Shetland Isles 2011 - Raining alot

Little Bunting, Geosetter
Isabelline Shrike 1w, Levenwick
Isabelline Shrike 1w, Levenwick

Red throated Diver, Voe harbour

Blackcap, most common migrant on the Islands

Sea watching, West Mids. style

3rd October 2011

The weather took a turn for the worst overnight with persistent rain continuing throughout the morning. We tried Kergord, being a more shetered location but we still got wet. The only consolation for me was finding 5 Brambling feeding on the ground and a female Crossbill at Lower Voe. By late afternoon the wind had strengthened but we still managed to get good views of the juvenile Isabelline Shrike back at Levenwick during an isolated sunny spell. The bird was sheltering in a garden and the owner kindly allowed a few birders/photographers in to view.

4th October 2011

The strong winds and intermittant showers continued. We toured South Mainland adding only Peregrine, Little gull and Sanderling to the trip list, but we did see another juvenile Citrine wagtail with a liking for manure heaps. This one in a farmyard at Fleck. At Channerwick we followed up a report of another Olive backed Pipit. We got there just in time to see it fly into cover. The last call of a relatively quiet day was to loch Spiggie where Tom located a pair of Purple Sandpipers.

5th October 2011

A Rustic Bunting reported on Unst and the fact that the low listing member of the team, who will remain anonymous, still needed it had us making a second visit to said island. It was a miserable day, a howling gale and persistent rain. No sign of the single observer reported Rustic Bunting. but we did add Garden warbler and Siskin to the trip list. Wow! The highlight of the day though was undoutedly a confiding Olive backed Pipit at Baltasound school(the 3rd OBP of the trip) which gave great photo opportunities despite the gloomy light. (Images in next post) We stopped for something to eat at Voe on the way back. With no decent draught beers on offer I resorted to trying the only unchilled bottled beer they had in the place from the Valhalla Brewery on Unst. The beer was called White Wife and had a very distinctive peaty flavour. The Valhalla beers were stocked at Tescos in Lerwick, so that was me sorted for the rest of the stay.