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Nature in Shetland

Recording nature in Shetland since 1996

Winner of a Shetland Environment Award 2004

February 2012 Bird Sightings

 

Wednesday 29th February 2012

South Mainland 7 Shelduck and 37 European White-fronted Geese at Spiggie. Skylark in song at Garth Ness.

Shelducks at Spiggie - George Petrie

Central Mainland Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. 55 Jackdaws still at Scalloway. 4 Iceland Gulls at the Fish Market in Lerwick.

Goldeneye at Clickimin - Jim Nicolson

Unst 21 Jackdaws at Baltasound. Iceland Gull at Belmont and 2 at Skaw.

Red-throated Diver at Norwick - Jim Nangle

Yell Glaucous Gull at Loch of Littlester, Burravoe. Iceland Gull at Cullivoe.

Whalsay 16 Iceland Gulls including the adult Kumlien's returned to Hamister after an absence. 4 Common Scoters at Vatshoull. Dunnocks wintering at Saltnes and Gardenstown.

Tuesday 28th February 2012

South Mainland pair of Pintail and Shelduck at Boddam. 2 Shelducks and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie.

Pintails at Boddam - George Petrie; Pintail and Shelduck at Boddam - Jim Nicolson

West Mainland Sparrowhawk at Sand, near Garderhouse. Glaucous Gull at Effirth.

Yell 2 Iceland Gulls at Cullivoe.

Iceland Gulls at Cullivoe - Jim Nangle

Monday 27th February 2012

Whalsay 4 Common Scoters at Vatshoull, 10 Iceland Gulls and 1 Glaucous Gull at Symbister and 2 Iceland Gulls at North Voe.

Central Mainland 36 Iceland Gulls and 3 Glaucous Gulls at the Catch  in Lerwick. 7 Chaffinches at the Sletts, Lerwick.

Unst Iceland Gull at Haroldswick, Iceland Gull at Norwick, Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound. 6 Snow Buntings at Lamba Ness and at least 18 Jackdaws in Baltasound.

Yell Rook at Gutcher.

Rook at Gutcher - Andy Gear

Sunday 26th February 2012

Unst 10 European White-fronted Geese at Norwick. Iceland Gull reported at Norwick.

Fetlar Canada Goose at Funzie.

Canada Goose on Fetlar - Andy Cook

South Mainland Pied Wagtail at Exnaboe. Pintail at Scatness. Pintail at Boddam. 2 Velvet Scoters still at West Voe of Sumburgh.

Central Mainland Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging.3 Long-eared Owls at Helendale. 2 Red Grouse at Dales Voe, Delting.

West Mainland: 7 Iceland Gulls at Clousta, Sparrowhawk at Bixter, 2 Goosanders and 2 Iceland Gulls at Melby.

Bressay 2 Iceland Gulls at Voehead.

Saturday 25th February 2012

Unst 5 Tundra Bean Geese and 26 European White-fronted Geese at Baltasound. 2 Iceland Gulls at Baltasound and singles at Westing and Colvadale. Summer-plumaged Red-throated Diver on Loch of Snarravoe.

South Mainland 1820 Greylag Geese counted from Sandwick south. 2 Tundra Bean Geese and Pink-footed Goose at Sandwick and Wood Pigeon at Hoswick. Iceland Gull at Fleck. 2 Scaup at Scatness.

Papa Stour 3 Grey Plovers.

Yell Bar-tailed Godwit still at Cullivoe. 7 Whooper Swans at Gutcher.

Friday 24th February 2012

Central Mainland Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. 36 Iceland Gulls at the Catch in Lerwick and 2 more at Clickimin. 4 Jackdaws at Helendale, Lerwick.

Goldeneye at Clickimin - Jim Nicolson

South Mainland 14 Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie. 50 European White-fronted Geese and 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Spiggie.

Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie and White-fronted Geese at Spiggie - George Petrie

Unst 2 Iceland Gulls at Baltasound and 4 at Westing. Sparrowhawk and at least 11 Jackdaws at Baltasound.

Black-headed Gull at Westing - Rob Brookes

Fetlar 3 Barnacle Geese at Aith.

Thursday 23rd February 2012

Central Mainland Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. 3 Greenfinches and 2 Chaffinches at Sound, Lerwick.

Unst Iceland Gulls at Norwick and Haroldswick.

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Yell Iceland Gull and 20 Twite at Cullivoe.

Tuesday 21st February 2012

Central Mainland: 6 Jackdaws and a Pink-footed Goose at Veensgarth. 2 Goosanders at Strand.

South Mainland: 2 adult Iceland Gulls were seen 10 miles south of Sumburgh Head. Velvet Scoter at Wester Quarff.

Unst 14 Jackdaws at Baltasound and Iceland Gulls at Norwick and Skaw.

Monday 20th February 2012

Unst: 2 Iceland Gulls at Westing, one at Haroldswick and one at Norwick. Sparrowhawk and 2 Wood Pigeons at Baltasound.

Iceland Gull at Westing - Rob Brookes

Sunday 19th February 2012

Unst: Rough-legged Buzzard at Hermaness, just north of carpark and Iceland Gull at Burrafirth. 3 Iceland Gulls at Norwick. 31 European White-fronted Geese and 2 Iceland Gulls at Baltasound. 20 Fieldfares at Westing.

Iceland Gulls at Norwick - Mike Pennington

Central Mainland: up to 60 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick (several showing characters of Kumlien's Gull).

West Mainland: 2 Iceland Gulls at Melby.

South Mainland: at least 58 European White-fronted Geese and 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Spiggie. 6 Shelducks at Virkie. 2 Velvet Scoters still at West Voe of Sumburgh. Long-eared Owl at Ocraquoy.

Fetlar: 4 Long-eared Owls.

Papa Stour Song Thrush.

Saturday 18th February 2012

Central Mainland At least 40 Iceland Gulls and one Glaucous Gull at the Catch. Red-necked Grebe at Laxfirth.

Kittiwake and Iceland Gull with characters of Kumlien's Gull at Lerwick - George Petrie

South Mainland 36 European White-fronted Geese and 10 Snow Buntings at Spiggie. Iceland Gull at Virkie,

Fetlar White-billed Diver off the ferry off Hamars Ness. Hen Harrier at Brough Lodge. Iceland Gull from the ferry in Bluemull 'triangle'.

Yell Hen Harrier at Sellafirth. 18 Fieldfares at Cullivoe.

Unst 18 European White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Goose and 2 Iceland Gulls at Baltasound.

Friday 17th February 2012

Central Mainland: Goldfinch at Twageos, Lerwick. 32 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick.

South Mainland: Iceland Gull, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 42 Ringed Plovers at Virkie.

Unst 24 European White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Goose and 2 Iceland Gulls at Baltasound.

White-fronted and Pink-footed Goose at Baltasound - Jim Nangle

Yell Lesser Black-backed Gull at West Yell. recently deceased Razorbill at Cullivoe.

Thursday 16th February 2012

Whalsay: 34 Iceland Gulls, 3 Glaucous Gulls and a Little Gull at Symbister. Sparrowhawk at Skaw.

South Mainland: 7 European White-fronted Geese at Ringasta, Grey Plover and 7 Shelducks at Virkie. Song Thrush at Fladdabister.

Papa Stour: 1 Knot.

Yell: Bar-tailed Godwit still at Cullivoe.

Wednesday 15th February 2012

South Mainland: 45 White-fronted Geese (including one Greenland) at Ringasta. 2 Iceland Gulls at Fleck, 3 Slavonian Grebes at Spiggie, 2 Pintails at Boddam. European White-fronted Goose at Exnaboe.

Yell: Bar-tailed Godwit still at Cullivoe.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Cullivoe - Jim Nangle

Central Mainland: Water Rail still at Lunning.

Merlin in central Mainland - Brydon Thomason

Tuesday 14th February 2012

South Mainland: Mistle Thrush at Gulberwick. Little Auk rescued from main road at Sumburgh this morning, released unharmed at Grutness. 3 Shelducks at Boddam. Hen Harrier at Sandwick. Wood Pigeon at Virkie.

Shelduck at Grutness - Jim Nicolson

Unst: Sparrowhawk, 5 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Baltasound and 2 Iceland Gulls at Norwick.

Monday 13th February 2012

South Mainland: 35 European White-fronted Geese and 2 Iceland Gulls at Spiggie. Iceland Gull at Fleck. 

Central Mainland: 29 Iceland Gulls (including 2 Kumlien's) and 3 Glaucous Gulls mainly around the Shetland Catch in Lerwick and 10 Iceland Gulls in central Lerwick (including a second-winter Kumlien's) but probably some overlap in these counts. Sparrowhawk at Sound, Lerwick.

Burra: 3 Goldfinches at Papil.

Whalsay: Little Gull, 2 Glaucous Gulls and 22 Iceland Gulls at Symbister.

Little Gull at Symbister - John Lowrie Irvine

Unst Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound.

Yell at least 59 Cormorants on LInga, Bluemull Sound.

Sunday 12th February 2012

Unst: Rough-legged Buzzard at Hermaness and plenty of Guillemots ashore. Little Gull, Little Auk, 8 Jackdaws and 12 Fieldfares at Haroldswick. 11 European White-fronted Geese at Norwick. Pink-footed Goose, 2 Iceland Gulls and 10 Jackdaws at Baltasound. 2 Iceland Gulls at Uyeasound.

Central Mainland: Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. Little Auk at Firths Voe. 2 Goosanders at Strand Loch.

South Mainland: 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Grey Plovers at Virkie. 2 Common Scoters, 2 Velvets Scoters, a Scaup and 3 Little Auks in West Voe of Sumburgh.

West Mainland: Peregrine Falcon at Bixter and 2 Iceland Gulls at Melby. Hen Harrier between Walls and Sandness.

Papa Stour: Velvet Scoter still in Hamna Voe.

Velvet Scoter on Papa Stour - Naomi Scott

Yell: Peregrine Falcon at West Sandwick.

Saturday 11th February 2012

Unst: 3 Iceland Gulls, 32 European White-fronted Geese, Little Auk, Little Grebe, 6 Slavonian Grebes, 7 Oystercatchers, 24 Ringed Plovers, 20 Jackdaws and Carrion Crow at Baltasound. Peregrine Falcon at Uyeasound.

Central Mainland: 3 Wood Pigeons at Kergord. Slavonian Grebe on Loch of Girlsta. 40 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls at Lerwick.

Glaucous Gull at Lerwick - George Petrie

South Mainland: Blackbird in song at Toab. 2 Scaups, male Pintail and Pintail x Mallard at Scatness. 11 Pochards and a Sparrowhawk at Brow. 3 Slavonian Grebes and a Little Grebe on Spiggie. Little Grebe on Hillwell. 2 Velvet Scoters at West Voe of Sumburgh.

Rock Pipit at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

Papa Stour: Velvet Scoter still in Hamna Voe.

Friday 10th February 2012

Yell: Glaucous Gull at Burravoe. Iceland Gull at Gutcher.

South Mainland: Scaup at Loch of Hillwell. Iceland Gull at Virkie.

Thursday 9th February 2012

Offshore: Sooty Shearwater from a boat W of Foula, along with 14 Iceland Gulls and 5 Glaucous Gulls.

North Mainland: Rough-legged Buzzard at Voe, Ronas Voe.

Central Mainland: Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. 45-50 Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls in Lerwick.

South Mainland: Little Gull still around Scatness. Common Scoter in Quendale Bay.

Little Gull at Scatness - George Petrie and Jim Nicolson; Snow Bunting at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

Papa Stour: Velvet Scoter in Hamna Voe.

Yell: Peregrine Falcon at Gossabrough and Sparrowhawk at Burravoe.

Wednesday 8th February 2012

North Mainland: Rough-legged Buzzard at Voe, Ronas Voe - at least one has been in the area since November.

Bluemull triangle: White-billed Diver from the Fetlar ferry.

Central Mainland: long-staying Water Rail and 3 Moorhens at Sandgarth, Voe.

South Mainland: Little Gull and Scaup at Scatness. Iceland Gull, Sanderling and a dead Little Auk at West Voe of Sumburgh.

 

Scaup at Scatness - George Petrie

Out Skerries: 2 Woodcocks.

Offshore: Great Skua from fishing boat SW of Foula.

Tuesday 7th February 2012

Whalsay: 54 Iceland Gulls and 5 Glaucous Gulls at Symbister.

Central Mainland: 1 Bean Goose and 1 Pink-footed Goose at Tingwall. 3 Goosanders at Strand. About 40 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick.

Unst: Little Gull, 4 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull at Baltasound, 6 Snow Buntings at Lamba Ness.

South Mainland: Long-eared Owl at Ocraquoy. Little Gull and 4 Shelducks at Virkie, Little Grebe at Hillwell, Sanderling at Grutness, Scaup and Iceland Gull at Scatness, Little Grebe at Spiggie and 3 Shelducks at Boddam.

Purple Sandpipers at Sandness - Charles Gifford (2 photos); Purple Sandpiper on Papa Stour - Naomi Scott; Great Black-backed Gull at Lerwick - George Petrie

Monday 6th February 2012

South Mainland: Iceland Gull and 2 Grey Plovers at Virkie.

Central Mainland: Green-winged Teal still at Loch of Benston. Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. At least 4 Iceland Gulls around Bressay terminal, Lerwick. 2 Water Rails in a garden at Burgh Road, Lerwick (present for aound a week).

West Mainland: At least one Goldcrest still at Gairdins o' Sand.

Unst: Little Gull, 3 Iceland Gulls, 8 Grey Herons, 20 Jackdaws and a Carrion Crow at Baltasound. Iceland Gull at Norwick.

Iceland Gull and Little Gull at Baltasound - Rob Brookes

Fetlar: Hen Harrier at Everland and 34 Pink-footed Geese at Papil Water.

Whalsay: 48 Iceland Gulls and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Symbister.

Bressay: 7 Grey Herons.

Curlew and Grey Heron at Burrastow - Charles Inkster

Sunday 5th February 2012

Central Mainland: Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. Red-necked Grebe still at Laxfirth. 2 Goosanders at Strand Loch. 2 Scaup at Loch of Asta. 6 Iceland Gulls and 65 Jackdaws at Scalloway. Greenfinch at Sound, Lerwick.

Burra: 4 Redwings, 1 Song Thrush and 4 Wood Pigeons on Trondra.

Oystercatchers at Lochend - S. Cromarty

Saturday 4th February 2012

Central Mainland 50 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick. 2 Goosanders at Strand Loch.

Friday 3rd February 2012

Central Mainland: Green-winged Teal at Loch of Benston. Red-necked Grebe and 5 Slavonian Grebes at Laxfirth, 18 Slavonian Grebes at Whiteness Voe, Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging. 5 Jackdaws at Veensgarth. Brent Goose and 2 Chaffinches at Sound, Lerwick.

Red-necked Grebe at Laxfirth - Jim Nicolson (2 photos) and Larry Dalziel (one photo);  Kumlien's Gull at Lerwick - Jim Nicolson; Iceland Gull and Kumlien's Gull at Lerwick - Larry Dalziel; Red-breasted Merganser at Scalloway - Jim Nicolson

Glaucous and Iceland Gulls and Littiwake at Lerwick - Rebecca Nason

Red-breasted Mergansers at Lerwick - Shona McLaren; Brent Goose at Lerwick - Charles Inkster

Unst: Little Gull, Little Auk, 3 Iceland Gulls and 3 Slavonian Grebes at Baltasound. Water Rail at Skaw.

Little Auk at Baltasound - Rob Brookes

Yell: Hen Harrier and 15 Iceland Gulls at North Sandwick.

South Mainland: Iceland Gull at Hillwell, 2 Grey Plovers at Virkie.

Redshank at Boddam - Charles Gifford

Thursday 2nd February 2012

Central Mainland: 37 Iceland Gulls (including 3 Kumlien's) and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Shetland Catch, Lerwick. 6 Iceland Gulls and 100 Jackdaws at Scalloway.

Iceland Gulls at Lerwick - Rob Fray

South Mainland: Iceland Gull and Dunnock at Sumburgh Head.

Wednesday 1st February 2012

Central Mainland: 2 Taiga Bean Geese at Laxfirth. Pink-footed Goose at Tingwall. Canada Goose at East Voe of Scalloway. 48 Iceland Gulls (including 2 Kumlien's) at Shetland Catch, Lerwick, along with a Glaucous Gull. Iceland Gull at Bressay terminal, Lerwick. Rough-legged Buzzard still at Laxobigging.

Kumlien's Gull at Lerwick - Glen Tyler; Iceland Gulls at Shetland Catch - George Petrie

Burra: American Wigeon x Wigeon hybrid still at Papil Water.

South Mainland: Sparrowhawk and Brent Goose at Sandwick.

Unst: 5 Tundra Bean Geese, Little Gull, 4 Iceland Gulls, Razorbill and Little Auk at Baltasound. Little Gull, Iceland Gull and Razorbill at Norwick. 24 Snow Buntings on Hill of Caldback. 2 Bean Geese flying over Uyea, Uyeasound.

Little Gull and Razorbill at Norwick - Rob Brookes; Snow Buntings at Caldback - Brydon Thomason

Yell: Iceland Gull at Cullivoe.

Wren at Cullivoe - Jim Nangle

Bressay: Rook and 6 Redwings at Voehead.