Birders Tours 2011
Birders Tours 2011
HEATHERLEA BIRDERS TOURS 2010:
AUTUMN RARITIES AND SCARCE MIGRANTS GALORE
What a great autumn for migrants in the far north of Scotland! Our recent Birders Tours to Shetland, North Ronaldsay and the Outer Hebrides yielded a huge crop of rare and scarce migrants. With more than 20 species described as ‘rarities’ or ‘scarce migrants’, our guests collected a list of ‘life birds’ or ‘British list’ ticks which would be difficult to beat anywhere in the UK.
This combined report gives you a flavour of our holidays in 2010, though for reasons of space we have concentrated just on Shetland here - birding was exceptional!
Which BIRDERS' TOUR destination suits YOU best? To maximise your list, Shetland must be top choice. North Ronaldsay has fewer rare birds, but is relaxing and includes mainland Orkney, a fascinating place with very good birding. Outer Hebrides trips mainly feature American birds as rarities, though again the general birding is top notch and the islands are an important place to visit. Fair Isle needs no explanation, and next year we have succeeded in obtaining scarce accommodation here during autumn migration – very limited availability!
Heatherlea guides Peter Cosgrove, John Poyner, Dave Pullan and Kevin Shaw were all agreed – we had a fantastic time and can’t wait to go back!
Rarities or scarce migrants recorded on Shetland and Outer Hebrides by Heatherlea Groups between 25/09/10 and 09/10/10
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-bellied Pipit
Citrine Wagtail
Bluethroat
Red-flanked Bluetail
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Barred Warbler
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler
Booted Warbler
Sykes’s Warbler
Arctic Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Radde’s Warbler
Firecrest
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Arctic Redpoll
Common Rosefinch
Little Bunting
Lapland Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
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Like to join in? Here’s your chance!
You can see more detail by visiting the relevant page on this website - just scroll down under the GO FURTHER! heading and click the tour of your choice. NB Because of very limited availability, there is no webpage for Fair Isle in 2011.
All holidays can be joined singly, or during a full fortnight you could visit some of the most inaccessible parts of Scotland, from Unst in Shetland (Britain’s most northerly inhabited island) to the lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis, and leave your car behind! After you join us, Heatherlea do the rest.
To take part or ask questions please call us on 01479 821248 or see www.heatherlea.co.uk , we would be delighted to help you.
HEATHERLEA BIRDERS’ TOURS 2012
All tours are already filling. To reserve your place you pay a deposit of only £100, balance due summer 2011.
North Ronaldsay
Holidays begin with transport from Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge in the Heatherlea bus, and end back in Nethy Bridge on Friday evening. Overnight accommodation can be arranged before and after the trip, and on Saturday morning rail travellers can use our courtesy service to Aviemore. Car parking in Nethy Bridge at Mountview Hotel is included at no charge.
FANCY A FORTNIGHT?
You could turn your island holiday into a full fortnight by joining us the week before or after, either on a holiday week in Nethy Bridge or on Fair Isle or Shetland. Courtesy travel between Nethy Bridge, Aberdeen and Aviemore is included - a great Scottish birding fortnight without the need of a car!
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Fair Isle
Holidays begin and end at Aberdeen Airport. NB flights Aberdeen - Shetland – Aberdeen not included, though Heatherlea can arrange these for you at cost price. Flights Shetland – Fair Isle – Shetland are included.
FANCY A FORTNIGHT?
You could turn your island holiday into a full fortnight by joining us the week before or after, either on a holiday week in Nethy Bridge or on North Ronaldsay or Shetland. Courtesy road travel between Nethy Bridge, Aberdeen and Aviemore is included - a great Scottish birding fortnight without the need of a car!
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Shetland
Holidays begin and end at Aberdeen Airport. . NB flights Aberdeen - Shetland – Aberdeen not included, though Heatherlea can arrange these for you at cost price.
If you are joining us the week before or after on a holiday week in Nethy Bridge, or on the Outer Hebrides, courtesy transport to Aberdeen and Aviemore is included. Car parking in Nethy Bridge at Mountview Hotel is included at no charge.
FANCY A FORTNIGHT?
You could turn your island holiday into a full fortnight by joining us the week before or after, either on a holiday week in Nethy Bridge or on North Ronaldsay, Fair Isle, or the Outer Hebrides. Courtesy road travel between Nethy Bridge, Aberdeen and Aviemore is included - a great Scottish birding fortnight without the need of a car!
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Outer Hebrides
Holidays begin with transport from Mountview Hotel in Nethy Bridge in the Heatherlea bus, and end back in Nethy Bridge on Friday evening. Overnight accommodation can be arranged before and after the trip, and on Saturday morning rail travellers can use our courtesy service to Aviemore. Car parking in Nethy Bridge at Mountview Hotel is included at no charge.
FANCY A FORTNIGHT?
You could turn your island holiday into a full fortnight by joining us the week before or after, either on a holiday week in Nethy Bridge or on Shetland. Courtesy road travel between Nethy Bridge, Aberdeen and Aviemore is included - a great Scottish birding fortnight without the need of a car!
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RECENT TRIP REPORTS
SHETLAND BIRDERS’ TOUR 2010:
Saturday 25 September – Saturday 2 October 2010
Guides Peter Cosgrove and Kevin Shaw
Day 1 – Saturday 25th September
Everyone arrived at Aberdeen airport on time and we were quickly through security and on to the plane. We arrived at Sumburgh airport just after lunch, collected our minibus and began birding immediately. We drove straight up to the famous RSPB Sumburgh Head Nature Reserve (less than 5 mins from the airport). Rather than seabirds, our target was Arctic Warbler, an eastern vagrant from Fenno-Scandinavia/Russia that usually winters in SE Asia. This is a very rare migrant to Britain and anticipation was high that we would start off with a major rarity.
We sat down on a grassy slope at the top of the reserve and concentrated our attention on a small thin strip of rose bushes. After some intense searching, the Arctic Warbler appeared at the front of the bushes and showed well for half an hour, during which time we all got great views of this small rare green Phylloscopus warbler, as well as an accompanying Lesser Whitethroat. A small flock of Twite around the Lighthouse buildings were the beginning of many more on the tour. We drove the 5 minutes to our hotel, checked-in, dropped our bags and were soon off for more birding.
Our second stop of the day was at the crofting settlement of Wester Quarff, about 20 minutes drive north from our hotel. We spent a while trying to see a very elusive Little Bunting that flew between a weedy tattie patch and a wooded garden. Only 3 of us saw the bird well, but all of us had flyby views of this small eastern bunting. On the other side of the valley birders had glimpsed a Common Rosefinch (sometimes called Scarlet Rosefinch) in amongst a large flock of House Sparrows and Starlings. We drove around and settled down to see if we could find this needle in a haystack. Surprisingly, we quickly spotted the Common Rosefinch at the edge of the field, as it kept itself to the edge of the flock. With the aid of our telescopes everyone had good views of this often difficult to see, shy and retiring bird. Several of the group commented on how much prettier and more interesting it was in the flesh than on the page. Typically for this time of year, the bird was a juvenile and so it had relatively drab plumage. Nevertheless, greenish colour, pale double wing-bar, fine streaking, thick bill and beady black eye all contributed to make this bird a welcome addition to our rarity/scarce migrant list.
We had so much time to spend on the Rosefinch that several of us wandered off to see other things. However, Jean’s two turkeys did not make it on to the evening checklist!
Day 2 – Sunday 26th September
Pete got up very early and wandered up to the 2nd Sumburgh quarry and found two Barred Warblers chattering away (sub-song and calling) to each other. He rushed back, but alas both were gone by the time the pre-breakfast bird-walk reached the quarry. However, on our return to breakfast we saw Goldcrest, Blackcap and a smart Spotted Flycatcher at Sumburgh Farm. After breakfast we drove back to the quarry and immediately saw a Barred Warbler out in the open, not skulking as expected. We all rushed out of the van and then proceeded to watch this incredibly confiding bird from 10ft away! Many of us had not seen this difficult species before and even for those who had, none had seen such gripping views.
We spent over half an hour savouring this bird before taking a second look at the Arctic Warbler at Sumburgh Lighthouse, as well as cracking views of Fair Isle. The Arctic Warbler was much more co-operative in the lighter wind and sunshine and once again we all got great views and came to appreciate the subtler points of identification, which would serve us well later in the week.
We then headed north up to Kergord in search of our own finds. Unfortunately, despite the good weather, the woodlands produced little of note, other than our first Wood Pigeons and Redwings of the trip. We got a tip-off of Yellow-browed Warbler at the tiny settlement of Channerwick, so headed back southwards. Despite spending nearly an hour there, we had nothing to show for our efforts other than Blackcap and Goldcrest. Then Pete got a text, White’s Thrush two miles away, so we raced to the scene. As we headed off, Yvonne glimpsed a small green warbler in the Sycamore, but it had to remain unidentified. The White’s was thought to be present in a dense, thickly vegetated stream valley but we were told “It was last seen 20 minutes ago”. To find a suitable viewing location required jumping over a stream, climbing up a steep bank and joining the birding melee at the top of a steep slope squeezed against a fence. The locals organised two ‘co-ordinated flushes’ and walked through the stream and vegetation. Alas no thrush emerged, and despite being only two miles away as the thrush flies and getting the news straight away, we dipped for the first time on the trip.
If getting there proved awkward, getting down proved even more so. Several of us struggled to maintain our dignity, including Jane H who slid all the way down on her derrière, as if she had planned that manoeuvre all along!
Keen to get back to a winning streak, we headed off to the reliable migration hot-spot of Quendale. We arrived at the mill and immediately began birdwatching around the bushes and sycamores. To our delight, all of a sudden up popped a superb Yellow-browed Warbler. This bird was high on everyone’s ‘wanted list’ and Graham was almost as active as the Yellow-browed until he got the excellent views he craved. This bird, which should by rights have been in SE Asia, started to feed, no doubt refuelling after its huge migration from Siberia. With thoughts of refuelling ourselves we went inside the Quendale Mill shop and had a lovely cuppa. We went back outside and saw the Yellow-browed again as well as three Chiffchaffs including a pale brown tristis type bird. Despite having good views of this very different looking chiffi, it did not call, so our identification of ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff had to remain tentative.
Day 3 – Monday 27th September
Our final morning based at Sumburgh began with checks of the quarries around the farm, tattie patch and the garden at Grutness before breakfast. We had a nice Garden Warbler sunning itself at Grutness, but that was about all. However, upon our return to the hotel, we saw at least 5 Harbour Porpoises in the bay. After breakfast we headed out to Scatness and walked around the site, seeing an albino Wheatear, Greenland Wheatear (a race of our Northern Wheatear) as well as a nice flock of Lapland Buntings.
We then headed north towards our next destination, the island of Unst. On the way we stopped at the delightful garden and recently planted woodland at Sandgarth. Sitting in chairs outside the summer house we quickly found three different Yellow-browed Warblers, with Frank, Derek, Yvonne and Jane each claiming one. The thrill of finding a Siberian rarity carries its own special feeling and everyone was delighted with their ‘finds’, as well as a first good look at the charismatic, darker Shetland Wren (zetlandica race).
Kevin drove us north to the ferry crossing at Toft. Once on the ferry we saw Tysties and a couple of Puffins. Driving across Yell we discussed the merits of bird name plurals and why some sound OK e.g. Curlews and Mallards and others sound silly e.g. Snipes and Twites. To be honest there was little of ornithological interest along the journey and by the time we arrived for the ferry at Gutcher we were all used to the bleak Yell landscape. Red-breasted Mergansers, Kittiwakes and a Bonxie were at Gutcher, along with various gulls. Nevertheless, we only managed a lowly 12 bird species on the drive across Yell.
Once on Unst we went straight to check-in and then headed round to the adjacent woodland at Halligarth. By this time, Kevin’s “This is the furthest north (insert object name like woodland) in Britain“ routine was wearing a bit thin. We agreed to stop using this phrase and instead switched to ingenious ways of the saying the same thing, but in a slightly different manner e.g. “All hotels in the UK are south of here” etc”. Upon reaching the woodland, “the like of which is found no further north”, we met three other birders who quickly got us on to a surprise Wood Warbler. After this we headed to the “not southerly’ settlement of Norwick” where we found lots of lovely Bramblings, Twite and Meally Redpolls. Some of us saw an Arctic Redpoll, but others were not convinced because of the similarity with pale Meally Redpolls. It did not hang around and some of us felt this might be a missed opportunity to definitely get good views of this delightful snowball. We returned to the hotel, tired but full of the joys of exciting Shetland birding. That evening the wind speed increased and continued to come from the SE. What would be waiting for us tomorrow?
Day 4 – Tuesday 28th September
Dawn saw us gathered at Halligarth woodland with a palpable sense of anticipation for things to come. Our first sight was a cracking Merlin being chased by a Hooded Crow. Aerial acrobatics ensued and the birds disappeared behind the woodland only to reappear moments later, with roles reversed and the Merlin chasing the Hooded Crow. This reminded us of a Roadrunner-Wile E Coyote cartoon sketch of one chasing the other behind a rock, only for roles to switch as they reappear. We found a Wood Warbler, at least three Chiffchaffs and a flock of Bramblings all before breakfast. Elaine thought she saw two Wood Warblers and, just as Pete said that is quite unlikely, both popped up to prove her right.
It was a lovely morning, with SE winds and patchy sunshine and cloud. Whilst loading up the bus, a Common Whitethroat put in a brief appearance. We headed up to Haroldswick and had a roadside flock of Lapland Buntings near to Saxa Vord and then continued to Norwick, where we worked two tattie patches around Valkyrie and saw lots of lovely Bramblings, Meally Redpolls and a Lesser Whitethroat. After a tip-off from some birders who had just found an Arctic Warbler by the beach, we headed to a croft at Northdale a mile or so away. The roadside tattie patch held a cracking and confiding Common Rosefinch, affording everyone close up ‘bins’ rather than ‘scope’ views. By the croft cottage several of us saw a Barred Warbler in a bush and crawling along a dilapidated wall. On the drive out, we spied a Whinchat siting up on a fence. An uphill drive allowed us views across to Hermaness, and we also saw the lighthouse on Muckle Flugga, Britain’s most northerly point, before leaving this rather private viewing place.
Everyone was thirsty for a cuppa, so we headed towards Baltasound, stopping on the way at the walled garden by the Unst Heritage Centre. As Pete walked around the property he flushed an interesting robin-sized bird from the road which immediately set pulses racing. With it’s strong white supercillium and orange tail, there was no mistaking it was a female/first year Bluethroat. Everyone rushed around, but the bird had disappeared into the walled garden. We spent an hour and a half playing cat and mouse with the bird, during which time it appeared briefly on the border of a rosebed before disappearing into a really thick area of cover. Our patience paid off eventually when a sunny sheltered patch of lawn produced the goods. The Bluethroat spent half an hour disappearing into cover, only to reappear moments later in the middle of the small lawn feeding on invertebrates. It gave absolutely stunning views down to 20ft for everyone. This was a picture-perfect copy of the female/first year bird in the Collins Field Guide. Only a few of us had seen Bluethroat before and most of those were spring males. Derek and Graham took several close-up photographs of the days first ‘find’.
We drove back to Baltasound and eventually had our cuppa and packed lunch outside the Post Office, which allowed us to check the adjacent creek. Lots of birds were around, including an incredible 71 Snipe sitting out in the open. After the excitement of finding a Bluethroat, we decided to head back to Norwick to see what else we could find. At the village crossroads we checked an abandoned croft and its thistles and nettles. At least two Chiffchaffs and a Tree Pipit were present. Frank came up trumps when he found a nice Yellow-browed Warbler. Just after 2pm, we walked down the road towards the end crofts and tattie patches around Valkyrie. On the way down Pete looked over to some willow scrub in the dunes where visiting birders had earlier found an Arctic Warbler. From a distance of ca. 80m Pete could see a robin-sized bird sitting on the edge of the scrub, it was plain looking but had orange flanks and was not a Brambling. Pete got excited and we went through the gate and headed down towards the scrub. Pete crossed a small burn and slowly worked his way through the scrub, whilst the group looked on. By this time, Pete was confident enough to say “I think I have got a Red-flanked Bluetail”. Frustratingly, the bird dropped into cover and remained partly obscured by the vegetation, only to pop up again and look at Pete for about 2 seconds. It had a plain buff coloured chest, pale white throat, and orange flanks. The rather open, plain buffy face was enhanced by a white eye-ring and dark bill. The bird took flight and flew in front of everyone. As it did so, it showed a blue tail, which some of the group managed to see, particularly Yvonne who saw it well, but briefly, in flight. The bird flew strongly and directly into the first garden on the hillside next to Valkyrie (by the ‘Road closed’ sign and barrier). Pete then said “I have got a Red-flanked Bluetail”! Pandemonium broke out and we all hurried along the road back up to the garden and tattie patch. We spent an hour watching the spot where the Red-flanked Bluetail had flown, but to no avail. No one was home, so we did not enter the garden and stayed on the road concentrating on the vegetation outside.
As the bird had disappeared, we decided to move on. There was no mobile phone coverage to call out our news (of admittedly brief views), so with a heavy heart we got into the minibus, which Kevin had driven down from the crossroads. As we drove back towards the main part of Norwick, up popped a small flock of birds. We stopped the bus and were delighted to see four Meally Redpolls and the stunning white snowball of an Arctic Redpoll. Finally everyone had a chance to see this cracking wee bird as it sat on a black plastic bale and fence. We made our way back to the hotel for a well-earned rest and celebratory beer. In the evening we heard news that another group had entered the Norwick garden and seen the Red-flanked Bluetail. They had excellent views and had independently found it themselves and put the news out.
Day 5 – Wednesday 29th September
Dawn found us staked out at the Norwick croft garden where we had left the bluetail. Unfortunately, despite trying hard we did not see it again. However the garden held lots of interesting birds including Brambling, Meally Redpolls, Robin, Chiffchaff and Lesser Whitethroat. After an hour or so, the Arctic Redpoll flew in and landed on the fence allowing us all a second chance to watch this beautiful bird. Remarkably, it flew closer and landed within two metres of Graham, obviously mistaking him for a Caribou!
The SE wind was very strong, and we returned for a hearty breakfast and then back to Norwick for one more unsuccessful try at the Bluetail. Changing tactics, we decided to return to the croft at Northdale where we flushed a Barred Warbler from the tattie and stook crop, as well as a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. One more stop at the Halligarth woods gave us little more than Blackbirds, Goldcrests and the last Swallow of the trip. It was with much regret that we had to leave Unst, and we headed to the ferry. Despite being closed and about to leave, the operator opened up the gate and allowed us to make our connection. An uneventful drive through Yell and before we knew it we were back on Shetland Mainland. Pete made a quick call to the local Shetland Bird Recorder, who recommended we head out to Eshaness.
Our target was the ultra rare North American Buff-bellied Pipit. Despite long searches from the minibus and multiple variable Meadow Pipits, we could not see the bird we were after. Plan B was a five minute drive out to the Eshaness Lighthouse, where we were soon watching two delightful Buff-breasted Sandpipers, also from North America, in a force eight gale. Despite the winds, the birds were very confiding and happy to walk around and between observers. These birds were a real favourite and made up for the disappointment of not seeing the pipit, despite other birders claiming the bird when we were there.
Whilst most of us were concentrating on the Buff-breasted Sandpipers Jeanne, Jean, Jane and Elaine noticed a movement along the cliff edge. We all turned around to see three Otters (mother and two cubs) gambolling along the top in the high wind. Seeing otters (unless specifically searching the shoreline all day) is a difficult task here and we were indeed fortunate to stumble across this family group. The Otters quickly disappeared into the cracks of the black volcanic rock. This highlight was followed by a quick cuppa and a look around the independent Eshaness Heritage/Folk Museum. One more stop for the invisible pipit proved fruitless and so we headed to Lerwick, the base for our last three days on Shetland. Up to this point our bird tally was 77 species and our mammal tally included Common Seal, Harbour Porpoise and Otter.
Day 6 – Thursday 30th September
We awoke to rain and strong winds. Under such conditions, birding in Shetland can be very difficult due to the lack of cover. Consequently, we headed to Busta House, an estate house with an old wooded and protected garden. By 11am we were happily watching a Yellow-browed Warbler in the garden sycamores, when a Phylloscopus warbler dropped into view momentarily. It flew straight into some rose bushes and then sat preening for 2-3 minutes. Immediately we could all see it had a dull green wing with one well marked long pale wing bar on the secondaries. Its head was partly obscured and in the rain it looked fairly plain. The apparent lack of an eye-stripe and supercillium was a problem as no bird exists with all these features!
It did not have a second wing bar and the tertials were the same green colour as the rest of the wing. It also had a long-primary projection. This was clearly no Yellow-browed Warbler. It flew back up in the sycamores and over the next hour or so, we saw it had a smoky grey breast and flanks. Eventually we saw its face clearly and it had a long thin black eye-stripe and a thin pale supercillium which began at the bill base and did not meet at the forehead. Its sharp and strong looking bill was two-tone in that the upper mandible was dark and lower mandible was pinkish. It had brownish legs. Kevin thought that it sometimes looked elongated and long-necked. Clearly it was another Arctic Warbler! Our inability to identify it at the beginning was down to the poor weather, wet feathers and the partly obscured views of the head we initially had. It had Willow, Yellow-browed and Chiffchaff for company, which made comparisons possible.
Feeling lucky, we headed back to Eshaness and immediately found the Buff-bellied Pipit. The bird was distinctive and easily identifiable. Relief spread around as we all got good views of the bird through the telescope and we realised that we had not overlooked a difficult bird the day before. It had simply not been in front of us, or we would have quickly identified it. We met another group and got a message that a Red-flanked Bluetail had just been seen, trapped, ringed and released on Whalsay. Kevin took charge and got us to the ferry just in time for a crossing. This was our fourth island of the trip and Whalsay felt different, very much having its own character. We drove down to a plantation near the road end at Skaw and began to search for this Siberian jewel. Unfortunately, despite extensive and patient searching there was no sign of the bird all afternoon. However, in the small woodland we did see several good birds and some new ones too e.g. Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Brambling, Redwing, Fieldfare and perhaps best of all a lovely male Ring Ouzel. Graham and three other visiting birders got lucky with a Firecrest, a very rare bird in Shetland.
Day 7 – Friday 1st October
Gales overnight had continued into the next day and once again strong winds looked set to dominate proceedings. Despite our predictions the previous night, the sheep had not been blown away like tumbleweed. News of a River Warbler at Fladdabister the previous evening had us heading to that site first. Unfortunately the bird had gone, but we found a narrow grassy path between two houses that provided some shelter to the high winds which buffeted us and the birds. With patience, two birds came out on to the sheltered wall and fence. First up was a nice Pied Flycatcher, followed by a diminutive Red-breasted Flycatcher. This cracking wee bird was a lifer for most and everyone was pleased as it repeatedly gave great views.
Next, we drove down to Sumburgh and the garden at Grutness, where we saw a Turtle Dove. This finally gave us a good bird from the one remaining compass direction; birds from North, East, South and West now filled our lists. Just as we started to begin a sea watch at Grutness we got news of a Booted Warbler at Quendale, so we went straight there. A no-show meant we went down to the mill, had a cuppa and got absolutely stunning views of another Red-breasted Flycatcher. This one was in a tiny walled herb garden in the only area of any real shelter. The bird was well watched and/or photographed from 15 ft away by everyone. It proved so popular, that it became joint top in the end of session round-up of best trip bird. It was a real gem.
We drove back to the Booted Warbler field and Pete and Derek eventually saw the pale sandy coloured Asian warbler close-up on the ground for a few seconds before it flew off. 5 flyby Barnacle geese were a surprise and welcome addition to the bird list. We then drove on to Loch Spiggie where both Mute and Whooper Swans were hiding from the gale at the far end of the loch in a slightly more sheltered area. In contrast a Slavonian Grebe was at the top of the loch, but in sank from view once scopes were set up and disappointingly was not seen again. The last birding destination of the day was at Maywick (via a birdless Geosetter burn). A superb small farm woodland held 200-300 Bramblings and a Spotted Flycatcher, which took our tally to three species of Flycatcher in one day in the UK! Finally, a very well marked, active and pretty Yellow-browed Warbler put in a surprise appearance. At the road end a single Siskin was stuck to a nettle refusing to let go in the high wind. Our final stop was at Bigtown to see remarkable views across to St Ninian’s Isle. A fitting end to a windy but great day’s birding.
Day 8 – Saturday 2nd October
With an early breakfast and our minibus packed we headed out for our final morning’s birding. The south of the island was well covered by many visiting birders, but news came through that no-one had visited the excellent garden and plantation at Sandgarth to the north. So we headed here and met Mark Chapman, the Shetland Bird Recorder.
Frank, Derek and Yvonne each found Yellow-browed Warblers, adding to our considerable tally of this super Siberian striped sprite. A few Blackcaps were present, along with a small flock of ten Siskins. Martin, the owner of the site, provided welcome tea and coffee and the luxury once again of chairs looking onto the excellent garden bushes. Sadly, with the clock ticking, we headed south towards the airport, with one more chance to find a rarity before our early afternoon flight. We headed straight back to Quendale, but did not see the Booted Warbler. However, down at the mill Pete found a Barred Warbler which sportingly jumped up on a dry-stone wall in front of us before flying off over the fields into the distance. A Goldcrest and four Blackcaps were also present, but there was no sign of the confiding Red-breasted Flycatcher.
With an eye on the SE winds, we drove to the airport and ended our fantastically successful tour. Several elements made this holiday work so well. Chief amongst them was the SE wind direction, so crucial in bringing all the eastern species to Shetland. Important too was our ability to travel far and wide and visit three islands as well as Shetland Mainland; we covered so much potential migrant habitat. Finally, many pairs of eyes meant we thoroughly searched all the sites we visited, maximising our chances of finding and seeing birds. One particularly welcome feature of the week was that most birds were seen by all members of the Group. Only Little Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail and Booted Warbler were missed by some of us.
Several interesting things emerge from this bumper bag of rarities and scarce migrants.
1. We saw rarities and scarce migrants from all four points of the compass, but the majority of birds were from the east.
2. six species (Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, Arctic Warbler, Booted Warbler, Arctic Redpoll and Buff-breasted Sandpiper) are highly desired, top-notch rarities in Britain.
3. Whilst we saw several birds found by others, we also found many ourselves including at least 6 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Barred Warblers, 1 Arctic Warbler, 1 Red-flanked Bluetail, 1 Bluethroat and numerous Lapland Buntings.
Shetland Bird names:
Tystie – Black Guillemot
Bonxie – Great Skua
Skooty Alin – Arctic Skua
Whaap - Curlew
Dunter – Eider
Rain Goose – Red-throated Diver
Solan – Gannet
Shalder - Oystercatcher
Tammy Norie - Puffin
Report by Peter Cosgrove
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SHETLAND BIRDERS’ TOUR 2010:
Saturday 2 October – Saturday 9 October 2010
Guide Dave Pullan
Day 1 – Saturday 2nd October
We flew in from Aberdeen and landed at Sumburgh to be greeted by sunshine and a light south-easterly. A good selection of scarce birds in Shetland over the last few days meant that our hopes were high for the coming week. We picked up our luggage, collected our hire-car, and then dropped off our luggage at the Sumburgh Hotel. By mid-day we were out and about birding. Migrant Goldcrests and Blackcaps, and resident Twite, were seen locally but we quickly made the decision to drive north and west to Eshaness, one of Shetlands most scenic corners and holder of one of the rarest birds of the autumn so far; a Buff-bellied Pipit from North America.
At first there was no sign of the Pipit but we were at its favourite feeding spot and it wasn’t long before Dave heard it call and picked it up as it flew back in amongst the Meadow and Rock Pipits. Staying inside the car we had great views at close-range of this confiding bird. We then drove the short distance to the lighthouse to stretch our legs and admire the impressive cliff-scape with white surf crashing onto the rocks below. A group of 15 Snow Buntings flew over our heads and landed near-by. And then we tracked down our second North American species of the afternoon; 2 juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers feeding on the short turf. These too were very confiding, and by getting ahead of where they were feeding we could position ourselves and wait for them to come to us. A great start to the trip! We returned for another good look at the Buff-bellied Pipit, paused to view a Golden Plover close to the road, and stopped to take photographs of The Drongs and Dore Holm.
Just south of Lerwick, on the way back to Sumburgh in the late afternoon, we received a text message. “Swainsons Thrush at Levenwick”. Where’s Levenwick? It’s 5 miles down the road in the direction we’re already heading! It would have been churlish not to call in. At first there was no sign of the bird, just lots of anxious birders peering into gardens. Then we got brief views of a blur in flight, moving from one patch of cover to another. It was a bird but hard to say more than that. But then Colin did well and got a good view of it perched on a low wall, followed by Dave and Jill seeing it on the path a few minutes later. Our third North American species of the afternoon! We decided to settle for that and drove the remaining few miles to our hotel for a well-earned meal.
Day 2 – Sunday 3rd October
With the wind direction still south-easterly hopes were high for yet more unusual migrants arriving. We explored the Sumburgh quarries before breakfast, checking the hollows and patches of weeds. Only common species were present but, apart from Shetland Wren, all of them migrants; Brambling, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Siskin and Robin. But after breakfast a return to the same general area produced something much rarer; a Raddes Warbler from eastern Asia. We had already checked all the most promising patches of cover and were walking back across an open field when 2 Warblers flew out from a tiny patch of dead nettles. One was a Chiffchaff and the other was the Raddes Warbler. It settled into a feeding routine amongst more dead nettles and thistles at the base of a stone wall, often on or near the ground, and with patience we had some great viewing. Prominent long supercilium, pale orangey legs and feet, and apricot-yellow undertail-coverts.
Further north on Mainland Shetland we explored fields and gardens, any nooks and crannies and patches of cover that might hide an interesting migrant or two. There were plenty of Chaffinches and Bramblings, a couple of Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, Goldcrests and 2 Whinchats. A Swallow and 2 Common Terns were getting ready to head south for the winter, while 10 Barnacle Geese had just arrived and would likely spend their winter in Scotland.
The rain set in for most of the afternoon, but with the wind still in the east. We finished the day looking out across the tombolo at St Ninians Isle, and then round by Loch Spiggie where we found 2 Whooper Swans and a perched Merlin.
Day 3 – Monday 4 October:
A calmer day, sunny and dry, with the slight breeze now from the south or perhaps the southwest. Today we were journeying to the far north of Shetland to the island of Unst. But first we stopped off to walk across damp fields and iris-lined ditches near Levenwick in search of a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler that had been found late last evening. We did see it, but only in flight and later study of photographs proved that it was only a Grasshopper Warbler, and not its rarer cousin, after all!
The first roll-on roll-off car ferry was from Toft across to Ulsta on Yell. A Great Skua (Bonxie) was on the crossing and Black Guillemots were near the terminal as we disembarked. We then drove across barren-looking, peaty, Yell to Gutcher. Here we just missed one ferry but found a small flock of Snow Buntings feeding on the shoreline. Then with the next ferry we landed at Belmont on Unst.
A quick drive to Norwick at the north end ( passing lots of Rock Doves) and we were soon amongst the migrant birds. In fact the first bird was a Yellow-browed Warbler which flew in and landed on a fence just after Dave had got out of the car. Surely a good omen! A search of some of the roadside crops produced another good bird in the shape of an immature Common Rosefinch, and we also saw common migrants such as Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whinchat and Redstart. A Black Tern over the sea in the bay was a nice bonus. A few more common migrants including Brambling, Chaffinch and Skylark were seen at Northdale but the strong south-easterly wind increasing in strength made searching difficult.
After a quick look at the sheltered Sycamore “garden” at Halligarth, and finding very little apart from a couple of Blackbirds, we checked in at our hotel for two nights.
Day 4 – Tuesday 5th October
We woke to find that the wind was still strong but had eased a little, and that the rain in the night had stopped. On our first stop at Norwick we found a flock of at least 10 Common Redpolls of a large and dark race, mostly likely from Greenland, and with them was a much paler Arctic Redpoll of the “hornemanni” race (also from Greenland). They fed together on the ground, with the Arctic showing off the extensive (and diagnostic) white on its rump and undertail-coverts. While we were watching these, several Lapland Buntings flew over calling.
A walk along the side of a small crop resulted in us seeing a Little Bunting with its chestnut cheeks and white orbital ring. Blackcap and Redstart were seen at the same place, and a big flock of Snow Buntings flew over, at least 70 birds.
There was little to be seen at Skaw, the most northerly dwelling in Britain, apart from 2 Siskins. But on the way there we stopped for 2 Lapland Buntings that were feeding on the road just in front of us. At last a good view for Colin of a bird he had particularly wanted to see. Then for lunch, we stopped by the Hermaness road where there were 2 Siskins and a Reed Bunting in weeds alongside a stream.
At Baltasound in the afternoon we saw a Ring Ouzel, 3 Swallows and a Chiffchaff. Two geese flying towards us looked quite dark and as they got closer we could see their white foreheads and that they were Greenland White-fronted Geese. After a coffee break we made a return visit to Northdale to check out the potato rig and the oat stooks. A Yellow-browed Warbler hopped in and out of the potatoes. Bramblings and a Willow Warbler were still here. Then just along the road a bit Jill found the Arctic Redpoll, feeding on a stem at very close range. It really was a beautiful bird and we spent some time watching it feeding and preening, fluffing out its white feathers and making it easy to understand the nickname of “snowball” that Arctic Redpolls are sometimes given.
Finally another look at the Norwick crops and this time there were 2 Little Buntings together.
Day 5 – Wednesday 6th October
We left Unst soon after breakfast, taking the ferry to Yell and then the mighty “Dagalien” ferry to Mainland. After driving by Sullom Voe oil terminal (where a large oil tanker was moored) and it’s famous “Otter Crossing” road sign we arrived at the Busta House gardens where we spent some time searching for migrants amongst the well-established trees and bushes. Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrests and Siskins.
At Kergord there were even more trees, not just a wood but a forest. Anything could be hiding in there and after a coffee-break we began searching. A Pied Flycatcher gave its presence away by calling long enough for us to track it down and see it. We were less fortunate with a Yellow-browed Warbler; heard but not seen. Blackcaps, Robins and Redwings were also in there.
By the time we reached Lerwick the rain had well and truly set in and we ate our lunch inside the vehicle, overlooking Clickimin Loch and Broch. From Lerwick it was only a short ferry crossing to Bressay, with lots of winter-plumaged Black Guillemots (or “Tysties” as they are known in Shetland) near the terminals. The rain didn’t let up much but we enjoyed the view across to Noss and then explored an isolated garden. Blackcap, Chaffinch, Brambling and Song Thrush were the best we could come up with there but on our way back it was nice to get a good look at about 10 Lapland Buntings feeding on the ground in front of the car.
Day 6 Thursday 7th October
While we had been up north on Unst a Warbler on south Mainland had been re-identified as a Sykes’s Warbler (from being a Booted). So this morning we made our way to Channerwick in the hope of this extreme rarity still being present. Over the last few days it had built up a reputation of being elusive and the description by two birders leaving as we arrived of it “whizzing around” didn’t fill us with confidence. At least it was still here. We decided that the best strategy was to wait patiently next to its favoured patch of Japanese Knotweed and eventually this paid off. The very pale Warbler with a longish tail made its way through the thicket, often only just above ground level. Colin got a great view of it by being in exactly the right place when it paused for a while out in the open. Patience was the key!
After this success we explored some gardens and stunted Sycamores near Fladdabister. Fifteen Pink-footed Geese flew over heading south in the sunshine. At Hoswick there was a Pied Flycatcher, a Chiffchaff and Brambling. Common Seals lazed on the rocks at Sandwick. In the afternoon there was a notable arrival of Redwings when we visited Wester Quarff. There were Song Thrushes too and our first Fieldfare, as well as Goldcrests and Blackcaps. Jill couldn’t believe how many Bramblings kept flying out of one tiny corner of a crop. There must have been 50 or 60 and they just kept streaming out! To finish off the day we spotted a magnificent Peregrine, an immature female, flying towards us. It picked up speed and chased a Woodpigeon. Some fantastic action and the pigeon just managed to escape. But only just!
Day 7 Friday 8th October
Our last full day and we took the opportunity to visit the easternmost part of Shetland; the Out Skerries (the twin islands of Bruray and Housay joined by a bridge). On the way to the ferry at Vidlin a falcon sat on an old peat stack caused us to do a U-turn and check it out. A beautiful, colourful, male Merlin.
By mid-morning we were on the ferry. An Otter had put in a fleeting appearance and Black Guillemots were a quite common sight. A winter-plumaged Puffin with a dull grey bill was new for the trip. After a reasonably smooth crossing we were stepping foot onto Bruray (the East Isle) one and a half hours later, and one of the resident birdwatchers was there to greet us with the news that the long-staying Black-headed Bunting and Citrine Wagtail were both still present. The Bunting was on the West Isle, about a mile and a half away so we set off walking in that direction (slightly surprised by the number of cars on an island with only 2 miles of road).
It was a while before the Black-headed Bunting was located but Dave spotted it, well-hidden, sitting in the base of a bush. We had a good look at it through the ‘scope and then walked back to the Citrine Wagtails favourite area. Some of the common migrants present were Whinchat, Blackcap (sat next to the Black-headed Bunting), Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Brambling, Song Thrush and Reed Bunting.
While we were having lunch the Citrine Wagtail did indeed reappear at its favourite pool and we were able to get some great views of this grey and white juvenile feeding along the weed-covered edges before it disappeared again. Next there was still time for another look at the Black-headed Bunting and this time we found it feeding out in the open on a grassy path.
Happy with the day’s successes, we had to keep an eye on the time so as not to miss the late afternoon ferry. We walked back over the bridge to Bruray and noticed a small group of birdwatchers gathered near the Citrine Wagtail site. As we got closer it became apparent that they’d found something other than the Wagtail. One of the birders turned to us and uttered three unexpected words “Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler!”. After the disappointment of the Levenwick Grasshopper Warbler surely this couldn’t be true? Another of the birders showed an image on the back of his digital camera, showing all the key features and taken just seconds before we’d arrived. He then pointed to a grassy tussock just a few feet away. Cautiously we moved forward and there it was, a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler! Rare vagrant from far eastern Asia and one of the top prizes that birdwatchers visiting Shetland in the autumn hope to see. Fantastic!
After more sightings of the Citrine Wagtail we were back on board the boat heading for home. A great day and a great adventure.
Day 8 Saturday 9th October
Just after breakfast, the sound of calling Redwings and Bramblings flying over Lerwick meant that new birds were arriving. Indeed, by the time we reached Sumburgh it was clear that a fall of common migrants had taken place during the night with new birds still coming in. Frustratingly we were booked to leave on the 1120hrs flight, but we still had a couple of hours to play with.
Working the Sumburgh quarries, we found lots of Goldcrests. Many of them were very tame, single-mindedly searching for food, on the ground, amongst rocks and patches of thistles. The situation was the same out on Sumburgh Head near the lighthouse. Goldcrests everywhere. In rose bushes, on lichen-covered walls and on the Puffin-less cliffs. A migrant Sparrowhawk soared up over the cliff edge from below us and chased a small passerine (which managed to escape). Robins, Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits were commonplace. Redwings were landing in small flocks, with a few Song Thrushes and a single Fieldfare.
It was a good experience to witness migration taking place like this, common species, that will probably spend the winter somewhere in Britain, newly arrived after crossing the North Sea from Scandinavia.
Sad to leave but what a week it had been in the Northern Isles! Only a week but it was the best week of the autumn and in that short time of exploring Mainland Shetland, Yell, Unst, Bressay and Out Skerries we saw Buff-bellied Pipit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2), Swainsons Thrush, Raddes Warbler, Little Bunting (2), Sykes’s Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Citrine Wagtail and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler as well as Yellow-browed Warblers, Common Rosefinch and Lapland Buntings. Thanks to all who took part,
Report by Dave Pullan
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Our thanks to everyone who joined our Birding Tours last year, we hope you have happy memories of both the places you visited and the many new birds we saw together.
Slangevar! (good health!)