Raucous Glaucous!

A few images taken in the last few days here on Shetland. I have spent time in the harbour photographing white-winged gulls, seals and reflections as well as heading out into the hills to track and photograph the stunning Mountain Hare, a British mammal found here in good numbers.

A raucous Glaucous  - a nice pale Juvenile photographed in Lerwick yesterday

Juvenile Glaucous Gull - Lerwick

Juvenile Iceland Gull - Lerwick

A beautiful Mountain Hare - Shetland mainland

Some wacky harbour reflections - here with a big bull Grey Seal winking at me. 

Grey Seal side profile in reflections

Feeling Blue . . . .

Spot the American Wigeon - a lucky flyby of the thankfully long staying bird in a flock of Eurasian Wigeon in the West of mainland Shetland.

A 'Tystie' or Black Guillemot at sunset in Lerwick harbour.

Saturday Struggle . . . 

The strong gales and heavy downpours continued today. I photographed the male Long-tailed Duck which was still present in North Haven during a brief sunny spell as well as a confiding Redwing. 2 female Long-tailed Duck & the 2 Grey Phalaropes were also still present. I headed north & birded the cliffs round to Easter & Wester Lother before lunch but it was a virtually birdless venture, my only bird of note being a Tree Pipit  - shown in the photographs below (a trip tick for me).  Other birds I noted today include 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Kittiwake, 4 Common Gull. Phil had 3 Great Northern Diver & 1 Red-throated Diver during a South Light Seawatch.

Safe Havens . . . 

Today was marked by very strong north westerly winds & rain. As such it was difficult to contemplate leaving the Havens. Luckily that's where the action was! I was able to get more shots of one remaining Grey Phalarope and an obliging Purple Sandpiper. Also noted 7 Black-headed Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Razorbill, 1 Common Guillemot, 1 Chaffinch.

'Bits & Pieces'

Light southerly winds today with sunny spells, making birding around the Island pleasant  - though again very quiet for birds. Highlights today included 1 Scaup in Furse along with 2 Tufted Duck. Also a very close Tystie in North Haven which showed well for photos. Other birds encountered included 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Razorbill, 1 Merlin, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Black-headed Gull,  1 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Bluethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 North-western Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch, 4+ Brambling, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Blackbird & lots of Redwing & Snow Bunting (70+).