Shetland Birding Trip 29/09/12 to 06/10/12

Just back from another great week on Shetland. Although the week only produced 2 life ticks, the quality of birds was good, with many speciers only seen for the 2nd time.

On this occassion I ventured north with Paul Hawkins, Jonathan Lethbridge, Vince Haley Frame, Steve Bacon and Mat Eade.

The 2 UK life ticks were Pechora Pipit, which was very hard work, taking hours in poor conditions and eventually only seen after an organised flush, and Siberian Stonechat, which by contrast showed very well (pic below). Here are just some of the many pics from the trip:

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll - what a cracker - again on Unst where my only previous one had been seen 2 years earlier

Spotted Sandpiper   



Spotted Flycatcher 



Isaballine Shrike - only my 2nd ever! This bird realy gave us the run around until we eventually caught up with it on our 4th attempt! 



Couldn't resist another pic!

Black Guillimot

Common Eider 

American Golden Plover - poor pic, but never really got great views of this bird



European Golden Plover - Leucistic type 



Hooded Crow - common with their waistcoats on

Starling - as common as you can get - but very smart



Siberian Stonechat - tick!

 

And another 

        

Little Bunting 

Pied Flycatcher



A really poor shot of my 2nd ever American Buff Bellied Pipit



Yellow Browed Warbler - saw lots and as always very smart

Other birds of note seen during the trip were, Surf Scoter, Red Breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Wood Warbler and the best find of the crew; Great Reed Warbler, found by Mat on our last day! The trip may not have delivered us a mega eastern or yankee Thrush, but many good birds were seen and we all had a good crack along the way.