We were on the road this morning early and left the accommodation at 7.00am as we wanted a full day's birding. The first target bird of the day was the Parrot Crossbills, which have arrived in Shetland over the last couple of days. They haven't been seen on the Islands for the last 23 Years, so we headed to Sand on the mainland to try and see them. It didn't take long before I saw a female bird at the top of a conifer tree.
Female Parrot Crossbill
We carried on looking around the site, but we could only find this single bird and a Pied Flycatcher.
Pied Flycatcher
Moving on from here, we called in at numerous places and saw good numbers of migrant birds.
Looking over towards Stromness Voe on the way back to the central mainland
We called in at Lower Voe mid-afternoon and connected with another Rustic Bunting and a Red-breasted Flycatcher.
Red-breasted flycatchers have been in good numbers on Shetland this year
Whilst we were watching, the news came out that a Buff Bellied Pipit had been found at Grutness on a pool near the toilet block, so we headed south. The bird was showing on arrival, not far from the road, at last, a Yank passerine, could this be the start of something big!
My fourth Buff-bellied pipit for Britain
Birders watching the Buff-bellied pipit
A good day's birding and hopefully more birds will be found as the weather is set to calm down a bit.
LIST OF BIRDS SEEN TODAY:
1 Pied Flycatcher
1 Red-breasted Flycatcher
2 Spotted Flycatchers
4 Redstart
8 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
6 Song Thrush
8 Yellow-browed warblers
1 Parrot Crossbill
50+ Meadow Pipits
10+ Skylarks