The action progressed better than the first two weeks, with the odd scarcity turning up, prompting a few minor twitches as I was also leading the Birdguides group, alongside John Hague. This was a good six days, although sadly for the group, the goodies occurred either side, but I did manage to find my first ever shrike, a Great Grey Shrike, quickly followed by me finding a Red-backed Shrike, during this period. We also saw Arctic Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Firecrest, Olive-backed Pipit and American Wigeon (a joint find also). During these days I had time to myself after the day's end and managed to find a flycatcher trio in a single garden, with Red-breasted, a vocal Pied and Spotted Flycatchers.
Just as the group had gone, Dave and Richard on Unst went and found probably my most wanted Shetland mega, a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler! As Steve is yearlisting, we first went for an elusive Olive-backed Pipit in Lerwick, ragged it onto Unst where the PG Tips showed good enough in flight, plus a few running views, and then we ended out on NW Mainland for a showy Radde's Warbler.
The remaining time proved quiet for us up north, but the final day resulted in one final mega, a Grey-cheeked Thrush that had been found the evening before and which we'd dipped. In the final hours, a Turtle Dove flew past me and the Kingfisher in Lerwick ended a very successful three weeks.
Totals for the Highlights
King Eider - 1
Kingfisher - 1
American Black Tern - 1
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 2
Glossy Ibis - 1
Lapland Bunting - 2
Western Bonelli's Warbler - 1
Baird's Sandpiper - 1
Citrine Wagtail - 1
Yellow-browed Warbler - 22
Quail - 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher - 3
Barred Warbler - 7
Siberian Blue Robin - 1
Two-barred Warbler - 1
Siberian Stonechat - 1
Little Bunting - 1
Great Grey Shrike - 1
Firecrest - 1
Olive-backed Pipit - 2
Arctic Warbler - 1
Red-backed Shrike - 1
American Wigeon - 1
Common Rosefinch - 1
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Radde's Warbler - 1
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 1
Jack Snipe - 2
Turtle Dove - 1
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| Grey-cheeked Thrush at Easter Quarff |
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| Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler on Unst |
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| Arctic Warbler at Fladdabister |
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| American Wigeon on Spiggie |
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| Red-backed Shrike at Spiggie |
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| Northern Lights from our base at Housetter |
