Our 3rd day on Shetland dawned grey and rainy, well I'm assuming it did, was raining when I got up about 8 o'clock anyway 😀 To be honest this was the sort of weather I had been expecting, some more hardy types would probably just don the old waterproofs and show great British pluck head off anyway!! Unfortunately we are not made of such stuff and have developed a technique for these kind of days, which involves driving down the small single track roads, stopping if we see something good and maybe getting out of the car, if the rain stops for a bit, doesn't work very well in overcrowded Sussex, just get bibbed a lot😏 however on the single track roads with plenty of passing places in Shetland surprisingly effective!! Obviously never leave the car unattended in a passing place, that way lies gridlock!! So that is what we did, concentrating in the northeast of the Mainland, couldn't really tell you where exactly as we just moseyed about, but saw some decent birds. The ones I managed to get pics of below, Margie took a few pics, hers are below as well expect cuteness!!!
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| Red-throated Diver, grey bird on a grey loch on a grey day, came out ok considering😀 |
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| Couple of Whooper Swans, was surprised to see these thought they would have migrated north but have subsequently found out that a few stay all year with a few pairs breeding |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Red Grouse heard several up on the moors and had a few fly overs, but this one was the only one we saw on the ground, though to be fair he sat there for ages, couldn't find a Mountain Hare though😢 |
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| Hooded Crow, in general these guys fly off as you stop the car, but this one was doing it's nails so hung around a bit |
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| Oystercatcher getting rained on! |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Golden Plover, the only one we have seen so far, but again posed nicely on a ridge above the car! |
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| Not enjoying the rain much |
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| Meadow Pipit displaying a fine pair of hindclaws |
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
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| I actually thought this was a Black-throated Diver so black did the throat look through the bins, but the upturned bill and various other plumage factors pointed to the truth, Red-throated Diver!! |
Pics below are Margie's from the other side of the car!
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| Not sure how this got here, didn't like to ask! |
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| Mean moody and magnificent, no not me!!, the scenery😁 |
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| As a sufferer of mild IBS,I genuinely appreciate the many, very well maintained toilet facilities present in Shetland, wasn't sure about this set up mind, but needs must, not sure what the women down the road was waving at me for, I didn't design it!!😁😱😰💩 |
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| A Burn |
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| Yes the lambs are small and cute here at the moment!! |
Eventually as the weather got worse we gave up and headed back to base!!
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