Tuesday 30 September 2008

September 30th 2008. Message in a Bottle.

Spent most of the day around Scatness (between showers), hoping to find a Yank - not today tho'.

2 Tree Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 10 Wigeon, 6 Whooper Swans, 2 Grey Heron, 50+ Skylark, 2 Bonxie, 1 Sanderling and 8 Dunlin around Scatness. Lots of Gulls and Gannets feeding in Quendale Bay.

Message in a Bottle found on Moast Beach from County Donegal, Ireland, put in the sea off Malin Head in August.


Bottle Message & Gannet.

Gannets.

Black-headed & Great Black-backed Gulls.


Herring Gulls.
Swell over Lady's Holm & Rainbow over Quendale Bay.

Saturday 27 September 2008

September 27th 2008. Western Bonelli's Warbler.

Went up to Lunna in central Mainland, late afternoon to see a Western Bonelli's Warbler (the 4th one I've seen since moving to Shetland in 2002).


Western Bonelli's Warbler.

Friday 26 September 2008

September 26th 2008. Home at last.

Morning on Fair isle.

Little Bunting in the Utra Crop, 2 Ruff at South Light, Lapland Bunting on Gilsetter and 7 Yellow-browed Warblers seen.
Eventually flew off the Island at 11am - thanks to Josie and Dave at South Light for looking after us at such short notice and to Del for finding the Flycatcher and the Thrush.

Thursday 25 September 2008

September 25th 2008. Siberian Thrush.

All day on Fair Isle.

Started the day by finding a Bluethroat at Utra and picking up a few birds in the South end of the Island - Pied Flycatcher, Whinchats, Siskin, Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Ruff. At about 11am the Obs van came round waving the red flag - male Siberian Thrush on the cliffs near Ward Hill !! Having seen the one on Foula last year, decided to play it cool and stay in the South, and try and find something rare. Within the hour found Arctic Warbler at the Haa.
Eventually went up Ward Hill and saw the Thrush at about 3pm - it was still in the same place, down the side of a cliff about 60 yards away.
Also seen on the Island - Little Bunting by the Shop and 17 Yellow-browed Warbler at various places.



Arctic Warbler.

Bluethroat.

Little Bunting & Ruff.


Siberian Thrush.
Yellow-browed Warblers.

Siberian Thrush - Fair Isle.




Wednesday 24 September 2008

Brown Flycatcher - Fair Isle Sept '08







September 24th 2008. Brown Flycatcher.

Spent most of the day around South Mainland, until it all went mad again !!!

1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whinchat, 3 Ruff, 42 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover and a Merlin at Exnaboe.

1 Blackcap, 4 Siskin and a Lesser Whitethroat in the Garden.

Red-throated Diver and 6 Harbour Porpoise in Quendale Bay.

Caught a flight out of Sumburgh at 4pm for Fair Isle and was watching the 1w Brown Flycatcher around the mast on Ward Hill by 4.30. Added bonus on Fair Isle - Red-flanked Bluetail at the South end of the island seen just before dark, also 8 Yellow-browed Warblers seen (45+ present on the island !).







Brown Flycatcher.

Monday 22 September 2008

September 22nd 2008. Clear out.

Big clear out of birds last night - very few migrants seen.

4 Whinchat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 12 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 1 Ruff and a Merlin at Scatness.

5 Robin, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 North-western Redpoll and a Merlin around the Sumburgh Hotel/Farm area.

Lapland Bunting flew south over the runway near Virkie Willows.


Wheatear & Gadwall at Scatness.
Cormorant off Scatness.