Just back from 8 days stomping around my old patch. Full details and pics (inc Aurora's) can be found on my Blog.

Cheers
Jason

I was wondering if anybody from the forum was planning a trip up north this autumn?

Cheers
Jason

The amount of time you've been birding is less important than you might think. There are plenty of 30/40 year birders out there who are frankly not very good and by contrast some very good birders who haven't been birding very long Take as much as you can from every time you go out; really look and question.

As for the birds, you're right to stick to Twite and right to plump for Dunlin

Good advice, Ian. Teach a man to fish......

I haven't seen a twite before and so looked through various books. Having re-visited them I'll stick with my original thoughts....but may be wrong!

Re: the wader - given your substantial hints, I am now plumping for a dunlin - much longer beak and substantially bigger than a sparrow (which a Little Stint isn't).

As you can probably guess - not been birding very long.

Regards

Mark

You got me looking at the pics from the conversation, it was like an extra mystery birds photos for the month, i wont comment on what the birds are as to not butt into a conversation, but some nice pics on your flickr, the overhead great skua is superb,

Spent last week (of August) on the Shetlands. Not specifically for a birding holiday but spied a few;

Great Skua
Arctic Skua
Red Throated Diver
Common Terns
Fulmars
Gannets
Black Guillimots
Flocks of starlings (quite spectacular)
Turnstones
Sandling
Twite
Little Stint

Not sure about the last two...perhaps someone can view my piccies on Flickr (MARKBEE3) and advise.
Fantastic place to visit, even for a weekend. Red backed Shrike and Wryneck reported by Shetland Birding but I never managed to see either. As expected, puffins, guillimots and razorbills already left.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76345032@N04/

Mark Battersby wrote:

---

Spent last week (of August) on the Shetlands. Not specifically for a birding holiday but spied a few;

Great Skua
Arctic Skua
Red Throated Diver
Common Terns
Fulmars
Gannets
Black Guillimots
Flocks of starlings (quite spectacular)
Turnstones
Sandling
Twite
Little Stint

Not sure about the last two...perhaps someone can view my piccies on Flickr (MARKBEE3) and advise.
Fantastic place to visit, even for a weekend. Red backed Shrike and Wryneck reported by Shetland Birding but I never managed to see either. As expected, puffins, guillimots and razorbills already left.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76345032@N04/

---

Rather than just answer your query Mark (because you'll learn little that way), I'd ask if there is anything about the Twite which you think doesn't fit what you'd expect of the species? Bill colour, overall streakiness, underparts colour and streaking, white on the secondaries? Is there really anything else it could be?

As for the wader, compare in particular your bird's bill length and the black 'spotting' on the side of the belly (lower flanks) to that of Little Stint (in any plumage) then to something a little commoner .

Let me know how you go on

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 5th of September 2012 02:11:38 PM

Thanks very much, Kevin. Sumburgh Head is our first port of call tomorrow. I'll let you know how we get on.

Sorry Had in my head you had said scatness for some reason not Scalloway!

Hi Mark best spot for dolphins, whales etc is probably off sumburgh head in the south of the mainland. This is a great elevated vantage point for a sea watch for orcas occasionally too. Plus that area is always good for migrant birds the sumburgh hotel area and the gardens near grutness are good too. I found a rustic bunting in the fields near sumburgh head. For otters I have been told the pool of virkie is very good south east mainland. I managed to walk from sumburgh head to virkie, no otters when I went but locals say its good. That's just off the top of my head I'll look it up and post again, hope this helps Kev

I'm off to the Shetalnd shortly. I have read up on the various places for birds but can anyone recommend any otter or dolphin spotting places near to Scalloway or beyond, please?

Totally agree with Jason - thoroughly enjoyed reading your reports and viewing the photographs

Great report and pics Joe. Glad you enjoyed your time up there.

Cheers
Jason

Last post sadly, that's yer lot!

Shetland 2012 Day V

A brilliant place with top birds, anyone thinking about going i'd reccomend it!

Great once again Joe, splendid pics - my favourite, if I had to choose one, was the Redshank

Thanks guys.

Sorry about the delay, was away (again!) and came back with norovirus and don't really feel up to much. Still, I perservered and got through another day's photos...

Shetland Day IV

Joe Wynn wrote:

---

Third blog post done, this time from the Isle of Unst, where I was for a minute or so the UK's northernmost person!

Shetland 2012: Day III, If the world were flat i'd have fallen off!

Done all the editing now, so should be a lot quicker!

---

Well done, that man! Excellent pictures and report

Great Photos!

-- Edited by Rory Newton on Monday 9th of July 2012 11:46:20 AM

Third blog post done, this time from the Isle of Unst, where I was for a minute or so the UK's northernmost person!

Shetland 2012: Day III, If the world were flat i'd have fallen off!

Done all the editing now, so should be a lot quicker!

Second blog post done, this one's from the Isle of Fetlar, where I saw a certain small wader...!

Shetland 2012: Day II, Redneck Country

What a stunning bird!

I just spent 5 days on these stunning islands as a birthday present. What a place! Easily some of my best UK birding, only one lifer but since this was mainly a photographical expedition that's not the point! I'm putting some of the better shots on my blog for people to look at if they please, but only one day at a time as there's so many to trawl through (i've never had 10,000 to get through before, but there's a first time for everything!) I can sum up the species seen though:

Highlights:

- Twite (Burravoe, Yell)
- Arctic Tern (Burravoe, Yell)
- Arctic Skua (Burravoe, Yell)
- BLACK KITE (Funzie, Fetlar)
- Whimbrel (Funzie, Fetlar)
- RED NECKED PHALAROPE (undisclosed, Fetlar)
- Puffin (Hermaness NNR, Unst)
- Bonxie (Hermaness NNR, Unst)
- Gannet (Hermaness NNR)
- Dunin (multiple location)
- Shetland Wren (Toft, Mainland)
- Red Throated Diver (multiple locations)
- Whooper Swans (Eshaness, Mainland)
- Golden Plover (West Sandwick, Yell)




First day on my blog now!