There seem to have been a few reports on FB of migrants on mainland, fewer there than usual too?
The lack of migrants is Shetland wide, in fact in the UK as a whole it’s been really poor.
There are always a few that do appear but nowhere near the numbers we get most years.
Any theories as to why?
I’m generalising massively here but bird migration patterns are dominated by weather conditions. Not just at the destination country but over the whole of the migratory path.
Finally a scarce(-ish) bird, a female Red-backed Shrike. First seen near the Island Hall before eventually ending up on the fence next to my garden. The local bee population is taking a bit of a hit but a girl must eat.
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Another slow day, the Red-backed Shrike being the only highlight, working along the fence line, just North of my cottage.
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A Curlew nest I’ve been watching recently
One of the very recently hatched chicks
Nest and chick, great camouflage
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A real treat to spend some time watching a Short Eared Owl (fairly scarce here) hunting before perching on a post in an attempt to dry out some of those rather wet feathers.
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Fabulous photos.
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Plenty of birds in Oz
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I know. And I wasn’t interested in ornithology 
Yes. But not the same.
We grew up with distinct bird calls, but have loved the quintessential British bird song.
When there 3 years ago, we were blown away by Piping Shrikes, and Kookaburra.
Different strokes…etc.
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and, of course, it won’t be in a quintessentially English cottage garden in rural Oxfordshire. 
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Nope. It’s will be an enormous change.
Adult Rosy Starlings are quite rare in Spring, most British records are juvenile Autumn birds
However this bird was found yesterday (on Lambhoga) by Tom Rosas and (presumably the same bird) relocated today by Calum Scott.
The light was poor at 8pm when I finally picked it up in flight and fortunately for me it landed briefly in a pony field and, although it was distant, you can see it’s a very smart bird.
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