Meal time in Shetland

The Tengmalm owl was found again at Tresta on Thursday, not that it will have been anywhere else, it was just the access to the gardens that was closed off. The Owl stayed two days to allow visitors from south to catch up but disappeared on Sunday. What was possibly the same bird turned up in Unst, maybe heading north later on Sunday. It did well to catch a Ringed Plover, Redshank and a Chaffinch.

I watch this Gt Northern Diver for a good hour, it dived and caught food 4 times, a 100% success rate

Good to see Wheatears , at Grutness at least 4 around the pier along with Robin, White and Pied Wagtail

 Shetland Wren

Looks like this pair of Mallard have returned to the same spot as last year

#Tengmalm's Owl, #Shetland, #Tresta

Duck, Diver and Waders

Having seen the Tengmalm Owl at Tresta on Saturday I was surprised to find that it was its last day, it had seemed settled.

Lots of birders have been to see it over the past 14 days, but lots more turned up on Sunday only to be disappointed.

Goldeneye have been present in good numbers especially at Spiggie and on a number of other lochs throughout Shetland

Goldeneye male

Goldeneye Female

Lots of wader about with 100's of Oystercatcher back, Knot also returning in good numbers. These are joining the large wader flocks that have been over wintering

Knot

a swimming Purple Sandpiper

Black throated Diver in Quendale Bay, may be the same bird that was seen in the same area last year, a rare bird in Shetland

It kept its distance from the beach at Quendale

A couple of White Billed Diver have been found in the north mainland and Scaup and Pintail at Benston in Nesting.

It seems to been a bumper year for Frogs with 100's seen at some sites in the north and west of shetland