Very pleased to get my second self-found tick of the trip, with a male Bluethroat at Norwick this morning. The photo won't win any prizes, but at least it's a record shot.

Now back on Fetlar & back to very windy weather. The highlight of this mornings birding was finding this very smarty Redpoll in a garden at Stakkafletts.

Shetland at its best: It started at Uyeasound where I found my 3rd self found Rosefinch, followed by a very grey-presumed Acredula Willow Warbler. On to Norwick where I had improved views of the Bluethroat I found last week and finish by finding my 3rd ever Corncrake at Skaw! 😀

Finally gave into temptation and decided to go for the Blackpoll Warbler at Haroldswick this afternoon. Glad we did as it showed really well flycatching in the afternoon sun.

Back on Fetlar for a couple of days, where this Sibe Chiffy showed extreme well at Tresta, one of three I have seen in the last 2 days. They are always a feature of late autumn here on Shetland.

Managed to get reasonable views of the Long-legged Leaf Warbler at Funzie this afternoon, despite the breezy conditions.

We have had easterly winds on our last few days on Fetlar, but unfortunately no eastern gems🙁They did produce a number of island rarities such as Jackdaw(8)Greenfinch, Goldfinch & my 1st Island Woodcock and a late Garden Warbler. Enjoyable birding tinged with disappointment.

It's the end of our Shetland trip. Our last night was spent at Skaw, Unst my favourite Shetland location. Its the most northerly house (uninhabited) in the UK, so when we stay here we are the most northerly people on land in Britain. The birding highlight was 3 rostrata Redpoll.

Went to bed last night thinking I was going down to Calshot nr Southhampton for Great-tailed Grackle, woke up this morning to find it had turned into a Boat-tailed Grackle! The bird showed really well, wild but clearly ship assisted, so destined to never be added to the UK list🤔

We've arrived in Chile for our next adventure. Only managed a couple of hours birding around our accomodation at Santo Domingo, but still managed to get one of my most wanted species of the trip: Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, my third and final Plantcutter.

A thoroughly enjoyable first full days birding in Chile and all within 2 miles of our accommodation. My highlight was Dusky Tapaculo. Not the prettiest of species, but I always enjoy the challenge of seeing any Tapaculo well & hopefully getting a photograph.

Day 2 in Chile, was not good: Attempted car break in (smashed window, nothing taken) followed by our flight north cancelled with 48 hours notice. So half the day spent sorting these issues out; booking new flights, car hire & hotel😡. Only tick of the day: Moustached Turca.

Chile day 3: Only managed a few hours birding as we had to return the car due to the smashed window & catch our new flight to Arica - 24 hours earlier than originally planned. But it was a great few hours birding - scoring on 2x singing Stripe-backed Bitterns.

Chile day 4: A day spent around Arica, with no hire car due to arriving a day earlier than planned & non being available. So, we hired a taxi to take us a few miles down the coast to look for Seaside Cinclodes. Result - with 4 finally seen, after an hours searching.

Chile day 5: Picked up the hire car and drove 3.5 hours up to Putre. Unfortunately we only managed 2 hours, birding before we got a puncture, needing a new tyre. We now have to return to Arica in the morning to get its sorted😡. Bird of the day: Straight-billed Earthcreeper

Chile day 7: After loosing a days birding yesterday due to having to return to Arica to replace the tyre (10 hour round trip), it was great to get a full days birding in today. The highlight was a really showy pair of White-throated Earthcreepers.

Chile day 8: Today was mostly a driving day, 460kms from Putre to Iquique. We did manage an hours birding on route where we connected with the endangered and range restricted Chilean Woodstar. We were fortunate to find a female at nest.

Enjoyable albeit slightly disappointing pelagic off Iquique this morning. Finally caught up with Peruvian Diving-Petrel, but the highlight were the 200 or so Elliot's Storm-petrels. Only a very brief Markham's and no hoped for Ringed stormies.

Today was another travel day, driving the 500km from Iquique to San Pedro de Atacama, through the Atacama desert. We manage to get the highly localised Tamarugo Conebill on the journey which was only described as recently as the 1970's.

A brilliant days birding in the Andean puna above San Pedro de Atacama. Nailed both my targets with a bonus (3) Puna Tinamou thanks to a tip off from Dale Robert Middleton . The highlight was 2 pairs of the smart Red-backed Sierra Finch with showed well after several hours or searching.