Shetland Bee-eater

Back in the 1970's i picked out four birds i really wanted to see. But thought it would be impossible to see any of these in the UK

The four are Roller,  Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Bee-eater. Well I have seen the last three in Shetland.

In 1992 I think, we saw Bee eaters at Vidlin in a small conifer plantation. It seemed odd seeing one perched above a Shetland sheep

Then great views of Golden Oriole in the open at Quarff, but I had seen a few before at Kergord and Halligarth

The Hoopoes at Quarff and then earlier this year at Burra 

But back to the Bee eater today at Ollebery in the north mainland. It had already been present since Sunday and had showed really well yesterday

I headed north in sunshine which quickly turned to heavy rain and black clouds. Arriving just behind another Shetland birder we parked up near the original site and waited.

It showed straight away flying passed a few time but headed up the hill and out of sight

It re appeared flying over head towards a small group of conifer landing on a fence post. A couple of birders went round and got views and we quickly followed.

By this time the Bee eater had flown up into a near by paddock and landed on top of a fence post. from here it flew out and caught a couple of insects

The rain started again so it was always difficult for photography and it stayed distant.

It flew again and landed behind us, then moved again back to the original side but further up the hill

I caught a view as it sat in a bush , then it flew down the hill but disappeared just as another couple of birders arrived

I headed back to Lerwick to see whether the Barred warbler was still present at the bowling green. No go so down to Cunningsburgh where a Greenish warbler and Red Backed shrike had been seen.

I could see about 10 birders down in a park but decided to give it a miss when heavy rain started to fall

I did see a Stonechat along a fence and then found out I had missed a pod of Killer whales at St Ninian's

Isabelline Shrike

Sunday 29 9 19

A lot better weather wise on Sunday so we headed down to Quendale but turned off at Levenwick when word came in that the Isabelline Shrike had reappeared.

Can you make it out in the confer

We passed yesterday but it was raining heavy, so no good for photography.

Now on the fence

It had moved west since yesterday and was now just south of the shop in a garden. It showed straight away but was very distant. It stayed in one position for at least 10 mins before flying off and landing in the grass

It flew back to the fence staying in one position again for around 10 mins. It then took off and flew away from us.

About 10 birders had gathered by the time it flew further towards us resting low on the fence. Again it flew off to collect an insect and then returned to the same place

After a good 25 mins it flew into the garden and that was the last I saw of it. It did reappear again later to a small group but again distant.

This shrike has now two races, this was a `Turkestan' bird which has a whiter underside and a white strip above the eye and blacker mask. The other race is  `Daurian'.

This is a rare vagrant from Asia mostly seen October- November along the coast, this one a few days early

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Saturday 28 9 19

I was only saying the day before that Saturday would be a good day for migrants and so it was.

 Larger Dunlin behind

Up at Sumburgh Head a Little Bunting and also one at Sumburgh gardens. No Yellow Browed Warblers but plenty of common migrants.

Around Sumburgh/ Grutness lots of Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher , Wheatear and Willow Warblers with the odd Robin, Chaffinch, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler

A large bird of prey disappeared over the ridge just above the quarry and this turned out to be a Short Eared Owl

Arriving back at Grutness a large number of birds gathered at the beach, a nice Semipalmated Sandpiper showed well in a mixed flock of waders which included Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Redshank

The Semi P is an American wader and a rare visitor to Uk shores and only the 4th to be seen in Shetland.

The Semi P was getting picked on and had to run out of the way several times. It looked very small with the others and was actively feeding along the shoreline.

It took off after about 30 mins and landed at Grutness pool before leaving shortly after in an easterly direction

The wader has been back again to the same spot, the three day on the trot.

Cranes at Sandwick

Went out on another Otter watch a few days ago, this time no luck despite a 4 hour search. Similar for someone else who had been to three other sites before arriving at my spot.

Arriving back in Sandwick I received a message the cranes had moved from near Leebotton up to a field near the Social club

The Common Cranes have now moved to a stubble field just down the road from us and in fact we can see then from our garden without binoculars.

They are still very wary but I managed better photos in good light. Lots of Rock Doves and gulls in the field.

Down at Sumburgh, one of the Stonechats popped up on a wall, while  several Greenland Wheatear and White Wagtails fed on insects above the single tracked road leading to the farm. A flock of around 20 Swallows still feeding over the crop

Only one Dunlin on the pool at Grutness and several Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the beach. Nothing on the sea either at Grutness or West Voe.

A few American waders arrived on the west side and the Snowy Owl has been seen again on Ronas Hill

 Cranes love to eat seed, grain roots and insects and they seem to find lots of food in the stubble field

No sign of the Cranes the last couple of days so they may well be heading south on migration. These two Common Crane are more likely be from the Scandinavian population than the resident English flock