Badger Sheep - Shetland Day 6

Another keen and eager start meant we were out of the house before lunch. Just. The upside to this was adding Lesser Whitethroat to our house list and a rather fine breakfast prepared by Si.

Breakfast...well lunch

Lets call it Brunch

Rainbow over the patch

Working the patch

Our first stop was back to Wester Quarff for another look at the hyperactive Red-breasted Flycatcher. Despite the very cold and strong NW wind, we located it inside the garden plantation and it even sat still for a few seconds. Steve found 3 Brambling there too. Then Si hit it big time with the best find of the day - the mighty Badger Sheep!

Is it a Sheep? Is it a Badger? No, it's Badger Sheep!

We then spied a good looking plantation on the shoreline to the west and after a quick look at the map headed off to Trondra, via Scalloway. We gave the harbour a good scan for yesterday's Little Auk but no sign. I did find a pair of Shag-Divers which Steve kindly pointed out were Red-throats.

Looking for those pesky Shag-Divers

It's a Red-throated Diver, honest!

Onward from Scalloway to the plantation on Trondra and it looked even better close up. Si went and asked for permission to enter from the farmhouse, while Steve and I moved into optimum postions. Whilst waiting to jump the fence I had tantalising views of birds nipping between small trees. The excitement was building and finally the radio crackled and Si had secured access. Within 2 minutes of walking in I had over 10 Mipits, a flighty Redstart (first of the trip) and a quick glimpse of a pale warbler. Checking the pipits more carefully produced a single Tree Pipit before it flew off with the rest of the Meadows.

Plantation of dreams

Not what we were expecting at the end of the rainbow

A few more glimpses of a warbler species and more glimpses of the Redstart was the only reward for 2 hours of diligent searching. Luckily we had packed lots of cake to lift our spirits.

We then spent the next couple of hours searching likely habitat on West and East Burra islands before heading back towards Lerwick and the dream like site of Frakkafield. We didn't see anything at any of these places, so I'll move on quickly.

Si's little pony(s)

Finally we had a look at Aithsetter, as it was near our digs, and managed to scrape a single Wheatear out of the bag.

Whilst not our best day birding we did end on a high with an excellent sausage, egg, chips and beans prepared by Si.

Dinner, showing well at 19:30