A1 Birding

  A few days back at work and then I was off to the Shetlands.  Train to Aberdeen and then the Northlink Ferry to Sumburgh. Again, timing seemed to be not on my side, but then that's the risk of short breaks, that you have fewer rolls of the dice.  I was a day late for a little fall of Bluethroats, but undeterred, I set about exploring the local area with the wheels supplied by my friend Stanley, a Lerwick resident. The Long-tailed Skua had returned to Boddam but we missed it at our first attempt, and I was satisfied with some common birds.  The Twite looked subtly splendid in their breeding plumage. Arctic Tern Whooper Swan Twite Rock Dove Back in Lerwick in the afternoon, a Black Guillemot was swimming close to the harbour walkway. It proceeded to walk up the steps and was joined by a second bird and they engaged in some sort of ritual dance, but never did the business and both birds slipped back into the water.  Maybe they were saving the main event for later...

  A few days on the Isles of Scilly and I arrived full of hope and anticipation for some classic spring rares.  However, although the first day began nicely with a Ring Ouzel, a distant Osprey and a sprinkling of Turtle Doves, the remainder of the trip was very 'tame.'  A drake Garganey mid week was a welcome distraction and a female Scaup on Tresco was a Scilly tick.     Ring Ouzel Turtle Dove Whimbrel Black-tailed Godwit Garganey Greater Scaup Shelduck Northern Wheatear Puffin Goldfinch Reed Warbler

  Latest in the run of warblers showing well at Attenborough was a Garden Warbler by the bridge, next to the car park. Not normally a bird to sit out in the open, so this was a nice sight.