Weekend

Spent yesterday morning and this morning dipping the Bluethroat at Rainham that was found by Sir les of the Garrison (well done) which he found at the end of the northern boardwalk but proved elusive yesterday and non existent today, and which was the first one since the bird on the tip back in '94.

Other birds of note were 4 Pinkfeet found by Mo and 2 bar-wit on the foreshore and bearded tit in the reed bed below the serin mound.

Pinkfoot

A few more Shetland pics

A few more random shots from last weeks shetland trip.

Siskin

probable greenland redpoll

These Seals were around Lerwick Harbour.















This Otter was seen from the ferry from Yell to shetland and most of our otter sightings were seen in and around the man made breakwaters.













Most important when staying on Shetland be sure too stock up on food and drink provisions!

ham n cheese is a must, with one or two nelsons!

Unst and Unst!!

Yes it was two days travelling to the isle of Unst for Hornemans Arctic Redpoll, and a day later for Lancelated Warbler.

Snowball

Our first trip to Unst was spent searching for the Redpoll and five and half hours later we find the bird in its favorite garden below the cemetry and showed well to all that hung around long enough.

Yellow brow

we also saw Little Bunting at norwick, 2 cracking Yellow Browed Warblers as well as Redstart, Arctic Tern and many Brambling on the move.

little bunting

Our second day saw us at Skaw to see the Lancy that showed very well to the travelling crowd, and again saw the Hornemanns again this time without the wait! another Little Bunt showed and added Little gull to the trip list.

Lancelated Warbler

Esha Ness

As well as the Amrican Buff-Bellied Pipit, these two stunning Buff Breasted Sandpipers were on show allowing close views.

Also Snow buntings and a single lap at this site.

Outer Skerries

A day on the Outer Skerries on Sunday saw me catch up on Citrine Wagtail, a bogey bird of mine, showing well on the freshwater pool just beside the key.

Also seen were Black Headed Bunting, Short Toed Lark and Red Breasted Flycatcher a large flock of Snow Buntings several Lapland Buntings and good numbers of Brambling and Redpoll, a flock of Barnacle Geese flew south and Redstart and Willow Warbler were also seen.

Shetland sea birds

Back from a great week at Shetland and will start with some sea birds from around the islands.

Black guillemots are all over shetland

Kittiwakes

we found this adult Glauc in lerwick harbour

Fulmar

Gannet

Filthy twitching

Last day today it was up to unst again to twitch a lancy ( a real one this time! ) and showed well it did as it crawled around our feet so was careful not to squash it, hopefuly upload some pics tomorrow.
We saw the hornemanns again which was superb showing down to 10 yards, bumped into another little bunting and a otter from the return ferry to end the day.