Two weeks to talk about, but I certainly feel that the mid-winter doldrums are well and truly in charge on Portland, so not a huge amount to relate there.
A surprise 1st-winter Velvet Scoter in the middle of the Harbour on the 27th was the only notable sighting initially.
But, over the weekend of the 28th, 29th, and 30th November was the inaugural Cameron Bespolka bird-race (named after a keen young birder who sadly lost his life last year), and I was keen to do my bit.
The 28th was my main day, with a morning to play with. Unfortunately, it was rather windy, and I was also struck with pretty shocking luck! For instance, I didn't see either Ringed Plover or Dunlin at Ferrybridge - the only time I can ever remember not seeing these here!
But the misses (which also included the likes of Greenfinch, Goldcrest, and Chiffchaff) were made up for by a Firecrest at Wakeham, the Black Guillemot at Portland Castle (on the 2nd attempt), a Red-throated Diver in Portland Harbour (the rarest of the 3 Divers there) and best of all, a 1st-winter male Ring Ouzel by the windmills - my latest ever. I finished on 55 species, which was the best I could do. Please donate to the Cameron Bespolka Trust: http://www.cameronbespolkatrust.com/
Some of the other competitors were doing the bird-race over all 3 days, so I decided to continue to try and see new species over the weekend.
On Saturday, I walked to Avalanche Rd, where I was met by a Bat flying around!
I assume it's most likely to be a Common Pipistrelle.
At dusk, I walked round Verne Common - always a lovely place to spend an evening, especially in calm conditions.
One of the species added to the list was calling Water Rail.
In the end, I scraped 70 species with 2 Greenfinch at Portland Castle on the 30th! Still no Ringed Plover though!!!
In the afternoon that day, I deserted Portland for a look at an old stomping ground, Titchfield Haven, Hants. I met Amy Robjohns there, and we proceeded to see a few decent things, the chief prize being a rare-for-Titchfield young Goosander which flew in, as the sun set.
I can't resist these sunrise/set shots at the moment. Here's a sunset from the top of The Verne a few days later.
...and of course the classic view at dusk.
I pushed the boat out on the 7th December after several inactive days, with nothing to get the juices flowing on Portland.
So, it was to west Cornwall, and the rugged coastline at Porthgwarra initially.
After the 3 hour drive, I walked round the Coastguard station a couple of times, without seeing anything (no birders either), so I headed back to the car for lunch. I'd bumped into an optimistic birder on the way back, and something suggested to me that I shouldn't give up yet. I very nearly did. I went back to the coastguards, and widened the search. Before too long I found a distant Wheatear, low on a steep grassy slope. It was it! The female Desert Wheatear! Relief!
It was immediately confiding.
What a bird, showing to 7 feet, and with a bit of sun too.
It was great to watch it hunting spiders, very successfully!
After that success, I moved onto Mount's Bay, by the substantial presence of St. Michael's Mount.
I was there to look for a Pacific Diver, but the light was against me, and there appeared to be a genuine lack of Divers anyway with just 5 or so Great Northern Diver seen (up to 12 in recent days).
There was a huge presence of seabirds offshore, mostly Gulls, Kittiwake, and Gannet. Here are some in front of the distant St. Clement's Isle.
Unsurprisingly, these birds attracted the attention of a Skua, which proceeded to harass a Kittiwake close inshore. The light was bad, and the others birders there said it was a Bonxie, but I'm convinced it was actually a juvenile Pomarine Skua.
A shame I dipped the Diver (not been seen since), but the Wheatear was an absolute delight!
What prospect of birding before the year's out? Well, I'm afraid there are a couple of more excursions on the horizon, so I will continue to be a Portland Deserter.......until New Years Day, you can be sure of that.
After the success of the previous week, things continued in a similar vein, very much against expectations.
'My' Hoopoe was re-found by myself a few days after my initial discovery. I flushed it from the path at the back of the big horse-field along Weston Street (and I've since seen it again, at Avalanche Road). Unlike my first encounter, the bird actually hung around long enough for others to connect.
Whilst I watched it, the most extraordinary moment was when it appeared flying around in the air, crest erect, being pursued by a Sparrowhawk! They circled around each other a few times, before the Hoopoe saw its opportunity and escaped. This was the most notable of a string of spectacular bird of prey hunting episodes I witnessed over a few days that also included a Peregrine plunging through, and scattering, a flock of Redwing, a Sparrowhawk carrying a Blue Tit, and a pair of Peregrine stooping in perfect harmony on a Feral Pigeon. I love raptors!
Birds of interest in Portland Harbour have included a male Eider, a 1st-winter Velvet Scoter today (I was disappointed to see its white wing-panels, bearing in mind there has been a Surf Scoter nearby!), a number of Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe, as well as the usual Black Guillemot. This is the first time I've seen it out the water.
Also, on one day there was a nice flock of 5 Shelduck hanging around, later joined by two others. Unusual in the Harbour.
A few other notable birds found mid-island during the period included a Golden Plover over Watery Lane, 6 Lapwing over Barleycrates Lane on two days, and a Mistle Trush at Weston Street whilst looking for the Hoopoe - a Portland tick! Also Black Redstart continue to be a daily occurrence.
On the 19th, I was having a casual look at Blacknor, when I heard a familiar 'tack' call coming from near some Brambles. 'Not a Dusky surely. Mmm, could've been a Stonechat' I thought. Sure enough, there was a female Stonechat on the fence, so I about turned and started to move off. Then, I suddenly heard the bird again, and flushed a Dusky Warbler from some Brambles! It flew off, and sat on the side of a bush for me to see (in similar circumstances to my first find!). My second in exactly a week! It's nice to get some luck, but I can't help wishing I could find something different!
Gulls are building up on the flooded and stubble fields of Barleycrates lane currently. Among them have been this 2nd-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull...
...and this American Herring Gull-like Herring Gull with its streaky head and chest and tertial marking.
On a day in which I narrowly dipped Barnacle Goose and Snow Bunting, I was compensated reasonably well when this ringtail Harrier flew over Blacknor, a presumed Hen Harrier.
A big advantage of the coming of winter, are the spectacular sunrises.
Hoping to get on-patch for the Cameron Bespolka memorial bird-race at the weekend, and possibly also for a rare off-patch excursion.
It seems that what I said at the end two posts ago was somewhat premature! In the last few days I've learnt that you cannot predict what birds are going to do, but most of all, I've learnt never to write off Portland!
These few days were already pretty good with a Long-tailed Duck seen a couple of times in Portland Harbour, lots of Thrushes and Finches, a Short-eared Owl at Barleycrates Lane, and 6 Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Ferrybridge.
Plus, I got some of my best views yet of the Yellow-browed Warbler at the hump, on the 10th.
On top of those, there has been a bit of an influx of Black Redstart in recent days, with at least 6 seen myself, including this bird at Barleycrates Lane.
On the 12th, I shunned my usual walk round mid-island in favour of a look at Ferrybridge and Portland Harbour. After seeing a few titbits, I still had loads of time till lunch so thought I may as well drive up to the Avalanche Rd hump to see if the Yellow-brow, or indeed anything else, was there. I don't know why, but I decided to take the long way round, along the public footpath.
As I was walking along, I became aware of a call coming from some close Brambles, that I nearly dismissed as a Wren. Almost immediately, I flushed the bird, and it flew off to a more distant Bramble patch. At this point, still not sure it wasn't a Wren. 'Better go and check it out', I thought. A few more calls, but still nothing which shouted anything other than Wren to me. Then I flushed the bird again. It flew back to its original Brambles, but this time sat nicely on the side of the bush for a split second. Enough time for me to see a large dark warbler, and it clicked. DUSKY WARBLER! I had heard the species once before, at the Bill last year, but I didn't know the call off by heart. Only on seeing the bird did the pieces of jigsaw come together!
After putting the news out, I had to wait a bit for others arrive, but they did eventually.
I've seen the bird a few more times subsequently, though it's being largely typically elusive. Some of its favoured bushes:
Getting any sort of documentation of the bird has been tricky with its skulking nature, but here's footage of it calling (shortly after I found it), and some footage from today of it showing (just!). Turn the sound down on the second, and play both together for the full 'experience'!
Yesterday afternoon, I wanted to put some time in at the Dusky, so walked there from home via Weston Street.
I was just walking along the path by the former Weston Craft Centre when I spotted a bird flying straight at me over the adjacent horse field, with a bounding flight. A HOOPOE! Was I hallucinating, seeing a Hoopoe in November? It immediately dived down into a front garden along the road. I rushed over there, only for it to pop over the fence and land on the roadside verge! I grabbed my camera (though dropped it on the wet grass in my excitement, hence the spots on the lens!).
As you can see, it disappeared over the houses, but despite an extensive search, particularly of the Watery Lane area, it couldn't be re-found. Perhaps it went into a back garden.
Wow, what a purple patch. Can it continue? Not likely! Oops, there I go again, writing off Portland. Punish me birding gods, I dare you!
Almost 2 weeks since I last posted, and a few things to catch up on.
I was able to see the Pallas's Warbler on a rare visit to the Obs on the 30th Oct, only for it to relocate to Avalanche Rd on my patch. A big bonus to see it there on the 2nd Nov.
Also here, was a nice showing of Shaggy Inkcap.
Around the turn of the month it was incredibly warm, and that meant a number of butterflies still on the wing, including Red Admiral...
...and Clouded Yellow, including this of the pale form 'helice' - a first for me.
Tilleycombe was visited a few times recently, and produced a few nice things, with a good number of warblers present. I feel it always looks like a promising spot.
Although I had an interesting-looking Chiffchaff here earlier, I had a much better candidate for Siberian Chiffchaff at Portland Castle recently. Visually, it looked spot-on, though I failed to hear it.
Also here on the 6th, I spent a bit of time with several Black Redstart, including this young male.
Also at this site, I had a frustrating moment spotting a raptor over Portland Harbour on one morning, but I only had my bins with me so couldn't get any more on it. My gut feeling was a ringtail Hen Harrier though.
To continue the theme of 'ones that got away', I had a Pipit fly over at Barleycrates Lane on the 5th which called like a Tree Pipit. But on this date, a tripit would be exceptional indeed. It didn't sound quite right either, with a slight metallic quality to it - a pretty good description of the call of Olive-backed Pipit. A search around nearby sites produced nothing. Frustrating!
Later on in the day, it seems the gods were keen to rub it in...
No doubt the highlight of this period came on the 2nd, with a twitch to Blashford Lakes. The hoped-for lifer of a Franklin's Gull did show eventually, but not till it was almost totally dark! Some in the hide failed to locate it, so I was lucky to see it at all!
The main disappointment that I refer to in the blog title was that of seawatching. At least 3 days of decent to strong south-westerlies in early-November should produce most, if not all, of the 'big 4' storm-driven seabirds (Little Auk, Sabine's Gull, Leach's Petrel, and Grey Phalarope) in Chesil Cove.
I spent a great many hours there in total, with 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Great Skua, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail, 1 Teal, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Black-throated Diver and 8 Little Gull (including one lingering inshore) to show for it.
This is despite 3 of the big 4 occurring at nearby sites. Last year I saw two of them (Sabs and Leach's) without trying that hard, so to get none this year would be frustrating to say the least, particularly as two have occurred this year, but I missed them (Leach's and Grey Phal).
Not too late to get at least one of those hopefully!
No wildly special sightings to report on in the last 9 days, just solid autumn birding.
Ferrybridge has been decent, with one day producing a fly-through Merlin, plus two Great Northern Diver which headed off over Portland Harbour.
The Black Brant has also returned with over a thousand Brents.
There are a number of summer migrants still hanging on with a Garden Warbler associating with a loose group of Blackcap at Suckthumb Quarry on one day, and a House Martin over the windmills on another, both my latest ever.
A Lesser Whitethroat next to the former Weston craft centre a few days ago had a brownish nape, and was therefore probably one of the eastern subspecies.
A few Swallow are still passing through (including a bird with entirely pale flight-feathers, similar to the effect you sometimes see in Crows), and Sandwich Tern are still around of course.
A bit of a blow on a few days increased hopes of some storm-driven birds, but a bit of seawatching has so far only produced a single immature Pomarine Skua, and a moribund juvenile Gannet. I first saw this bird with its bill tucked away, and it took a while for me to realise what it was. It looked very odd!
Chesil Cove was as atmospheric as ever though.
The Yellow-browed Warbler has remained at the Avalanche Rd hump throughout, but I've rarely seen it. Just a few calls.
I did however find a new bird at the top of Tilleycombe associating with a large roving mixed flock of birds that also included a very pale Chiffchaff. A closer look at it yesterday revealed it not to be a classic Siberian, so probably of another eastern cline.
There are a decent number of typical autumn migrants around, such as Grey Wagtail.
Yesterday was particularly good for migration, with clear skies producing some nice visible migration (vismig) overhead. This included a southerly movement of Woodpigeon totalling 900 birds in an hour, the largest flock of 200 birds.
Also yesterday, I found at least 3 Firecrest and 2 calling Water Rail at Verne Common, and witnessed a Peregrine continually stooping on a Kestrel. These two really don't get on round here, as they nest close to each other on the cliffs.
An amusing observation was witnessing a Robin washing by rubbing itself on dew-covered leaves. Not seen that behaviour before!
Definitely a feeling about the place at the moment that the potential for autumn rarities is largely over. But, you never know I suppose!
I think it's fair to say I was suffering a little with post-holiday blues as I started the week.
It didn't help when I began the morning after Fair Isle with no sign of any Phalaropes offshore at Chesil Cove.
However, things started to look up when I was able to see the Reap Lane juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, with little trouble.
Here, it appeared to be regurgitating a pellet.
Then, on the 14th, I'd already heard the Avalanche Road hump Yellow-browed Warbler again, when I walked along Watery Lane.
I looked up towards Easton, only to be greeted by two huge birds lumbering their way cross-island. Crane! I immediately called the Obs, as the birds were heading in their direction. After a bit of a struggle with the reception, the guys there were able to get onto them, but only after the birds had travelled miles out to sea! Unfortunately, they had reached as far south as the East Cliffs, then decided to spiral up high before moving east, out to sea. Quality birds for Dorset.
The next few days of Portland birding never got near that for excitement, though on one day I found a few Ring Ouzel, here in the Chesil Cove bushes.
There were at least 2 on the ground, and another 3 probables overhead.
On the same day, I saw a Humming-bird Hawk-moth, a Snipe flying over Barleycrates Lane, and I flushed a Pipit from a bush which I only saw flying away, that I can only assume was my latest ever Tree Pipit, but with a call like that, you never know I suppose!
On another day there was quite a grey-looking Chiffchaff at Avalanche Road, which lacked the call or brownish ear-covets of Siberian, so was probably another 'Eastern-type' bird.
And, then we've got the perplexing Lesser Black-backed Gull to mention. Varying shades of back-colour among these at Ferrybridge on the 17th, including 2 (one on the right) with very dark backs, dainty build, and long wings. At the very least, birds of the Scandanavian race, intermedius.
Today, I went looking to bury an old hatchet.
My only previous sniff of this species was of a very dubious one at Cley once, that I swear in flight had black armpits (but that those around me were satisfied to tick).
So, imagine my delight when I took the 2 and a bit hour drive to Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall this morning, only for the juvenile American Golden Plover to be immediately in view.
Not just in view, but showing at close range, without the need to leave the car. It put on quite a performance, including plenty of preening and bathing.
What a great bird. It would be nice to have one a Portland at some point.
Notice its reaction to an over-flying Buzzard.
We are in a period now which produces plenty of quality birds. Will I be able to continue to tap in on it on patch?
As we ventured out on our last full day on Fair Isle, I was on a trip list of 96. Could I reach the ton?
It was a rocket of a start, as we were told of a great bird on the road right by the Obs.
It wasn't long before we were watching an Olive-backed Pipit.
It was a great little bird, with a distinctive 'wag-tail' walking action.
We carried on along the road, but the rest of the morning was fairly quiet, with just the long-staying Hen Harrier, another Woodcock which flew to the entrance of one of the traps (it was indeed later trapped, but we weren't around to see it sadly!) and a flock of varyingly-sized Redpoll, again probably mostly Mealy Redpoll.
We again found ourselves looking at an area that we later learnt held a Little Bunting! Maybe this afternoon?
Again, lunchtime was punctuated by the viewing of a Yellow-browed Warbler just outside the window!
We wanted to head for the far south once again, with one or two things reported. We had to fit into two vehicles, as we got a lift. On arrival, I was told that the vehicle I hadn't been in had seen the Little Bunting, right by the road!
We rushed back, and after an anxious wait, the Little Bunting appeared, associating with Skylark. Finally!
Not a lifer, but I hopefully will now never forget that 'ticking' flight-call.
We carried on walking south, this time coming across a single Stonechat. No. 99!
In an adjacent field, I was able to pick out a single Tundra Bean Goose, probably a different bird to the three we had seen previously.
We were then told of a Slavonian Grebe in the south harbour. Surely this would be the 100th?
It was a relief when on arrival, the rather lethargic-looking Slavonian Grebe showed immediately.
Walking round to the front of the South Light where we hoped to find Purple Sandpiper, one of our group spotted something on the rocks. Imagine my surprise when I put my bins up to see a Treecreeper! This is a Fair Isle mega, so while Dave put the news out, we kept tabs on it. It was being surprisingly successful, catching a couple of large prey items whilst we watched. It had startlingly white underparts, and therefore was of the Northern subspecies familiaris. A very smart bird!
Whilst we tried to keep an eye on the Treecreeper, a number of us were (understandably) distracted by the news of another top bird nearby.
We were soon eye-to-eye with a superb Long-eared Owl, roosting on a cliff-face. My first for 5 years!
The twitch, which included the warden, soon made it, and I think everyone got onto the Treecreeper - the 9th Fair Isle record!
Our walk back included a newly-arrived Shoveler on Da Water, plus we were finally all able to see another Fair Isle mega that had been about a few days - Blue Tit (more records of Lanceolated Warbler)!
Gosh, we really had been spoilt with these (Fair Isle) megas on this trip. Gadwall, Pochard, Barn Owl, Buzzard, Treecreeper, AND Blue Tit!
I did the early trap round on the last morning, but apart from the last sunrise...
...and another view of the Olive-backed Pipit, nothing of note was discovered.
We all said goodbye to Fair Isle, and made the 15 min plane journey back to mainland Shetland.
Once at Sumburgh, all the members of the group parted, and I was left with 8 hours to kill.
There was no-where at the airport I could leave my luggage (!), so I had to walk the short distance to the nearby Hotel to dump my bag, so I could go out and do some birding at the Head.
Some more typical Shetland scenery, looking over Grutness. In this bay was a Red-throated Diver.
And a view up to the lighthouse of Sumburgh Head itself.
It was a long way, but at the top was a great view to the north.
Plus, there were a lot of confiding Fulmar.
Other birds of note were fairly thin on the ground, though a Song Thrush with a lot of white in its mantle, and this mutant Blackbird both caused me initial confusion.
Back at the Hotel, and it turned out the best birds were here, as a Black Redstart was in the garden, and in the bay next door was a Great Northern Diver and a flock of Long-tailed Duck.
Still with a load of spare time, I thought about walking north to the Pool of Virkie, but some newly arrived rain put paid to that.
The flight was fine, and I went on to make the 10 hour drive home all the next day, only broken by an unsuccessful look for a Surf Scoter near Edinburgh.
But, what a trip!
I live on Portland, so am used to seeing migration in action, as well as birds in odd places. But, even that didn't prepare me for Fair Isle, where everything is multiplied 10 times. It is the uber-Portland!
I will definitely return at some point!
Bird List (FI only):
1. Great Northern Diver - 1 summer-plumaged bird in North Haven 6/10
2. Slavonian Grebe - 1 in South Harbour 9/10
3. Fulmar - Every day
4. Gannet - Every day
5. Cormorant - 1 juvenile in South Harbour 7/10
6. Shag - Every day
7. Grey Heron -Seen on 5 days
8. Whooper Swan - Seen on 5 days
9. Greylag Goose - Seen on 6 days
10. Pink-footed Goose - Every day
11. Bean Goose - 3 'Tundra' birds over Pund 8/10, + a single 'Tundra' bird at Shirva 9/10
12. Barnacle Goose - Seen on 5 days
13. Mallard - Seen on 6 days
14. Gadwall - 1 male over Obs then on Da Water 8/10
15. Shoveler - 1 male on Da Water 9/10
16. Wigeon - Seen on 6 days
17. Teal - Seen on 3 days
18. Pochard - 2 males over Chalet on 6/10, + on Da Water 9/10
19. Scaup - 1 male in North Haven 6/10, + off Hjukni Geo 7/10
20. Tufted Duck - 1 female in South Harbour 7/10, + 2 female in South Harbour 8/10
21. Eider - Every day
22. Long-tailed Duck - 1 male on Da Water 8/10, + 1 female off Mavers Geo 8/10
23. Red-breasted Merganser - Seen on 6 days
24. Hen Harrier - 1 juvenile behind Pund 5/10 + 9/10
25. Buzzard - 1 over Ward Hill, then around south of island 8/10
26. Sparrowhawk - Seen on 3 days
27. Kestrel - Seen on 5 days
28. Peregrine - Seen on 4 days
29. Merlin - Various sightings on 5/10 and 8/10
30. Quail - 1 flushed from roadside between Shirva and Upper Leogh 7/10
31. Oystercatcher - Seen on 4 days
32. Ringed Plover - 1 in the Havens 7/10, + 1 by Barkland 8/10
33. Grey Plover - 1 past South Light 7/10
34. Golden Plover - Seen on 6 days
35. Dotterel - 1 over Hjukni Geo 7/10, + 1 over Chalet 8/10
36. Lapwing - Seen on 3 days
37. Knot - 1 in South Harbour 9/10
38. Purple Sandpiper - 1 by South Light 7/10
39. Turnstone - Seen on 6 days
40. Dunlin - Seen on 5 days
41. Redshank - Seen on 6 days
42. Curlew - Seen on 4 days
43. Woodcock - Seen on 3 days
44. Snipe - Seen on 6 days
45. Jack Snipe - Seen on 5 days
46. Great Skua - Every day
47. Black-headed Gull - Seen on 5 days
48. Common Gull - Seen on 5 days
49. Herring Gull - Seen on 6 days (including 'Scandanavian' birds)
50. Great Black-backed Gull - Every day
51. Kittiwake - 2 in South Haven 7/10, + 2 past Malcolms Head 8/10
52. Black Guillemot - Seen on 6 days
53. Guillemot - 1 in North Haven 6/10
54. Razorbill - 1 in North Haven 6/10
55. Rock Dove - Seen on 6 days (including pure birds)
56. Woodpigeon - Seen on 3 days
57. Long-eared Owl - 1 by South Light 9/10
58. Short-eared Owl - 1 over Walli Burn 8/10, and 1 behind Pund 8/10
59. Barn Owl - 1 in Steensi Geo 7/10
60. Skylark - Seen on 6 days
61. Swallow - 2 past Pund 5/10, 2 by Midway 8/10, + 2 around Obs 8/10
62. Rock Pipit - Every day
63. Meadow Pipit - Every day
64. Olive-backed Pipit - 1 at Ditfield 9/10 + 10/10
65. Pied/White Wagtail - Seen on 4 days (of both subspecies)
66. Grey Wagtail - 1 over Gilsetter 6/10
67. Wren - Seen on 6 days (Fair Isle subspecies)
68. Dunnock - Seen on 4 days
69. Robin - Seen on 4 days
70. Bluethroat - 1 at Pund 5/10
71. Redstart - 1 at the Obs 8/10
72. Black Redstart - 1 by ringing hut 8/10
73. Wheatear - Every day
74. Whinchat - Seen on 5 days
75. Stonechat - 1 by Midway 9/10
76. Song Thrush - Every day
77. White's Thrush - 1 at Wester Lother 4/10
78. Blackbird - Seen on 5 days
79. Redwing - Seen on 6 days
80. Fieldfare - 1 by Plantation 8/10, + 1 at Bulls Park 9/10
81. Ring Ouzel - At least 12 across island 8/10, + 1 at Gilsetter 10/10
82. Garden Warbler - 1 ringed at Plantation 8/10
83. Blackcap - Seen on 5 days
84. Chiffchaff - Seen on 4 days
85. Willow Warbler - 1 by Hill Dyke 8/10
86. Yellow-browed Warbler - Seen on 3 days
87. Goldcrest - Seen on 4 days
88. Blue Tit - 1 at Midway 9/10
89. Treecreeper - 1 of the Northern subspecies at South Light 9/10
90. Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Shirva, then behind Pund 8/10
91. Jackdaw - 1 by Walli Burn 8/10, + 1 at Utra 9/10
92. Hooded Crow - Seen on 5 days
93. Raven - Seen on 6 days
94. Starling - Every day
95. House Sparrow - Every day
96. Chaffinch - Seen on 6 days
97. Brambling - Seen on 6 days
98. Linnet - 1 by North Light 5/10, + 1 by Setter 7/10
99. Twite - Every day
100. Mealy Redpoll - Seen on 3 days
101. Siskin - 2 in Muckle Geo 7/10, + several across island 8/10
102. Reed Bunting - Seen on 5 days
103. Little Bunting - 1 at Chalet 9/10
104. Lapland Bunting - 1 over Gilsetter 8/10
105. Snow Bunting 8 at North Light 5/10
Also, on mainland Shetland:
Red-throated Diver - 1 off Grutness 10/10
Sanderling - 10 by Grutness 10/10
