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Post by georgeg on Oct 7, 2006 15:26:26 GMT 1
This week I saw a Merlin at Mossbank and a Kestrel at Leaside which was getting a hard time from a Gull.The previous week I saw about 36 Graylag Geese at Petta Water and also about the same number at Voe Water.
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Post by patioman on Oct 7, 2006 15:39:10 GMT 1
Georeg, you and I seem to be almost having an online chat, my prime purpose of visiting Shetland is for bird watching and photography, my photography manipulation skills do not match up to yours but am trying, Fiona will say "very trying"
When on Shetland in June I managed 66 species which is not brilliant but I was more than pleased, my star bird was a passing Red-backed Shrike near Wastness, better in some ways than the Red-backed Phalarope which when travelling to Loch Funzie on Unst you expect to see, a cracking bird though.
I keep in touch with birds seen on shetland with Bird Watching magazine but nevertheless would like to see this thread expand with contributions from other birders on Shetland.
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Post by georgeg on Oct 7, 2006 15:57:47 GMT 1
Yes so would I , my eldest son is a bit of a twitcher, as was I when I was a youngster.
a Rose Coloured Starling was my best back in 1978.
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Post by georgeg on Oct 7, 2006 16:31:38 GMT 1
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Post by patioman on Oct 7, 2006 16:57:08 GMT 1
Will do, Have Done, initial peruse of the sight looks very promising, thanks "georeg" it seems you and I have a lot in common, except I am 700/800 miles from where I would like to be.
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Post by patioman on Oct 7, 2006 17:07:44 GMT 1
Looking again at the site you recomended to me "Georgeg" I see there was a male Red-backed Shrike on Foula on the 13th June.
When I saw one on the 18th I had Foula in view whilst watching it on a deserted Croft near Wastness, probably the same bird, and it done a day trip over the sea.
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Post by georgeg on Oct 8, 2006 11:39:20 GMT 1
My son and Granddaughter were watching a Merlin giving a bunch of Redwings a hard time at Graven cemetry yesterday morning.  |
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Post by Pat on Oct 8, 2006 12:01:36 GMT 1
My family and I watched a Merlin last Sunday at Cunningsburgh.  It was hovering over a ryegrass rig probably after a mouse or something. It could get no peace from the starlings in the area and had to retreat on several occasions to the nearest hydro pole.  It eventually gave up and flew off in the direction of some meadow land. Pat |
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Post by georgeg on Oct 8, 2006 12:35:15 GMT 1
Hi. Pat. If it was hovering it was probably a Kestrel,but I might be wrong. Old age is getting to me.  |
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Post by patioman on Oct 8, 2006 15:12:21 GMT 1
Was it a Kestrel or Merlin.
I have consulted my "Birds of the Western Pale-arctic" disc's and according to the text on these, it would seem that a Merlin hunts in
1. Low horizontal Flight.
2. Prolonged persistent chasing
3. Vertical stooping, whatever that means.
A kestrel hunts by
1. gentle swoops and hoverings
2. dropping sharply.
This is largely born out by the food they feed on.
Merlin hunts small birds
Kestrel seek out Carrion, earthworms, caterpillars and small mammals.
Down here if the questions is it a Kestrel/Merlin it would be a Kestrel, only likely to see Merlin on Moorlands, you are very lucky people to enjoy the confusion.
I have travelled many thousands of miles birdwatching and the only one I ever seen was at the Loons reserve on the Northern mainland of Orkney.
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Post by georgeg on Oct 8, 2006 15:56:51 GMT 1
hi.patioman. My son was telling me a while ago that when he was parked up in his tractor he was watching a Kestrel it was feeding on daddy long legs, then it landed on the front of the tractor and that made his day. Another day he saw a Merlin chasing a blackbird into a habitat at his work, he went for a look and as he entered the habitat the Merlin almost enbedded itself in his head as it flew out . True stories. ;D
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Post by patioman on Oct 8, 2006 16:00:53 GMT 1
As I said earlier, and as the late and lamented Tommy Trinder would say, "You lucky people"
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Post by Pat on Oct 8, 2006 19:42:42 GMT 1
That all makes sense considering what the bird was doing so Kestrel it will be. I am no expert but I love to see these creatures and am very willing to learn.
There has also been a couple of these birds around Collafirth this year.
We also saw an otter last Sunday playing at the shore (4pm-ish). He did not notice us for some time and we managed to creep pretty near. We think by the size probably a juvenile. There has been a mother with young around all year.
Pat
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Post by georgeg on Oct 8, 2006 20:24:21 GMT 1
Hi.Pat. I was picking one of my sons up from his work 2nite. He was watching two Otters in Garths Voe just after 6pm.they were in the Bay at the construction jetty at the BP Terminal.
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Post by georgeg on Oct 8, 2006 20:31:40 GMT 1
Maybe we need another thread on the forum for animals, but unfortunately it would be full of otters Polecats Stoats and Mountain Hares.
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It was hovering over a ryegrass rig probably after a mouse or something. It could get no peace from the starlings in the area and had to retreat on several occasions to the nearest hydro pole. 
It eventually gave up and flew off in the direction of some meadow land.