Shetland Autumn 2010

It's not difficult to see why so many birders are flocking to the far north

By David Fairhurst and Jon Dunn, Shetland Wildlife

The autumn birding scene in Shetland has been long revered by British birders, but it seems in the last few years it has become even more popular. It's not difficult to see why so many birders are flocking to the far north when you look at the mouth-watering list of species it produces year on year.

2010 was no exception as Shetland Wildlife guides David Fairhurst and Jon Dunn summarise..

Where else can you go in Britain with a chance of seeing White's, Swainson's and Black-throated Thrush within a couple of weeks of each other? The autumn warbler list for 2010 was even more impressive: last autumn produced 2 River; 3 Lanceolated; 2 Pallas's Grasshopper; 5 Paddyfield; 4 Blyth's Reed; single Eastern Olivaceous and Booted; 3 Sykes's; 2 Western Bonelli's; 3 Dusky; 4 Radde's; 9 Arctic and 6 Pallas's Warblers! Even though there were no outstanding mega rarities, the numbers of certain vagrants were remarkable, for example: 6 Red-flanked Bluetails; 7 Citrine Wagtails; 3 Olive-backed Pipits and at least seven Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls were recorded - all impressive totals, even for Shetland!

The season got off to a great start in mid August, with reasonable numbers of common migrants arriving between the 16th- 19th; the main highlights were on Unst with a Sykes’s Warbler found in the Burrafirth Burn and an Arctic Warbler at Haroldswick. Scarce migrants also recorded around this time included several Wood Sandpipers, Wrynecks, Barred Warblers and a migrant Corncrake.

The arrival of two Arctic Warblers (at Sumburgh and the Out Skerries) ten Barred Warblers and eight Common Rosefinches heralded a fresh influx of migrants on 4th September, all of which renewed the interest for scouring the isles.

The second week of September saw good numbers of common migrants and an excellent selection of scarcities with the undoubted highlight being an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Ireland, Bigton. Other rarities included: Western Bonelli's Warbler on Whalsay; Paddyfield Warbler at Quendale, and Great Snipe and Thrush Nightingale on Foula. Half a dozen Red-backed Shrikes, four Red-breasted Flycatchers and nearly twenty Common Rosefinches at various sites around the isles, plus Barred Warblers, the first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn and an Ortolan Bunting kept everybody on their toes! Despite the easterly airflow, Shetland again showed its pulling power by attracting a Pectoral Sandpiper and an American Golden Plover from the west during the same period.

A period of easterly winds and rain over the final few days of September produced a superb arrival of scarce and rare birds including: Red-flanked Bluetails on Unst and Whalsay; Paddyfield and Lanceolated Warblers on Foula; Arctic Warblers on Fetlar, Unst and at Brae, and a River Warbler at Fladdabister. A good total of seven Hawfinches were recorded, along with nearly a dozen of both Red-breasted Flycatchers and Bluethroats around the isles.

Conditions were conducive for yet another good arrival of birds on the 8th and 9th October, and an impressive number of eastern vagrants were found including: yet more Red-flanked Bluetails at Geosetter and Tresta; Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers on Fetlar and Out Skerries; Dusky Warblers at Halligarth on Unst and at Quendale; a Radde's Warbler on Whalsay; no fewer than seven different Pallas's Warblers; singles of Lanceolated Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Out Skerries, and an Olive-backed Pipit at Quendale. A Black-throated Thrush, an Isabelline Shrike, another Western Bonelli's Warbler and two more Red-flanked Bluetails were also found just after this clear arrival.

A change in the weather in mid October saw the start of the Waxwing and a Common (Mealy) Redpoll invasion, pretty much marking the beginning of our winter. But local birders and the few visiting birders remaining were kept busy with a white-morph Snow Goose, a couple of Rough-legged Buzzard, more Hornemann's and several Coues's Arctic Redpolls, a couple of King Eiders and to end the autumn with some good old fashioned head-scratching, a halimodendri-type Lesser Whitethroat.

White-billed Diver: there was an early bird reported in the Bluemull Sound on 3rd October and the regular returning bird was first seen in South Nesting Bay on 24th October.

Black-throated Diver: still a Shetland rarity, singles were recorded at Scord, Sumburgh on 1st September, Quendale on 17th September and off Lund, Unst on 12th - 20th September.

Surf Scoter: the long-staying drake hanging out with the large Eider flock was seen on and off throughout August, wandering between Burra Bridge, Trondra and Wester Quarff.

Snow Goose: a white morph bird was with Greylags on Fetlar on the 12th October before being relocated on Burra from the 19th October, and was still present well into November commuting between Bigton, Ireland and Burra.

Tundra Bean Goose: an early single was with Greylags at Boddam and Dalsetter on 18th and 19th September.

King Eider: a female was identified from photographs taken in the West Voe of Sumburgh on 1st November and was then joined by a 1st winter drake on 5th December, with both still being present in to 2011.

Smew: an early ‘redhead’ was on Fetlar on 12th -15th October and one was on Spiggie Loch on 31st October.

Rough-legged Buzzard: singles were seen flying over Toab on 16th October and another was at West Yell on 22nd November.

Corncrake: migrant birds were seen at Levenwick on 18th August, Baltasound on 3rd September, Burrafirth on 11th September, Scousborough on 12th September, Foula on 30th September and Sandwick, Whalsay on 9th October.

American Golden Plover: a moulting adult was at Hamnavoe on Yell on 7th and 8th September and a juvenile was on the Pool of Virkie on 12th September. An adult was at Fleck on 30th October and then relocated at Loch of Clumlie on 7th November.

Grey Phalarope: a single flew past Belmont, Unst on 16th September and one was seen from the Out Skerries ferry on 10th October. One was at Haroldswick on 30th October - 5th November and another was at Westing on 3rd - 4th November.

Pectoral Sandpiper: singles were on Foula 12th – 24th September and at Challister, Whalsay on 3rd October.

Wood Sandpiper: singles at Exnaboe and Scatness on 18th August, Fetlar on 19th August, Garths Ness 20th - 22nd August, Virkie on 28th August, Uyeasound on 5th September and Toab on 15th September.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: three very confiding birds graced the short turf around the lighthouse at Eshaness on and off from 26th September until 12th October; singles were also on Foula on 17th – 19th September and at Skaw, Whalsay on 4th – 7th October.

Great Snipe: a single was at the north end of Ham on Foula from 12th – 14th September.

Long-tailed Skua: a juvenile was picked up dead at Sandvoe, Northmavine on 27th August and two juveniles were seen from the Out Skerries ferry on 10th September.

Glaucous Gull: an adult was at "The Catch" in Lerwick on 3rd September with another in Lerwick on 2nd October. On Unst in October birds were seen at Lamba Ness on 2nd, Burrafirth on 20th and a juvenile again at Lamba Ness on 23rd, 30th, 31st and 9th November .

Iceland Gull: one was seen at Burrafirth on 19th September with a juvenile at Norwick on 26th September. During November birds were seen at Norby on 9th, Tingwall on 17th and Sellafirth, Yell on 24th.

Sabine's Gull: one was seen briefly on 18th September at East Nettlar, Whalsay. Still a rare bird in Shetland with less than 30 accepted records.

Black Tern: still a Shetland rarity, two were at Boddam and one was at Grutness on 11th September with two reported at Spiggie the following day.

Long-eared Owl: a single was at Toab on 8th September with birds on Whalsay and Skerries on 29th September, Grutness on 30th September and Maywick 3rd - 7th October. Later in the autumn birds were seen at Sumburgh Head on 9th November and Baltasound on 12th November.

Wryneck: in August two were on Fetlar on 18th and there were also two on Noss on 22nd, and a single on Whalsay on 19th August. Singles were also on Foula on 11th September and the Out Skerries on 10th September.

Citrine Wagtail: birds were seen at Baltasound School on 6th September, also on Unst at Norwick on 17th September, one was at Burravoe Yell on 20th September and one was seen at Isbister Mainland on 26th September. In October birds were seen on Out Skerries from 2nd – 10th and at Sandwick from 3rd - 7th with a single at Breiwick, Lerwick on 10th October.

Short-toed Lark: a single was at Toab on 28th September and on Out Skerries from 29th September - 4th October. In October birds were at Exnaboe on 2nd, and Wester Quarff on 3rd. On Unst, birds seen at Hermaness NNR on 4th – 9th and at Haroldswick 14th – 20th possibly relate to just one individual, with one at Norwick on 28th October and one lingering at Baltasound Unst until 3rd November.

Shorelark: three singles roamed Unst from the 11th October until mid November, being seen at Hermaness, Lamba Ness and Haroldswick.

Nightjar: a very showy bird was at Sandgarth on 9th and 10th October with another seen between Scalloway and Gulberwick at the "Black Gaet" on 15th October.

Buff-bellied Pipit: one was found at Tangwick on 28th September and stayed until 11th October. The first Shetland record away from Foula and Fair Isle.

Red-throated Pipit: an adult was at Brough, Whalsay on 2nd October and one was reported flying over Boddam on 17th October.

Olive-backed Pipit: in October singles were on Out Skerries on 1st and 2nd, at Quendale on 9th and 13th October and on Unst on 14th - 15th October.

Richard's Pipit: singles were seen on Foula on 30th September and Norwick on 7th October before one was seen briefly at Sumburgh Farm on 9th October.

Swainson's Thrush: one was in Levenwick on 2nd and 3rd October and resulted in probably Shetland’s biggest ever twitch!

Bluethroat: one on Foula on 12th September was the first of the autumn followed by one at Maywick and two at Scatness on 21st September. A good arrival during the last week of September saw birds at Norwick and Fetlar on 23rd September with two on Fetlar the next day, a single on Foula on 25th September and birds found at both Cunningsburgh and Quendale on 27th September. On 29th September birds were recorded on Whalsay, at Exnaboe, Haroldswick and two on the Out Skerries. Further individuals were found on 30th September at Baltasound, Foula and Whalsay and another two at Sumburgh on 2nd October.

Red-flanked Bluetail: the best autumn ever for this species in the UK was mirrored on Shetland with the first bird of the autumn found by a Shetland Wildlife group at Norwick, Unst on 28th September. One was trapped at Skaw on Whalsay on 30th September and in October, singles were at Geosetter and Tresta (both found on the 8th), Kergord on 14th and 15th, with another briefly at Troswick also on 15th.

White's Thrush: an elusive individual was at Swinister Burn, Hoswick on 26th September.

Black-throated Thrush: one was seen at Burn of Sundibanks, Uradale on 10th October.

Waxwing: the first of approximately 200 birds started to arrive from mid October (first record on 15th on Whalsay) with over 40 different birds recorded by 16th. The largest number of sixty was counted in Lerwick on 25th October. Numbers dwindled during the following month but 14 were still in Lerwick on 6th November.

River Warbler: singles were at Quendale on 20th September and at Fladdabister on 30th September.

Lanceolated Warbler: singles were at Ham Yard, Foula on 28th September, Skaw, Unst on 6th and 7th October and on Out Skerries on the 9th October.

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler: individuals were seen on Out Skerries on 8th October with another on Fetlar on 9th October.

Paddyfield Warbler: one was seen at Halligarth, Unst on 6th August with a different bird present there on 23rd August. In September birds were seen in the iris beds at Quendale on 10th and 27th and one was on Foula on 30th.

Blyth's Reed Warbler: singles were seen at Wester Quarff and Quendale on 27th September and Aith, Fetlar from 3th- 7th October, with another on the Out Skerries on 9th October.

Marsh Warbler: birds were at Sandwick on 21st September, with another at Norwick on 25th September and one in Levenwick on 3rd October.

Icterine Warbler: two were in the Sumburgh Hotel garden on 3rd August, with singles at Gloup Holm on 10th August, Out Skerries on 11th August, Wester Quarff on 17th August, Ocraquoy on 1st September, Quarff on 8th September and then a very late bird at Norwick on 9th October.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler: one was at Ireland, Bigton on 11th - 12th September. The fifth for Shetland.

Booted Warbler: a rather elusive bird was in one of the large crops at Quendale on 1st and 2nd October.

Sykes's Warbler: a bird was found at Burrafirth Burn, Unst on 16th August and was still present the next day. In October an incredibly skulking individual was at Channerwick from at least 2nd – 9th and in complete contrast, a very confiding individual appeared at Tresta on Fetlar on 6th.

Barred Warbler: the first record of the autumn appeared on 14th August with multiples of two at Sumburgh Head on 23rd August and two on Unst on 19th August . During September peak counts were as follows: three at Burravoe and two on Fetlar on 4th September; three on Whalsay on 6th September; three on Fetlar on 22nd September; two at Haroldswick on 26th September; three at Uyeasound on 27th September and four on Foula on 30th September.

Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat: a halimodendri – type bird was at Sumburgh Head on 9th and 10th November.

Western Bonelli's Warbler: one was at Brough on Whalsay from 9th – 15th September and a bird first seen at Seafield, Lerwick from 11th – 15th October was then re-located at Helendale, Lerwick on 29th October where it remained until 1st November.

Dusky Warbler: singles were at Halligarth, Unst on 8th – 9th October with another at Quendale on 9th October and one on Fetlar from 11th – 12th October.

Radde's Warbler: an excellent autumn with birds at Sumburgh Farm 2nd – 4th October, Skaw, Whalsay 8th October, Sandwick 11th and 12th October with another at Toab on 14th – 15th October.

Greenish Warbler: one was present at the Sumburgh Hotel garden on 10th and 11th August and was even heard singing at times.

Arctic Warbler: ten birds were seen during the autumn with the first at Haroldswick on 18th August, followed by a bird at Sumburgh Lighthouse on 4th and 5th September, with another appearing also on the 4th on the Out Skerries. The next was in sycamores in Lerwick on 12th September and another bird was present again in the roses at Sumburgh Lighthouse from 23rd - 27th September. One was also found on the 23rd September, this time at Kergord, and was still present the next day. Birds were then found in the Sullom plantation on 26th September, Norwick on Unst and Tresta, Fetlar both on 28th September, and finally one was seen briefly at Brae on 30th September.

Yellow-browed Warbler: one on Whalsay on 11th September was the first of the autumn; this had increased to 4 birds at various sites around the Isles by 20th September, to 8 by 25th September, 15 by 27th September and peaked at 22 by the 30th September. 20 were still being recorded at a variety of sites on 9th October but numbers then soon dropped off.

Pallas's Warbler: a very good showing by Shetland standards with birds at Skaw on Unst ,Tresta and at Sumburgh Farm on 8th October, and further singles at Gott, Bressay, Noss and near Geosetter on 9th October.

Red-breasted Flycatcher: two on Whalsay on 7th September were the first of the autumn with singles at Sandwick and Quarff on 10th September, at Quendale on 18th September, Sumburgh on 21st September and Kergord on 25th September. A good arrival during the last few days of September saw birds recorded at Sandwick and Orbister on 28th September, Grutness on 29th September, Baltasound, Foula and Virkie all on 30th September with two birds at both Fladdabister and Levenwick the same day! Birds were also found at Quendale on 1st October, on the Out Skerries on 2nd, Norwick on 4th, Brough, Whalsay on 6th October, Channerwick on 8th October and Toab on 14th October.

Blue Tit: it is perhaps worth putting all of these rare birds in to context by listing the sole record of the autumn: a single at Norwick from 21 – 23 October!

Rose-coloured Starling: a juvenile was seen in Cunningsburgh from 13th – 18th October (sadly found dead on 24th October) and another bird was at Voe on 23rd October and still present on the 7th November - fighting over apples with Waxwings!

Red-backed Shrike: eight birds were recorded during the autumn with singles on Whalsay on 7th -12th September, Exnaboe on 8th September, Quendale and Fetlar on 10th September , Foula on 14th September, Channerwick on 19th and finally one in Cunningsburgh on 4th - 5th October.

Isabelline Shrike: a superb adult female was at Spiggie from 12th – 17th October. This extremely confiding bird had several "larders" and avian prey included Twite, Blackcap and even a Brambling!

Great Grey Shrike: two were on Foula on 30th September, and a single was at Sumburgh and Virkie from 30th September - 16th October . Two were again on Foula on 11th October with singles at Geosetter on 8th October, Bressay on 14th October, Walls on 15th October and in November one was seen at Mid Yell on 13th.

Brambling: a notable peak count of 150 was made at Wester Quarff on 30th September.

(Hornemann's) Arctic Redpoll: two were at Norwick, Unst on 19th and 20th September, and one was found on 19th at Burrafirth (and probably moved to Haroldswick the next day). Also on 19th September one was at West Sandwick on Yell and on 20th September one was found on the island of Mousa. A new bird was present in Baltasound on 27th September. The Unst birds then ranged over northern Unst until 7th October, with new birds at Baltasound on 11th October and another at Virkie on 23rd – 29th October at least. Finally one was at Sumburgh on 4th November.

(Coues's) Arctic Redpoll: in October, singles were at Baltasound from 13th - 16th and at Mossbank on 24th. In November birds were seen at Wester Quarff on 6th, Sumburgh Head on 10th and Sullom and Maywick on 20th.

Common Redpoll: good numbers moved through from mid October, the highest count being 125 at Pool of Virkie on 20th November.

Common Rosefinch: the first of the autumn was a single in Toab on 17th August with two on the Out Skerries the next day and an August peak of three at Norwick Unst on 31st. During September many sites had counts of two birds and the following are those sites that recorded three or more: three at Grutness on 3rd September; three at Otterswick, Yell on 10th September; five on Fetlar on 13th September; four on Foula on 16th September; four on Fetlar on 22nd September; eight in Baltasound on 27th September, and five on Foula on 30th September.

Northern Bullfinch: the first bird of the autumn was seen on 8th October at Geosetter, followed by ones and twos at many sites throughout October and November with peak counts of 3 at Baltasound, Unst on 29th October, 4 at the same site on 2nd November and 3 at Helendale on 16th November.

Hawfinch: birds were seen at Exnaboe and Quendale on 27th September, Sandwick on 28th September with two together at Norwick on 29th September and Kergord and Toab on 30th September. During October birds were found at Frakkafield on 1st, five were at Maywick from 1st - 12th, with singles at Marrister, Whalsay on 7th, Sandgarth on 9th, Helendale on 10th, Scousborough on 12th, Foula and Trondra on 13th, Ocraquoy on 15th and Whalsay on 31st.

Rustic Bunting: a bird frequented the iris beds at Isbister, North Roe from 27th – 30th September.

Lapland Bunting: 5 at Kettla Ness on 29th August were the precursor to one of the biggest invasions ever on Shetland. With a constant turnover of birds one will never know the true number of individuals involved but at least 300 - 400 birds were recorded, with peak counts of: 30 on Unst at Lamba Ness on 14th September with 40 there the next day and with 42 still there on 25th September; 30 on Foula on 14th September had increased to 105 by 24th September; 15 were at Kettla Ness, Burra on 19th September; 26 at Burravoe, Yell on 21st September; 83 on Fetlar on 25th September with 80 at Eshaness on the same day, and a peak count on the Out Skerries of 18 on 2nd October. Numbers then dwindled throughout October with late individuals and small parties lingering until mid November.

Ortolan Bunting : five birds were found during the autumn and consisted of singles at Grutness on 10th – 12th September, Whalsay 12th – 14th September, Foula on 30th September, Foula on 9th October and one at Sandness on 10th - 11th October.

Little Bunting: birds were at Wester Quarff from 24th – 28th September, Foula on 25th September, Skerries on 30th September and Foula on 30th September. In October birds were seen at Haroldswick and on Out Skerries on 2nd, at Northdale from 3rd - 5th and two were at Norwick from 2nd – 7th.

Black-headed Bunting: one was present on Out Skerries from 2nd – 8th October.

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	(Ross's Gull header by Dave Hawkins)