With some rough weather overnight, the thought of yank waders on Esha Ness meant that would be our early plan for the day, however, I could tell Steve was keen to see the Siberian Thrush again, therefore, I urged him to go and to drop me off at Ronas Voe and I would walk from here to Heylor, to Urafirth and as far as Hillswick, but the latter I didn't manage to get to...!
Ronas Voe was quiet, Heylor however was better with two Yellow-browed Warblers, singles of Whinchat, Brambling, Wheatear and Garden Warbler and six Twite while the Corncrake was again flushed in the exact spot I flushed it the first time in the quarry.
Afterwards I trudged to Upper Urafirth through numerous iris beds and gardens, down into Urafirth where just a Yellow-browed was present, then decided on walking off to Hillswick, but a tempting line of irises between a willow and garden caught my attention, so I walked this, and flushed from deep within, a medium-sized bunting which gave the ever delightful 'tick' call as it headed into the garden landing near the top of a bush. I carefully re-positioned and with the thermal was able to locate the bird swiftly, and through bins I was immediately able to see the reddish flank streaking among other notable features, and bingo, a Rustic Bunting!
It was a bugger to see and others only got brief perched and flight views as it became more mobile. Thankfully Steve arrived meaning no more walking, and the day ended with a superb Red-breasted Flycatcher in the geo at Esha Ness... a true Fair Isle on Mainland moment!
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| Rustic Bunting at Urafirth |
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| Whinchat at Heylor |
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| Twite at Heylor |
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| Urafirth - the lowest left garden is where the Rustic landed |
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| Esha Ness geo |
