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.