Red Throated Diver

Red Throated divers are now back on their breeding ground. This one was photographed on the sea at Grutness , it is a Schedule 1 bird meaning you cannot photograph it on or near the nest

 

Shetland Birds in Flight

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This book is A4 size and contains 328 colour photos including a large section on Shetland Wildlife

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Lots of birds in flight this time, including Turnstone, Starling, Redshank & Skylark

 

Glaucous Gull - Shetland

Good to find this Glaucous gull feeding down at West Voe.

First it was resting on the sea then moved in shore

As it moved onshore it moved towards a white object among the seaweed. After i had gone onto the beach i could see this was a dead Gannet, hopefully not a bird flu victim otherwise this prove fatal to this gull as well 

Luckily it only pecked at the Gannet before moving closer to feed on a dead sheep.

I manage to get closer and the gull seemed ok with this and continue to feed. With no one on the beach  it wasn't disturbed. There has been a couple of Glaucous Gulls just a  bit further north at Spiggie.

Today i was chasing a Hoopoe around Hoswick. It wasn't seen by me on the ground but i had several good views as it flew over. It has now been around for 3 days and seems settled. Also my first Swallow (6), Chiffchaff (2) and a singing Willow Warbler. It has now now turned very windy so i don't think i will get down again before it leaves.

On Foula, a Golden Oriole and Common Nightingale, Spring has arrived at last, while the Gt White Egret was still down at Brow Marsh
 

Mandarin duck- Shetland

Mandarin Duck are fairly common in England and is a escape species. Back in Sheffield one lake had 20 birds.

In Shetland these ducks are still scarce, with only 35 records

This stayed just one day at Pullars Loch in Lerwick