Yesterday afternoon, I was out shopping when I got a phone call from my birding mate Simon Slade. The moment he said “Siberian Accentor,” I knew it was a mega bird—a first for Britain. Twitch mode instantly set in. I rang my friend Sean Cole, and before I could say anything, he had arranged a private flight for us. Stress over.
The next morning came quickly. I boarded the plane with Sean Cole, Adrian Webb, and James Hanlon, flying to Shetland under clear skies. The aerial views over the islands were spectacular, and Sean kept everyone entertained throughout the flight.
Fair Isle
Sean kept us all entertained on the flight
Landing at Sumburgh Airport, we jumped straight into a taxi, and Chris Batty directed us immediately to the bird. The accentor had retreated into some nettles, and I waited anxiously. Nearly five minutes later, it flew onto the quarry face—and there it was. I could hardly believe my eyes.
For the next two hours, the Siberian Accentor showed brilliantly, foraging just a few metres away at times. It was a stunning bird, a true testament to the incredible journey it had made from northern Siberia, breeding on both sides of the Urals and wintering in southeast Asia, to appear in a small quarry in Shetland.
My first view of the bird
Sibetastic!
Looking from the quarry towards St Ninian's Isle
The surroundings were just as memorable as the bird. Looking across the quarry towards St Ninian’s Isle, the atmosphere was perfect, and sharing the moment with fellow twitchers, old friends, and like-minded enthusiasts made it all the more special. After taking one last look at the accentor, we headed to the Sumburgh Hotel for a celebratory pint, well deserved after such a monumental bird.
A monster of Sibe deserves a celebratory pint!
The boys had clearly celebrated the night before
A quick check of Sumburgh farm and nearby quarries produced more highlights, including Lesser Whitethroat, Twite, Yellow-browed Warbler, Fulmar, and Goldcrest.
Twite
Fulmar
Goldcrest
Lesser whitethroat
By the end of the day, we returned to the airport, all elated at having added a cracking new Siberian Accentor to our lists. A truly unforgettable twitch—a day that will live long in the memory of anyone lucky enough to witness it.
What a day!
