2007 - JUNE SIGHTINGS

June 25^th-30^th: A female Red-backed Shrike was present on the 30^th, Marsh Warbler remained at the Obs and was joined by a Reed Warbler on the 29^th. 21 Storm Petrels were seen off the North Lighthouse and the Lesser Grey Shrike remained throughout the month.

June 24th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. The Quail was heard singing again and the Marsh Warbler was trapped, along with a fresh juvenile Stonechat (presumably bred in Orkney or Mainland Shetland). June 23rd: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. Singing Quail and Siskin were around Schoolton. Marsh Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks

June 22^nd: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. A male Tufted Duck was on Golden Water. A Marsh Warbler was at Pund and 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were around the traps.

June 21^st: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. A Wood Pigeon, Common Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher and ‘mealy’ Common Redpoll were all new.

An increase in Painted Lady (30) and Red Admiral (10) butterflies was noted.

June 20^th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. The flava wagtail was still present.

June 19^th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. A male Blackcap and female ‘flava ssp’ Wagtail were new.

June 18^th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. Single Merlin and Swift were seen plus 2 Garden Warblers.

June 17^th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. A north-bound Osprey flew through in the morning and 5 Garden Warblers were counted along with two Chiffchaff and a House Martin. The Common Scoter was seen again as was the female Red-backed Shrike and a Corn Bunting may have been the bird last seen on 6^th!!

June 16^th: The Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. A male Common Scoter, a Cuckoo,a Swift and a female Red-backed Shrike were all new.

June 15^th: Two Barnacle Geese arrived (staying until 19^th) and a Marsh Warbler was trapped. Other arrivals were a Common Sandpiper, a Black Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher whilst the Iceland Gull and Lesser Grey Shrike remain. The first Eider ducklings were noted.

June 14^th: No sign of the Terek Sandpiper but the Lesser Grey Shrike is still here, as are two Red-backed Shrikes, including a female which was ringed two weeks ago!

June 13^th: The run of quality June birds continues with a Terek Sandpiper in South Harbour – the first for the isle and fourth for Shetland! A Short-toed Lark was on Vaasetter whilst the Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes remain.

Terek Sandpiper Photo Mark Breaks

Terek Sandpiper Photo Mark Breaks

Short-toed Lark Photo Deryk Shaw

Terek Sandpiper Photo Deryk Shaw

June 12^th: The Lesser Grey Shrike remains around Schoolton/Midway area. Two Red-backed Shrikes were also seen and a similar number of Cuckoos, plus singles of Common Scoter, Ring Ouzel and Common Rosefinch.

Lesser Grey Shrike Photo Deryk Shaw

Lesser Grey Shrike Photo Deryk Shaw

River Warbler Photo by Deryk Shaw	River Warbler Photo by Deryk Shaw

June 11th: Two Sandwich Terns flying over the isle early on were well beaten into second place by a River Warbler at the Observatory mid-morning – our 12th record!! A few other new things in included a Cuckoo, Icterine Warbler, four Red-backed Shrike and a Common Rosefinch. The Lesser Grey Shrike remains and the first fledged Pied Wagtails were noted. A scattering of Red Admiral (15 logged) and Painted Lady (30) butterflies was nice and possibly eclipsing even the River Warbler was the sight of three Killer Whales actually in North Haven – right against the pier!!!!

Killer Whale Photo by Mark Breaks

		Bee-eater Photo by Deryk Shaw

June 1^st-10^th: A new month started with a new bird for the year, but its identity left us puzzled -  a female Red/Black-headed Bunting frequented rough grassland in the Quoy/ Burkle area until 7th.

Bunting showing features of both Black-headed and Red-headed. Photo by Mark Breaks  Any informed comment would be welcome!     More of Mark's pictures can be seen on his website: breakspics.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/

The Whooper Swan remained throughout with the occasional Greylag Goose. Five Shelduck on 2nd was a great count, with a  single until 5th. A handful of other ducks (Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck & Red-breasted Merganser) were also seen during the first week. The first Storm Petrel of the year was seen from the Good Shepherd crossing, when a stunning European Bee-eater arrived, staying until 6th. A lingering Peregrine was seen on and off, as was the Rosy Starling from late May. On the wader front, a flock of 12 Lapwings on 3rd was an indication that the first failed breeders are already heading south whilst late migrants included a few Dunlin and Whimbrel. Six Common Sandpipers were present on 1st and a Green Sandpiper on 2nd-3rd. The long-staying Iceland Gull was present throughout and was joined by another first-summer from 6th-10th. Arctic Tern numbers fluctuated and, after prospecting for several weeks, most colonies were finally deserted, but c200 birds have settled on Buness and c50 at Shalstane near South Light. Cuckoos were noted on 3rd & 9th and a few Swifts overhead peaked at 18 on 7th. A Short-toed Lark on 5th was a welcome addition to the year list. Hirundines were ever-present with peaks of 40 Swallows (4th) and 17 House Martins (1st). the last Tree Pipit of the spring was noted on 5th and the first few days of the month also saw 1-2 Grey-headed Wagtails. Other late migrants included the odd Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Ring Ouzel, Redwing and a scattering of all the common warblers with a Marsh Warbler (7th), Reed Warbler (7th), up to four Icterine Warblers and a Paddyfield Warbler (9th) thrown in for good measure!

Marsh Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks	Marsh Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks
Paddyfield Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks	Paddyfield Warbler Photo by Mark Breaks

There were daily sightings of Red-backed Shrike (peak of 6 on 5th), to the annoyance of the lingering Lesser Grey Shrike, with at least 12 birds involved. Single Common Rosefinches were seen on 1st & 3rd and a Corn Bunting on 6th whilst the Rustic Bunting from late May stayed until 4th.