Shetlands Day 5 - 09/10/2013

Day 5 of my Shetlands Trip was spent on a new Island for me, Fetlar, in pursuit of a Rustic Bunting, a pleasurable day, especially when the bird showed well (eventually) and in good company, catching up with old acquaintances including Ashley from Oriole Birding.  Below is another classic photo of mine in which I like to test my own ability to spot the bird among the foliage.

Rustic Bunting - Honest!

As there did not seem to be many other birds on Fetlar, we managed to catch an early ferry back to Unst (via Yell) and made our way to the most northern house in the UK at Skaw to look for Little Bunting.  The wind had really picked up by the time we arrived and was a chilling Northerly making it definitely feel that we were far up North but alas the Little Bunting had decided to make the wise decision in moving on and so we had to console ourselves with the opposite. Also, nearby was a pale Chiff Chaff showing traits of the Siberian sub species.

Tame Snow Bunting at Skaw

Enroute back to the hotel we paid a visit to a garden where we knew there were Hawfinches and before and using then Minibus as a hide we had the best ever views of one feeding in full view  within feet away - Amazing.  Also, nearby was a (Eastern) Lesser Whitethroat.

Very obliging Hawfinch