Avez-Vous un Cuppa?

Here is a few photos of the some of the birds we saw on Shetland last week. The majority of the photos were taken by Colin Green. First one up is the "Eastern" Subalpine Warbler at Mid Yell , Yell. Thanks to Dougie Preston for finding it and to Charlie who allowed us to view the bird from his garden.  

Here is few more photos from my recent Shetland trip. Although the weather was against us we still saw a good selection of birds and wildlife! The Cunningsburgh massive happy after seeing the Pechora Pipit and Arctic Snowball at Norwick, Unst! The Cunningsburgh massive at Noness The car rental and the Bungalow was a bit basic! Colin waiting for the bus at the famous Unst bus stop!          

Here is a few photos taken by Colin Green of the birds we have seen so far this week on Shetland! Yellow-browed Warbler@ Cunningsburgh. Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll@ Norwick, Unst  Goldcrest@ Cunningsburgh Red-breasted Flycatcher @ Wester Quarff    

Well I'm currently on Shetland for my annual birding holiday.Myself,Colin Green, Andy Smith and Steve James are staying at Cunningsburgh again. Although we haven't found much yet, we have twitched successfully the Buff-breasted Pipit ( American Pipit ) at Rerwick, the Pechora Pipit and "Arctic Snowball" ( Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll ) on Unst and the Siberian Stonechat at Hoswick. This was because the tart's( Andy, Colin and Steve) needed them for British ticks!! I will post a few photos when I get time and over the next few days the weather looks good for maybe something special?!

Here is a few shots myself and Colin Green took in Shetland over the last week: Little Bunting@Geosetter by Colin Green Another couple of photos of the Little Bunting!

Well on our final full day in Shetland we started by doing a bit of vis-migging in the garden of Melstadr and then the phone rang to let us know that the Lanceolated Warbler was still at Skaw on Unst. So the wacky races began as it was a lifer for all of the drunkbirders! After catching two ferries to Unst via Yell we were on site by early afternoon. Initial the bird didn't show but after a couple of minutes and me changing my shoes the bird showed fantastical well as it crept along the field edge like a mouse!! As the bird disappeared back into the long grass, it was high fives all round with the other birders and then a steady drive back to Lerwick for the ferry in the evening.

The Swainson's Thrush Twitch Well sorry for any updates recently but the house in Shetland does not have any WiFi!! So basically what we have seen has included some Yellow-browed Warblers,a Marsh Warbler,good number of Autumn migrants like Bramblings, Siskins and Redstarts. However the highlight of the trip so far was us finding a Swainson’s Thrush at Levenwick Quarry!!!

From tomorrow myself, the Drunkbirder (  http://thedrunkbirder.wordpress.com/ )and Mr Lawson will be travelling to Shetland for the annual Drunkbirders field trip! So over the next week I will try let you know how we get on and if we find a rare bird the news will be put out as humanly possible,so to keep the birdforum dudes happy!?! ;-)