Our Shetland pilgrimage this year started on the 2nd of October and the crew was, as always, Dave Gray, Andy (Gucci) Smith and me, and as usual we would be staying for 10 nights. We would be staying at our usual place, Sheepfold in Bigton. After an unevenful road trip and ferry crossing, we started our trip on Shetland with the customary breakfast at the Fjara Cafe in Lerwick, then off we went birding. Our first port of call was a walk down Sea Road where the the cafe is situated, it always turns a few waders up. We ticked Rock Pipit, Knot, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Curlew, and in the Voe were both Black and Common Guillemot and a few Mallard. A few days later we did pick up Purple Sandpiper at this location as well. From there we went to a long staying female King Eider just a 5 minute drive from where we were in Lerwick; wasn't long before it was on our list along with Common Eider, Red-throated Diver, Gannet and Kittiwake.
Turnstone, another common bird on Shetland anywhere where there is seaweed or a rocky shoreline or in grassy fields feeding with Redshank and Curlew
Where we stay in Bigton, the next township is Ireland, which has a small beach and a brilliant crop field that runs down to the beach. These crop fields are being grown by some farmers on Shetland and are known as Bumblebird crops - this is acrop that helps the bees in summer and birds in winter, espeically the finches like Twite, Linnet, Brambling and Chaffinch. We went down here every morning and there was always Skylark, Brambling, Twite, quite a few Common Snipe and House Sparrow along with Blackbirds, Starling and Chaffinch. We also ticked Pheasant in the crop field, which is not a common bird on Shetland. On the beach there was always Turnstone, Starlings, Hooded Crow, Rock Pipit and Wren; in the Voe were lots of Fulmar, Red-throated Diver and Great-northern Diver. We had great views of an Otter feeding off the beach - the first time we have seen Otter at this location.
We noticed this year there were lots of Blackbirds, more than usual. But on the 9th October there was a massive fall of Redwing - probably in their thousands.
Shetland always has lot s of birds to see and we had ticked off two Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Fleck, Arctic Warbler at Flabbister and Pied Flycatcher at Ireland
Loch of Spiggie and surrounding area is always a good for a few hours birding. Whooper Swans, Scaup and a surprise American Wigeon were noted. We ticked Red-backed Shrike and Common Rosefinch here as well.
Got to love a Bluethroat
On the 8th October Andy went off on one of his usual walks on his own, so Dave and I went to have a look at a Bluethroat at Boddam, and great views we both had. Also whilst we were there we had a mammal tick in the shape of a live Hedgehog out feeding, sadly we see lots that have been hit by traffic so this was also a first. We headed then to Levenwick to have another look at a long staying Siberian Stonechat. Whilst there, we bumped into a good mate of ours Rob Fray, as we were talking to Rob, Dave's phone alerted us to a mega at Quendale Mill, a Black-faced Bunting, it was a BOU tick for me so off we so off we went for the 15 minute drive to the mill. There were lots of birders already there and the bird was in a small copse and not showing, but after about 20minutes it broke cover and landed at the bottom of some hogweed; I was really lucky to be in the right place right time for a change and got a decent view before it disappeared into the long grass, then back into the copse again - and I don't think it was sees again!
Bluethroat
A drive down to Sumburgh lighthouse for a very confiding Little Bunting, and then onto a Red-breasted Flycatcher at a very windy Exnaboe, followed by a Bar-tailed Godwit at Virkie.
On the 10 October late afternoon, a Thrush was found at Easter Quarf; firstly it came out as Swainson's Thrush but was quickly then identified as Grey-cheeked Thrush.
We went the following morning, and with a bit of patience it showed quite well, but always in the scrub or grass whilst I was there, but a nice bird to see
A few more images below of a few of the birds I saw, and of a Common Seal which are not as common as you would think. Whilst on the Cetaceans we also saw Harbour Porpoise and White-beaked Dolphins though didstant
As always thanks for stopping by and hope you have enjoyed a little insight into our trip to Shetland this year. I finished on seeing 93 species and from door to door we drove over 1300 miles.
My next adveture is a trip to Western Austrailia so looking forward to that, and I will be posting about that on my return.
