The following report(s) have been written by Gareth after a superb trip to a small island called Bressay, which is one of the Shetland Isles. Here is Episode 1-- further episodes will follow in quick succession!! :--
Here we GO!!
On Saturday 29th May we started our journey to Shetland on our third ringing session on the island of Bressay. The previous two visits were in autumn 2019 and 2020, and this was our first attempt in spring, albeit a year later due to Covid restrictions. The team this year was a full on family affair consisting of three generations: Kevin Clements, his two sons Gareth and Nathan, and Kevin's grandaughters ( Gareth's girls), Milania and Aseya.
Gareth is taking the picture of the excited family team
We had to travel from Wolverhampton to Aberdeen to get on the overnight ferry to Shetland. The ferry left at 5pm went to Orkney and onto Lerwick, and arrived there at 7am on Sunday 30th May.
Not far --really....
Sunday 30th May - After getting food shopping, we had to go across to Bressay. On Shetland there are inter-island boats to take people, goods, etc between the islands.
Arriving on Bressay
We met Mr Jonathon Wills who took us to where we would call home for the next six nights. The track into Gorie is undriveable unless you have a 4x4 - I was so excited I walked in and straightaway Snipe were drumming, Arctic Skuas were flying within few feet and every direction I looked there was a Bonxie, and there you have it my view of home.
Easy to see where birds will end up
Gorie is situated on the east side of Bressay and the first cover looking eastwards till you hit Scandinavia. In my opinion a monster rare bird will be found here eg Blue-cheeked Bee-eater or Black-throated Accentor.
After settling in we put up a few nets, although late in the day we didn't expect much. Well, a Chiffchaff was a nice start and then a bird flew in and landed by the nets - I called it out to Dad and said that it looked like a COMMON ROSEFINCH in flight. It began feeding on dandelion seeds and about half an hour later was found in the net. What a subtle, beautiful bird. This bird is pretty nondescript, but the obvious black beady eye and double wingbar are how we know its a COMMON ROSEFINCH, and we know it was a first-summer bird due to its pointed tail feathers.
Not a stunner to look at but a belting first rarity for them
Monday 31st May - We caught and ringed 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Common Whitethroat, a recaptured Shetland Wren that we'd caught last autumn and 14 Shetland Starling pulli (young birds in the nest). Wow, these latter birds have a beautiful super bright yellow gape, which they open wide for mom or dad to pass them the food. Some people might think they are ugly; I think they are actually beautiful.
Lovely!!
Tuesday 1st June - was too windy to do ringing so we had a trip to Fetlar to watch the Red-necked Phaloropes. We were lucky and saw three birds.
That really IS lovely!
Wednesday 2nd June - What a day, which started with a Common Redpoll, followed by a Spotted Flycatcher.
Understated but a superb Spotted Flycatcher
Next episode of the saga will follow soon.........
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