Day 9 17th May, 2015
Pre-breakfast visit to Skaw and Lamba Ness produced to trip ticks but otherwise very quiet for migrants. After breakfast we first visited Norwick and North Dale areas and then onto Haroldswick pools and the Airport pool and finally Baltasound school clump and the pine clump.
Late afternoon visit to Uyeasound and we were surprised to find a 2nd W. Glaucous Gull resting with other Gulls in a field. A final stop at the Airport pool found that the Wood Sandpiper had relocated to this pool.
Pinkfeet 1 (Lamba Ness)
Pintail 1 drake
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Wood Sandpiper 1 (Haroldswick pools)
Glaucous Gull 2nd W (Uyeasound)
Iceland Gull 1 (Norwick)
Grey Wagtail 2 (Skaw)
Blackcap 3
Common Whitethroat 1
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler 3
Carrion Crow 6
Reed Bunting 1
Brambling 1
Twite 5
Tree Sparrow 8 at Haroldswick and 6 at Baltasound
Our croft at Millfield
Female Grey Wagtail at Skaw
A single Pink-foot at Lamba Ness (photographed looking towards the sun)
Iceland Gull at Norwick
Brambling at Haroldswick
(last 2 dig-scoped by DC)
Wood Sandpiper on Haroldswick pool
Drake Pintail at Baltasound
(Digiscoped by DC)
Arctic Tern on the Airport pool
Red-throated Divers at Uyeasound
2ndW Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound
Day 10 18th May, 2015.
Early morning visit to Skaw and after a look around the site and were just about to leave when a Hoopoe flew right past us about 10 yards away a landed on a fence post
where it was immediately mobbed by a pair of Meadow Pipits. After a couple of minutes it then flew along the cliff top fence landing briefly again but still being mobbed by the pipits. It then departed towards Lamba Ness and was lost to sight. We quickly made out way down Lamba Ness but no sign and then returned back to Skaw but again were unable to locate it. On our return back to the croft a Ring Ouzel was seen as we approached Norwick.
After breakfast we visited the Norwick area and then went and had another look for the Hoopoe but without success. We the drove to Haroldswick and covered the usual birding sites and then the Baltasound sites including the Airport pool. The area was generally very quiet.
During the evening, we made another visit to Skaw and then to Burrafirth.
Grey Heron 1
Sanderling 1
Iceland Gull 1
Hoopoe 1 (Skaw)
Ring Ouzel 1
Redwing 1
House Martin 1
Blackcap 5
Common Whitethroat 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler 5
Chiffchaff 3
Siskin 1 heard
Hedgehog 1
Hoopoe at Skaw being mobbed by the local Meadow Pipits
Willow Warbler at Skaw
Golden Plover at Lamba Ness
(both taken by DC)
Female Ring Ouzel above Norwick
Whimbrel on Haroldswick beach
Grey Heron high over Skaw
Hedgehog out in the evening at Skaw
Day 11 19th May, 2015
Strong winds and rain until 9.00 am so a late start. Did the usual trip to Skaw, Lamba Ness and North Dale, but virtually no migrants seen. After a late breakfast, we covered Norwick area, Burrafirth, Helligarth, Airport pool and Haroldswick beach.
A few more waders seen today, but very quiet on the migrant front.
During the afternoon we visited the Mucka Flugga viewpoint and then birded the School clump.
Black-tailed Godwit 3 in full s/p (Icelandic race)
Knot 1 in full s/p
Sanderling 5
Iceland Gull 1
Grey Wagtail 2
White Wagtail 3
Redwing 1
Blackcap 2
Common Whitethroat 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 3
Tree Sparrow 15
Siskin 5
Sanderling on Norwick beach
Black-tailed Godwits of the Icelandic race on the Airport pool.
A stunning summer plumage Knot spent a short time on Haroldswick beach
Three views taken from the Mucka Flugga viewpoint
Male Siskin in the School clump
Doreen enjoying the evening red sky over Lamba Ness
Woke to a fine calm sunny morning and we made an early morning visit to Skaw, Lamba Ness and North Dale. Very few migrants seen but the real highlight was fabulous views of a dog Otter at Lamba Ness. On view for about 5 minutes at very close quarters.
After breakfast we decided to try for the Hoopoe which had been seen at Clibberswick. After a good deal of searching we located it although it had now become very flighty and was still being mobbed by pipits etc. Much to our surprise, 3 Otters (mother and two cubs) gave good views as they swam across the cove.
We then moved onto Haroldswick where we obtained excellent views of a summer plumage Great-northern Diver and then onto Airport pool, School clump and pine clump. During the evening we visited the Norwick area.
Great Northern Diver 1 s/p (Haroldswick)
Sanderling 7
Iceland Gull 1
Hoopoe 1 (Clibberswick)
Grey Wagtail 1
White Wagtail 3
Sedge Warbler 1
Blackcap 4
Willow Warbler 2
Chiffchaff 5
Siskin 2
Mealy Redpoll 2
Tree Sparrow 13
Otter 4 (1 Lamba Ness and 3 Clibberswick)
(the last five were all taken by DC)
Dog Otter at Lamba Ness
Fulmars at Clibberswick
Cliff top flowers at Clibberswick
Mother and 2 cub Otters at Clibberswick
Black Guillemots at Clibberswick
(digi-scoped by DC)
(Digi-scoped by DC)
((Digi-scoped by DC)
Hoopoe at Clibberswick
Dunlin at Clibberswick
Summer plumage Great Northern Diver at Haroldswick
Smart breeding plumage Common Gull at Haroldswick
Common Snipe at the Airport pool
Male Blackcap at the School clump
Mealy Redpolls at the School clump
