Icelandic Cruise: Shetland Isles

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

 Wednesday 5 June

No doubt about it.  Landing at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands was the birding day of the whole cruise. rather than spend time in the town Derek had rented a car for us to collect up arrival and as soon as off the ship we were on our way the the southern tip of the island and Sumburgh Head with its lighthouse and a fabulous sea bird breeding colony. Even bright sunny, if somewhat cold, weather to make the day even more enjoyable.

Leaving the port area with its Common Terns, Cormorant, Eider Duck, Black Guillemot and Starlings behind we travelled country roads past many green fields noting Oystercatcher, Hooded Crows, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, House Sparrows, Greylag Geese, Curlew and Herring Gulls till reaching our destination.  Once there, the welcome sight of both Skylark and Wheatear before heading towards the cliffs.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Below us very many Fulmar, Guillemots, Puffin and Razorbills.  To the right a number of Shag and then a single Rock Pipit.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

A Raven passed over as we recorded the pair of Meadow Pipits and then concentrated on the Kittiwake colony before seeing many more of the same sea birds on the neighbouring cliff edges.  A wonderful sight to behold.

A few of the hundreds of Guillemots Uria aalge

Time to move on a little and after a coffee at the nearby hotel we stopped near a jetty on the opposite side road and immediately more Arctic Terns and a Mute Swan.  The small pool on the other side of the road held a large feeding flock of Dunlin along with a smaller number of Ringed Plover. A few Barn Swallows passed over and then a handful of Shelduck as we made our way back to the main road.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

As we headed towards Boddam a pair of Whooper Swans in the field to our far right and then both Blackbird and Linnet.  having stopped to take a closer look at a pair of Curlew with their three well-grown chicks, we had to move on slightly as we were blocking the road.  Stopping at a layby on our side of the road further along the adjacent small water we were delighted to find a pair of Red-necked Pharlarope along with a Mallard family.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (Male above, female below)

Finally, back to Lerwick to return the car and note a couple of Collared Doves before boarding ship and seeing another Gannet.  But, of course, always the memories of the sea birds, especially the Puffins, Guillemots and Fulmars.

Puffins Fratercula arctica

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Eider Duck, Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Red-necked Pharlarope, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Kittiwake, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Puffin, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Sky Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Wheatear, Blackbird, Raven, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

GuillemotsUria aalge including (centre) Bridled Guillemot

Very young Curlew Numenius arquata

Mother Curlew Numenius arquata

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

Razorbill Alca torda

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Common Seals Phoca vitulina - or are they Grey Seals?

For the latest news follow the Axarquia Birds and Wildlife Facebook page for more photos and comments and the opportunity to share with the wider birding world.