Category Archives: Shetland

Female Pine Bunting

Posted on December 24, 2011 by

Overlooked? I was fortunate to find a female Pine Bunting in November 2003 at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire. One of the fascinating things I discovered was that for every male Pine Bunting trapped on the near continent, 2 FEMALE Pine Buntings … Continue reading →

Posted in Buntings, Shetland | Leave a comment

Finale- Shetland Autumn 2011

Posted on December 1, 2011 by

Saturday, 8th October Still on Shetland, South Mainland to be precise. A little emerging tradition has been to finish guiding and join Roger Riddington and Paul Harvey the next day for a full day’s relaxed birding together. As Roger so helpfully reminded me, together we scored with Taiga Flycatcher (2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Pipits, Shetland, Shrikes, Wagtails | 2 Comments

Last Day for Shetland Nature Groups 2011

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Still scoring… Last day for the 2011 tours. I really enjoyed this group of 6 guys over the last week. What a hoot! Wild winds but still plenty of birds. We opted to take the early boat and see what … Continue reading →

Posted in Finches, Shetland | Leave a comment

1 field: 3 rare waders

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Fetlar- never fails A day trip to Fetlar as part of our Shetland Nature experience, so far, has not failed. With previous strikes such as Taiga Flycatcher, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, White-billed Diver, Sykes’s Warbler and Grey-cheeked Thrush, its hard not to go with a little anticipation. With conditions still windy and uncompromising on Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in Shetland, Shorebirds | Leave a comment

Olive-backed Pipit

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Windiest day Tuesday 4th October proved to be the windiest days so far on Shetland. So birding was not easy. Much was done from the van or in the most sheltered places in the morning. Funny thing (and I need to remember it). Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Pipits, Shetland | 2 Comments

1st winter Daurian and Turkestan Shrikes

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

Identification Issues… …and the trouble with photos …and the problem of names Levenwick, Shetland, Monday 3rd October 2011 Had an excellent ‘bird finding’ weekend on Unst, where my new Shetland Nature group  (on the Saturday alone) found c 10 Yellow-browed Warblers, including 4 in one garden, and 3 different … Continue reading →

Posted in Shetland, Shrikes | 9 Comments

Black-headed Bunting

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

1st winter Dropped of our first group at the end of a pretty cool week and picked up a newly arrived group of 6. Rob Fray had already given them a great start highlighted by the Quendale Pallid Harrier. They were keen as mustard to see the Black-headed Bunting at Belmont on Unst. … Continue reading →

Posted in Buntings, Shetland | 2 Comments

Eastern Lesser Whitethroat

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

Bit more Northern Just catching up on some blogging from a wonderful Autumn. I guess I will intersperse some Shetland, some Helgoland and some Linosa birds and birding. Towards the end of our first week on Shetland our group found this … Continue reading →

Posted in Shetland, Warblers | Leave a comment

Magic Words- Eastern origin

Posted on October 28, 2011 by

Thursday 29th September ‘of Eastern Origin’ got applied twice today as our group scoured Britain’s northernmost isle. one to our delight a fascinating Lesser Whitethroat; the other to our chagrin (who uses that word anymore!) a grey and white flava wagtail.  I have cut and pasted from … Continue reading →

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Brown Lesser Whitethroat

Posted on October 27, 2011 by

is what I called it… To start with.  Found on Thursday 29th September at Uyeasound, Unst. A day of exploring our island base.I quickly alerted our Shetland Nature group that this was worth a look at. Then quickly went and found Will, Tony and … Continue reading →

Posted in Shetland, Warblers | 2 Comments