Shetland 2021: Day 5

Tuesday 12/10. Making the Most of It

Finally, the Shetland part of this Shetland trip was to begin in earnest. After weeks of migrant-sapping westerlies there was little to be gained from searching for non-existent migrants. The lack of migrants was palpable; no ticking robins or clucking blackbirds. No bramblings or goldcrests. Nada. Combining this lack of inspiration with the forecasted strong north-westerlies and rain for the coming days it seemed to make sense for us to notch up a few of the scarcities that have been lingering for weeks. Always good to get some points on the board to lift the spirits.

We started back at Clift Sound, this time viewing from Wester Quarff in better light, although it was bitterly cold. The Common Eider flock was close inshore and the birds ‘cooing’’ calls echoed round the voe. Yet the king was absent, in fact there were noticeably fewer elders than yesterday evening. Ah well, we have all week and the Long-tailed Ducks were nice to see, along with a couple of Red-throated Divers. Jono picked up a 1st winter Glaucous Gull flying through.

Next stop was Aith, where we failed to locate the long staying Woodchat. Keep going.

Then on to South Nesting Bay where we also failed to find the near resident White-billed Diver. A few Great-northern Divers and Common Porpoise were scant reward.

On of those days..

Ok, just to get something in the bank we headed a little further north to Orbister where the 1st w Bluethroat showed well at a recycling centre. Hurrah, a scarcity in the bag and, as always, a lovely little bird. 

Bluethroat

Our fortunes had surely changed, so we returned to Aith and again failed with the Woodchat. So much for mopping-up but still enjoyed being out in the drama of Shetland.

Dougie Preston joined us that evening for a curry and a few beers, stopping overnight on the sofa. It was good to see Dougie again, but I think I was asleep in the sofa by ten! Rock'n'roll baby.