A stop at Lochwinnoch RSPB proved worthwhile as it coincided with a young birder named Michael relocating the drake Hooded Merganser there. Whilst distant and proving elusive that made a pleasant change for the species concerned! There were also a few Goosanders and Whooper Swans present. We were then made very welcome by Al and Paula at Hoylake.
Drake Hooded Merganser at Barr Loch, Lochwinnoch RSPB
Loch of Cliff played host to a single female-type Scaup and a there was a Great Northern Diver off Burrafirth and a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew south. A Purple Sandpiper was on the beach at Skaw and a Blue Fulmar was seen on the cliffs at Lamba Ness.
After a very enjoyable day spent with Mark seeing a Woodcock and Water Rail at Sandgarth I planted 26 Willows in the garden before walking to Valyie and back seeing a Great Northern Diver, an overflying juvenile Glaucous Gull, the Brambling, 4 Chaffinches and a small flock of Twite.
Set off to work on Yell but the ferry was going via Fetlar due to maintenance on one of the two ferries so giving a chance to sail through the Bluemull Sound producing a Great Northern Diver, some smart Long-tailed Ducks and a flock of Eider that images revealed included the returning drake Surf Scoter. After a short morning at work it was lunch 'half an hour' when fortuitously met Jim Nangle at Mid Yell who said he'd just left the 4 Humpback Whales just a 5 minute drive away at Aywick although they'd swam south out of view. After a quick drive, first stop was White Wife where saw a Humpback swimming towards Gossabrough. Another short drive from where all four were visible and could even hear them blowing - brilliant! Mark called to fix a Christmas meal that seemed surreal whilst we were both out enjoying the warm December sunshine on Shetland! Jim then text to say there was a Goosander near Gutcher that later managed to see in the 'evening' halflight proving to be a nice drake.
Dawn on the Bluemull Sound
Long-tailed Ducks in the Bluemull Sound
Drake Surf Scoter with Eider in the Bluemull Sound
A juvenile Glaucous Gull arrived at Norwick bay early morning before flying inland over Clibberswick. A Blue Fulmar was flying along the southern cliffs of Lamba Ness. A walk to Valyie provided a big surprise with a Common Rosefinch being present accompanying the 4 Chaffinches and single Brambling that have been present there for some time. With a previous late Autumn record for Norwick on the 19/11 and one on Fair Isle on 30/11 it proved not quite as unprecedented as it first seemed.
A tour of the island produced an adult and a juvenile Glaucous Gull on Burrafirth beach, 16 Scaup at Loch of Quoys, 2 Scaup at Easter Loch and 25 Long-tailed Ducks at Belmont Loch.
