7th May 2016 Unst NE1 Clear

Awoke to a male Blackcap being present in the roses in the garden. Skaw proved quiet but Lamba Ness was more productive with a female Snow Bunting being seen at the sheep pens, a party of 3 Siskins flying north and a Whimbrel and a Shore Lark being present at the tip that Robbie had found a couple of days earlier - nice to hear its piping call every time it flew. Valyie played host to 6 Siskins and a Tree Pipit and there was a White Wagtail on Norwick beach. Again saw the drake Surf Scoter with a few Eider off Belmont but it was unfortunately no closer.

Millfield
Blackcap 1 male

Skaw
Swallow 1
Pied Wagtail 1
Chiffchaff 1

Lamba Ness
Whimbrel 1
Pied Wagtail 3
Shore Lark 1
Siskin 3N
Snow Bunting 1 female

Millfield from Lamba Ness

Snow Bunting at Lamba Ness

Often tame and approachable that didn't apply to this individual that promptly flew off!

Male Shore Lark at Lamba Ness
the uniform brown crown sexes this individual as a male

Norwick
Great Northern Diver 2
Dunlin 2
White Wagtail 1
Tree Pipit 1
Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 1
Siskin 6

Male Siskin at Valyie

Female White Wagtail on Norwick beach

Belmont
Surf Scoter 1 adult drake

6th May 2016 Sand Water & Unst

Arrived back in Lerwick and met up with MSC at Sand Water thoroughly enjoying hearing about birding Shetland since the 1970's. Time flew and it was time to head north back to Unst where the drake Surf Scoter was seen around the fish cages at Belmont and 4 Swallows on wires greeted my arrival back at Millfield. Slept well having spent three of the last four nights in a sleeping bag on the floor of the ferry bar!

Surf Scoter 1 adult drake
Swallow 4

Belmont House on Unst viewed from the Bluemull Sound ferry

Drake Surf Scoter unfortunately favouring the most distant fish cage

Colourful sunset over Lamba Ness from Millfield

5th May 2016 Girdle Ness, Aberdeen

Dropped the van as the office opened and walked to my car parked near the prison. Drove to Girdle Ness where slept on and off for a few hours. Wandered around the coast and golf course seeing a few Swallows, Wheatears and Willow Warblers. Boarded the overnight ferry to Lerwick where I was pleased to again see the albino Herring Gull as I was armed with my camera just in case it was still present.

Herring Gull 1 albino
Swallow c.10
Wheatear c.6
Willow Warbler c.10

Albino Herring Gull at Aberdeen Harbour

4th May 2016 Burra

On leaving Unst there was no sign of the drake Surf Scoter off Belmont although around 80 Long-tailed Ducks were nice. MSC kindly gave me precise directions to find the location of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Burra and helpfully told me it was occasionally singing. I arrived mid-afternoon with the weather deteriorating. I found two feeders but neither was playing host to the Grosbeak. On hearing a Blackbird-like song I eventually located it sat low in an elder sheltered from the worst of the wind and light rain by a stone wall. In 90 minutes it made a single brief visit to the feeder but soon returned to its favoured elder. I was briefly joined by Logan and left the Grosbeak still occasionally singing despite the deteriorating weather. Boarded the overnight ferry back to Aberdeen that was unpleasant due to the rough sea!

Long-tailed Duck c.80
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 first-summer male

First-summer male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Burra

3rd May 2016 Millfield, Unst

A nice sail into Lerwick from where we drove across Yell to Unst. Remainder of the day unloading the van with Jimmy helping move the bookcases. No sooner we arrived we kindly received texts from MSC and DRC to the effect that a first-summer male Rose-breasted Grosbeak had been found on Burra!

Lerwick in Spring sunshine

Leaving Yell for Unst

No need for a satnav here!

the unloading begins...

...against the backdrop of Norwick beach

another new arrival at Millfield

just time for an evening walk to Norwick looking back at Millfield

2nd May 2016 Ythan Estuary & Collieston

A morning spent at the Ythan Estuary where 2 Ospreys were the highlight. Another birder told us that the drake King Eider had been seen to fly out to sea with four Eider earlier in the morning. We were also told that a possible Great White Egret had been reported from a small loch near Collieston earlier in the week. A check of the loch and sure enough there was a Great White Egret present. Perfect weather for sailing from Aberdeen, and as we did so, what appeared to be an albino Herring Gull circled the ferry.  

Eider c.500
Osprey 2

Collieston
Great White Egret 1

Great White Egret at Collieston

Its trailing plumes, primarily dark bill and pale tibia are all breeding plumage traits

Aberdeen Harbour

Herring Gull 1 albino

Aberdeen Harbour

1st May 2016 Ellon, Aberdeenshire

After the long drive north an evening walk along the river produced a few birds including the hoped-for Dipper. Willow Warblers seemed to be singing everywhere in distinct contrast to Sussex where they are unfortunately in decline as a breeding species.

Goosander 3
Dipper 1
Willow Warbler c.15 singing