I was at Clickimin in no time and I picked up the Moorhen that Dave had found yesterday before making a bee line for the feeders in Helendale.
It was strangely quiet when I arrived and it was a ten minute wait before I heard the familiar call of the Blue Tits, they descended on the bird feeders like fluffy devils along with a couple of Greats, I tried to get close but they all just disappeared (not their usual habits).
The Crows were flying around as well and I noticed the wintering Sparrowhawk gliding around, chasing the Hoody's, the "peerie" birds don't really like the Sprawk so it seems he was the culprit.
Though after maybe another 10 minutes they started to return and I waited for some attempts for photos.
The birds were still a bit jumpy but I managed some below decent shots and one of which you could class as a first for Shetland!
Four Blue Tits on/around a feeder, most likely the first ever shot of four together in Shetland or at least one a a rare few that have been taken!
There was a grand total of 6(!!) Blue Tits together and 3 Greats as well, not bad numbers for the likes of Helendale.
They all left though and I was off as well as I still had a few things to pack before Pete arrived.
By 1015 Pete and I were off to pick up Dave from Trondra, several minutes in and we were off again before soon coming to the Asta & Tingwall Lochs.
There was some Tufted Ducks and Goldeneye on Tingwall but not much besides a Long-tailed Duck and a Slavonian Grebe so we just went West.
An ok shot, he was pretty close in
A few sites were checked on the way but Teal and Wigeon (in good numbers) were the only birds of note.
We were still a couple of miles out of Sandness when we drove by this Loch, on the northern end of it I noticed this white duck, I almost kept quite but a green head got bells ringing and I told Dave to stop and reverse! it was worth it as we enjoyed some nice views of a male Goosander on the oddly named loch called Loch of Stanevalstoe.
Finally it was time to see this Yank duck, we headed to the Loch of Collaster and started scoping out the Wigeon, I cracked out the Tea & Coffee (I brought a flask) and all we had to do was happen to spot it........ the only problem was that it wasn't in the flock.
The A.Wigeon was no where to be soon, probably on a nearby Loch, the cuppa's were finished, the engine started and the trio was off.
Going through Norby, Pete had this thing go off some wire by the side of the road and I got my eyes on it as it was silhouetted against the sky, it looked "peerier" than a Chaffinch and "Tit" came to mind, my shoutings of "Tit!!" stopped the car and I tried to eye it on the fence behind us but I couldn't see it so Dave reversed.
I didn't see anything but then it flew of a strainer post right at the corner of the road and went over a shed! Dave parked up and myself and Pete went to find it.
For Norby there was a good host of bushes and trees so we tried them but with no luck, after another attempt we both spotted something fly into a bush on the other side of the clearing, I went round while Pete kept watch.
Then this thing flew out of the bush and perched itself in a tree, a Blue Tit! I knew it! it didn't stay long and took off a few second later, how its finding food out here we don't know.
Next we headed for another Loch which was full of waders and ducks, Dave picked out the American Wigeon (year tick) but also on/around the Loch was Turnstones, Teal, Wigeon, 69 Ringed Plovers (!!), Shalders and some Redshank.
Some sleeping Sandiloo (Ringed Plovers)
Pictured Middle: The male American Wigeon
A couple of Waders
The very productive Loch
A finally stop was by the Melby beach, there was a Rock Pipit calling, a flock of Long-tailed Ducks and an Otter in the sea.
Male Long-tailed Duck, they are real beauties in their winter plumage
Our day pretty much ended at that but 2 Jackdaws and a Tundra Bean Goose were a treat at Gott farm, sadly as of the 1st of January Tundra Beans aren't rarities here no more!
Also as I was heading north I had 5 Jackdaws at the Sandy Loch outside Lerwick!
A good end to the weekend, and as some have called it a poor start to the year I'll call it a great one! I can't remember better birding from the first two months of the year!
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