More Firecrests and YBW

On Sunday 26th October, at Ness Point the sea was exceptionally high with regular waves lashing over the defence rocks and covering the whole of the compass and the lower walk way, unusual to see this away from Spring Neap tides and powerful E or NE gales. Just north of there 2 Redwings flew in/ off. A lone Turnstone braved the edge of the shelf just south of the compass. A walk around the Orbis revealed zilch, the netposts bushes I heard Brambling and Siskin but not seen a walk down Corton ORT revealed 3+ Firecrests, a Yellow-browed Warbler (a bright bird so definity different from the pale bird seen up at the bridge previously) just south of the copse, I viewed these with Alison and Chris A. Also seen was a Treecreeper scaling up the central branch of a small tree. Walking back to the car parked at Corton Churchyard I saw a Firecrest in the northern fence bushes.

Firecrests, YBW & SEO

On Saturday 25th October, at Lowestoft Asda amongst the short Pine trees, I saw 2 fine Firecrests they were calling and constantly feeding usually near the well concealed and main trunk and branches of the tree. At Ness Point, 2 Redwings flew in in' off and flew inland. The sea had swept over the compass and the whole of the lower sea wall. By the Netposts, A Siskin and Brambling heard. Next stop was Corton ORT, 5+ Firecrests seen, plus 3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiff-Chaffs and 40 metres down the track, I heard a YBW. Around 20 LT Tits seen. At Corton OSW, I heard and saw Firecrest around the north-west corner of the compound. By the Tamarisks around 5 Goldfinches, 2 Blackbirds and as I walked back a fine Short- eared Owl flew up from the weedy patch and flew over the road and hedge. Back at the road, 2+ Firecrests seen and 1 Firecrest calling from the B&B Church farm opposite.

Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common

On Wed 22nd October, news of a possible Brown Shrike filtered out on the news services, the initial picture was inconclusive and people were hedging their bets but as soon as David W. said Brown Shrike still on the Common, I elected to go. I left work at 2.30pm and quicly collected optical equipment and camera gear. Drving down I was grateful to receive directions from the Ferguson as it has been some years since I last visited this spot. The A12 defacto speed limit seems to virtually 30 mph all the way to Melton with all the Sizewell work and solar farms springing up & utterly destroying the once pretty landscape. Passing Sutton Hoo and then forking left I drove down to Upper Hollesly Common parking the far side on the left and there were several people staring at several large bushes near the road including Jane & Paul F. Unfortunately the bird had flown and buried itself in a very large bush quite close to the road about a minute before I had arrived and I had a very nervous edgy wait, especially when several kind people including Jane offered me a chance to look through their scopes and I still couldn't see it! Finally, when Jane relocated the bird, just above a dark hole oin the bush and a verticle branch, I could finally see the a fantastic immature 1st winter Brown Shrike, albeit only the first part of the breast could be seen and then later its back and then finally its head with the thick black mask and generally brown colouration on the crown and back, with thick dark buff barring on the sides of the upper breast. It then flew right and perched fully out by the side of a smaller bush to the right before flying again to another just right of that again showing fully out on the right hand side of the bush. It then flew back left to the big large bush. Finally I saw it fly well right and into the bottom quater of a large Pine on the left hand side the Pine nearest the road, I assume it was going to roost? Finally by the original Shrike bushes a fine male Yellowhammer was calling his contact note from the very top of a bush. Apologies for the appalling record shot pics, it took time for me to actiually see the bird and it was some distance away and in poor light when I finally managed pics, easily the worst I have seen!

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Return to Shetland Birding

Not sure why this last post disappeared from the blog, so I am posting again... On Friday October 3rd, we drove down to the picturesque big cliffs of Sumburgh Head on the southern most tip of Shetland, a nostalgic one for me as I had visited here once before with my mother, some 40 years ago. We saw around 300+ Fulmars and 60+ Gannets, 3 Shag seen and a Goldcrest briefly perched on a stone wall as walked to the head, there was a big seawatching hide and then we walked up to the lighthouse at the top passing a model Orca/ Killer Whale and then the steep climb to the top where breathtaking views and steep cliifs where we could view Fulmars shearing on air currents. At Grutness Beach nearby a Goldcrest was seen in a bush as we walked down and 2 Wheatear seen one on the road one on a wall nearby. On the beach we saw 12 House Sparrow and the immature Scarlet Rosefinch seen perching on top tall vegetation. We drove close and pulled up and slowly made our way round still seeing the Rosefinch,as this time Hugh H. drew up and went on the beach slowly getting closer to the Rosefinch but that flushed the Sparrows and the Rosefinch too. 2 Sanderling also seen on the beach too. 2 Grey Seal poking their heads vertically up out of the water. 2 Dunlin seen too. Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Great- black-backed Gull seen too. At East Shore nearby we scanned from the car by the beach/ sea edge and saw 10 Bar-tailed Godwits in a flock, a Curlew and the sea a female Red- breasted Merganser and 4 Eider. ON Saturday 4th October, at Bardister Bay, as we were driving away from the baty, we saw a Red Kite flying to the left first spotted by Tony, I saw a female Kestrel fly right from the right hand side of the car. We then visited Eshaness Lighthouse, where we walked out on the the rocky area in front of the lighthouse, 5 Twite flew in and although unobtrusive, I managed to photograph, 2 of their number. On this extremely windy day, up to 300+ Fulmar flew past out to sea plus Gannets. Whilst we were photographing a Rock Pipit by a small pool in front of the sign, a lone Pink- footed Gopose dropped down and landed exhaused from out of the sky. It sat down for a while, until it got its second wind and drank from the pool, before it eventually flew off again. Whilst driving back flocks of 54 and 100+ Pink- footed Geese flew over . I spotted a female Red Grouse on the left side of the road, plus a Raven and Hooded Crow seen too. Back at Bardister bay in the evening, a Cormorant and the 6 female Red- breasted Mergansers were on the island. A Hooded Crow flew over, Wigeon seen too plus plus Curlew and then finally at 3.50pm a Red Kite flew past left and inland over the valley. On Sunday 5th October, after a second visit to the Siberian Thrush, we again lined up by the bushes on the edge of Loch Asta but when it was apparent that again people were seeing it from the other side, we again went into the field and I was near the fence and stood by Hugh H. and he said concentrate on the bush ahead and even after he left, people were indicating it was there, I suddenly saw it, the excellent 1st winter male Siberian Thrush (my 4th ever, 2 in China Big Wood near happy island and 18 Sept 1994 at Burnham Overy Dunes) and got my camera on it. It was right at the top of the bush feeding on elderberries only partially obscured & then it looked right at me almost in full view. A birder's dream bird! Before it flew down. I looked at my pictures and was elated I had the shots. . A male Siskin, Song Thrush and Goldcrest and 5 Starlings seen plus 5 Greylags on the Loch. We then drove down to Scallowway Harbour, we parked by the harbourside and saw 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the water, 2 Red- throated Divers over the far side plus 5 Black Guillemots, 3 Kittiwakes flying around with a Black- headed Gull. Meanwhile looking over the harbour over to the left a fantastic Storm Petrel which flew low over the water and the distinctive white bar underwing noted. On Monday 6th October, a Redwing was seen in the bushes of the back garden plus a Starling and a Wren. Back at Scatsca Plantation, we only heard YBW, this time but 5 hooded Crows flew over, 30 Rock Doves fed in the field beyond the Sedge Lake, a Redpoll head calling flew over and seen. Redwing, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Robin heard, Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit. At Toft Harbour up to 9 Shag seen plus 8 Black Guillemots, Whilst looking out to sea a Storm Petrel flew by. 30 Kittiwake stood on the Pier (most adults with 4 immatures), Turnstone and on the near beach a brief Purple Sandpiper, Wren and Meadow Pipit that flew and perched on a fence wire. Gannet, Herring Gull and BH Gull seen too. On the Journey to levenwick, 3 Mute Swan, Raven, Hooded Crows, 18 Oystercatchers stood in a field. At Levenwick we stood looking down and overlooking a garden, in the field left of the garden, a triangular weedy patch, up popped up the excellent Western Sub-alpine Warbler, perched on a tall weedy stem, it then showed periodically amongst the weeds before being perched on the fence line around 3X, Goldcrest seen in the garden too. Back at Asta Loch, the 1st winter Siberian Thrush was seen in the garden opposite the Loch and there were about 15 people in front of me on a raised bank and from the 'second row' I only got fleeting view of the Sibe Thrush tossing over the leaf litter by the edge of some bushes before it eventually flew left and out of sight. . A male Blackbird seen too. On Tuesday 7th October, in the garden a Chiff- Chaff seen plus a Twite flew up and perched on the wires right in front of our accommodation. By a pool near Bardister, we saw 3 fine Whooper Swans but we could not stop to photograph them, in such a scenic location, which was a great pity. AtRonas Hill, another very scenic area with very deep valley sides, we saw 66 Eider, 53 females and 13 males on the water, 2 Guillemot seen also, with 3 Tysties, 3 Shag, 4 Twite seen in the vegetation then perching on the wires. Near a homestead, some bushes with a spring incluyded both male and female Blackcap. Back at Eshaness, we saw Hooded Crow, Rock Pipit, Gannet, Fulmar and Meadow Pipit and as we drove away, I spotted a fine male Red Grouse on the left side stood sentinel appearingreasonably close from the car and we managed to obtain a few pics of this bird. Back at Scatsca Plantation, 5 Bramblings flew nout from a tall tree, YBW heard, female Blackcap see. Also 30 Rock Doves were still in the field beyond the Sedge W pool. Back at Toft harbour, I was setting up the gear when a Swallow suddenly flew low and right over the beach, a good start. 2 Curlew and 5 female Red- breasted Merganser initially seen distantly in the harbour. That quintet then very memorably flew in formation and flew right towards us where they were actively feeding right in front of us all diving in unison and incredible sight! 8 Turnstone, Rock Pipit, 2 Tysties one showed reasonably well. Finally Trondavowe where we tried for a RB Fly, as I followed the others they thought they had it the bird flew out of the tree edge and flew into a bush and then over the road, when it flew back it was clear it was a Garden Warbler. I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler and Jake's Magic tape drew it into the vegetation near me where I managed a few pics when it flitted low in the bushes. A male Blackcap also seen , Goldcrests and Robin too. On Wednesday 8th October, we drove back to Loch of Spiggie, 64 Whooper Swans (18 of their number were immatures) were initially seen in front of the hide, we saw 3 Slavonian Grebes plus 2 Rock Pipit really close to the hide, Whilst outside we saw a female Marsh Harrier. we drove around the seaward side of the Lock and half way along there was a pull in, where we saw a Little Grebe by some reeds and another Marsh Harrier seen. Critically though we saw around 40 Teal but they flew into a mid inlet, they were initially covered by vegetation but then the Harrier went fairly close by and 20 birds swam out onto the Loch including the fine female Blue- winged Teal, at last we saw her. We then drove up to a farmstead and overlooking a stone wall we looked at the back of a building and a fine Ortolan Bunting (a bird becoming increasingly difficult to encounter so this sighting was especially welcome- the photo doesn't really do it justice as the colouration was more vivd through the telescope) was perched here but it was steadily raining and suddenly the rain came down in torrents and we had to retreat back to the car.

Another Yellow- browed at Gunton Woods

On Sunday 19th October, following a tweet from Andrew I had a look at Gunton Meadow and Gunton woods, as I walked along the meadow, I heard the YBW constantly calling and round the Sallows area but despite it calling regularly I could not see it. A group of teenagers were plunked slam back in the mniddle of the path with an aggressive dog and I could not check this area easily, so I gave up but met Phil D. back at the car, so I walked back and showed him where the bird was by the Sallows area, fortunately the teenagers left and the bird started calling and I spotted the fine Yellow- browed Warbler in the very top of a mid sized tree and we had reasonable views of it here and in another tree nearby.

Yellow-browed again

On Saturday 18th October, I drove to Corton ORT, as I got out I could hear a Yellow- browed Warbler constantly calling from the Corton ORT and walking down the main track I saw it flitting around in a tree and bushes on the western edges of the track, as soon as I got onto it it flew still calling towards the bridge and not seen or heard again. I am not sure which one as I didn't see it clearly enough to see if it was dull bird or the bright first winter. Later on Andrew E drew up, as he did so a Brambling rasped but not seen. We walked down the track and by the former copse area where Andrew spotted a fine Garden Warbler sat right up at the top of a sycamore tree and we were craning our necks to see it. We later heard Brambling again. I then drove to Corton Church car park as I walked along the western edge of the old SW compound, 3 Sky Larks flew south directly overhead, meanwhile chacking Thrushes in the north- west corner of the compound included a Blackbird and then a Redwing briefly perched up. Walking back to the Church car park, I heard Redwing again and a quick chat with Andrew again.

Another Yellow- browed Warbler

On Thursday 16th October after leaving work at 5pm, I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler calling along Longfulans Lane Hopton but alas no where to stop and take a look. Back at Corton ORT I saw the 'dull' Yellow-browed Warbler by the bushes near the bridge again and Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Wren and Chiff-Chaff seen here to plus a whole group of 20 Long- tailed Tits. 2 Song Thrush heard and seen at Corton OSW.

Yellow- browed Warbler along Corton ORT

On Wednesday 15th October, directly after work I picked up some new glasses and by 3pm I was at Stirrups Lane Bridge and as I parked, Alison & Chris A. pulled up behind me. We split Chris & I looking along the west part of the track and Alison the east part. 5 minutes later Alison shouted she had a Yellow- browed and the large tree near the bridge, we saw a dull probable adult Yellow-browed Warbler flitting about. Typically hyper- active with cream supercilia double wing bars and pale edgings to the tertials. Later when the sun came out it posed for about a minute. No camera with me sadly. We also saw 2 Chiff- Chaffs and a Redwing seen in Rosehip bush plus a male Blackbird. Alison saw 2 Crossbills fly north I only heard them.

Yellow-browed along North Denes slope belatedly found by me!

On Sunday 12th October, After hearing of Crossbills in Belle Vue Park, I drove there and saw Rob H no sign of the Crossbills but driving back along North Parade by some Pines I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler on the slope, at the time I spun round and saw a Pied Wag fly off and put it down to that but I should have trusted my initial ID as one was found there less than hour later. Later on I looked around Corton Wood and heard Crossbills fly over but I didn't see them.

Red- footed Falcon across the way at Bure Park

At Great Yarmouth Bure Park on Saturday October 11th at 4pm, I walked to the river wall and just past the Children's playground, I walked 200 metres north to the concrete hexagon overlooking the riverwall joing Dave P and his wife. in the ploughed field, I spotted the fine juvenile Red- footed Falcon, grey-brown back barring, chestnut head white face with black mask, pale cream underparts with a shawl of streaking on the upperbreast. Sat about half way back. Occasionally it flew but unfortunately when it flew I was showing over peoiple the bird through my scope so I didn't get to see it in flight at all. It would have been nice to check the underwing, although I assume others have ruled out the lack of white auxillaries for the much rarer Amur Falcon.

Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath

On Friday 10th October, I was desperate to go for the long staying Turkestan Shrike, so just after first light I drove to Dunwich Heath, amazingly the car park was closed and wouldn't open until 9am. The National Trust were surely missing a trick here as early opening would have ensured parking and a healthy injection of cash as the fee was £6 for non-NT members. Instead I found a place to park right off the road, os I was not blocking any entrances or the road and I walked down to the bushes just 500 metres north of the Coastguard cottages. As I walked down on the right side of the road, the 'churring' of a Darford Warbler reavealed one just a foot away from me really close and too close to photograph! I could also hear constantly over the heath during my time here, the ongoing lovely 'lulula lulula' song of a Wood Lark and I eventually saw the bird fly left mid distance just over the heath on the other (west) side of the road (belated new bird for 2025!) As I walked to the group of bushes on the right side of the road, I took the well worn path down and joined 5 birders including 'Birds of the Heath' David B. Good to see him again. The bird, a fantastic Turkestan Shrike or Red- tailed Shrike, was soon seen perched low down in some bare branches. But slightly obscured we saw it side on then it disappeared deep into the scrub, I followed a lady birder who had seen the Shrike several times and this strategy paid off as the bird popped up barely 40 metres from us we both got around 10 metres closer with careful fieldcraft and the bird was perfectly happy nperched and this is where i got my best shots of the birds before a birder to the side of us shouted he had it and marched up to us (we were kneeling) and the bird promptly flew back. We later saw the fine Turkestan Shrike in bushes by the entrance road, where we all viewed from a path 60 metres away, the Shrike was very comfortable eher and went on several hunting forays catching various insects including dragonflies, beetles etc and feeding on them from its favourite perched from this bush. I watched from here for some time and David W. joined us. We also saw a rather showy but distant Dartford Warbler perched on top of a bush here too.

Shetland Birding 7: Final Days

On Friday October 3rd, we drove down to the picturesque big cliffs of Sumburgh Head on the southern most tip of Shetland, a nostalgic one for me as I had visited here once before with my mother, some 40 years ago. We saw around 300+ Fulmars and 60+ Gannets, 3 Shag seen and a Goldcrest briefly perched on a stone wall as walked to the head, there was a big seawatching hide and then we walked up to the lighthouse at the top passing a model Orca/ Killer Whale and then the steep climb to the top where breathtaking views and steep cliifs where we could view Fulmars shearing on air currents. At Grutness Beach nearby a Goldcrest was seen in a bush as we walked down and 2 Wheatear seen one on the road one on a wall nearby. On the beach we saw 12 House Sparrow and the immature Scarlet Rosefinch seen perching on top tall vegetation. We drove close and pulled up and slowly made our way round still seeing the Rosefinch,as this time Hugh H. drew up and went on the beach slowly getting closer to the Rosefinch but that flushed the Sparrows and the Rosefinch too. 2 Sanderling also seen on the beach too. 2 Grey Seal poking their heads vertically up out of the water. 2 Dunlin seen too. Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Great- black-backed Gull seen too. At East Shore nearby we scanned from the car by the beach/ sea edge and saw 10 Bar-tailed Godwits in a flock, a Curlew and the sea a female Red- breasted Merganser and 4 Eider. ON Saturday 4th October, at Bardister Bay, as we were driving away from the baty, we saw a Red Kite flying to the left first spotted by Tony, I saw a female Kestrel fly right from the right hand side of the car. We then visited Eshaness Lighthouse, where we walked out on the the rocky area in front of the lighthouse, 5 Twite flew in and although unobtrusive, I managed to photograph, 2 of their number. On this extremely windy day, up to 300+ Fulmar flew past out to sea plus Gannets. Whilst we were photographing a Rock Pipit by a small pool in front of the sign, a lone Pink- footed Gopose dropped down and landed exhaused from out of the sky. It sat down for a while, until it got its second wind and drank from the pool, before it eventually flew off again. Whilst driving back flocks of 54 and 100+ Pink- footed Geese flew over . I spotted a female Red Grouse on the left side of the road, plus a Raven and Hooded Crow seen too. Back at Bardister bay in the evening, a Cormorant and the 6 female Red- breasted Mergansers were on the island. A Hooded Crow flew over, Wigeon seen too plus plus Curlew and then finally at 3.50pm a Red Kite flew past left and inland over the valley. On Sunday 5th October, after a second visit to the Siberian Thrush, we again lined up by the bushes on the edge of Loch Asta but when it was apparent that again people were seeing it from the other side, we again went into the field and I was near the fence and stood by Hugh H. and he said cocentrate on the bush ahead and even after he left, people were indicating it was there, I suddenly saw it, the excellent 1st winter male Siberian Thrush and got my camera on it. It was right at the top of the bush feeding on elderberries then it looked right almost in full view. Before it flew down. I looked at my pictures and was elated I had the shots. . A male Siskin, Song Thrush and Goldcrest and 5 Starlings seen plus 5 Greylags on the Loch. We then drove down to Scallowway Harbour, we parked by the harbourside and saw 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the water, 2 Red- throated Divers over the far side plus 5 Black Guillemots, 3 Kittiwakes flying around with a Black- headed Gull. Meanwhile looking over the harbour over to the left a fantastic Storm Petrel which flew low over the water and a white bar underwing. On Monday 6th October, a Redwing was seen in the bushes of the back garden plus a Starling and a Wren. Back at Scatsca Plantation, we only heard YBW, this time but 5 hooded Crows flew over, 30 Rock Doves fed in the field beyond the Sedge Lake, a Redpoll head calling flew over and seen. Redwing, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Robin heard, Goldcrest and Meadow Pipit. At Toft Harbour up to 9 Shag seen plus 8 Black Guillemots, Whilst looking out to sea a Storm Petrel flew by. 30 Kittiwake stood on the Pier (most adults with 4 immatures), Turnstone and on the near beach a brief Purple Sandpiper, Wren and meadow Pipit that flew and perched on a fence wire. Gannet, herring Gull and BH Gull seen too. ON Journey to levenwick, 3 Mute Swan, Raven, Hooded Crows, 18 Oystercatchers stood in a field. At Levenwick we stood looking down and overlooking a garden, in the field left of the garden, a triangular weedy patch, up popped up the excellent Western Sub-alpine Warbler. On Wednesday 8th October, we drove back to Loch of Spiggie, 64 Whooper Swans (18 of their number were immatures) were initially seen in front of the hide, we saw 3 Slavonian Grebes plus 2 Rock Pipit really close to the hide, Whilst outside we saw a female Marsh Harrier. we droove around the seaward side of the Lock and half way along there was a pull in, where we saw a Little Grebe by some reeds and another Marsh Harrier seen. Critically though we saw around 40 Teal but they flew into a mid inlet, they were initially covered by vegetation but then the Harrier went fairly close by and 20 birds swam out onto the Loch including the fine female Blue- winged Teal, at last we saw her. We then drove up to a farmstead and overlooking a stone wall we looked at the back of a building and a fine Ortolan Bunting was perched here but it was steadily raining and suddenly the rain came down in torrents and we had to retreat back to the car.

Shetland Birding: Oct 5th Back to Loch Asta & Scalloway harbour and 6th Scatsca, Toft, Levenwick and Loch Asta

Finally news of a Blackpoll Warbler on Yell proved too late for us to twitch on our final day.

Shetland Birding 5: Oct 3rd Sumburgh Head & Greatness and 4th Barrister Bay and Eshaness

Shetland Birding 4: Oct 1st-4th

On another wet and windy day, On October 1st, 17 Curlew flew across the garden and up the valley. At Lerwick taking the road from Tesco's Superstore, by Lerwick harbour/ back, a line of rocks included a Feral Pigeon seen, 2 Turnstone, up to 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit that flew up and settled on a fence. We eventually spotted the fine Purple Sandpiper feeding amongst the seaweed encrusted rocks and 6 Gannets flew over the sea. At Scatsca planatation we walked around and we finally saw the calling Yellow- browed Warbler low down in trees near the start of the walk plus Brambling, Goldcrest and 9 House Sparrows seen. A tour party found a Sedge Warbler by the pool and I briefly saw the Sedge Warbler on the island then flew to the reedy edge on the bank behind it. We then heard about a second 1st winter Siberian Thrush this time we parked at Scallowway Caravan park and joined about 80 birders gathered around the edge of Loch Asta (next door to Loch Tingwell) Going down a bank by Loch Asta and past a wooden hut and looking at a thicket starring into bushes and specifically Elderberry bushes. People were gathered alongside a fieldside the other side. After an hour or so it was apparent they were seeing the bird so we all went round and joined them, I knelt down in front of the crowd and although I didn't see the bird in the bush I did see the excellent 1st winter Siberian Thrush showing the excellent zebra black and white underwing flying back along the thicket. We then went back to our former position and this time we saw a slightly more prolonged view of the excellent 1st winter Siberian Thrush, black plumage, whiter below the indertail coverts and zebra black and white underwing.We then drove down to Scallowway Harbour, We parked by the harbourside and saw 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the water, 2 Red- throated Divers over the far side plus 5 Black Guillemots, 3 Kittiwakes flying around with a Black- headed Gull. Meanwhile looking over the harbour over to the left a fantastic Storm Petrel which flew low over the watr and a white bar underwing.

Shetland Birding: Gales, Northern Lights & Siberian Thrush!

On Monday 29th September, as we drove south only 20 minutes into our ride I spotted a super Merlin on the right mobbing a Hooded Crow but as were on the main road we couldn't stop. We returned to Lock Tingwall, where we parked in the furthest pull in (nearest the goldf course) and scanning amongst the 20 Tufted Duck present and in better weather we had much better more prolonged views of the male Ring- necked Duck (& for Tony it was his first view as her had missed it when the rain had suddenly came lashing down last time we were here!), we heard Red Grouse calling from the moorland opposite. In our usual bay near Lerwick I spotted a male Goldeneye on the sea and a close Fulmar flew by, We had 5 Shag and 1 Cormorant on a distant samll rock. We also saw 2 Tysties or Black Guillemots on the sea here too plus an adult Kittiwake flew by. Back at the Loch of Spiggie as we were driving down to the hide on the left a flock of 30 Twite flew over the weeds. From the hide we saw 6 Whooper Swans and Snipe. Back at Quendale Mill we checked the small copse where over on the left side a Shetland Wren show well by a wall, Goldcrest seen too plus 6 Siskin (2 males and 4 females) A male Blackcap seen too. I a stone walled compund just left of the small plantation a Willow Warbler briefly seen.. Chiff- Chaff also seen. plus in a nearby field, 17 Oystercatchers in another 7 Curlews, whilst Hooded Crow and Raven flew over at the back. We then drove to Scatsca Plantation where 150 birders amassed for a Siberian Thrush, it flew 4X and every time we were in the wrong place. 1 Garden Warbler, 1 female Blackcap and groups of 4, 2, 3, and 2 Bramblings seen in the tall trees to the left. On Tuesday 30th September, first thing we looked into the bay and a fine Great Northern Diver was seen fishing, there were also 3 female Red- breasted Mergansers fishing near the island to the left. Over the farside to the left, we saw 2 Otters playing by the seaweed. 5 then 15 Rock Doves flew up the valley. Curlew seen and a fine Merlin flew by. Early evening, we walked down the hill after the high winds had subsided, we saw Gannet flew right over the bay and Mallard seen too plus we saw up to 4 Tysties or Black Guillemots in the bay. back on the island we saw 4 Knot, 2 Dunlin, a Meadow Pipit flew up and perched on the wall and finally a Snipe flew up from a ditch we walked past. At around 10am, Mick had an Aurora alert and he and I went outside to try and get some pics, I quickly googled for help and Mick gave me some invaluable tips too. I used my standard Canon camera using the lowest aperture I Had F5.6 ( I would have preferred F2.8 and a wide angle full frame camera but I don't have those. I set the exposure setting to 20 seconds and attached the camera to the tripod and set it up outside trying to get the bay 1/3 and 2/3 of sky aiming near the light areas of cloud. As it was still very windy and I had to sttreadily hold the tripod down and I got a couple of half decent pics on my first attempt. The pics showed the green and pinks of the Northern Lights/ Aurora. On October 1st, another wet and windy day, 17 Curlew flew across the garden and up the valley. At Lerwick taking the road from Tesco's Superstore, by Lerwick harbour/ back, a line of rocks included a Feral Pigeon seen, 2 Turnstone, up to 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit that flew up and settled on a fence. We eventually spotted the fine Purple Sandpiper feeding amongst the seaweed encrusted rocks and 6 Gannets flew over the sea. At Scatsca Plantation, 1+ Yellow- browed Warblers heard calling and the bird was seen in the low bushes by the path by me . Brambling, Goldcrest and 9 House Sparrow seen. On our approach to eshaness, we eventally picked out the fine Glossy Ibis by the pools near the road, but the car was surrounded by 3 Shetland Ponies and 1 tried to grab Tony's jumper and arm and even tried to eat John's passenger door handle! A quick getaway was required! On October 2nd, At Scatsca planatation we walked around and we finally saw the calling Yellow- browed Warbler low down in trees near the start of the walk plus Brambling, Goldcrest and 9 House Sparrows seen. A tour party found a Sedge Warbler by the pool and I briefly saw the Sedge Warbler on the island then flew to the reedy edge on the bank behind it. We then heard about a second 1st winter Siberian Thrush this time we parked at Scallowway Caravan park and joined about 80 birders gathered around the edge of Loch Asta (next door to Loch Tingwell) Going down a bank by Loch Asta and past a wooden hut and looking at a thicket starring into bushes and specifically Elderberry bushes. We saw a male Siskin, Song Thrush and Goldcrest and 5 Starling in these bushes whilst 5 Greylag Geese were on the loch. People were gathered alongside a fieldside the other side. After an hour or so it was apparent they were seeing the bird so we all went round and joined them, I knelt down in front of the crowd and although I didn't see the bird in the bush I did see the excellent 1st winter Siberian Thrush showing the excellent zebra black and white underwing flying back along the thicket. We then went back to our former position and this time we saw a slightly more prolonged view of the excellent 1st winter Siberian Thrush, black plumage, whiter below the indertail coverts and zebra black and white underwing. As it flew right low across the glade then wheeled round and flew across the road. A Red grouse was heard from the moorland opposite. A visit to a plantation on the way back to our accomodation by the crossroads and the ferry to Whalsay. A Sparrowhawk flew over, 3 Raven seen and Wren and Goldcrest heard.

Shetland Birding: Fine start then deeply dippy

On Sunday 28th September, after barely a couple of hours sleep we had breakfast on the ferry and we approached Lerwick harbour where the only bird seen ws a male Eider. Ravens and Hooded Crows were also seen and seen throughout the trip being reasonably common and seen several times daily. We then drove to Lock of Tingwall. Parking by the first part of the Loch, revealed little but as we stopped at various parking spaces, the penultimate (last but one space) just before the Golf course revealed the fine male Ring- necked Duck amongst all the Tufted Duck(around 80 birds), a female Goldeneye was also seen and Red Grouse heard calling in the moorland cliff expanse beyond. It started to rain heavily so we dived back into the car. We then drove just south of Lerwick and in a bay just south of Lerwick from a large layby we saw a our first Black Guillemot in winter plumage in the bay, an Otter was seen swimming our way in the bay too. Plus Cormorant and a Shag on a distant rock. Whilst a Fulmar and 10 Gannet flew right. Turnstone and a Curlew over were also seen. We then drove to the Loch of Spiggie, with all the cameras still packed in the boot, it was unfortunate we saw a group of 6 Twite on a fence wires really close and 1 Twite stayed and would have posed nicely for the camera. Earlier on we had seen a flock of 24 Twite fly over a left side field. There was a large hide on the left side of the road. We parked up and entered the hide. We failed to find the Blue- winged teal, but we did see a female Scaup, a male Pochard, there were groups of 5 Whoopers and 3 Whoopers, there were 6 Mute Swans, a Heron, 2+ Snipe by the Loch edge, there was also Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Mallard and Tufted Duck. Reports of a Little Bunting at Quendale Farm had us driving to the spot and our first encounted with Hugh H, who informed us we needed to park at Quendale Mill. We drove down to the Mill buildings and walked back to the Farm, no sign of the Little Bunting, but we walked right a little and other a field with vegetation a fine Wryneck flew and perched on the stone wall. We then walked back to the Quendale Farm near the Mill and a small group was gathered by a wall looking over a weedy area where a fine Willow Warbler was feeding. In the little tree copse surrounded by a stone wall, a Pied Flycatcher was feeding and perched up a few times. 2 Redwing were also seen and House Sparrows seen too. At Maywick Farm area, I spotted a fine Pied Flycatcher perched on a stonewall very briefly before flying into a copse. 8 Twite were seen in the wires and Starlings seen too, however there was no sign of Rustic Bunting. We should have stayed here longer. But instead we went onto another site down the road but there was no sign of the Dusky Warbler or YBW, just 2 Goldcrest seen here too and again no sign of Rustic Bunting. Again with hindsight we shoulf have stayed longer at this site. Back at Lerwick we saw around 15 Oystercatchers. In the evening in the back garden bushes, a male Blackcap was seen in bushes plus our first Shetland Wren of the trip, darker backed and larger, settled and posed briefly on the wall. Whilst down in the bay, c25 Golden Plover seen, a fine mother and calf Bottle- nosed Dolphins seen swimming and occasionally scything through the Loch showing a dorsal fin and their backs. The mother would surface and then the calf would surface.

Shetland birding: Musselborough and the ferry journey starts 26th- 28th September

On Friday 26th September, together with John H., Tony S. and Mick D. we travelled up by car to take the ferry to Lerwick, Shetland. We travelled overnight and by first light on Saturday 27th September, we were at Musselborough estuary, near Edinburgh. A really superb place for birds we saw a close Guillemot in the water below, and 3 Grey Wagtails seen bu the edge. we saw another 2 comprising 3 Guillemots in all. Whilst further out we saw 8 Razorbills. 30 female Red- breasted Merganser as a group on the estuary, c300 Eiders (80% were females). We saw 7+ Velvet Scoters, a male Common Scoter, but disappointingly no sign of the White-winged Scoter. We also saw Cormorant, Gannets flying past c30 (half adult, half juveniles). 8 Wigeon, an Oystercatcher, Curlew, Whimbrel, 200 Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin . A Sandwich Tern flew around just offshore. A male Reed Bunting and male Stonechat seen. We later heard it was seen further along the bay near the Marsh Sandpiper site. This was to be my first trip to Shetland for over 40 years! It would prove to be an emotional one too as we would be revisiting some of the places I had visited over 40 years ago with my late mother, originally travelling over on the 5- 8 August in 1985. In 1985 (as now), we had travelled by the ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick and then there had been near storm force south-east winds in 1985 which has caused a lot of sickness on board. My strategy was to stand on the outside deck and seawatch and it still is the best seawatch I have ever witnessed (not difficult given my recent seawatches, as my late friend Ricky used to say when we hadn't been successful 'the worst seawatch ever!') in 1985, the near gale force winds produced an incredible tally of 2 Cory's Shearwaters (still the only ones I have seen in UK waters), 6 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Bonxies or Great Skua, 15 Arctic Skuas (inc. 3 light phase birds), Puffin, 10 Razorbills, c150 fulmars including 3 Blue Phase birds. Skeins of 300 Barnacle Geese and 500 Pink-footed Geese flew overhead. The next port of call was the Marsh Sandpiper site at Musselborough lagoons. We walked across a field and then through a wood to a concrete hide, looking out were 2 large pools. There were Teal, a Spotted Redshank, 4+ Ruff, 60 Candada Goose, Stock Dove, Mallard, 2 female Pheasant close in by the first pool. Whilst finally at the back pool on the left hand side the pale grey/ white super Marsh Sandpiper was busy feeding and it promptly walked left and out of sight! It went missing for 10 minutes before it was relocated at another large right hand pool, where it fed at the nearside but often obscured by vegetation before it walked around the right hand side to the back always feeding. Returning to 2025, we travelled by ferry standing on the stern of the ship looking back at Aberdeen harbour, we spotted a fantastic Bottlenose Dolphin swimming right of the habour entrance and its dorsal fin and back were seen several times when if 'furrowed' through the water. On the Ferry journey at the start we saw up to 8 Razorbills, I saw a fine Manx Shearwater shearing over the water over to the right (my first since 2021 and sightings at tenby). , Fulmar and 5 Kittiwake. We then had the ship's fish and chips meal which was OK and then we retired to our pods for the night in Cabin no 1. Big mistake, the pods are basically reclining chairs but I didn't get a lot of sleep maybe 3 hours tops and even less on the return journey, always book a cabin, more expensive but worth it. The sleep deprivation wasn't helped as we were situated 2nd row back from the entrance door to the cabin, which if the door not shut carefully slammed shut with some force guaranteed to wake up anyone fortunate enough to have drifted into sleep.