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October 2009 Bird Sightings

 

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NOTE that ALL records go into the database used in the compilation of the Shetland Bird Report produced by Shetland Bird Club, EVEN IF they do not appear on this page. Recording forms are available here. 

Details of Fair Isle sightings are on the FIBO website. Photographs are copyright of the named photographer and may not be used for any other purpose without their permission. New Shetland Checklist downloadable as a pdf here. Species in red are BBRC rarities. Species in orange are local rarities.

Recent local rarity decisions added here. (Updated 19th October). Recent Scottish Bird Records Committee decisions can be found here.

Saturday 31st October 2009

Gadwall at Grutness - Hugh Harrop

A Blue-winged Teal was at Grunna Water before flying off north.

An Olive-backed Pipit is at Swinister. The Swallow is still at Toab, and the Gadwall is still at Grutness.

A Richard's Pipit is on Bressay.

Friday 30th October 2009

A Grey Wagtail and a Swallow are at Toab.

A Glaucous Gull is at Uyeasound.

There were 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 4 Great Skuas seen from a fishing boat 20 km west of Eshaness.

Thursday 29th October 2009

Fieldfare at Ocraquoy - George Petrie; Coot at Uyeasound - Rob Brookes

A Richard's Pipit is at North Roe.

On Whalsay, the Little Bunting is still at Sandwick and a Black Redstart is still at Skaw.

A Coot is at Uyeasound and a Glaucous Gull is at Uyeasound.

On Out Skerries there are 3 Jack Snipes, a Woodcock, a Stock Dove, a Wood Pigeon and 2 Jackdaws.

Wednesday 28th October 2009

 

Richard's Pipit at Quendale - Jim Nicolson (2 photos); George Petrie (one photo); Yellow-browed Warbler at Scatness - Steve Minton; Bullfinch at Quendale - Gary Bell; Woodcock at Maywick - Hugh Harrop

A Richard's Pipit is between Quendale and Ringasta and another flew over the Peerie Voe of Spiggie. A Yellow-browed Warbler, a Mistle Thrush and 4 Woodcocks are Scatness. The Bullfinch is still at Quendale. A Long-eared Owl is at Sumburgh. A late Great Skua flew over Peerie Voe of Spiggie. A Grey Wagtail and 3 Jackdaws are at Quarff. There are 20 Red-breasted Mergansers at Weisdale Voe.

There are 8 Jackdaws at Baltasound, while the Velvet Scoter and the Little Grebe are still there.

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Bullfinch at Quendale (2 photos) and Robin at Maywick (2 photos) - Hugh Harrop; Brambling at Sumburgh - Jim Nicolson; Fieldfare at Sumburgh and Jack Snipe at Scatness - George Petrie; Velvet Scoter at Baltasound - Rob Brookes

Little Bunting, Common Rosefinch, Black Redstart and 'sooty' House Sparrow on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson

A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Levenwick. A female Bullfinch is still at Quendale and there are 2 Jack Snipes and a Swallow are at Scatness. A Little Grebe is on Spiggie, a Woodcock is at Levenwick, and a Jackdaw is at Cunningsburgh. A Waxwing is at Helendale.

On Whalsay, a Common Rosefinch, the Little Bunting, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Redpoll are at Sandwick, and a Woodcock and a Black Redstart are at Skaw.

There are 2 Pink-footed Geese at Sand in west Mainland.

On Unst, a Velvet Scoter, a Little Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebes are at Baltasound and a Peregrine Falcon is at Norwick.

Monday 26th October 2009

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Swining (3 photos) - Hugh Harrop; Bullfinch and Jack Snipe at Scatness - Steve Minton; Snow Bunting at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Gannet and Shag at Boddam - Charles Gifford

An Olive-backed Pipit is at Levenwick, along with a Reed Bunting, a Whinchat, and a Grey Wagtail. There is a Jack Snipe and a Black Redstart at Toab and 2 Reed Buntings, a Common Redpoll and a Dunnock at Virkie. There are female Bullfinches at Sumburgh Head, Toab and Quendale. A Hawfinch is at Sumburgh Head. There are 8 Jack Snipes are at Scatness. The Green-winged Teal is still at Loch of Hillwell, there are Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Sumburgh Farm and Spiggie, the Gadwall is at Grutness, and 2 Common Scoters are on Loch of Spiggie. There are 2 Black Redstarts at Hoswick and 12 Pink-footed Geese, a Woodcock and a Wheatear at Sandwick.

On Unst, a Yellow Wagtail is at Burrafirth, a Reed Bunting is at Skaw and a Whinchat is at Baltasound.

On Whalsay, a Jackdaw and a Reed Bunting are at Brough and a Black Redstart is at Skaw.

The Stock Dove is still on Out Skerries.

Sunday 25th October 2009

Curlew Sandpiper on Unst - Rob Brookes

A lot of thrushes around, as there have been for several days now, but not much else.

A Curlew Sandpiper is at Westing on Unst and there are 2 Jackdaws at Uyeasound and 3 at Baltasound.

A Common Scoter is on Loch of Clumlie and 2 Barnacle Geese are at Ringasta.

A Stock Dove is on Out Skerries.

Saturday 24th October 2009

Woodlark on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Wood Pigeon and Snipe at Haroldswick - Rob Brookes; Red-breasted Flycatcher at Swining (2 photos) - Hugh Harrop

A Green-winged Teal is at Loch of Hillwell and there are 9 Jackdaws at Virkie. There are 6 Knots and 300 Lapwings at Twatt and 300 Fieldfares at Weisdale. The Red-breasted Flycatcher is still at Swining.

On Whalsay, the Woodlark is still at Brough along with 2 Ring Ouzels, a Jackdaw and a Reed Bunting, the Little Bunting is still at Sandwick and a Jackdaw is Hamister.

On Unst, the Surf Scoter is still at Burrafirth, 2 Reed Buntings, 3 Jackdaws and a Common Redpoll are at Baltasound, a Jackdaw is at Haroldswick and a Reed Bunting is at Lund.

There are 4 Jackdaws and 4 Wood Pigeons on Out Skerries.

A Red-backed Shrike is on Fetlar.

Friday 23rd October 2009

Woodlark and Little Bunting on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Surf Scoter at Burrafirth and Little Bunting at Skaw, Unst - Robbie Brookes; Wood Pigeon and Yellowhammer on Out Skerries - Peter Flint; Whooper Swan at Uyeasound - Wendy Dickson; Jackdaw on Yell - Dougie Preston; Jackdaw at Sumburgh - Roger Riddington; Little Egret at Spiggie (3 photos) and Goldfinch at Geosetter - Hugh Harrop

On Whalsay,  a Woodlark and a Woodcock are at Brough ,a  Long-eared Owl, 2 Black Redstarts, a Woodcock and a Stock Dove are at Skaw, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, a Reed Bunting and a Jackdaw are at Hamister and the Little Bunting, the Yellowhammer and the Reed Bunting are still at Sandwick.

On Unst, the Surf Scoter is still at Burrafirth, the Little Bunting is still at Skaw, the 8 Barnacle Geese are at Haroldswick, Reed Buntings are at Haroldswick and Baltasound and the Pochard and the Goosander are still at Uyeasound.

On Out Skerries there are 2 Wood Pigeons, 4 Jackdaws, a Dunnock, 3 Bramblings and a Yellowhammer.

The Little Egret is still at Spiggie. A Jackdaw is at Sumburgh Head with another at Channerwick. A Barred Warbler is at Hillwell and a Goldfinch is at Geosetter. At Sumburgh Head, Fulmars were passing at c. 5000 per hour and 31 'Blue Fulmars' passed south in an hour from 09:10.

The Red-breasted Flycatcher is still at Swining.

A Jackdaw is at Burravoe on Yell.

Thursday 22nd October 2009

Surf Scoter at Burrafirth - videograbs by Rory Tallack; Barnacle Geese at Haroldswick - Mike Pennington; Jackdaw at Haroldswick - Rob Brookes

On Unst, a Surf Scoter is at Burrafirth, a Little Bunting is at Skaw, Jackdaws are at Burrafirth and Haroldswick, 8 Barnacle Geese are at Haroldswick, and a Pochard, 4 Scaups and the hybrid Aythya are at Uyeasound.

A Little Bunting is at Sandwick on Whalsay along with a Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting, a Water Rail and a late Willow Warbler.

A Yellowhammer and a Gadwall are at Grutness and a Mistle Thrush, a Woodcock and 2 Reed Buntings are at Sumburgh Farm. A Yellow-browed Warbler is in Lerwick. A Great Spotted Woodpecker is at Sandgarth, Voe.

Wednesday 21st October 2009

A Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler is at Da Niggards, Foula.

An escaped Swan Goose is at Strand Loch. A Reed Warbler and 3 Pink-footed Geese are at Sandwick.

A male Yellowhammer is at Sandwick on Whalsay.

A Swallow is at Haroldswick.

Tuesday 20th October 2009

Little Egret at Spiggie - Jim Nicolson; Raven at Fladdabister - George Petrie; White-fronted Geese at Spiggie - Richard Taylor

An Olive-backed Pipit is at Geosetter. A Little Egret is at Spiggie. There are 2 Ring Ouzels, a Goldcrest, a Pied Flycatcher and a Robin at Sumburgh Head. A Hen Harrier and a Peregrine Falcon are at Wester Quarff. A Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Common Redpolls are in Lerwick. A Water Rail is on Trondra. A flock of 6 European White-fronted Geese are at Spiggie.

There are 50 Fieldfares at Burrafirth on Unst.

There are 50 Snow Buntings at Aywick on Yell.

Monday 19th October 2009

Ortolan Bunting at Virkie - Rob Fray (2 photos), Gary Bell (one photo), Lee Mott (2 photos); Bluethroat on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson (2 photos); Gadwall at Grutness - Charles Gifford (two photos); Blackcap at Norwick and Common Redpolls at Haroldswick - Mike Pennington; Turnstone at Sandwick - Lee Mott

A Ortolan Bunting, a Richard's Pipit, a Reed Bunting, 6 Bramblings, 18 Snow Buntings and a Willow Warbler are at Virkie, the Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Scatness, a Black Redstart is at Exnaboe, a Grey Wagtail is at Toab and the male Gadwall is still at Grutness. A Grey Wagtail is at Easter Quarff.

A male Surf Scoter is with Eiders off Kirkabister Ness, Bressay. A Grey Wagtail is at Sound, Lerwick. A Common Redpoll is at Sandness.

The Bluethroat is still at Brough, Whalsay (where a probable Spotted Crake was also seen).

There are 10 Common Redpolls at Haroldswick and 3 Scaups are still at Uyeasound.

A Common Redpoll is on Out Skerries.

An unidentified egret sp. was seen at dusk at Quendale yesterday and one was reported at Kergord today.

Sunday 18th October 2009

 

Gadwall at Grutness - George Petrie

The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness, along with a Swallow. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick. Flocks of Fieldfares include 200 around Maywick and Bigton. A Shoveler, 5 Pochards and a Water Rail are at Spiggie, and a male Gadwall is at Grutness.

A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Sandgarth, Voe. The male Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall. An Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull are the Shetland Catch in Lerwick.

A Bluethroat is at Brough, Whalsay.

A Ruff and a Swallow are at Haroldswick and a Slavonian Grebe and a Pink-footed Goose are at Uyeasound.

Saturday 17th October 2009

 

Firecrest at Dale of Walls and Slavonian Grebes at Garderhouse Voe - Juan Brown; Red-breasted Flycatcher at Swining - George Petrie; Iceland and Glaucous Gull at Lerwick - David Gifford; Common Redpoll at Haroldswick - Mike Pennington; Robin, Starling and Common Redpoll at Maywick - Hugh Harrop; Carrion Crow at Sullom Voe - Dougie Preston

The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness, and the juvenile American Golden Plover was seen again at Boddam. There are 2 Jack Snipes at Scatness. The male Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall. The Firecrest is still at Dale of Walls. A Carrion Crow is at Sullom Voe Terminal. The Red-breasted Flycatcher is still at Swining. An Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull are the Shetland Catch in Lerwick. There are 3 Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat around Seafield and Helendale in Lerwick, and 23 Knots at the Sletts.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Gloup on Yell.

On Unst, the 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls are still on top of Saxa Vord, a Turtle Dove is still at Norwick and  8 Common Redpolls are at Haroldswick.

Friday 16th October 2009

Spotted Crake on Unst - Mike Pennington; Bluethroat at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Spotted Sandpiper at Garths Ness - Hugh Harrop

The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness, a Bluethroat is at Quendale, the Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Scatness and the Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick. A Bluethroat is at Cunningsburgh. A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Swining.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Gloup on Yell.

On Unst, a Spotted Crake is at Skaw, along with a Jack Snipe, the 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls are still on top of Saxa Vord, a Turtle Dove is still at Norwick, 8 Common Redpolls and a Lapland Bunting are at Haroldswick and 2 Jack Snipes are at Baltasound.

A Common Rosefinch, a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock are on Out Skerries.

There are 2 Hawfinches on Trondra.

There were 3 Pomarine Skuas seen from a fishing boat about 100km east of Muckle Flugga.

Thursday 15th October 2009

Red-flanked Bluetail at Quendale - Roger Riddington (2 photos); George Petrie (one photo)

A Red-flanked Bluetail is at Quendale, along with a Bluethroat, a Grey Wagtail and a Peregrine Falcon. The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness, along with a Grey Wagtail, and a Bluethroat is at Garths Ness. A Pectoral Sandpiper is at Scatness, along with a Lapland Bunting. A Stonechat is at Hoswick. A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Hen Harrier are at Wester Quarff. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick.

A Ring Ouzel is at Sullom Voe Terminal. A Sooty Shearwater was off Hoo Stack, Nesting.

The Lanceolated Warbler is still on Out Skerries, along with an Arctic Warbler, a Richard's Pipit, a Water Rail and a Ring Ouzel.

A Hawfinch is at Baltasound.

Wednesday 14th October 2009

Red-flanked Bluetail at Sandgarth - Jim Nicolson (2 photos), Hugh Harrop (2 photos), Larry Dalziel (2 photos); Long-eared Owl and Ring Ouzel on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Ring Ouzel at Sumburgh - Steve Minton

A Black-throated Thrush is at Sumburgh Head, along with a Ring Ouzel and a Woodcock, and the Bluethroat is still at Grutness. The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness, along with a Woodcock, and a Bluethroat is still at Quendale. A Little Gull is at Scatness. A Little Bunting, a Mistle Thrush and a Common Redstart are at Virkie. A Yellow-browed Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a Stonechat are at Swinister, Sandwick. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick, along with 3 Yellow-browed Warblers. There are 3 Yellow-browed Warblers at Wester Quarff.

The Red-flanked Bluetail is still at Sandgarth, Voe. A Firecrest is at Dale of Walls. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Lunna. A Barred Warbler is at Scalloway.

The Lanceolated Warbler is still at Baltasound, along with a Long-eared Owl, and the 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on top of Saxa Vord.

The Lanceolated Warbler is still on Out Skerries, along with a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Ring Ouzels and a Black Redstart.

On Fetlar, there is a Red-backed Shrike, 2 Bluethroats, a Barred Warbler, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Ring Ouzel.

On Whalsay, a Long-eared Owl and a Woodcock are at Skaw, and 3 Ring Ouzels and a Common Redstart are at Brough.

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Red-flanked Bluetail at Sandgarth - Hugh Harrop

The Red-flanked Bluetail is still at Sandgarth, Voe, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler. A Hawfinch is at Busta House, near Brae.

The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness and a Bluethroat is at Quendale. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick. An Arctic Warbler was reported at Wester Quarff, where there were also 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Common Rosefinch.

There are 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on top of Saxa Vord and a Lapland Bunting at Haroldswick.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Out Skerries.

A Common Redstart is still at Brough, Whalsay.

Monday 12th October 2009

 

Red-flanked Bluetail at Sandgarth - Rob Fray; Lanceolated Warbler at Baltasound - Brydon Thomason (3 photos)

Taiga Flycatcher at Gloup - Juan Brown (3 photos), Rob Fray (2 photos); Arctic Redpoll at Mid Yell - Rob Fray; Olive-backed Pipit and Lapland Bunting on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson

 

Spotted Sandpiper at Garths Ness - Larry Dalziel (one photo), Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Hugh  Harrop (2 photos); Western Bonelli's Warbler at Bigton - Gary Bell (2 photos), Steve Minton (2 photos)

Bluethroat at Graven - Rob Fray (2 photos); Goldcrest (2 photos) and Blackcap at Grutness and Grey Heron at Boddam - Charles Gifford

A Red-flanked Bluetail is at Sandgarth, Voe. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Voe, along with a Barred Warbler. A Bluethroat, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher are at Graven. The male Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall. A Firecrest was reported from Gott. The juvenile Sabine's Gull is still in Bressay Sound, off the Victoria pier in Lerwick.

The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper is still on the Burn of Garth at Garths Ness and a Lanceolated Warbler was reported at Quendale. The juvenile American Golden Plover is still at Boddam. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler. A Mistle Thrush is on Mossy Hill and a Yellow-browed Warbler is at Hoswick.

On Unst, a Lanceolated Warbler is at Baltasound, along with a Bluethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Ring Ouzel is at Haroldswick and the Turtle Dove is still at Norwick.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Gloup on Yell, along with a Quail, and a Lapland Bunting, the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Mid Yell along with a Common Redpoll, a Willow Warbler is at Camb, a Yellow-browed Warbler is at West Yell, and a Reed Bunting and a Common Redpoll are at Burravoe.

The Olive-backed Pipit is still at Vatshoull, on Whalsay, with a Lapland Bunting at Isbsiter.

On Fetlar, the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Funzie.

Sunday 11th October 2009

Spotted Sandpiper at Quendale - Roger Riddington (2 photos), Gary Bell (2 photos); Little Bunting at Sumburgh Farm - Rob Fray (2 photos); Olive-backed Pipit on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Arctic Redpoll on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason (2 photos)

Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest and Blackcap at Quarff - Dave Gifford; Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Robin and Redwing at Ocraquoy - George Petrie; Goldcrest at Cunningsburgh - Charles Hughson; Redwing on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw - Mike Pennington

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff at Ellister and Maywick - Hugh Harrop

A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper on the Quendale burn was later relocated on Garths Ness, while there is also a Marsh Warbler and Bluethroat at Quendale and a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Garths Ness. A Little Bunting and a Great Spotted Woodpecker are at Sumburgh Farm with a Bluethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Grutness. A Yellow-browed Warbler, a Bluethroat, a Reed Bunting, a Siskin and a Grey Wagtail are at Virkie and a Common Redstart is at Toab. A Waxwing flew over Scatness. A putative Brown Shrike was seen at Geosetter at dusk.

The juvenile American Golden Plover is still at Boddam. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Scousburgh and 2 Slavonian Grebes are on Loch of Spiggie. A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Channerwick. The Western Bonelli's Warbler is still at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick. There are 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and 2 Ring Ouzels at Levenwick. A Blyth's Reed Warbler is at Hoswick. A Dunnock is at Fladdabister. An Arctic Warbler is still at Quarff as well as 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Mistle Thrush and a Spotted Flycatcher. A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Ollaberry and a Barred Warbler and 4 Yellow-browed Warblers are at Voe.

A Pechora Pipit is at Veensgarth. An Arctic Warbler is at Kergord, along with an Olive-backed Pipit, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine Falcon, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and 12 Yellow-browed Warblers. A male Ring-necked Duck is on Loch of Tingwall. A Yellow-browed Warbler is on Trondra. A Pomarine Skua is at Toft.

A Lanceolated Warbler is on Out Skerries along with a Pechora Pipit, a Bluethroat and a Common Rosefinch.

An Olive-backed Pipit is at Vatshoull, on Whalsay, while a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Common Redstart , a Greenfinch and a Common Redpoll are at Brough.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Gloup on Yell, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler while a Red-throated Pipit was also reported there, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Mid Yell and a Yellow-browed Warbler is at Cullivoe.

On Fetlar, there is a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll, 8 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Ring Ouzels, a Barred Warbler, a Bluethroat, a Dunnock and a Woodcock.

On Unst, a Common Rosefinch, a Turtle Dove and a Dunnock are at Norwick, a Bluethroat is at Baltasound  and a Goosander is at Uyeasound.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker is at Hametoun on Foula.

Good numbers of commoner migrants, such as Redwings, Song Thrushes, Goldcrests, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs today, but more in the south than elsewhere.

In addition, a white morph Gyrfalcon has been reported on the BP Clair platform, 75 km west of Shetland, for the last few days.

Saturday 10th October 2009

Western Bonelli's Warbler at Bigton - Hugh Harrop (2 photos); George Petrie (one photo); Arctic Redpoll at Cunningsburgh - Dave Gifford (4 photos); Arctic Redpoll at Voe - Sandra Scott (3 photos)

A Western Bonelli's Warbler is at Ellister, between Bigton and Maywick. An Arctic Warbler is still at Wester Quarff. A Bluethroat is still at Grutness, the Grasshopper Warbler is still at Toab, 2 Ring Ouzels are at Sumburgh Head and a Long-eared Owl is at Scord, Sumburgh. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Aith, Cunningsburgh.

A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Voe. An Olive-backed Pipit is still at Kergord, along with 2 Yellow-browed Warblers. A juvenile Sabine's Gull was seen from the Northlink ferry in Bressay Sound in the morning.

A Woodlark is at Skaw, Whalsay, along with a Barred Warbler, while a Common Rosefinch is at Symbister, and a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Common Redstart and 2 Mistle Thrushes are at Brough.

There are still 2 Lapland Buntings and a Yellowhammer at Haroldswick, and a Greenfinch is at Norwick.

Redwings, Goldcrests and other migrants are arriving in the driving rain ...

Friday 9th October 2009

Taiga Flycatcher at Gloup - Brydon Thomason (2 photos), Dougie Preston (one photo); Red-breasted Flycatcher at Aywick - Dougie Preston; Lapland Bunting and Yellowhammer at Haroldswick - Rob Brookes; Grasshopper Warbler at Toab - Hugh Harrop

The Taiga Flycatcher has been relocated at Gloup on Yell, and the Red-breasted Flycatcher is still at Aywick.

There are 2 Olive-backed Pipits at Kergord.

There are 2 Arctic Warblers still at Wester Quarff and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Easter Quarff. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Levenwick. A juvenile American Golden Plover is at Boddam. A Grasshopper Warbler is at Toab.

There are still 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Common Rosefinch on Out Skerries, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler.

There are 2 Lapland Buntings and a Yellowhammer at Haroldswick.

Thursday 8th October 2009

Arctic Warbler, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat at Quarff - Lee Mott

A Pechora Pipit is in Scalloway and the Pechora Pipit is still at Sandgarth, Voe. An Olive-backed Pipit is at Sullom plantation. A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Voe. A Black Redstart is at Laxfirth, Tingwall.

There are 2 Arctic Warblers still at Wester Quarff and the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Aith, Cunningsburgh. A Grey Wagtail and a Willow Warbler are at Hoswick. The Barred Warbler is still at Sandwick.

There are 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Common Rosefinch on Out Skerries.

On Unst, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was reported at Haroldswick and there are still 2 Lapland Buntings and 2 Common Redpolls at Haroldswick and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick, with a Bluethroat at Baltasound.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Yellow-browed Warbler are at Aywick on Yell.

Wednesday 7th October 2009

Lanceolated Warbler at Scatness - Mark Reeder (one photo), Gary Bell (one photo); Arctic Redpoll at Cunningsburgh - Gary Bell (one photo); Jason Atkinson (one photo); Arctic Warbler at Quarff - Jason Atkinson

 

Lapland Bunting - Steve Minton; Reed Bunting at Grutness - George Petrie; Yellow-browed Warbler on Fetlar and Common Redpoll at Haroldswick - Rob Brookes; Reed Bunting at Sumburgh and Brambling at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

A Lanceolated Warbler is at Scatness along with a Lapland Bunting and a Short-eared Owl. A Bluethroat, a Common Rosefinch and a Reed Bunting are at Grutness, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Jack Snipe and 2 Reed Buntings at Virkie, a Yellow-browed Warbler and 33 Bramblings at Toab, and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Scousburgh. There is a Barred Warbler at Sandwick and 20 Pink-footed Geese there on the Wart. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is still at Aith, Cunningsburgh, along with 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and an Arctic Warbler is still at Wester Quarff.

A Blyth's Reed Warbler is at Sullom plantation. There is an Olive-backed Pipit is at Kergord. An Arctic Warbler is at Swining. The Pechora Pipit is still at Sandgarth, Voe, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler. There are 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Busta House, Brae. A Barred Warbler is at Seafield in Lerwick. There are 300 Turnstones, 70 Ringed Plovers, 5 Sanderlings and an Arctic Tern are at Melby in west Mainland.

On Unst, there are 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Haroldswick, along with 8 Common Redpolls, a Richard's Pipit, a Bluethroat, 2 Common Rosefinches and 2 Lapland Buntings, while a Barred Warbler is at Baltasound and there are 10 Yellow-browed Warblers on the island.

The Veery is still on Foula along with the Pechora Pipit, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and 2 Lapland Buntings.

The Pechora Pipit is still on Out Skerries, along with a Richard's Pipit, a Bluethroat, a Common Rosefinch, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Jack Snipe and 200 Snow Buntings.

On Fetlar there are 7 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Bluethroat, a Garden Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 40 Bramblings, a Chaffinch and a Siskin.

On Yell, a Stock Dove is at Breckon and there are Yellow-browed Warblers at Cullivoe and Camb.  

A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Brough, Whalsay.

Note that several Scandinavian migrants, such as Redwing, Song Thrush, Brambling etc. conspicuous by their absence in September, have been slowly increasing in numbers since the weekend.

Tuesday 6th October 2009

 

Olive-backed Pipit at Quendale - Roger Riddington; Arctic Warbler at Quarff and Arctic Redpoll at Cunningsburgh (2 photos each) - Hugh Harrop

Little Bunting at Channerwick and Snow Bunting on Mossy Hill - Gary Bell; Bramblings - George Petrie (2 photos); Yellow-browed Warbler on Yell - Dougie Preston

On Out Skerries, a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was seen briefly in flight, an Arctic Warbler is new, the Pechora Pipit is still present and a Bluethroat, a Common Rosefinch and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers are present.

An Olive-backed Pipit is at Quendale. A Little Bunting is at Grutness along with a Bluethroat and a Common Rosefinch. A Little Bunting is at Channerwick. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Hoswick. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Aith, Cunningsburgh, and an Arctic Warbler is still at Wester Quarff.

On Whalsay, a Pechora Pipit is at Skaw (presumably the bird seen earlier) and there are 9 Yellow-browed Warblers on the island.

The Pechora Pipit is still at Busta House, near Brae, along with a Common Rosefinch. The male Surf Scoter is still off Muckle Roe. A Pomarine Skua was seen from the Whalsay ferry off Laxo.

There are 2 Olive-backed Pipits, 3 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls and a Little Bunting on Foula.

A Richard's Pipit is on Fetlar along with 6 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Reed Buntings and 30 Bramblings.

On Yell, there are 2  Yellow-browed Warblers at Otterswick and 3 at Camb.

Monday 5th October 2009

Veery and Yellow-browed Warbler on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Yellow-browed Warbler at Exnaboe - Rob Fray; Arctic Warbler at Wester Quarff - Russ Haywood (2 photos); Gary Jenkins (one photo); Lesser Whitethroat at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Common Redpoll on Bressay - George Petrie;

 

Arctic Redpoll at Cunningsburgh - Lee Mott (2 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos); George Petrie (one photo); Adrian Kettle (one photo); Gary Jenkins (one photo)

There are now 2 Arctic Warblers at Wester Quarff, along with a Barred Warbler and a Common Rosefinch. A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Aith, Cunningsburgh. The Short-toed Lark is still at Sumburgh Farm, there are Yellow-browed Warblers at Virkie, Exnaboe and Sumburgh Hotel, Common Rosefinches at Toab and Grutness and a Bluethroat at Grutness.

A Pechora Pipit is on Out Skerries, along with the Common Rosefinch.

On Fetlar, the Taiga Flycatcher is still at Tresta, and a presumed Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was reported at Aith.

On Whalsay, the Veery is still at Symbister, along with a Garden Warbler, and a Yellow-browed Warbler is at Brough.

The Pechora Pipit is still at Busta House, near Brae, with a Yellow-browed Warbler also there. The Blyth's Reed Warbler is still at Lower Voe. A male Surf Scoter is with Eiders off Muckle Roe. A Red-throated Pipit is at Strand. A Barred Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Common Redpoll are at Isbister, North Roe, with another Yellow-browed Warbler at Ollaberry. A Common Crossbill is at Aith.

On Unst, there are Common Rosefinches at Skaw and Norwick and a Barred Warbler and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Baltasound.

A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Cullivoe on Yell and a Grey Wagtail is at West Sandwick.

Sunday 4th October 2009

Pechora Pipit on Whalsay - Lee Mott; Veery on Whalsay - Lee Mott (2 photos); Jason Atkinson (one photo); Hugh Harrop (2 photos); Gary Jenkins (one photo)

 Lapland Bunting at Skaw - Wendy Dickson; Common Rosefinch and Yellow-browed Warbler at Sumburgh - Gary Bell; Yellow Wagtail at Burravoe - Dougie Preston; Yellow Wagtail on Bressay - Russ Haywood

Blyth's Reed Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason

On Foula, an Olive-backed Pipit is at Hametoun, the Veery and the Pechora Pipit are still at Ham, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still at South Ness, and there are 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on the island as well as a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Tree Pipit.  

On Whalsay the Veery is still at Symbister and the Pechora Pipit is still at Skaw.

On Fetlar, the Taiga Flycatcher is still at Tresta, and a Blyth's Reed Warbler is in the Southdale burn, while 4 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Lapland Bunting are on the island.

On Unst, the Pechora Pipit and the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll are still at Uyeasound, there are 2 Lapland Buntings and 100 Snow Buntings at Skaw, a Common Rosefinch and the Turtle Dove are still at Norwick, a Barred Warbler is at Baltasound, and Yellow-browed Warblers are at Norwick, Baltasound and Uyeasound.

A Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Gunnista, Bressay, along with a Common Redpoll, a Yellow-browed Warbler is at East Ham, and a Yellow Wagtail showing characters of one of the eastern races is near the lighthouse at Kirkabister.

A Yellow Wagtail showing characters of one of the eastern races is at Burravoe, Yell.

A Pechora Pipit is at Busta House near Brae, and another Pechora Pipit is still at Sandgarth, Voe. The Blyth's Reed Warbler is still at Lower Voe. A Barred Warbler is at Swining. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Tresta, west Mainland, and a Common Redpoll is at Dale of Walls..

An Arctic Warbler is at Wester Quarff, along with a Common Rosefinch and a Barred Warbler. A Common Rosefinch is at Swinister, Sandwick. A Common Rosefinch and a Yellow-browed Warbler are at Sumburgh Hotel. A Common Rosefinch, a Bluethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler are at Virkie and a Barred Warbler is at Boddam.

The Little Bunting is still on Out Skerries.

Saturday 3rd October 2009

Veery on Whalsay - George Petrie (one photo), Dave Hall (2 photos); Pechora Pipit on Whalsay - George Petrie (one photo), Jason Atkinson (2 photos)

Arctic Redpoll and Lapland Buntings at Lamba Ness; Pechora Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler and Arctic Redpoll at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington; Grey Heron at Walls - Charles Gifford

On Foula, the Veery, the Buff-bellied Pipit and the Pechora Pipit are still at Ham, there are 3 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls on the island as well as a Hawfinch, a Common Rosefinch, a Barred Warbler and a Yellow-browed Warbler while a Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at South Ness.

On Whalsay the Veery is still at Symbister, along with the Barred Warbler, and the Pechora Pipit is still at Skaw, while a Black-throated Diver is off Brough.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Tresta, Fetlar.

On Unst, a Pechora Pipit is at Uyeasound, there are Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls at Lamba Ness and Uyeasound, there are 3 Lapland Buntings at Lamba Ness, a Common Rosefinch is still at Norwick, and Yellow-browed Warblers are at Westing and Uyeasound.

A Pechora Pipit is at Sandgarth, Voe, and the Blyth's Reed Warbler is still at Lower Voe (there are possibly 2 birds there). A Bluethroat is at Swining. The Pechora Pipit is still at Virkie, the Short-toed Lark is still at Sumburgh Farm. There are 18 Slavonian Grebes in Tresta Voe and 2 in Whiteness Voe.

Friday 2nd October 2009

Veery on Foula - Steve Minton (2 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Jason Atkinson (one photo); Gary Bell (one photo)

Veery on Whalsay - Lee Mott

  

Buff-bellied Pipit on Foula - Steve Minton (2 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Gary Bell (one photo)

Pechora Pipit on Whalsay - Hugh Harrop

On Whalsay a Veery is at Symbister, along with a Barred Warbler, and a Pechora Pipit is at Skaw.

On Foula the Veery, the Buff-bellied Pipit, the Pechora Pipit and a Barred Warbler are at Ham and a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll is at Harrier.

The Taiga Flycatcher was reported again at Tresta, Fetlar. Also on the island there are 2 Lapland Buntings, a Barred Warbler, a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

A Pechora Pipit is at Virkie. A Blyth's Reed Warbler is at Lower Voe, along with 2 Barred Warblers. A Short-toed Lark is at Sumburgh Farm and a Common Rosefinch and a Barred Warbler are at Grutness. A Barred Warbler is Busta House, Brae. 2 Slavonian Grebes are at Weisdale Voe.

On Unst a Red-throated Pipit was reported at Skaw and 16 Snow Buntings are at Lamba Ness.

A Little Bunting and a Common Rosefinch are on Out Skerries.

Thursday 1st October 2009

Taiga Flycatcher on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason (2 photos), Jim Nicolson (2 photos), George Petrie (1 photo)

On Foula a Veery was at Ham this afternoon before flying north, the Buff-bellied Pipit and Pechora Pipit are also at Ham and 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls are on the island.

The Taiga Flycatcher is still at Tresta, Fetlar.

On Unst a Common Rosefinch and a Turtle Dove are at Norwick and a Brent Goose is at Uyeasound.

The Barred Warbler is still at Voe and a Slavonian Grebe is at Loch of Tingwall. A Reed Warbler is at Sumburgh Farm.