Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 9

Our last full day on these stunning islands.
Unfortunately it was pretty bird free with no new in migrants.

A couple of Yellow-browed Warbler were scattered around and provided so photo opportunities. A couple of Chiffchaff and Blackcap and a single Willow Warbler were also present.

A Whinchat was again present by the Iris beds on Housay, where we flushed the Water Rail on our first walk through in the morning.

Elsewhere the Brown Shrike continued it stay but remained just as wary, not allowing anyone to get within 100 meters.
My totals at the end of the day were; 1 Water Rail, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Whinchat, 12 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler and 1 Brown Shrike.

Wheatear

Willow Warbler

And to finish the trip of how its started, a few of today's Yellow-browed Warblers - just can't not photograph em....

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 8

No trip to Shetland is complete without a taste of true Shetland weather! Today we experienced just that, for the most part.
A short interval during late morning allowed for a couple of rather fine hours in the field before the wind picked up suddenly at around 11.15, from a weak F3 to a rather blowy F7 – F8! Add to that regular, horizontal rain, birding became a little challenging.

Those few hours out during the morning were rather quiet, the short blow from the southeast overnight clearly not bring much in the way of new birds in, to the Skerries at least.
A Jack Snipe along the Mioness peninsular was the only presumed ‘new in’ bird I saw.
A couple of Yellow-browed Warbler were noted, all in the regular spots, a few Blackcap and Wheatear and a Purple Sandpiper down Mioness where there were at minimum of 12 Lapland Bunting.
There were at least 21 Golden Plover feeding on the hill, as were 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin.

The kettle certainly got some usage during the day, I did make a couple of short jaunts out in between the worst of the rain to check of few of the semi sheltered gardens but ended up laid in the seaweed with the numerous Rock Pipits!

Lapland Bunting record shot

Wheatear

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Ringed Plover and Redshank

Redshank

Looking north, towards Fetla from Bruray

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 7

A much quieter day here on the Skerries with some evident clear out, although the Brown Shrike remained today, now having moved from the Geo further west on Bruray, eventually ending up by Rocklea – at times viewable whilst supping tea in the living room!

New in migrants were few and far between, personally only a single Yellow-browed Warbler, a couple of Chiffchaff and Song Thrush, a Siskin and a Water Rail were pretty much it.

A thorough check of North Hill for yesterday’s Great Snipe was a failure, Common Snipe numbers were lower too, about 8 flushed, so, as noted with the decrease in passerines, a definite clear out here.

Pink-footed Geese were trickling through during the day with 4 Greylag Geese being a Skerries tick in with a small flock in the evening.
It was all about the Skerries ticks today, I’ve never looked for, and then photographed a Collared Dove before, but there you go! While Oystercatcher was just as sought after, with a moment bother were together!

Other than that things seemed rather stale, although some encouragement was the wind switching to the east southeast during the evening. The Lerwick Ferry arriving with my pre-ordered Gin was equally as welcome.
Fingers tightly crossed for tomorrow….

My personal migrant totals for the day; Pink-footed Goose 98 south, Greylag Goose 4 south, Water Rail 1, Moorhen 1, Ruff 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Golden Plover 19, Collared Dove 1, Robin 2, Song Thrush 4, 1 Whinchat, Wheatear 12, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 7, Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 5, Goldcrest 1, Brown Shrike 1, Siskin 1 and  Lapland Bunting 3.

The Brown Shrike distantly at the back of Rocklea

Eider by the jetty

Some of the Pink-feet heading south

Yellow-browed Warbler in Rocklea

The (tailless) Collared Dove

Collared Dove, Oystercather and resident Junglefowl

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 6

What a day!
Despite the ropey weather forecast we managed plenty of field time, and thoroughly made the most of that time.
Starting out early, and knowing the rain was due in at 11.00 we made our way over on to Housay to tackle the Iris beds.
A new in Goldcrest in the B&B garden was noted, as were 2 Blackcap with a Yellow-browed Warbler across the road.
The Iris beds produced a couple of Chiffchaff, a Yellow-browed Warbler and something rather more interesting and flighty!
It gave us all the run around for a while before eventually giving itself up it the roses at the west end, a Garden Warbler!
Still, it was another shred of evidence that new birds were in and it gave us all the encouragement we needed – not that I’m ever short of that!

Heading out across and on to North Hill, we began a flush and steadily made our way over to Storm Beach.
A couple of Jack Snipe were noted as well as a few Common. Reaching the Storm Beach area, we all split up a little before regrouping to walk further north up the hill.
Once at the top a Snipe flushed from between Nick and Steve, we watched it as it flew further north, eventually dipping out of sight.
Structurally it looked big to me, broad winged, heavy chested and flew low and straight! Immediately I looked over to Nick and Steve who were both looking at each other.
Little did we know at the time but that was Nick’s second view, a brief flight before (after being flushed by Dave, unfortunately not to Dave’s knowledge at the time!) had almost given him a Woodcock impression, something Steve came to the conclusion of independently!
Clearly we were on to a large, hefty Snipe...... - a Great!?

A few organised flushes later and we hadn’t managed to relocate the bird in question, a few Common Snipe and 2 more Jack Snipe were all we managed as well as a Lapland Bunting.

Heavy rain set in for a few hours so we chose to head back to Rocklea, shelter, take on some food before heading back out to restart the search.
We did just that, and by 13.30 we were walking in the direction of North Hill, noting a Tree Pipit on the way.
An organised flush began following the same route as before, towards Storm Beach and then cutting north.
Initially nothing came of it.
Once on North Hill the strong W-SW wind made standing a problem, so we each chose a sheltered valley to head down.
On the very north edge as I approached the cliffs up shot the ‘hefty Snipe’, only about 5 – 6 meters in front of me, when it did I was able to see large white tail sides naked eye, Bloody Hell! Through the bins I could see a dark panel on the wing with pale tipped greater and median coverts forming a border with the pale tips on the greater covers continuing along the primary covers, forming two thin white lines.
The mantle of the bird seemed rather subdued, fairly greyish brown with the pale braces less obvious that on Snipe and not so richly coloured.
I couldn’t really make out the flanks as I was slightly above the bird although I could see it appeared densely barred, looking dusky.
I never got views of the underwing due to angle.
Again it appeared stocky and probably more sluggish with broader wings. Flight was straight, with no zigzagging and it never gained any height (as before), it just remained low and flew back east - southeast towards the original area of Storm Beach.
I was quickly on the radio shouting GREAT SNIPE down it but typically the others couldn’t hear me. Still fitter than I thought (adrenaline carrying me) I was up the Hill rather quickly and managed to raise them on the radio, although the wind was really hampering communication.
I found Dave and explained where I thought it had gone to, so we began to head in that direction, whilst doing so the Short-toed Lark was flushed.

Again another few organised flushes were unsuccessful but looking at the lay of the land it could have easily dropped into the Geo, the ridge over which I lost it!
A little downer on the nice find was that one of the team missed out, ironically Dave who flushed the bird originally unbeknown to him! And so the bottle of bubble remains in the fridge with the cork firmly wedged in top!

Whilst searching for the Great Snipe news came in from Michael McKee, he had discovered a Brown Shrike in the eastern Geo on Bruray Hill!
Once over there we picked up the BROWN SHRIKE rather sharpish but views were less than ideal. Eventually though it did show and we all got decent views!

A great end to a fantastic day!
Bring on tomorrow…

My end of day migrant totals were as follows; 1 Goosander (only the 2nd Skerries record apparently!), 4 Jack Snipe, 10 Common Snipe, 1 Great Snipe, 1 Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Short-toed Lark, 1 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Brown Shrike and 1 Lapland Bunting.

Brown Shrike on Bruray

Which way did the Shrike go?......

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 5

Another quiet day, more so than yesterday. Migrant numbers were once again low, with very little in the way of evident new arrivals, a Tree Pipit and a Jack Snipe found by the team on Housay were about the best, and only, new arrivals, while the Short-toed Lark was again relocated on North Hill.

I once again worked most of the two islands but unfortunately finished with low migrant totals with only a single Willow Warbler in the Geo on the east end of Bruray Hill being new.
Highlight of the day was a Skerries mega in the familiar shape of a Moorhen, though not so familiar was its skulking nature, it didn’t half take some finding!

My migrant totals for the day were as follows; 1 Moorhen, 1 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 12 Snipe, 1 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 17 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Alba, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Lapland Bunting and 1 Snow Bunting.

Dunlin

Whinchat

Willow Warbler

Last nights Aurora was on show, not amazingly impressive but worth leaving the evenings night cap for a few minutes outside....

Aurora and the team....

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 4

After a night of G&T, Rum and Beer + Match of the Day I was happy to awake clear headed to my alarm at 06.30.
Once in the field it was evident that there had been a clear out of most migrants.

Most of my time was spent on Bruray while the rest of the team did North Hill again, relocating yesterday’s Short-toed lark.
Round Bruray Wheatears were the most numerous with 10 counted, a single Song Thrush was flushed, as was a Snow Bunting, a Purple Sandpiper and about 10 Snipe.
Two Blackcap were in the western Geo.

Elsewhere throughout the island Blackcap seemed to have increased in number, with most gardens having one or two in.
A single Willow Warbler was by the pool on Bruray, Yellow-broweds were seen in a couple of locations (with the team picking up a further 5 in Geos on North Hill as well as some Blackcap).

Elsewhere was pretty standard, we all just kept going hoping for some change. There was some frustration in the evening – around 16.45 my radio crackled into life, Nick had just had a Tree/OBP call over Bruray Hill, within minutes we were all together and working the area, unfortunately no joy.
Hoping in would have filtered into the gardens, no joy there either!

My totals for the day were; 4 Pink-footed Geese south, 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Teal, 9 Golden Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Snipe, 1 Robin, 14 Wheatear, 1 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 10 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 1 Snow Bunting.

Eider

Ringed Plover

Hooded Crow

Grey Seal

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries! DAY 3

Our first full day on the Islands.
The forecast wasn’t looking good with 50mph winds and heavy rain predicted all day, we were therefore pleasantly surprised to find no rain at 07.00 in the morning, and although breezy, not quiet the 50mph we were expecting.

We took advantage and headed out, heading over the bridge, on to Housay and eventually North Hill.
Despite the wind many of yesterday’s migrants were still around with a few Yellow-broweds, the Spot Fly and the Whinchat noted along with a couple of Chiffchaff.
Out on the rather bleak North Hill we worked our way to the large shingle bank at Storm Beach kicking out regular Snipe while Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchat and Kestrel were all noted.

Walking up the shingle bank at Storm Beach the occasional Rock Pipit flushed from the tideline, followed by a Yellow-browed Warbler, a couple of Wheatear and a Lark – a rather pale, small looking Lark!

I followed it north where it dropped down a few meters to the left of where Dave was stood, suspecting something pretty decent, with Short-toed Lark running through my mind I quickly got on the radio and gave him a shout, he was soon heading towards the general area.
It flushed and flew a little further, a reply from Dave - he hadn’t got too much on it but he also thought it was incredibly interesting and needed further attention.
The team eventually met up on the hill and we began to search for it.
Over the next hour we had had a few flight views, me and Dave managed a few flight shots and we had all hear it call, it was a SHORT-TOED LARK!
More persevering and we got some views on the ground, albeit a little distant but a few record shots were obtained. Brilliant.
We were pretty lucky too, not that long after the ‘on the deck’ views the awaited rain arrived and our walk back to Rocklea began, through the vertical rain, although the find on North Hill took the edge off it a little.

After the rain we hit the field again, although with regular small showers and possibly a slightly stronger blow it made for rather difficult birding.
Again we used the remaining time to do a little exploring, the island of Bruray, where Rocklea is, was thoroughly walked, as was the peninsular on the south of Housay, Mioness.

By the end of the day my totals were as follows; 1 – 2 Kestrel, 4 Ringed Plover, 8 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 10 Snipe, 6 Skylark, 1 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Robin, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 3 Blackcap, 7 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and the Common Rosefinch.

Other bits seen by the team included Teal, Lesser Whitethroat and Snow Bunting.

Some of the organised Lark flush

The first shot of the Short-toed Lark, a distant flight effort

A distant on the deck shot

Heavily cropped Short-toed shot

Yellow-browed Warbler

Willow Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Goldcrest

Twite

Ringed Plover

Looking south from Rocklea (primary school on the right) - a rough day....

Looking south towards Mioness

Scarborough Birders do the Skerries, DAY 1 & 2

It’s been booked for the best part of a year, 8 nights staying in the Rocklea Crofthouse B&B on the Out Skerries!
The team consisted myself, Scarborough Birders very own Treasurer Steve Wignill and Chairman Nick Addey plus Dave Bywater.

All we had been praying for is a weather system not to get stuck in a rut - a moderate southwest wind for the duration of our stay would probably drive us to suicide!
It was shit or bust!!

During the morning of the 22^nd September I met up with Steve, Nick and Dave at 07.00 as we all set off north for Aberdeen. A rather uneventful journey up there got us in to Aberdeen for 15.30 after a short lunch stop in Jedburgh. Once aboard the MV Hjaltland we found the bar in record time and settled in for the long haul, a short break out on deck as we left Aberdeen produced a couple of Arctic Skua and a Sooty Shearwater.
We departed at 17.00 due to the stop in the Orkneys on the way. The journey was rather smooth and by 06.30 the next morning we were waking up (with thick heads, regretting slightly that 8^th pint of Tennent’s!) and preparing to grab some breakfast before departing.
Off the Ferry a taxi was used to get to Vidlin, where we had an hour or so to kill before the set departure at 11.00 to the Out Skerries.
A little birding there was rather pleasant and encouraging, 4 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher, a Wheatear and a Song Thrush were noted as well as 4 Black Guillemot and a few Hooded Crow, always a pleasure to see those species, both of which are pretty rare in Scarborough with no records of either since 2013!

The Ferry journey over took an hour and a half, it was rather smooth and provided us all with our first views of the Out Skerries, what a fantastic looking set of Islands, and our home for the coming few days!

Our first Skerries ‘goodie’ was picked up before we had even docked, 15 Pale-bellied Brent Geese feeding along the shore.
Once on land our first Warbler of the trip was, as predicted, a Yellow-browed Warbler with our second species hot on it’s heels, a male Blackcap.

Bags safely dropped off at Rocklea it was time to hit the field.
It felt really birdy, as Vidlin did, with plenty flitting around to keep you on your toes.
We mainly used the first few hours just to get a feel for the place and felt as though we had, there isn’t too much habitat to get the feel of on here.
Throughout the day we all came up with a respectable tally of common migrants and two of us caught up with the Common Rosefinch, first seen by Michael McKee who arrived on the islands with us today.

By the time we headed back to the B&B for showers and a much needed hot meal I had recorded the following; 8 Snipe, 10 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 6 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Lapland Bunting.

The rest of the team also picked up a few other things whilst we all worked the area, most notably a Yellow Wagtail seen by Dave.

Below are a few Yellow-browed Warbler shots, you can't beat em....

Pale-bellied Brent Geese - nice to see some juveniles

Willow Warbler

A terrible record shot of the Rosefinch before it did one