Female Red Necked Phalarope.
Red Throated Diver
Whimbrel
Red Throated Diver
Red Throated Diver wing stretching
Female Red Necked Phalarope
Red Throated Diver yawning
Pair of Red Necked Phalaropes.
Ever since I was a small boy I have dreamed of a trip to Shetland. The lure of Red Throated Divers and Red Necked Phalaropes eventually became reality when I spent two weeks based on Mainland in 2002. Unlike many who have been before me I did not have shocking weather and actually managed some sunny days. Even though I wanted shots of Red Throated Divers away from the nest I needed a license to work on some breeding lochans.
Red Necked Phalaropes are incredibly obliging and you just simply sit on the shore with your camera at the ready. Not so the Divers which needed much care and patience working from a hide. Whimbrel are fairly common on Fetlar and shots are not too difficult from the car. There are many other species to get to grips with, Black Guillemot, Redshank and Snipe, plus Skuas and a myriad of seabirds. I can't wait to go back. Canon EOS 3, 500MM F4 IS, Sensia 100.
