Red-necked Phalaropes, Shetland

[tom mckinney]

Can anyone guide to me to some info on viewing the breeding Fetlar Red-necked Phalaropes.

I've drawn a blank with a basic Google search other than some sparse bits of info that also seem out of date.

Ta,

Tom

[kingwolf]

Have you looked at the RSPB's website?

[dan pointon]

Dunno if this is any use, imho! http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/rspb/fetlar.htm

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Loch of Funzie always used to be the 'official' place to see them although they breed elsewhere. Breeding RNPs are also being quietly publicised by RSPB on Lewis these days, if you're up there again for some dodgy wildfowl or something.

Have you managed to make space in your PM inbox by the way Tommo? I might have some additional information for you!

[tom mckinney]

Andrew, I've cleared out my PMs. I thought you were ignoring me!

Cheers Dan. That should be fine.

[JWN Andrewes]

Check you don't go there too early too. If memory serves I was up there the first week of June some years back and they were only just arriving. Also, Funzie is pronounced Fingie (don't ask). Caused us a bit of confusion. (Not that it takes much.)

Best of luck

James

[Capercaillie71]

Breeding RNPs are also being quietly publicised by RSPB on Lewis these days, if you're up there again for some dodgy wildfowl or something.


The latest copy of 'Birds' arrived today and the Scotland News supplement publicises the Lewis phalarope site, Loch na Muilne, and mentions that new facilities have been opened there.

Also mentions that one of the Fetlar birds, 'Old Martha' is now 10 years old!

[Mike Pennington]

Can anyone guide to me to some info on viewing the breeding Fetlar Red-necked Phalaropes.

I've drawn a blank with a basic Google search other than some sparse bits of info that also seem out of date.

Ta,

Tom

Hi Tom,

Loch of Funzie (pronounced Finnie, by the way) on Fetlar is the only site in Shetland where they are easy to see and probably best from second week of June to early/mid July, by which time the females are leaving.

Funzie is a relatively large, shallow, stony loch where the birds go to feed. They walk round the edge of the loch picking flies off stones and have been known to walk through the legs of photographers tripods.

Nearby is the Mires of Funzie, which has a hide (hey, it's an RSPB reserve) and is a breeding site, although sightings are more erratic.

I won't deny that there are other breeding sites, but seeing them in breeding sites is difficult and would almost certainly involve disturbing them (illegally as they are Schedule 1), and while they will use similarly stony lochs elsewhere on Fetlar, none are as reliable as Funzie.

[Chris D]

If you can be in SE Alaska during July / Aug you'll see may females (phalaropes) - bazillions------------feeding...............

[tom mckinney]

Thanks everyone. I love Phalaropes and I love Shetland, so the two combined is a winner on all counts. I'll be going up in summer 2006 at some point between the times Mike suggested.

Cheers,

Tom

[JWN Andrewes]

I'll be going up in summer 2006
Cheers,

Tom

Got access to a time machine then? How easy would that make twitching!?

James

[Jos Stratford]

Got access to a time machine then? How easy would that make twitching!?

James


Forget the twitching, I'd go back just that few extra minutes and be the finder of everything ;)

[tom mckinney]

Sorry, I meant summer 2005.

(Is it really 2006? Flip! Doesn't time go by really really really quickly when you're almost having a bit of fun.)

[kingwolf]

do you mean 2007 Tom????