We began today’s birding at Isbister at first light because one of the team members was hoping to see an Arctic Redpoll. Fortunately, we quickly found the bird feeding by a stream, and it displayed beautifully for us. This particular bird was identified as a Hornemann's Redpoll, a subspecies that breeds in Greenland and neighbouring areas of Canada.
Other birds seen today:
4 Yellow-browed warblers.
2 Lesser Whitethroat.
12 Twite.
1 Goldeneye.
9 Wigeon.
1 Goosander.
4 Grey Heron.
3 Redwing.
1 Song Thrush.
16 Whooper Swans.
2 Sanderling.
1 Ringed plover.
9 Dunlin.
2 Grey Wagtail.
10 Goldcrest.
70+ Fulmar
Little Stint.
The evening was spent at the back of our house, where we are staying in Gulberwick, where we finally connected with an elusive Dusky warbler that had been found the previous night.
Dusky Warbler
This was our last night on Shetland after two and a half weeks birding, which was hard going with the weather, but are team did find a Pallas's grasshopper warbler, which made the holiday, and I saw a Yellow-breasted bunting. Roll on next year!
