2004 Bird Sightings and Photos
(April and May)
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Full 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.
For details on how to submit records by e-mail
check the
Bird Club's
Recording page.
NOTE that
ALL records go into the database used in the
compilation of the Shetland Bird Report
EVEN IF they do not appear on this
page.
Monday 31st May 2004
A European Bee-eater was seen at Helendale in the morning. A Lesser
Whitethroat is at Ocraquoy.
A Honey Buzzard flew south over Gutcher, Yell, in the morning.
There are 3 Red-backed Shrikes, 2 Icterine Warblers, 4
Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Common Redpolls, a Spotted Flycatcher
and a Pied Flycatcher on Fetlar.
A female Red-backed Shrike, a male Black Redstart, a Spotted
Flycatcher and the Reed Warbler are at Skaw on Unst, a Sparrowhawk
is at Norwick, a Spotted Flycatcher is at Northdale and the Marsh
Harrier is still at Haroldswick.
On Whalsay, there are 3
Red-backed Shrikes, a Black Redstart, a Whinchat, a
Grasshopper Warbler, a Marsh Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2
Linnets, and the still elusive Sardinian Warbler.
Sunday 30th May 2004
A Golden Oriole is at Kergord. There are 14
Sanderlings and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits at Pool of Virkie.
On Unst, a Reed Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Spotted
Flycatcher are at Skaw, a Cuckoo is at Norwick, the Marsh Harrier
is still at Haroldswick, a Spotted Flycatcher is at Northdale, 9
Pink-footed Geese and 3 Common Sandpipers are at Burrafirth, a
Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Blackcap are at Baltasound
and a 1st summer Mute Swan is at Uyeasound. On Whalsay, the warbler
which was identified as a Sardinian Warbler was first seen, while
there were 3 Lesser
Whitethroats, a Siskin, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Sedge
Warbler and a Turtle Dove.
Still a good scatter of House Martins about with 6 at Burrafirth, 4 at
Dales Voe, Lerwick and 3 at Sandgarth, north of Voe.
Saturday 29th May 2004
A female Marsh Harrier is at Haroldswick, a Pale-bellied Brent
Goose is at Baltasound and Grey Wagtail is at Skaw, while there are
22 House Martins at Burrafirth. A flock of 5 redhead Goosanders at
Uyeasound later moved to Loch of Quoys and were joined by a moulting male.
On Foula, there are 3 Collared Doves, a Cuckoo, 3 Swallows,
3 House Martins, the small Canada Goose (see photo below), a
Greenfinch, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2
Chiffchaffs, a Redwing, a Reed Bunting and a Wood Pigeon.
A female Red-backed Shrike is at Hillwell, a Spotted Flycatcher
is at Ocraquoy and a Peregrine is at Banna Minn, Burra.
Canada Goose on Foula - Geoff Atherton (comments on the racial identity would be welcome)
Friday 28th May 2004
On Foula, there are 2 Red-backed Shrikes, a Grasshopper Warbler,
2 Tree Sparrows, 13 Collared Doves, a Greenfinch, a
Lesser Whitethroat, a Redwing, a House Martin, 4 Whimbrels,
2 Wood Pigeons, 2 Linnets, a Robin, a Brambling, a
Swift, 4 Swallows, a Willow Warbler and 2 Common
Redpolls.
On Unst, there are at least 20 Swallows, 4 House Martins, a
Swift, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap, mainly at Skaw, with 2
Knots at Baltasound. There are 5 Swallows and 3 House Martins
at Aith, Fetlar.
There are 8 Swallows at Sumburgh, a pair of Shovelers at
Spiggie, 12 House Martins at Maywick and 9 House Martins at Dales Voe, Lerwick. A Wryneck and
an immature Iceland Gull are at Veensgarth.
Red-backed Shrike on Foula - Geoff Atherton
Thursday 27th May 2004
On Foula, there are 20 Collared Doves, 7 House Martins, 2
Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden Warblers, 5 Common Redpolls, a Lesser
Whitethroat, a Greenfinch, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Spotted
Flycatchers, a Robin, a male Reed Buntings, 2 Tree Sparrows,
a Linnet, 2 Pied Flycatchers and 2 Canada Geese.
A Barnacle Goose is at Baltasound, along with a Greenshank, a
House Martin and 3 Swallows, while a Spotted Flycatcher and
a Chiffchaff are at Norwick, a House Martin is at Haroldswick, 2
Swallows are on Saxa Vord and a Snow Bunting was reported somewhere in
north Unst.
A Long-eared Owl and a Willow Warbler are at the West Manse,
Fetlar.
The Temminck's Stint reappeared at Pool of Virkie in the evening. A
Sparrowhawk is at Sandwick.
An unwelcome development is a sitting Whooper Swan which appears to be
mated with a Mute Swan!
Wednesday 26th May 2004
A White-billed Diver is in Sand Voe, North Roe.
A male Rustic Bunting is at Niggards on Foula, with the Canada
Goose, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Swallows, 2 Chiffchaffs,
a Willow Warbler and a Robin also on the island.
There were Long-tailed Skuas seen today over Mousa and in Yell Sound.
A red male Common Rosefinch is at Baltasound and a Chiffchaff at
Northdale.
A Swift and 2 Swallows are at Sandgarth, north of Voe.
The male Green-winged Teal and the male Garganey are still at
Loch of Spiggie.
Black-tailed Godwit on Foula - Geoff Atherton
Monday 24th May 2004
A Temminck's Stint is at Pool of Virkie,
along with 49 Sanderlings, and the male Ring-necked Duck is still at
Loch of Spiggie, along with a male Garganey, while the usual
Black-throated Diver is at Bay of Quendale. There are 4 Common Scoters at Cat Firth for their second day.
Sunday 23rd May 2004
A female Subalpine Warbler
is at Gorie, Bressay. The
male Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Spiggie and a Common
Sandpiper is on Mousa.
Saturday 22nd May 2004
The first-year male King Eider
is still at Cat Firth, along with a pair of Common Scoters. Another
Common Scoter is in Bressay Sound. A Peregrine is at Benston and 3
male Siskins are at Eat Ham, Bressay.
The Grey Plover is still at Scatness, along with a
Linnet, and the male Yellowhammer is still at Grutness. There are
Carrion Crows at Sandwick and Spiggie and 11 Sanderlings at Pool of
Virkie. There are 46
Purple Sandpipers and 7 Sanderlings at Melby.
A female Common Scoter is in Burra Firth on Unst and a
male Spotted Crake is on the island.
Friday 21st May 2004
The male Ring-necked Duck is
still at Loch of Spiggie, a Grey Plover is at Scatness and a male
Yellowhammer is at Grutness.
The Little Egret is still at Strand.
Thursday 20th May 2004
The male Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch
of Spiggie, along with a brood of Moorhens, while a brood of Shelducks
is at Boddam and 5 Sanderlings are at Virkie.
Tuesday 18th May 2004
The Corn Bunting is still on Foula along with
a Canada Goose (which was also present yesterday), a Pink-footed Goose, a Sand Martin,
a Common Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and a Chaffinch.
A Long-tailed Skua, a probable Pomarine Skua and a Manx
Shearwater flew past Wats Ness.
The male Ring-necked Duck is at the south end of Loch of Spiggie.
Monday 17th May 2004
A male Ring-necked Duck is at Loch of Clumlie, along with a Wood
Sandpiper. A Common Sandpiper is at Leebitton and there are 15
Shelducks at Pool of Virkie.
The Corn Bunting and the Wryneck are still on Foula along with
a Short-eared Owl, 7 Swallows, a Sand Martin, 3
Blackcaps, a Brambling and a Chaffinch.
Sunday 16th May 2004
One Long-tailed Skua was seen through the fog at Wats Ness this
morning.
On Unst, there are 99 Dunlins, a Greenfinch and a Chaffinch
at Baltasound, 30 Dunlins at Haroldswick, 2 Redwings, 5
Sanderlings and 3 Knots at Norwick and 7 Swallows at Skaw.
The Corn Bunting is still on Foula along with a Wryneck, a
Mistle Thrush, a Brambling and a Chaffinch.
To liven up a dull day, Geoff Atherton has sent a photo of the Foula Upland
Sandpiper from earlier in the month!
Upland Sandpiper - Geoff Atherton
Saturday 15th May 2004
A Red-rumped Swallow is lurking in the fog at Sumburgh Head. The 2 1st
summer Ring-billed Gulls are still around Hillwell. Otherwise, relatively
little with a Sparrowhawk over Virkie, 43 Dunlins, 8
Sanderlings on the Pool of Virkie and 2 Gadwalls and 2 Shovelers
at Hillwell.
There were 8 Long-tailed Skuas and 3 Pomarine Skuas logged
flying north past Wats Ness. There were also 4 Long-tailed Skuas past
Esha Ness.
A male King Eider is off Bressay. A 1st summer Iceland Gull is
at Strand Loch.
Bright sunshine on Unst, but little else: a Greenfinch, a Jackdaw,
a Carrion Crow, a male Pied Flycatcher, 4 Knots and a site
record 77 Dunlins at Baltasound and 6 Carrion Crows at Skaw.
Red-rumped Swallow at Sumburgh - Roger Riddington
Friday 14th May 2004
A Stone Curlew is on Foula and the Corn Bunting is still there.
There are now 2 1st summer Ring-billed Gulls at Hillwell.
Thursday 13th May 2004
A 1st summer Ring-billed Gull is at Hillwell, along with one male
Garganey and 2 Gadwalls. A Tree Sparrow is at Sumburgh Head.
An adult Long-tailed Skua was seen soaring south high over Bluemull
Sound in the late afternoon.
On Unst, a Wood Sandpiper is still at Baltasound, along with a male
Pied Flycatcher, while a female Ring Ouzel is at Norwick and the
Rook is still at Haroldswick.
The 1st summer male King Eider is still in Wadbister Voe.
Ring-billed Gull at Hillwell - Roger Riddington;
Wednesday 12th May 2004
A 2nd or 3rd summer Long-tailed Skua flew through Belmont in the late
afternoon.
There are 2 Wood Sandpipers and a Black-tailed Godwit at
Baltasound, 2 Common Redpolls at Norwick and a Jackdaw, a Rook and a Carrion Crow still
at Haroldswick.
The first female Red-necked Phalarope is back on Fetlar.
A Rough-legged Buzzard flew north over Sumburgh Head in mid-afternoon
and there are 2 male Gadwalls on Loch of Hillwell.
Tuesday 11th May 2004
A very bright male Common
Redpoll is at Toab and Virkie. A male Red-backed Shrike and a Linnet are
also at Virkie, there are 2 male Garganeys at Hillwell along with the
Green-winged Teal, a Wood Sandpiper, a pair of Shovelers and 3
Pintails, and another Wood Sandpiper is at Spiggie.
A 1st summer Iceland Gull is at Tingwall and the Little Egret
is still at Strand.
A Spotted Redshank, the Wood Warbler, a Carrion Crow and
2 Linnets are at Baltasound and a Rook and a Jackdaw are
still at Haroldswick.
Common Redpoll at Toab -
Tony Gerrard
Monday 10th May 2004
A male Bluethroat is at Skaw on Unst, a Rook and a Jackdaw
are at Haroldswick and a Wood Warbler is at
Baltasound.
A female Marsh Harrier was at Tingwall airstrip in the morning.
A male Garganey is on Loch of Spiggie. A female Sparrowhawk is at Boddam and the
Green-winged Teal is still at Hillwell along with 4 Pintails. A
Sedge Warbler is at Garths Ness, Quendale.
Sunday 9th May 2004
A Corn Bunting is on Foula. It is only the fifth Shetland record since
extinction and the first away from Fair Isle since 1987. A Red-backed Shrike
and a Wryneck are also on the island.
There are male Bluethroats at Scatness, Quendale and Sumburgh Hotel, a
female Red-backed Shrike at Scatness, the male Green-winged Teal
at Hillwell along with a Wood Sandpiper, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits at
Virkie and a Sedge Warbler at Quendale.
There are 2 Bluethroats on Fetlar, a male and a female, while the
Subalpine Warbler is still there, although it is now believed to be a
female, and a Tree Pipit, a Reed Bunting and a Sparrowhawk are also present.
A male Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Baltasound, along with a male
Garganey and 2 Linnets, while a Sparrowhawk is at Burrafirth.
Saturday 8th May 2004
The Subalpine Warbler is still on Noss. A
Yellow-browed Warbler, the second of the spring, is at Uphouse on Bressay,
with a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Pied Flycatchers on the island.
On Out Skerries, there are 3 Red-backed Shrikes, 5
Tree Pipits, a Ring Ouzel, a Sedge Warbler, a Common
Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 9
Bramblings, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers,
2 Whinchats and 2 Common Redstarts.
The Upland Sandpiper is still on Foula along with the
Wryneck, the Turtle Dove, a Spotted Flycatcher and a
Sedge Warbler.
A Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit, a
Sparrowhawk and a Black-tailed Godwit are at Baltasound, along with
fledged Blackbird chicks (which are very early for Unst). Another Tree
Pipit is at Northdale and a Whinchat is at Skaw. A Common
Nightingale was seen briefly in Northdale in the early evening.
A male Green-winged Teal is still at Scatness, along
with a female Red-backed Shrike, a male Bluethroat, a Whinchat
and a Garden Warbler. The Bar-headed Goose is still at Spiggie
along with 5 Barnacle Geese.
There are 2 male Red-backed Shrikes on Fetlar. An
apparent hybrid House x Tree Sparrow has been at Tresta on Fetlar for
several weeks.
A flock of 11 Pomarine Skuas flew north past Eshaness
this morning.
Green-winged Teal (with Common Teal)
and Red-backed Shrike -
Steve Minton; Upland Sandpiper -
Geoff Atherton
Friday 7th May 2004
There are 3 male Subalpine Warblers in the islands - on Fetlar, Noss
and Foula.
Also on Foula, the Upland Sandpiper and the Arctic Redpoll are still present, with a Thrush
Nightingale also there. A Yellow Wagtail (of the flavissima
race), a Common Nightingale, a Wryneck, a Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl and
a Sparrowhawk are among other migrants there.
There are also 3 Barnacle Geese on Noss, and a Marsh Harrier
and a Ring Ouzel at Gorie, Bressay.
A Wryneck is at Scatness and a male Red-backed Shrike is at
Sumburgh Farm. The Bar-headed Goose is still at
Spiggie.
On Out Skerries, there is a male Bluethroat, a male Red-backed
Shrike, 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Common Redstarts,
8 Whinchats, 3 Common Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler and a
Mealy Redpoll.
A Garden Warbler is at Sandgarth, north of Voe.
A male Red-backed Shrike is at Baltasound, and a Sedge Warbler
and a Grasshopper Warbler are at Uyeasound.
Lots of other migrants, including several Common Sandpipers and
Lesser Whitethroats.
Thursday 6th May 2004
A Yellow-browed Warbler is at the Manse on Fetlar. It is only the
second spring record for Shetland, following one on Whalsay in May 2001. The
Wryneck is still on the island at Funzie.
The Upland Sandpiper is still on Foula, along with a Black Redstart.
On Yell, there are 2 Common Nightingales, one by the pier at Mid Yell
and another at Camb. A Wryneck is at Otterswick.
A Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Linnets are at Baltasound, 2
Pied Flycatchers are at Norwick and a dead Hawfinch was found at
Haroldswick.
A male Red-backed Shrike is on Mousa.
A Wryneck is on Whalsay along with 2 Sand Martins, 2 Sedge
Warblers and 2 Stonechats.
A Sparrowhawk and a Sand Martin are at Sumburgh Head with a
Tree Pipit at Geosetter.
Wednesday 5th May 2004
The Upland Sandpiper is still at Ham, Foula, and an
Arctic Redpoll has also been found there. Also on the
island is a Wryneck, a Common Whitethroat and a Velvet Scoter.
A Lesser Whitethroat is at Geosetter, 2 Linnets
are at Scatness and a Yellow Wagtail (of unknown race) flew over Scord.
There are pairs of Pintails on Loch of Hillwell and Loch of Mails, near
Boddam. A Jackdaw is still at Ringasta.
A Wryneck is at Brae. There are 3 Sand Martins at Loch of Clickimin.
There are Common Whitethroats at Skaw
and Norwick on Unst
and 4 Carrion Crows are still at Haroldswick.
There are 2 Lesser Whitethroats on
Fetlar.
Tuesday 4th May 2004
An Upland Sandpiper is at Ham Voe, Foula. It is only the second spring
record for Britain (there was one on St Kilda in April 1981). There are 4
previous Shetland records - 2 each on Foula and Fair Isle.
A Wryneck and a female Lapland Bunting are at Funzie, Fetlar.
A Slavonian Grebe and a male Goosander are in the East Voe of
Scalloway.
Monday 3rd May 2004
The Mandarin is now at Strand Loch, along with the Little Egret.
An adult Glaucous Gull is at the head of
Weisdale Voe and a House Martin is at Kergord.
There is a Greenshank and 2
Black-tailed Godwits at Spiggie and a Common Swift at Hillwell along
with 12 Swallows and a Reed Bunting. A male Yellow Wagtail
is at the Sumburgh Hotel and a scatter of other migrants are around the Ness,
with 100 Turnstones and 48 Purple Sandpipers at Scatness.
The Bar-headed Goose and the Linnet are still at Baltasound,
along with 2 Siskins and a Mealy Redpoll, while there is a
Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Buntings and 4 Carrion Crows at
Haroldswick.
The Common Crane is still on Fetlar, where it has been seen
intermittently over the last few weeks.
Sunday 2nd May 2004
The Mandarin is now at Loch of Clickimin. The Wood
Warbler is still at Helendale, along with a redpoll sp. (dark-rumped
but with pale undertail coverts with few streaks).
A Nightingale is on Noss. There are 6 Common Scoters
in Bressay Sound.
A 1st summer male King Eider in Wadbister Voe is
presumably the bird that has been seen in Lax Firth and Cat Firth over the
winter.
A Jackdaw and 3 Rooks are at Ringasta, there are 3 Common
Redstarts and 2 Chiffchaffs at Sumburgh, 2 Knots, a
Greenshank and 3 White Wagtails at Virkie and 3 Pintails at
Hillwell. A Bar-headed Goose is still at Spiggie.
On Unst, an Osprey flew over Burrafirth, a
Bar-headed Goose is at Baltasound, along with a male Linnet, while a
Slavonian Grebe is at Haroldswick and a Whinchat is at Skaw.
Saturday 1st May 2004
A Wood Warbler is at Helendale.
There are 2 Common Redstarts, a Willow Warbler and a
Chiffchaff at Geosetter, a Common Swift and 2 Blackcaps
at Quendale, 2 Common Redstarts, a Willow
Warbler and a Chiffchaff at Grutness, 4 White Wagtails
at Hillwell along with 2 Pintails and 2 Shovelers, and 2 White
Wagtails, 5 Sanderlings, a Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs
at Virkie.
Another male Garganey is in Whiteness Voe. there are 2 Black-tailed
Godwits at Kirkabister, Nesting.
A Hawfinch, a Greenfinch and a Siskin are at Basta on
Yell.
A Common Crane was reported from Uyeasound again.
This Starling, with its massively deformed beak, has been a regular
visitor to a garden on Whalsay recently - photos
Bobby Sandison
Friday 30th April 2004
A Red-rumped Swallow is at Hillwell, although it was only present for
a short while in the morning.
The Great White Egret is still at Spiggie, along with 4 Pintails.
A Common Swift is at Quendale, a male
Whinchat is at the Sumburgh Hotel, there are 5 Linnets by the Pool of
Virkie, where there are 6 Bar-tailed Godwits and 8 Shelducks, a
Tree Pipit is at Scord, a male Pintail is Scatness, a female
Greenfinch is at Scousburgh and a Common Tern is at Grutness. There
are 2 Jackdaws, 2 Rooks and 2 Carrions Crows near Ringasta.
A female Ring Ouzel is on Mousa.
A male Mandarin is at Uradale, near Scalloway, although it was last
seen flying off strongly towards Trondra.
A Wood Warbler is in Helendale. A Tree Pipit is at East Ham,
Bressay, along with 6 Willow Warblers and 2 Common Redstarts.
A female Ring Ouzel is on Fetlar along with a female Sparrowhawk,
a Garden Warbler, a Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6
Bramblings, 2 Reed Buntings and a Willow Warbler.
Thursday 29th April 2004
The Great White Egret is still at Spiggie and a male Common Scoter
is on Loch of Brow.
A Hawfinch is at Helendale and 6 Common Scoters are still in
Lerwick Harbour.
A Reed Bunting is at Firth.
The male Mandarin is still on Bressay.
Wednesday 28th April 2004
The Great White Egret is still at Spiggie. An early Common Swift
is at Sumburgh Head.
A Goldfinch is still singing at Helendale. A Pink-footed Goose
is at Firth, near Mossbank.
Tuesday 27th April 2004
The Serin is still at Baltasound, and was heard briefly in song this
morning. At least 5 Siskins include 3 new arrivals - all bearing rings.
The Kentish Plover is still at Virkie.
A male Mandarin is on Bressay.
A Tree Pipit is at Sumburgh Head along with 9 Whimbrels, 2
Sand Martins are at Hillwell with one at Scatness, 3 Shovelers are at
Hillwell, and 2 Pintails and a Common Tern are at Spiggie. A
Blackcap and a Brambling are at Scousburgh.
Monday 26th April 2004
The Great White Egret was at Grunna Water, South Nesting in the
morning but was relocated at Loch of Spiggie in the afternoon.
The Kentish Plover is still at Virkie. A freshly dead Short-eared
Owl was found at Spiggie. There are 5 Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie
and 2 Sanderlings at Grutness. An Arctic Tern and a Common Tern
are at West Voe of Sumburgh.
There are 6 Common Scoters off Duke's Neb, Lerwick.
The Serin is still at Baltasound, along with a Carrion Crow, a
male Linnet and 2 male Siskins. There are 20 Bramblings at
Norwick and a Rook at Haroldswick.
Sunday 25th April 2004
The Kentish Plover is still at Pool of Virkie.
A Great White Egret is at Grunna Water, South Nesting. A 'large white
heron' being mobbed before flying south and reported by John Herculeson at
Vidlin this morning was presumably the same bird. It is the fifth for Shetland
(assuming a record from 1971 is accepted following its current recirculation).
The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting, along with 19
Great Northern Divers. There are 2 Bramblings and a Siskin
at Toft.
A Bar-headed Goose is at Catfirth and the Little Egret is still
at Strand. There are Common Terns at Strom Voe and Weisdale Voe.
A
Yellowhammer is at Fladdabister. There are 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow
Warbler, 2 Robins and a Fieldfare at Sumburgh, 2
Carrion Crows and a Rook at Scousburgh, and 2 Robins and a
Chiffchaff at Geosetter.
The Serin is still at Baltasound along with 9 Bramblings, 3
Chaffinches and 2 Siskins while there are 16 Bramblings and a
Chaffinch at Norwick and 7 Swallows at Skaw. A Canada Goose
and a Carrion Crow are at Uyeasound.
The 3 Tree Sparrows are still at East Ham, Bressay and a 1st summer
Iceland Gull is at Heogan.
Common Cranes have been reported from Uyeasound and at Whitesness,
Walls.
Kentish Plover at Virkie - Roger Riddington;
Great White Egret at Nesting -
Paul Sclater; Twite on
Fetlar - Micky
Maher
Saturday 24th April 2004
A female Kentish Plover is at Pool of Virkie. It is
only the second ever seen in Shetland - the last one was on Fair Isle in May
1949.
Kentish Plover at Virkie -
Paul Sclater
A singing male Yellowhammer is at Quendale, a
Jackdaw is at Hillwell along with a Gadwall and 3 Shovelers,
there are 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and 2 Common Terns
at Virkie and 5 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Shovelers and a
Gadwall at Spiggie.
The Serin is still at Baltasound, along with a
Willow Warbler, and the Marsh Harrier is still at Haroldswick. A
female Lapland Bunting is on Fetlar.
The Little Egret is at Strand Loch.
The 3 Tree Sparrows are still at East Ham, Bressay,
with Mealy Redpolls at Uphouse and East Ham.
Friday 23rd April 2004
The Serin is still at Baltasound along with 9 Bramblings, 3
Chaffinches, 3 Linnets, 2 Swallows and a Siskin, while a Sparrowhawk,
a Chiffchaff and a Common Sandpiper
are at Haroldswick.
Sparrowhawk on Unst -
Tony & Beth Gerrard
On Whalsay, there are 2
Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Linnets, a Common Whitethroat and a
male Common Scoter.
A 1st summer male Black Redstart is at Scatness, along with a
Common Tern, and a House Martin is at Sumburgh Head. A Willow Warbler is at
Sandwick.
There are 2
Siskins and a Goldcrest still at Toft and 3 Grey Plovers flew
over Kirkabister.
There are 3 Tree Sparrows at East Ham, Bressay.
The Common Crane was relocated at Funzie, Fetlar, although it may have
been see at Uyeasound as well.
Thursday 22nd April 2004
The Serin is still at Baltasound along with 19 Bramblings and 4
Jackdaws. A 1st summer male Marsh Harrier is at Haroldswick and a
male Sparrowhawk is at Norwick.
A Grasshopper Warbler and a Stonechat are on Fetlar along with
a Sparrowhawk, 4 Bramblings, a Siskin, 2 Greenfinches,
5 Chaffinches, 30 Fieldfares, a Chiffchaff and a Willow
Warbler.
A Willow Warbler and a Brambling are at Cunningsburgh.
A Sand Martin, a Swallow, 3 Rooks and a Robin are
at Collafirth, Northmavine.
The Lesser Redpoll is still on Foula along with a Jackdaw, 2
Dunnocks, a Siskin, 4 Pied Wagtails, a Wood Pigeon, 3
Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, a Chaffinch, a Sand
Martin, a Robin, 2 Goldcrests and a Brambling.
Wednesday 21st April 2004
A Common Crane flew south through Bluemull Sound at 08:30.
The male Serin is still at Baltasound, along with 6 Bramblings.
A Coot is at Haroldswick.
A female Hawfinch was found dead at Scalloway this morning. A
Goldfinch at a nut feeder in Breiwick Road, Lerwick, has been present since
Monday.
Tuesday 20th April 2004
The male Serin is still at Baltasound, moving between the Post Office
and Setter's Hill Estate. There are also 6 Siskins, 5 Bramblings
and a Chaffinch at Baltasound and the male Mandarin is still at
Haroldswick, along with a Bar-tailed Godwit.
Serin - Micky
Maher
There are 5 Shovelers (3 males) at Scatness and a pair at Spiggie
along with a Scaup, a Pochard and a Slavonian Grebe. A
Great Spotted Woodpecker was caught by a cat at Hestingott, Virkie.
At Collafirth in Northmavine there is a
Kestrel, 2 Swallows, a Dunnock, a Willow Warbler, 2
Bramblings, 2 Robins, 2 Chaffinches and several Goldcrests.
A Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff are on Foula.
Monday 19th April 2004
The male Serin is still at Baltasound, along with a Goldfinch,
a male Pintail and 4 Jackdaws, the male Mandarin was
still at Haroldswick in the early morning but not later and there are 4
Bramblings at Skaw.
There are 3 Jackdaws at Spiggie.
A Green Sandpiper is on Foula, along with the Sparrowhawk, 2
Jackdaws and the Lesser Redpoll.
Sunday 18th April 2004
The male Serin has spent the day in a garden near the
Baltasound hall. It is just the 7th for Scotland and the 5th for Shetland but
only the second away from Fair Isle.
Serin - Mike Pennington
A male Mandarin is at Haroldswick along with 12
Bramblings, a Sparrowhawk is at Skaw, 2 Blackcaps are at
Norwick and 3 Jackdaws are at Baltasound.
The Greenshank is at Brow, 5 Pintails and 400
Golden Plovers are at Spiggie, 2 Shovelers and 2 Gadwalls are
at Spiggie, 2 Carrion Crows are at Exnaboe and a Blackcap is at
Virkie. A Common Scoter is still off Lerwick.
A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk are on Foula with the Green-winged Teal,
a Jackdaw and the Lesser Redpoll still present.
Saturday 17th April 2004
A male Serin was seen briefly by Frank Josephs in his
garden in Baltasound. A Whimbrel flew over Burrafirth and there are 2
Swallows at Norwick and another at Skaw.
A 1st summer Iceland Gull is at Gremista in Lerwick and
one Common Scoter is off Lerwick. A
Goldfinch and a Chiffchaff are at Helendale. The Little Egret
was in ditches by the Veensgarth junction beside Tingwall airport.
There are 2 Sand Martins and a Swallow at Loch
of Hilllwell and a Greenshank is at Spiggie.
On Foula, a Sand Martin, 2 Willow Warblers, a
Carrion Crow, and 20 Wheatears joined the Green-winged Teal, 2
Jackdaws and the Lesser Redpoll, which are still present.
Friday 16th April 2004
A Stock Dove is at Helendale and a Swallow is at Loch of
Clickimin. There are 2 Common Scoters in Bressay Sound off Lerwick.
There are 2 Swallows at Sumburgh, 3 Jackdaws at Exnaboe and a
Carrion Crow at Sumburgh Hotel. An Arctic Skua, 2 Pintails
and 2 Gadwalls are at Spiggie.
On Unst, there is a Sparrowhawk at Skaw, 2 Siskins and a
Blackcap at Norwick and 4 Siskins at Baltasound.
A western Stonechat is on Foula along with 2 Willow Warblers, a
Jackdaw, a Carrion Crow, 6 Arctic Skuas and 18 Wheatears
as well as the the Green-winged Teal and the Lesser Redpoll.
Thursday 15th April 2004
A Swallow is at Burrafirth and a Blackcap is at
Norwick.
One of the Hawfinches is still at Sandgarth, north of
Voe.
There are 14 Whooper Swans at Loch of Spiggie.
Wednesday 14th April 2004
A white-headed Cormorant is on Loch of Hillwell (although whether it
has the right bare skin pattern to be sinensis hasn't been established).
The first Arctic Skua of the year flew over Hagdale, between
Baltasound and Haroldswick.
A Swallow is at Spiggie.
The Lesser Redpoll is still on Foula along with the Green-winged
Teal and 2 Jackdaws.
Tuesday 13th April 2004
A Great Grey Shrike was on Trondra in the morning.
The Little Egret was feeding in ditches around Tingwall
airstrip.
A Lesser Redpoll has spent the day on the feeder at the
Nurse's Cottage at Ham on Foula. The Green-winged Teal and 2 Jackdaws
are also still there.
The female King Eider is still off Belmont and the
Canada Goose is still on Fetlar.
There are 2 Greenfinches at Sletts Park, Lerwick.
Monday 12th April 2004
The Green-winged Teal is still on Foula, along with 2 Jackdaws
and a Yellowhammer.
There are still 7 Bramblings and 18 Chaffinches at Baltasound.
Sunday 11th April 2004
A Great Grey Shrike was at Northdale, Unst, in the
morning and there are are 7 Jackdaws at Haroldswick (although there have
been up to 9). There are about 6 Redwings in north Unst, 10
Chaffinches and 2 Bramblings at Norwick, 20 Chaffinches and 7
Bramblings at Baltasound, with the Velvet Scoter still in the voe
there.
A Canada Goose is on Fetlar, and it has been there for
a few days.
A Hawfinch is still at Sandgarth, north of Voe.
The Stock Dove is still at Sumburgh Farm, the
Long-eared Owl is still in the Virkie willows and a Sparrowhawk is at
Grutness. There are Kestrels at Scousburgh and Gulberwick.
The Green-winged Teal is still on Foula, back at
Shoadals, while a Jackdaw and a flock of 30 Ravens are also there.
Saturday 10th April 2004
A Shelduck and a Red-throated Diver are both on Loch of
Clickimin, where neither are frequent. A Moorhen is on Trondra and
Lapwings are incubating on Burra. There are 5 Fieldfares at Sandwick.
The Green-winged Teal is still on Foula, along with a Jackdaw
and a Yellowhammer.
There are 2 Wheatears, 2 Goldcrests and a Dunnock at
Brettabister, Nesting.
Incidentally, the American Coot has not been seen since 5th April.
Friday 9th April 2004
Great Skuas became more obvious today with
6 at Burrafirth and one at Westing at Unst and singles at Scousburgh and
Sumburgh Head. The
Long-eared Owl is still at Virkie. A Willow
Warbler and a Dunnock are at Collafirth, Northmavine.
A Long-eared Owl is at Gorie and a Reed Bunting is at Beosetter,
both on Bressay. The Green-winged Teal is
still on Foula, although it has moved to Mill Loch, and the European
White-fronted Goose is still present, along with 2 Yellowhammers and
2 Jackdaws.
Thursday 8th April 2004
A Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammers, a Moorhen and a Grey
Wagtail are on Out Skerries.
There are 22 Fieldfares at Gloup on Yell and 7 are at Burrafirth on
Unst.
A Yellowhammer, a Jackdaw, a Reed Bunting and 2
Chiffchaffs are among birds on Foula.
A male Peregrine flew north over Brettabister, Nesting.
Wednesday 7th April 2004
The 2 Hawfinches are still at Sandgarth,
north of Voe.
The Long-eared Owl is still at Virkie along with a Grey Wagtail,
a Stonechat is at Boddam, a Kestrel is at and a
Sparrowhawk is at Ward of Scousburgh.
On Unst, there are 5 Jackdaws at Northdale and a Kestrel
between Haroldswick and Baltasound.
Birds on Foula include the Green-winged Teal, 35 Ringed Plovers,
50 Meadow Pipits, 4 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 5 Bramblings
and a Woodpigeon.
Tuesday 6th April 2004
The White-billed Diver is
still at Kirkabister and one King Eider is still at Catfirth.
A Stock Dove is at Sumburgh Farm, a Long-eared Owl is in the
Virkie willows, 2 Shovelers, 9 Shelducks and a Reed Bunting
are at Spiggie and a Moorhen at Scousburgh.
The 2 Hawfinches are still at Sandgarth, north of Voe, and
there are 2 Greenfinches at Toft.
On Unst, there are female Bullfinches at Norwick and
Baltasound, at least 25 Chaffinches at Baltasound, 2 Greenfinches
at Baltasound and a Grey Wagtail at Woodwick.
The Green-winged Teal is still on Foula, along with a
Yellowhammer, 2 Jackdaws and 10 Great Skuas.
Small numbers of
Dunnocks, Robins, Chaffinches, Goldcrests etc, are
still widespread.
Monday 5th April 2004
There are now 2 King Eiders
at Cat Firth, with the 1st winter from earlier in the winter joining the adult.
The White-billed Diver is still at Kirkabister.
The American Coot is still at Loch of Clickimin and nearby
at Helendale there is a Willow Warbler, 20 Goldcrests and 6
Chiffchaffs and a Siskin, among other migrants. There are also 3
Siskins at East Ham, Bressay. There are 6 Chaffinches, a Robin
and a Goldcrest at Sletts Park, Lerwick.
Birds on Foula include a Yellowhammer, a Jackdaw, 3
Chiffchaffs, the Green-winged Teal and the European
White-fronted Goose.
The 2 Hawfinches are still at Sandgarth, north of Voe.
A Great Tit is at Baltasound, a Kestrel and a
female Bullfinch are at Norwick, the Black Redstart is still by
the RAF camp at Haroldswick and other birds on Unst include 15
Chaffinches, 4 Bramblings, 5 Greenfinches, 5 Chiffchaffs,
12 Pied Wagtails and 8 Dunnocks. The female King Eider is
still off Belmont. There are 2
Chaffinches, a
Robin, 2 Goldcrests and a Greenfinch at Basta on Yell.
There are 2 Goldcrests, a Robin and a Chiffchaff at
Scousburgh and 4 Pied Wagtails at Loch of Spiggie.
Hawfinches at Sandgarth, north of Voe -
Steve Minton
Sunday 4th April 2004
Birds on Foula include a very early Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs,
8 Chaffinches, 3 Pied Wagtails, 5 Robins, 6 Goldcrests,
2 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings, 5 Wheatears and a
Jackdaw, while the
European White-fronted Goose and the Green-winged Teal are still
present.
On Unst, there is a Dunnock, a Greenfinch, a Robin, a
Chaffinch and a Hawfinch all in one garden at Baltasound, a Black
Redstart and 2 Reed Buntings at Haroldswick, 8 Chiffchaffs and
6 Chaffinches scattered around the north end along with several other
migrants.
On Bressay, there are more than 20 Dunnocks, 22 Goldcrests, a
Linnet at East Ham, a Grey Wagtail at Gorie and a Jackdaw.
There are 3 Wheatears, 5
Chiffchaffs and a scatter of other migrants, such as Robins and
Dunnocks. The male King
Eider is still at Cat Firth.
There are 2 Hawfinches at Sandgarth, north of Voe, along
with 8 Chaffinches and the other Hawfinch is still at Voe Public
Hall. At Ocraquoy
there are 2 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 3 Goldcrests, 3
Chaffinches and 3 Bramblings with a Reed Bunting and
Fieldfare at Fladdabister.
There are 50 Fieldfares
at Sandwick. There are 2 Wheatears at Sumburgh, where Puffins are
ashore and 2 Goldcrests and are Kestrel at Scousburgh.
Saturday 3rd April 2004
Birds on Bressay, included 80 Fieldfares, 40
Goldcrests, 16 Dunnocks, 14 Robins, 14 Chiffchaffs,
2 Song Thrushes, a Mistle Thrush, 10 Chaffinches, 2
Siskins, a Wheatear and 2 Reed Buntings, while at
Beosetter on the island there was a male Pochard, a male Scaup, a
male Blackcap and a Carrion Crow.
A Great Grey Shrike is on Foula along with a
Reed Bunting, a Jackdaw, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wood Pigeons
and the European White-fronted Goose.
A Hawfinch is at Voe outside the Public
Hall.
The American Coot is still at Loch of
Clickimin and the Little Egret is still at Strand Loch.
Friday 2nd April 2004
There are 7 Goldcrests at Vidlin and 10 at
Swining, 17 Wood Pigeons, a Sparrowhawk, a Jackdaw and 3
Chiffchaffs at Kergord, along with the Common Buzzard.
On Bressay, there are 3 Mistle Thrushes, 16
Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Wood Pigeon, and a Dunnock
at Ham and 2 Siskins at Beosetter.
The American Coot is still at Loch of
Clickimin.
A male Common Scoter is off Scord and there
are 4 Goldcrests at Scatness.
There are 4 Wheatears, 4 Pied Wagtails,
a Grey Wagtail and 2 Dunnocks on Foula and the European
White-fronted Goose is still there.
Thursday 1st April 2004
An adult male King Eider is at Cat Firth - it may be the bird seen
there last autumn. A Goosander, a Grey Wagtail and a
Sparrowhawk are also in South Nesting and there are 7 Goldcrests and
a Chiffchaff at Eswick.
The American Coot is still at Loch of Clickimin. A Siskin and 7
Greenfinches are in Helendale. A first winter Iceland Gull is at
the Shetland Catch.
The Little Egret is at Tingwall.
A Wheatear is at Baltasound.
A Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail are new on Foula and the
Green-winged Teal and the European White-fronted Goose are still
present.
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Nature in Shetland
