26th September
After a night crossing, we were off the boat by 7:30am. We had driven up, rather than hire a car and were fortunate to be able to get into the rented house straight away as there had been no occupants the previous week, so drove straight to Wadbister and dropped off the luggage. The house is at the very end of the access road and no distance at all from the banks of the Voe. The garden looked just like it did two years before and we knew exactly where we'd be placing the nets.
As it was a bit windy we left the nets for now and set off out. From our first stop, a small pier in Wadbister we saw our first otter, Red-breasted Mergansers and a flock of roughly 40 Eider out by the fish farm. There were Gannets hunting in the Voe, with some Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes and a Red-throated Diver.
On then to Lerwick Harbour where saw the female King Eider but narrowly missed a Surf Scoter. Other observations included 21 Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Shag and Rock Pipits. We also luckily met the local ringer, Phil Harris, who had some colour-ring combinations for Yellow-browed Warbler for us, just in case although he thought chances of catching any of those had already passed.
Moving on to Quendale we missed the Citrine Wagtail, but got our first Ravens. In the bay there, a number of marine and coastal species were seen including 3 Great-northern Diver, a Red Throated Diver and 11 Guillemots. There were a number of Eider, Black Guillies, Kittiwake, Shag and Turnstone. These were frequently seen around the coast and will not be mentioned specifically every time they're seen.
A Merlin flashed past the car as we drove through Hillwell and was probably the same one seen at Fleck when we stopped to check through the flocks of Golden Plover and geese. We also saw Pink-footed Geese, Snipe (14) and Hooded Crow. The final stop at Gulberwick gave us Turnstone (21), Ringed Plover (18), Redshank (3), Oystercatcher (1), Rock Pipit (1), Black Guillemot (5), Shag, Gannet and Guillemot (2).
Back then to Lerwick and a quick tour of Tesco's for food shopping before returning to Wadbister.
27th September
A windy and wet morning, we headed North hoping to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It turned out to be a bad call, since Eshaness Lighthouse was busy with non-birding visitors and there was no sign of it. A single Knot on the pool that it usually frequented was seen with Curlew (3), Turnstone (3) and Bar-tailed Godwit (2). A Lapland Bunting a short distance from the lighthouse, where other visitors tended not to walk was seen.
At Olna Firth we found Goosander (20), Red-breasted Merganser (17) and Grey Heron (3). At Voe there was a Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Robin and Blackbird.
We got back to the house with enough light to get three nets up in the front garden.
28th September
Nets were dropped before first light by D, in time to catch five of an arrival of Blackbirds. Three Starlings were caught, as several had found the fat block that we'd put out. We also got the first two Wrens of the stay then closed at 8am.
First birding stop of the day was Quendale where the Citrine Wagtail again eluded us. Sightings were Raven (3), Swallow (1), Sand Martin (1), Blackbird (2) and Rock Pipit (1). This was our last proper visit here as some birders left the gate to the field open and the farmer turned his cows and a very large bull out after this and another incident where a gate was left open by people looking for cetaceans near the beach.
At Sumburgh (Southern broch or fortified place) Quarry a rather showy Redstart was present with Fulmars on the cliff face, also Raven, Rock Dove, Blackbird and White Wagtail. There were Black-tailed Godwits in the adjacent field.
A return to Fleck and the Buff breasted Sandpiper was seen distantly in the field with many Golden Plover, Turnstone (6), Redshank (2) and several Curlew and Lapwing.
We worked Hoswick (meaning bay of houses) gardens, the Orca hotel and the burn with only a few Blackbirds, three Grey Wagtails and a Goldcrest for our efforts. Then at Levenwick (Leven's Bay) we had a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blackcap in willows of the gardens. There were Swallows (10) feeding and a couple of Blackbirds in the fields.
29th September
Nets were dropped for 6:10am and it seemed the word had gone round that food was available as House Sparrows arrived soon after it was light, followed by Starlings. Wrens (4) were finding the nets and there seemed to be quite a few for one garden. Perhaps they travel in from the surrounding moorland. There was also a single Blackbird and Collared Dove. Red Grouse could be heard from the moorland behind the house with several sightings throughout our stay.
Chris worked the local area before we went out, finding the usual suspects out on the Voe and a couple of Pied Flycatchers in the garden.
We worked the gardens at Strand finding the first Yellow-browed Warbler of our own and eight Mute Swans on the loch. Then Veensgarth (Vikings garden) had nothing in terms of passerines but there was a Barnacle goose in with the Greylag geese.
30th September
Between the rain and wind we only got nets down for a brief spell in the morning, just getting a House Sparrow and two more Wrens. While birding around the garden, Chris had Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling flying over.