SHETLAND DAY 11-PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER-BARNAFIELD-MAINLAND

We started off birding in the north this morning at Melby, as two of the lads needed Rustic Bunting. We had a good walk around the area, but there was no sign of the bird. As we were leaving, the bird was found in the van as I was driving, feeding on the beach. I  pulled over the van, and the Rustic Bunting flew up onto some wires and then flew down onto the road, giving great views.

 Rustic Bunting

We then moved on to Dale of Walls, where an Eastern redstart had been reported yesterday evening. There was no sign of the bird, but we did connect with another Rustic bunting and a Great grey shrike. What a place Shetland is, 2 Rustic buntings in an hour!

Great Grey Shrike

Driving north after this, we stopped at Voe, where I found a Common Rosefinch that one of the lads needed.

Common Rosefinch

Whilst driving towards Collafirth, Dan found 3 Red Grouse by the side of the road.

Red Grouse

Arriving at  Barnafield, I got out of the car and lit up a cigarette, and said to Harry, If you need PG TIPS or LANCY, I'd get down there in them irises and start ploughing them. He was soon off down the hill and fell before he even got over the fence. I shouted, "That's a learning curve".He then got over the fence, took a few steps and flushed a long-tailed locustella, which ruled out a Lancy. I couldn't believe it! We all ran down the bank, and the bird flew again in front of us. The bird appeared to show a bright rusty rump and a contrasting dark tail before once again disappearing into the iris. Everybody looked at each other with the same surprised look of "Did we all just see the same thing there!". We gently coaxed the bird out of the reeds, and again the bird obliged with a great fly past showing a supercilium, buff/yellowish underparts, and we were sure we saw pale tips just as it dived into cover. James and Dan shot off to get news out as none of us had any signal on are phones. Whilst they had gone to get a signal, the bird flew onto the bank of the stream and showed really well. I just fired away as many photos as I could with my camera.

The bird then flew, showing pale tips; it was a Pallas's grasshopper warbler.

What a stunner

What had started as a funny conversation had turned out to be a mega find by Harry. We were all ecstatic at the find and waited for other birders to arrive. In the end, almost 150 birders showed up to see the bird, which was the first mainland PG Tips since 2004, which was at  Pool of Virkie from 6th to 7th October.

Within an hour, birders started to arrive

   Harry, take a bow, son!

Me, Dan and watching the bird
(C)Rob Jones

The rest of the day was spent watching the bird before the weather really deteriorated and we made are way home. News broke of a Short-toed lark on the way back, so we called in to see it. The bird was feeding by the side of the road in torrential rain, as you can see from the image below.

Not the best Short-toed lark I've ever seen

Short-toed lark

(c)Sam Viles

The evening was spent in the Sumburgh hotel, having a few celebratory beers.

OTHER BIRDS SEEN TODAY:

2 Red-breasted Mergansers

5 Yellow Browed Warbler

8 Song Thrush

4 Blackcap

6 Redstart

7 Chiffchaff

12 Wigeon

3 Merlin

6 Brambling

2 Mute Swan

100+Meadow Pipit

20+Skylark