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.