long tailed Duck (6), a Little Gull was picked out in a large flock of gulls resting just off the point with Black Guillemot(8) and an Arctic Skua put in a very short appearance, Gannets crashed into the sea and a flock of Shag rested on rocks near the cairn. I talked to a birder who had been up to the Quarry where he said the Marsh Warbler was still present but keeping well into the vegetation giving only brief views in 1.5 hours. Getting back to the pier a Red Throated diver showed briefly before flying off as the Good Shepherd arrived from Fair isle with 150 sheep aboard

I took a trip up Quendale in good weather.  Around the bridge at least 50 house sparrow and 20+ Starlings showed in the bushes with one Wren. Nothing was flushed from the burn but at the dam a few birds started to show. First two Swallow flew down the valley, a Kestrel was seen across the field and about 30 Skylark took off from the bare field. This also held 12 Blackbird and another 6 could be seen on the wall opposite. A small party of 5 Redwing flew in and started to work the field. Meadow pipit, Twite, Rock Dove, Raven, Hoddie, BH Gull, Common Gull all flew over.

 Pied Wagtail

 Starling

Blackbird

Close by on Hillwell a flock of Tufted (22) Mallard(12) Gadwall, Wigeon (28), Swallow(2) Lapwing (6) Coot, Moorhen (4) Grey Heron all showed well. I continued to walk over to Brake but little showed, only Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Dove (30) feeding in a crop, Northern Wheatear (4) along the fence. A skein of 80 geese flew over, mostly Greylag but did include 4 Pintfeet

 Curlew

Pinkfeet

Greylag

The other week i did see 50+ Swallow, House Martin and a Hobby (rare in Shetland) down at Quendale and a few Goosander over at East Voe Scalloway

Lots of House Sparrow at Quendale

Last few days
Pied Billed Grebe, Marsh Warbler, Little Egret, Red Breasted Merganser, Eider, Mallard, Teal, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Starling, Blackbird, Wren, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Skylark, Hoodie, Raven, Greylag, Pinkfeet, BH Gull, Gt BB, Herring Gull, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gt Northern Diver Shag, Gannet, Golden Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Turnstone, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Knot, Redwing, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Coot, Moorhen, Swallow, Kestrel, Little Gull, Red Throated Diver, Long Tailed Duck, Twite, Arctic Skua, Common gull, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Slav Grebe, Goldeneye

60 species

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.

Pied Billed & Spiggie birds

With the weather good this weekend we headed south to Spiggie an RSPB reserve. This is a large area with a road leading down the western shore. In Winter it is good for Duck, Waders ,swans and on this occasion we had 39 Whooper swans

The Pied Billed Grebe had now moved to the northern part of the Loch and tended to favour an area of reeds quiet a distance from a viewing spot.

It has been seen catching large fish but only small ones caught today. This bird has been in Shetland since early November 2017 and on the whole is fairly easy to see, although distant most of the time.

If any cars or walkers pass, it moves well away from the reeds , so you need to spend a bit of time to get reasonable views. This American visitor, a first for Shetland seems well settled so we hope it staying well into spring.

                                                                                                 Iceland Gull

Apart from the grebe and Whoopers, Two Grey Heron could be seen flying about and lots of Graylag Geese passed over, disturbed by a Peregrine Falcon.

In addition to the Iceland Gull, three Glaucous Gulls could be seen with other gulls but tended to keep well away from the edge. Flocks of Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher moved about and sometime disturbed Snipe and Fieldfare

Duck present included, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck (4) and Goldeneye