End of the Gale - 27th October 2009

27th October 2009



After days of gales from the East,expectations of an influx of birds to be jumping from out of the undergrowth now the wind had dropped,on this calm and dry day.Migrants in fact obvious by there absence.
The garden included Chiffchaff and Robin.
Chiffchaff

Checked the local fields for the Golden Plover flock.





Rob Fray put out a MDS text,Olive Backed Pipit at Levenwick. However after searching the area for the next hour, the bird showed,but very distantly.
A Blackcap and Reed Bunting finished the day.

Blackcap

Blackcap

Blackcap

Blackcap

Nice weather for Snipe - 21 October 2009

Did a tour of duty around village.
The wind and rain kept most things out of site.Is the autumn over?


Snipe

Snipe

Only the garden - 20th October 2009

20th October 2009
Very windy and as dark as winter.
Office work was the order of the day.
But had to keep checking the garden.

Ortolan Bunting -19th October 2009

19th October 2009
On my local patch,while watching the first winter arrivals of Purple Sandpiper, feeding with Turnstones.

Info came through of a Ortolan Bunting at Virkie Willows.
On arrival as I walked the bank at the side of the trees the bird flew up on to the willows.
Was also observed feeding the banks of the burns.




Ortolan Bunting



Ortolan Bunting

Common or Garden 17th October 2009

17th October 2009
Searching for migrants today down the Ness (south Shetland Mainland)
Only two migrants seen,Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap,both very elusive in the wind.













House Sparrow














House Sparrow

Red Flanked Bluetail 14th October 2009

14th October 2009
A Red Flanked Bluetail had been around, near Voe for a couple of days,but the rain had been so bad yesterday, I decided to leave it until this morning. The bird had a large feeding circuit,and much of its patch was covered in dense vegetation.
Reasonable views obtained,but sometimes the bird disappeared for over 90 minutes before re-appearing.


Red Flanked Bluetail



Red Flanked Bluetail



Red Flanked Bluetail
























Red Flanked Bluetail

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Spotted Sandpiper

12th October 2009
















This morning decided to catch up with a Spotted Sandpiper, near Queldale that had been found yesterday.
The bird was said to be difficult to locate,due its tendency to feed under the overhanging banks of the Burns.
Having walked the two interlinking Burns twice, a little dispondent,but decided to check the beach at the end of the main Burn.
Walking down onto the beach, nothing moving,then suddenly a Sandpiper flew from the far corner and on to some distant rocks, then around the cliffs to an adjacent bay.
That was the bird, but would it return?
The contrasty sea weed proved a contrasty problem.
But eventualy manged some images I was pleased with

In the afternoon went for a reported

Lancelated Warbler, again at Quendale.

No look , but did photograph this Greenfinch, a scarce migrant in Shetland.

My prayers answered (What a day)

11th October 2009

The morning of the 11th October was a real contrast to the end of yesterday.
The sun shone and the wind was light, just as i had hoped, but was the Bonellis Warbler still around?
Well that and more.
On arrival at the small copse in the Maywick valley,the trees full of life.
The Bonnelis was still around,feeding on the sunny side of the copse,together with a host of other warblers.Goldcrest,Yellow Browed Warbler,Chiichaff,Willow Warbler,Lesser
whitethrought,Blackcap.
This was the most migrants we had seen all year, with the common migrants being very thin on the ground, due to the wind directions being in the wrong direction,most of the autumn.
















Western Bonellis Warbler















Goldcrest















Western Bonellis Warbler


















Western Bonellis Warbler















Western Bonellis Warbler






















Western Bonnellis Warbler















Western Bonellis Warbler






















Western Bonellis Warbler

During the morning I hardly gave any thought too what could be around the rest of the island.
But on leaving the valley,the mobile gave its distinctive rattle and roll,one after the other.
Pechora,Little Bunting,Arctic Redpoll,Lancy,OBP,Arctic Warbler,Spotted Sandpiper,
Blyths Reed Warbler - Hoswick- HOSWICK,ITS PROBABLY IN MY GARDEN.
and so it was. The best views had been and gone , but I managed a few moments over the next two hours.
Then by late afternoon,headed off to Sumbrugh Farm,and relocated this fine Little Bunting.

What a day.
















Little Bunting















Little Bunting















Little Bunting

10th October 2009

The morning was dull and windy, but with a few migrants at my local patch,I was hopefull of some thing more. Hugh Harrop found a Western Bonellis Warbler at his local patch in the Maywick Valley.
Still windy,wet and dark the active warbler proved a real challange.
Im just hoping it stays to be viewed in better conditions

Locus Pocus

9th October 2009

The news of a Lancelated Warbler at Toab,south shetland mainland. However the usual Locustela brief views did not tell the true story, the photographic evidence, sadly proved it was just a Grasshopper Warbler. Non the less still a good find for Shetland.