Mainland Shetland, 15th October 2021
The lack of migrants continues, along with the relentlessly frustrating and cold north westerly wind. Still, we were chalking up some birds and the company was good.
We started the day at Wester Quarff, where again the King Eider refused to grant us an audience despite there being plenty of Common Eiders.
Much of the next few hours was spent chasing flocks of flighty European Golden Plovers in southern Mainland, around Fleck. After multiple near-misses, the American Golden Plover eventually settled and we enjoyed great views.
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| Hugh Harrop's excellent photo - American Golden Plover, Fleck. |
At Hoswick the long-staying Red-breasted flycatcher showed briefly, no doubt largely hunkering down in the gale.
At last knockings we headed back to Clift Sound, this time on the opposite side from Wester Quarff in the hope it would be more sheltered and with the sun behind us. This proved to be a smart-move as the common eider flock was fairly close and we immediately located the adult KING EIDER. At last. Whilst not in full finery at this time of year it was still a good looking beast.
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