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Just back from a trip, with Rob Carr, to see the holy grail of British birding, a male Siberian Rubythroat on Shetland.
We left Lincoln at 07:15 on Thursday and drove to Aberdeen, 408 miles, to catch the 17:30 overnight ferry, on route seeing a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flying alongside the car as we went round the Newcastle by-pass.
Overnight crossing was a bit rough but nothing comparerd with Wedneday's which we were told had taken 24 hours instead of the usual 14!
Arrived in Lerwick at 07:30 on Friday and took a taxi to Gulberwick and we were watching the bird in the half light by 07:55. It showed on and off for the first 45 minutes of daylight but then went missing for 3 hours before being seen again just before mid day in much better light.
It was seen again at about 14:00 when it appeared much closer in the vegetable patch and on the wood pile.
This is the 9th British record since the first on Fair Isle in 1975, 7 of these have been on Shetland, but is the first twitchable male in full plumage, what a stunner, never thought I would see one in Britain (have seen them in China).
This bird has now been present in the garden of Wick house since Tuesday 18th October with news breaking on the afternoon of 19th once a local birder had confirmed its identity. I was on holiday in Cornwall at the time and due to work commitments and threat of bad weather on the Wednesday had not been able to go earlier, never dreamt it would stay arround to enable me to get to see it.
Also saw a Pallas's Warbler in a sycamore in Lerwick late afternoon.
Sailed back from Lerwick at 17:30 on Friday, rough crossing again, docking in Aberdeen at 07:30 this morning and arriving back in Lincoln at 15:00 this afternoon. A superb trip.
Thanks to Rob for his company and shared driving, what an experience.
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Regards,
Andy.
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