Despite the loss of wall-to-wall sunshine and the appearance of cloud it was the slowest day of the trip with a brisk southerly. Lowlights were Barred Warbler at Swinister Burn, 2 YB Warbler at Wester Quarff, GN Diver at Grutness and trip ticks of Dunlin + Bar-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie.
Thats more like it - Eastern Crowned Warbler south of Sandness, my second. Also a very confiding Little Bunting in Burn of Sound + a more elusive Golden Oriole at Aith (my first British one for c20 years). Otherwise still quiet - 3 YB Warbler, 3 Whooper Swan, Merlin, Wheatear - but promise...
Time to roll out "hard work". A day at north end of Mainland yielded upwards of 20 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Barred Warblers at Ronas Voe, Brambling at Busta House, 3 Wheatear at Eshaness, a few Redwing + Otter in Hillswick Bay. Partial recovery at last light with adult Rose-coloured Starling at Aith
A day flogging south Mainland was headed by a hovering Pallas's Warbler at Cunningsburgh. Also Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, possible Barred Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, Pintail, Whooper Swans, Garden Warbler Whinchat and Merlin but dipped an Ortolan Bunting at Clevigarth.
Today's collective sightings from a day out on Muckle Roe and then west and central Mainland - Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, 3+ Yellow-browed Warbler, Merlin, Siberian Chiffchaff, Velvet Scoter, 2 Whooper Swan, 5 Barnacle Geese, finishing off with a juvenile Red-backed Shrike at Sullom.
A day slogging north and central Mainland produced a nice Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, 3+ Yellow-browed Warbler, Slavonian Grebe, Purple Sandpiper, Red Grouse, 4 Whooper Swan, 3 Knot and 3 Red-throated Diver. The productive bushes at North Voe + Lunna.
First day on Shetland after a lumpy crossing. Started with Corncrake at Loch of Tingwall followed by a showy Pechora Pipit at Quendale + supporting cast of RB Fly & YB Warbler. Kicked around Aith, Hoswick + Fladdabister before ending the day with Merlin over our new gaff at Brae.
@mikeholley.bsky.social is the Upton Warren feed playing up Mike?
When Rob Barrett set out to survey one of the country’s largest colonies in the 1970s there were too many birds to count. Now, his pictures and archive images show a species decline echoed around the world. #Seabirdswww.theguardian.com/environment/...
When Rob Barrett set out to survey one of the country’s largest colonies in the 1970s there were too many birds to count. Now, his pictures and archive images show a species decline echoed around the ...