Shetland, Sep-Oct '21 - Rares

As mentioned, while we prioitised covering our favoured areas in the hope of finding our own (of course), we also took the opportinity to enjoy stuff that was reported nearby - including Red-eyed Vireo, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Western Bonelli's Warbler, and King Eider. Nice.

Shetland, Sep-Oct '21 (part one)

Bramblings - large influxes, close views and strong vismig made them one of the birds of the trip 

A slightly delayed summary (busy times) of our excellent trip to the Shetland mainland over 28th Sep to 5th Oct. It was part Terriers reunion, part new or reintroduced team baptisms, and the five of us - myself, Rich, Dan, Will and Darren - had the pleasure of each other's always entertaining company over seven days birding in one of the more unique and picturesque of the UK's birding landscapes.

Ravens, Siskins, Pied Flycatcher

We were based in the village of Hoswick, nestled in a small bay on the east coast, about equidistant between the tip of Sumburgh Head to the south and Lerwick to the north; our accommodation for the week was ideal, having the full run of large ex-hotel, with promising habitat literally surrounding us. While we didn't plan it, we hit a loose pattern of birding a patch hard from dawn 'til lunchtime, and then either exploring somewhere new or diverting for the odd convenient twitch in the afternoon; where there were two particularly productive sites close to each other, we'd split the day between them.

Snow Bunting, Shore Lark, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher

Our immediate local patch of Hoswick and Sandwick was great, with lots of gardens spread across a wide area, as well as a wooded burn, juncus beds, productive farmland and of course coastline all within a few km, and we spent several mornings (and odd evenings) giving it a serious hammering. Otherwise, we enjoyed the mighty Sumburgh Head several times, and fell in love with Quendale to its west - an ostensibly modest-looking natural valley at Shetland's south-westerly tip, which we covered on multiple occasions, with satisfying results.

Hooded Crow, Eastern Lesser Whitethroat, Eider

While none of us are twitchers per se, we agreed that if a decent bird turned up either en route somewhere or within immediate striking distance, we'd drop in for a swift one. We did so several times, with entertaining results - entertaining in that we enjoyed not only a few cracking rarities, but the anthropological comedy melodrama of the twitches themselves (for another time, perhaps).

Red-breasted Merganser, Whooper Swans, putative Tundra Peregrine

Despite best efforts we didn't score a big one for ourselves, although we found plenty to keep us ticking over and fired-up to check that next promising corner of habitat.... a Tundra-type Peregrine (above, and more of later) hunting on Sumburgh Head was a stand-out, and we'd plenty of back-up (Little Buntings, Red-backed Shrikes, Yellow-brows, a very interesting Lesser Whitethroat, etc) - but many of the highlights, twitches notwithstanding, concerned shared migration experiences.

Little Bunting 

We enjoyed plenty of rarities nearby - Red-eyed Vireo, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Bonelli's Warbler, etc - as well as many scarcities, but the more holistic adventures of birding as a team and drinking in the ebb and flow of migration against such wonderful backdrops was the real thrill. More to follow shortly.

Flock of Twite, Shetland Wren, Wheatear

More snowy scenes from Filey

I know, I know - they're probably the most common subject on this blog over the years - but I can't resist them.... a day surveying and then a quick wander onto Carr Naze before sunset, and a male (pictured) and female (last post) performing beautifully in the last of the light. A joy.

 

Snow Bunting, Carr Naze 17th Nov '21

A quick early morning walk in the cold winter sunshine on Carr Naze here in Filey, and a wonderfully accommodating Snow Bunting for company; always a joy.

Wader clouds, Killingholme, Oct '21

From this week's surveying on the muddy banks of the Humber - Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, and the odd Dunlin and Redshank along for the ride.

Diversity on the Brigg, 24th Oct '21

Another from the weekend: after the wonderful session on the Brigg on Saturday (see here), another quick session on Sunday yielded hundreds of Starlings (last pic) pushing miraculously into the strong south-westerly and in off the North Sea from the continent (with some Redwings and Skylarks), perilously close to the raging seas, and a cracking almost-full-breeding-plumage Great Northern Diver among other treats (see below)...

.... and this Red-throated Diver performed beautifully for the camera as it (just) avoided a crashing wave on the Brigg, illuminiated by surf and a little splash of late autumn sunshine.

Iceland Gull - Filey Brigg, 23rd Oct '21

As detailed in the last post, I'd spent the working week guiding at Spurn Bird Obs, returning late Friday night; Saturday and Sunday would need some serious attention paid to desk-based work - but we all need fresh air and birds to focus our working minds, right? And it is late October on the Yorkshire coast....

Thus, a 'quick' session on Brigg seemed reasonable, and as always at this time of year, it was a joy. Redwings and Starlings battling in over the waves, a Lapland Bunting trilling low and in off the sea, Rock Pipits and Siskins on the move, two Tundra Bean Geese south over the sea (as well as 470 Pinks) - all quite enough, but the icing (cough) on the cake was this truly stunning Nearctic Larus.

Approaching from the north-east over a tumultuous, washing-machine surf over the Brigg, it wheeled closer, gave me the death stare and headed south - but not before kindly turning around, dropping onto the Brigg, and resting up for a while. Iceland Gulls are proper scarce here at Filey, and indeed are less than annual in recent years, and so any encounter with them is a special one - and even better when they're so accommodating.