Shetland Day 4

Today we went looking for Red grouse at a sight in Cirlsta, a local birder Russell told us about them, it tooks us about 10 minutes to find the site and then Rob and Dad heard 1 calling, Rob then saw one flying Dad managed to locate it in the heather, 8 more were seen back along the road, Rob and Dad managed to get quite close for some photos.

Shetland pony



Red grouse



From here we headed to Yell to see what we could find some birds for ourself, we saw 2 Great skuas which were flying up and down the valley an even and even landing the loch, we also noted Meadow pipit, Garden warbler, Rock doves, Redshanks, Golden plover and some more very close Gannets.

At Voe back on Mainland we tried for the Artic Redpoll again and got some great views as it sat on a wire fence, we watched it coming down on to the grass to feed just feet away from us, then we decided to head to Urafirth to see the drake Surf scoter that has been seen all during the day, on the way we had a Whooper swan on a loch by the road, when we arrived at Urafirth Dad picked out the drake Surf scoter mixed in with a flock of Eiders, it was getting late so we headed back to our diggs and that's when the pager beeped, there was a Black headed bunting on Unst, so that were we were going tomorrow.

Red Grouse

Red Grouse

Artic Redpoll

Artic Redpoll

Surf scoter

Whooper swan

Great Skua

Shetland pony

Rainbow