Shetland

Our first trip to Shetland was a mixed bag. Great first day but then hampered by severe wind and rain. We saw Long tailed Skua on way up at Goswick golf club. First day was rewarded with Rustic Bunting, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Short Toed Lark, all lifers for me. We also saw Red throated Pipit, American buff bellied Pipit, Parrot Crossbill, Little Bunting, Red Flanked Bluetail, Red Breasted Flycatcher, Yellow Browed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Twite, Red backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike as well as many other common birds

American Buff Bellied Pipit

An unexpected bonus today. Went to Dee Estuary to look for short eared owls or harriers and stumbled across an American Buff Bellied Pipit! Also saw several a Siberian Chiffchaff,  Hen Harriers,  two Merlin, a Stonechat and two Peregrine. Managed a few record shots and video of the American vagrant. Still no Short Eared Owl all year