Shetland. Day 6. Hangover time.

As usual I was up early and raring to go but after the previous nights excesses some of the lads were content to stay in bed so a depleted team set off to explore a few likely looking areas in the south before heading towards Sumburgh & Quendale. The previous day Matt, Damon & Mike had found a Hawfinch and Barred Warbler in a garden adjacent to Tesco's so we started off there but there was no sign of either bird. By now the weather was really closing in and hail stones battered down.

Eventually arriving at Grutness we did a bit of a seawatch picking up Red-throated Diver and Long-tailed Duck until the weather improved enough to venture out. Whilst admiring the Shetland ponies in a nearby field the Yellow Wagtail dropped in and we watched it feeding for around 30 minutes before it headed off over  the sea towards the airport.

Apart from that it was very quiet and it looked as if there had been a big clear out of commoner migrants and thrushes during the night. The results of all our efforts were a single Blackcap and not even a Yellow-browed Warbler could be found.

Quendale was getting battered by high winds and hailstones so after a fruitless search for the pipit we headed towards Geosetter. Even the Twite were sheltering in the lee of the drystone walls from the bad weather.

Luckily the weather improved at Geosetter but a thorough search of the bushes surrounding the burn revealed nothing more exciting than a single Goldcrest although the locals watched on with detached interest.

Finally calling it a day we headed back to the accommodation to get dry, warm up and pack for the flight home the next day. Another great trip. No new birds for me again this year but with 6 BBRC rarities seen exceptionally well I wasn't complaining. Until next year.......