Icky

A bit of drizzle to go with the overnight easterly and a result, Icterine Warbler joining the Chiffchaff in the garden, somewhat more confusing was the Carrion Crow event today, I tend to see Carrion Crows at Scatness in April but today I had around 24 flying south all in groups of 4 (inc a group that landed briefly in front of the house), either that or the same flock of 4 was doing circuits of south mainland. Elsewhere just a Knot and a Swallow.

Icterine Warbler

Carrion Crows

Knot

Icterine

Icterine Warbler in the garden today

May Update

A bit of an update for May, Common Tern and Arctic Skua added to the year-list on the 5th and Whooper Swan and Swallow on the 7th. A bit of a fall took place on the 8th, with House Martin, male Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whitethroats, male Ring Ouzel, Dunnock, Redstart, Song Thrush, Lapland Bunting, 2 Tree Pipit and Wryneck on the patch, plus a long overdue garden tick - Reed Bunting ! Between the 17th and the months end a few more minor falls took place, Kestrel and Redpoll on the 17th, Crossbill and Common Rosefinch on the 20th,  2 Red-backed Shrikes, Icterine Warbler and Avocet on the 23rd and a Little Egret on the 30th.

Avocet

Common Rosefinch

Common Redpoll

Icterine Warbler

Little Egret

Lesser Whitethroat

Reed Bunting

Red-backed Shrikes

New and improved ?

With Blogger doing a new and improved version of things, it meant that for several days I couldn't do any updates, plus a couple of posts have gone missing into the ether, and finally, when everything was supposedly OK I couldn't log in !!!

So here's a summary from the last few weeks -



Common Redpoll - one in the garden for a few days, and a year-tick.




female Pintail on the Loch on 25/5




Barnacle Goose on the Loch for a few days towards the end of May




Garden Warbler in the Hotel Garden on 26/5




Icterine Warbler at Sumburgh Head on 26/5




Sedge Warbler in the garden on 26/5 - garden tick !!!




Whinchat - another year-tick on 26/5





Mutes Swans - up to 8 have been on the Loch during May




Wood Pigeon - the only migrant on 4/6





Another Icterine.

Another Icterine Warbler in the garden today, along with a Willow Warbler (this is a different bird from the one present 22/8 - 26/8, in having no damage to the feathers at the base of the bill ), also in the garden - Sparrowhawk seen twice, sheltering from the wind and rain under a rose bush, finally flew off north mid afternoon. 6 Sanderling, 16 Dunlin and 4 Purple Sandpiper on Moast Beach, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel over the House and Whinchat along the Scatness Road.

Icterine Warbler.

Icterine Overkill.

As there is still at least one Icterine Warbler in the Garden - here's a few more photos, I wouldn't have bothered posting anymore, but this bird is now showing stupidly well from the living room window, at times, down to a few inches as it picks Craneflies off the windowsill !
The day finished with a Black Tern seen off the end of the runway and again at Grutness - it certainly didn't seem to be hanging around as it flew from Grutness, over the runway, towards West Voe.

Icterines Still.

The two Icterine Warblers were back in the garden (only one present yesterday) and showed quite well after the rain had gone through, 1 Greenshank, 19 Dunlin, 1 Knot and 1 Sanderling around Moast Beach, 25+ 'Alba' Wagtails dotted around Scatness and 3 Swallows over the Loch. Still quite a few Painted Ladies on the wing.

Icterine Warblers.

Icterine Warbler mimicry -

Mimicking - Flowerpecker.....

.....Treecreeper.....

....and Wryneck.

Painted Lady.

Kittiwake.

Ringed Plover.

Wheatear.

Icterine Warblers.

A nice surprise in the garden this morning - an Icterine Warbler, seen briefly at about 8.30 and not again until 11 o'clock, and then for only a few minutes before it disappeared again ! A proper young bird with the yellow, fleshy gape still - it can't be that long ago that it was still in the nest !Whilst out in the garden, searching for this bird, Sparrowhawk flew over, heading towards Toab, 5 Swallows feeding over the fields and a Grey Plover, flying towards Virkie, calling (Garden Year-tick 114).
Captain's Log (supplemental) - 2 Icterines in the garden by early evening, and no other Warblers at all !

Icterine Warbler (first bird).

Close up showing 'baby bird' gape line.

Icterine Warbler (second bird).