Back on Shetland

After a two year gap I'm back up north. Windy, I had forgotten quite how blowy it is up here. Team Bradders (which this year is Howard, Bob, and temporarily Nick) picked me up from Sumburgh early morning having travelled ahead, and I was soon back in my wellies, over-trousers and camo hat, tripping over countless Mipits and enormous Starlings. Star bird of the day was probably the Brown Shrike, however the best bird was almost certainly the stellar Greenish Warbler nearby which performed beautifully, calling its head off and singing quietly to itself in a rare moment of sunshine. A confusing Blyth's Reed Warbler, several Yellow-browed Warblers and a flyover Common Crane completed a busy day, and with the wind calming down tomorrow promises to be very pleasant indeed. Let's hope a few more birds decide to emerge from wherever they have been skulking, and that 'Terrier' Bob is in an iris kind of mood.