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

Change of venue

Autumn migration is on, not just for the birds but an army of birders that descend on Shetland for a 3 week period to see as many rare birds as possible

This week I have met up with a number of people i know from Sheffield and others who came up during the last two autumns. It good to see them again and to find out what motivates others. Gone are the days when everyone went to the Scilly Isles, Shetland now has its fair share of rare birds.

                                                                                                     Juv Swallow

With more eyes looking out, good birds are found on a regular basis. Outside this period there many only be able 40 or so people out in the field so a lot of birds are missed.

                                                                                                         Sanderling

People have different ideas when trying to find birds:-

1. There are some that go to favourable locations either based on previous experience or recent records and cover every inch (centimeter now) of ground.

2. Some that wait for news of a rare bird found by someone else. I talked to two types again those in number one that will shift location quickly if news comes in of a good bird. A couple of people I have found sit in a car perhaps half way down the mainland and shoot of in any direction where a rare bird is found but only go for mega rare birds and are not bothered about anything else.

3. Others up for a good time taking in the scenery and birds but don't chase about as much

4. Those that come on an organised birding tour, being taken to rare birds

Some respect people's property and a few don't, giving birding a bad name. Most Shetland people are happy to welcome birders and share experiences.

                                                                                                               Dunlin

But its all about the wind direction, easterly winds are the most precious but sometimes westerly winds still bring good birds to Shetland. These birds have been discovered all over Shetland in the last few days

                                                                                                               Dunlin

Brown Shrike, Great Snipe, Hoopoe, Arctic Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Gt Reed Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Barred Warbler, Yellow Browed Warbler, Common Crane, Red breasted flycatcher, Olive backed Pipit, Red Backed Shrike. Pallid Harrier, Bluethroat, Short Toed Lark, Rose Coloured Starling, Radde's warbler

                                                                                           Juv Red Backed Shrike

I spend more time concentrating on taking photos not just of the rarer birds but the common ones as well. Most birders (Twitchers) are not interested in seeing a flock of House Sparrow, Starling, Twite or Raven they have no time for them, which is a pity.

                                                                                             Juv Red Backed Shrike

Anyway over the past few days I have caught up with Yellow Browed Warbler, Olive backed Pipit, Little Bunting and Red Backed Shrike but only managed to photograph the Shrike, I first saw this just sitting in a bush 6 feet away, it then moved to the back of the garden but would fly around giving great views. Only three other birders present

                                                                                           Juv Red Backed Shrike

This cannot be said about the Olive Backed Pipit, with around 40 other birders crowded into a small car park i decided to leave them to it as the bird had not been seen for around 45 mins but managed to see it perched on a fence two gardens away.

The Little Bunting gave several great views but i could never get my camera onto it before it flew away but i was the only one present for most of the time. The Yellow Browed Warbler at Quendale was only seen once, but i didn't have any luck with the Arctic Warbler. One photographer managed one photo in 6 hours watching.

                                                                                                Willow Warbler

One bird that kept me entertained was a Willow Warbler who managed to collect several Bluebottles and spiders - Down in one !

                                                                                                Willow Warbler

Not good viewing conditions after Monday with gales and heavy rain, but still birders are a hardy lot with many braving the elements.