American Golden Plover, Sandwick 27th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

Sunday saw us traveling to the Mainland to try & catch up with a few interesting birds.

Our first attempt proved unfruitful as we tried to see an Eastern Subalpine Warbler which had been inhabiting a garden at Mossbank. The location was in a housing estate, so it was quite amusing to see fully clad birders with wellies, waterproofs, bins, scopes & cameras tramping about the roads of the estate in search of the bird.

Our next target was an American Golden Plover at Sandwick, which we also failed to see. Indeed, we couldn't even see the Golden Plover flock of 400+ birds anywhere in the area! We resolved to call back later on the way back north.

Next we travelled to Toab & had more luck with a Blyth's Reed Warbler in a large thistle bed. Several brief views were obtained of this secretive & skulking bird.

Upon our return to Sandwick the Golden Plover flock was present across a couple of fields. We scanned the flock several times then a helicopter put the whole lot to flight. Fortunately, they settled closer to us. Another scan drew a blank. However, another smaller flock of Plover joined the larger flock, so we scanned again & this time Dave picked up the American Golden Plover & we had excellent 'scope views.

Arctic Warbler, Uyeasound, Unst 24th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

An Arctic Warbler appeared at the southern end of Unst last Wednesday, towards the end of the afternoon at Uyeasound. I managed to catch a couple of glimpses the following day & during the next few days repeated visits provided better views. Always hard to see & only the second I've seen. The bird was still present earlier today.

There's been loads of Yellow-browed Warblers about this last week, the most pleasing of which was one a few yards from the chalet at Kelda. Another couple of brief & distant views of Pallid Harriers was another highlight this week.

Collared Flycatcher, Sumburgh 21st September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

News broke just before 1pm today of an adult male Collared Flycatcher at Sumburgh Head lighthouse. We'd been birding at Skaw, pretty close to the most northern part of Scotland. Not many birds about except for a flock of 20/30 Snow Buntings briefly. Upon heading back to base at Baltasound the info arrived.

Fortunately, the timing was good because we were able to make the 1.30pm ferry from Unst (Belmont) to Yell (Gutcher). We made good time and had a short wait before the 2.15pm ferry from Yell (Ulsta) to the Mainland (Toft). All the way was rain & at times a very low cloudbase. We arrived on site at the southernmost point in Shetland about 4pm in clear skies & made the short uphill walk from the lower car park to the lighthouse compound.

The Collared Flycatcher was on view immediately upon arrival in the compound on the left just before the lighthouse, feeding in typical flycatcher fashion & using some fencing, ropework & metalwork to sally forth only a few yards from our vantage point. Excellent views for the whole time we were on site. There were also three Yellow-browed Warblers present & at one point all three & the Flycatcher were perched in a line on the same section of fencing.

Managing to make the requisite ferry timings on the return trip, we arrived back on Unst just after 7pm.

Citrine Wagtail, Norwick, Unst 19th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

A first-winter Citrine Wagtail was found by visiting Wirral birders Eddie Williams & Allan Conlin on the evening of our arrival on Shetland. We failed to see the bird the following day, but a return visit this morning was successful.

Almost immediately after we arrived on site the Citrine Wagtail was viewable on the beach rumaging about the seaweed for insects. Good views were obtained & we returned later in the afternoon & had excellent views as the bird remained in its favoured area on the beach.

Pallid Harrier, Northdale, Unst 18th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

A juvenile Pallid Harrier had been present in the Northdale area on Unst since 13th September. We had looked for this bird unsuccessfully whilst on the way to Norwick, but returned later in the day with better luck

As we approached Northdale the bird flew up from a small patch of roadside trees & perched on a fence post giving good views. It then flew a little further away & perched on a grassy ridge for a few minutes before continuing along the valley & out of site.

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Burrafirth, Unst 18th Sept. 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

After making our way to Unst yesterday evening & arriving at Baltasound, which is our base for the next two weeks, this morning we made our way to Burrafirth to see another Western Bonelli's Warbler at Shore Station, which had been there since 15th September.

Once again excellent views were obtained & this bird was calling quite frequently, unlike the bird yesterday at Sumburgh. Whilst on site an Otter made its way across the road & up the bank. I've only seen Otters in water previously, so to see one on land was rather exciting.

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Sumburgh 17th September 2015

Photo courtesy Dave Willis

On the first day of my visit to Shetland, the first port of call was Sumburgh Head Lighthouse where a Western Bonelli's Warbler had been in residence in the compound since 14th September.

The bird was mostly inhabiting a small area of thistles, giving excellent views. Only the second time I've seen Western Bonelli's.

We also found two Yellow-browed Warblers in Sumburgh Hotel garden. A nice bonus.

Hoopoe, New Brighton 8th September 2015

Photo courtesy Joe Bellis

News broke just before 4pm of a Hoopoe at New Brighton. Only a few minutes away by car, I was the first birder on site following the news, hence the lack of cars, birders, tripods, etc. I had a wander along where I thought the instructions meant, "near gorse slope" which to me seemed to be west of Yellow Noses south of Coastal Drive, before spotting another birder. Upon meeting it turns out this was the finder, local birder Joe Bellis. Joe had seen the bird fly east towards Portland Court, so he went back up the bank & I sauntered along to the west as far as Sea Road, where Joe had originally seen it.

At Sea Road I bumped into John Jones & we both headed back east. A few paces later & the Hoopoe flew west past us along the ridge & alighted on the corner of Sea Road. We then had close views of the bird poking around sandy areas in the path coming down from the ridge. After about 15mins it flew off to the east. The bird returned about half an hour later giving brief views on one of the paths leading down from the ridge before again taking flight.

Speaking to the few birders who had now arrived, it turns out the Hoopoe had been seen a few hours previously by visiting birder John Evered, but he was unable to put the news out.

The second time I've seen a Hoopoe on the Wirral, the previous one being in Wallasey market gardens late October 1997.

Photo courtesy Joe Bellis

Red-backed Shrike, Meols 4th September 2015

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was discovered late this afternoon off Park Lane in Meols by local birder Allan Conlin. A rare visitor to Wirral, this is the first record for the Leasowe Lighthouse area.

As I arrived on site, a small group of birders were watching the Red-backed Shrike perched on a Hawthorn bush in what used to be the fields adjacent to the road, but which is now a small lake after the recent flooding with the River Birkett breaching its banks.

Everyone present obtained good views before the shrike glided from its perch & disappeared amongst the reeds & grasses about half an hour later. A first for Cheshire & Wirral for me.

Video by Steve Williams