AL'S BIRDING BLOG: SHETLAND DAY 11-PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER-BARNAFIELD-MAINLAND

1 October 2017

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 from 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 on the road giving great views.

RUSTIC BUNTING

We then moved onto to Dale of walls where a 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,WHEN WILL I GET A NEW BIRD!SEETHIN!

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 the car and lit up a cigarette and said to Harry if you need PG TIPS or LANCY I'd get down 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 locastella 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's. 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 photo's as I could on 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 START ARRIVING

HARRY TAKE A BOW SON!

ME AND DAN WATCHING THE BIRD
IMAGES BY (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 thw 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.