Shetland Day 4

The journey to Unst from Lerwick is about 60 miles and is essentially done in 4 parts:

1. Drive from Lerwick to Toft.
2. Ferry from Toft on to Yell (Ulsta)
3. Drive straight across Yell to Gutcher.
4. Ferry from Gutcher to Unst (Belmont).

The whole journey takes about 2 hours and the ferry (one passenger and a small car) for the very reasonable price of £ 10 (return). This is extremely good value when you consider what Scilly boatmen charge.

Anyway, the Pipit was at Norwick which is almost at the top of Unst and so nearly at the last outpost of Scotland. Last reputedly having flown into a weedy field and unlikely to show itself any time soon. Myself and another couple of birders waited and watched but it quickly became apparent that the only way to see this bird was to flush it. Trouble was that the owner of the field had 'banned' birders from entering it. What about Scotland's Right to Roam ? The trouble had apparently been caused the previous day when up to 20 birders had entered the field without permission and this had resulted in an injury to one of the owners sheep.

So we waited and waited and saw nothing of the Pipit, the mood only being enlivened by several Greenland type Redpolls and Snow Buntings. I had had enough and wandered away in search of the other star of Norwick an awesome Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll that showed at times to a few feet and appeared completely unconcerned by human presence. Unfortunately, I did not have the DSLR so had to make do with a digiscoped image:

Arctic 'Snowflake'

Events turned for the better in the mid afternoon when access for 2 birders to enter the field was negotiated with the owner. As such a flush was organised and sure enough the Pechora Pipit was seen briefly in flight and even more briefly on the fence. Not the most satisfying of twitches but I'm having it anyway !