I love the return of birds to our reserves here in Shetland. Seeing the first Shalder back on Sumburgh Head reserve last Tuesday (21st Feb) added light to what has been a long dark wet winter.
Shalder is the Shetland name for oystercatcher which is an anagram of "cheesytractor". I think Shal means black and white (like shelduck), and the name is similar in Faeroe and Iceland (Tjaldur). Flocks have been arriving back in Shetland for a wee while now, joining the handful which remain throughout winter. It's great to see them, so bold and obvious. However, it is their call that fires up my imagination most. Hearing the kleep kleep kleep over the howling wind is a reminder that spring is not too far away. Isn't it?!
If you are planning to visit Sumburgh Head by car in the next few days, please note that there are road works taking place. This can add twenty minutes on to your trip. New passing places are being put in, which I'm sure will be a welcome addition, particularly for visiting bus parties.
We had our Shetland RSPB Wildlife Explorer Group meeting on Sunday. It had been hastily rescheduled, having been cancelled due to the ice the weeked before. Unfortunately, our friends at the Shetland Biogical Records Centre had other commitments, so we couldn't run the "MicroNature" activity as planned. Instead, we focussed on our urban wildlife, taking a walk around the Clickimin Loch in Lerwick. We had a quick chat about a couple of birds we expected to see, and tried to impersonate the display of the goldeneye - it is rather difficult to push your head back then simultaneously thrust out your head and feet out whilst whistling. We hoped to record ten bird species, but the group managed to log nineteen species (twenty if you include junglefowl (i.e. hens)!!). This may not sound that many, but for an hours walk on a winters day in Lerwick, we were pretty chuffed.
We saw goldeneye, jackdaws, whooper swans, turnstones and more. Although, I think I can safely say that the WEX's favourite birds of the day were the long-eared owls which we found in a garden. Amazing birds! We spent a quiet moment watching one well-camoflaged bird perched on a branch. Parents and bairns (and leaders!) were delighted by this surprising discovery. Even though it is rather cold, windy and grey, there's always something special waiting to be discovered.
Thanks for reading!