2004
Bird Sightings and Photos (November and December)
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Full details of Fair Isle sightings are on the
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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.
Friday 31st December 2004
A Black-bellied Dipper at Burrafirth is the first recorded on Unst.
A female Bullfinch is at West Sandwick on Yell.
Thursday 30th December 2004
The Dark-breasted Barn Owl is still at Reawick.
The small Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie, along with the
16 Barnacle Geese, and a Sanderling is at Pool of Virkie.
A Long-eared Owl is at Helendale and there are still at least 2 female
Bullfinches at Sound.
There are 2 Glaucous Gulls at Westing on Unst.
Wednesday 29th December 2004
The Dark-breasted Barn Owl is still at Reawick.
The Dunnock is still at Sletts Park, Lerwick, and there are still at
least 2 female Bullfinches at Sound.
- Tuesday 28th December 2004
There are 2 Greenfinches at Sandgarth, Voe.
Sunday 26th December 2004
- A Greenfinch and a Redwing are at Sandgarth, Voe, there are
still 4 Redwings on Trondra and 2 Greenfinches at Baltasound. A
female Bullfinch is in the Staney Hill district of Lerwick.
Saturday 25th December 2004
- A Merry Christmas to all our readers and contributors.
It's snowing in Liverpool, and the fact that I know this may tell you why
updates will be erratic for a while!
A Bullfinch and 5 Snow Buntings are at Sandgarth, Voe, and
there are 4 Redwings on Trondra. A Goldcrest in Lerwick is
unusual for this time of year.
An unseasonable Wood Pigeon is at West Sandwick, Yell, and there are
2 Greenfinches at Baltasound.
Friday 24th December 2004
The Dark-breasted Barn Owl has been relocated at Reawick.
There are 346 Greylag Geese, 14 Skylarks and a flock 300
House Sparrows at Sandwick.
A male Bullfinch is at Sandgarth, Voe, and 2 Greenfinches on
Trondra.
A Robin and 2 Greenfinches are at Baltasound.
Thursday 23rd December 2004
A Dunnock is at Sletts Park in Lerwick.
Wednesday 22nd December 2004
A Hen Harrier is at Sand Water.
A flock of 12 Snow Buntings is at Oxensetter, Northmavine.
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- Tuesday 21st December 2004
There are 2 Bullfinches and 8 Greenfinches in Lerwick.
Monday 20th December 2004
There are at least 3 Bullfinches and 3 Greenfinches in Lerwick.
An unseasonable Oystercatcher is at Burravoe, Yell.
- Sunday 19th December 2004
The American Wigeon is still at Hillwell, and the small Canada
Goose, the Ruddy Duck, 2 Shovelers, 16 Barnacle Geese,
a Little Grebe and a Grey Plover are at Loch of Spiggie.
Two female Bullfinches and 2 Greenfinches are at still Sound in
Lerwick.
There are 2 Greenfinches and a Chaffinch still at Baltasound.
A male Hen Harrier is at Haroldswick and an adult Glaucous Gull
is at Burrafirth.
- There was no sign of the Barn Owl.
- Saturday 18th December 2004
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- Barn Owl - Bob Cree-Hay
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- A Dark-breasted Barn Owl, quite possibly the bird from earlier in the
autumn which was seen on Bressay, in Lerwick and at Tingwall, was in a barn at
Reawick in west Mainland.
There are 3 Shovelers on Loch of Spiggie and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits
still at Pool of Virkie.
A female Bullfinches and 2 Greenfinches are
at Sound in Lerwick.
There are 2 Greenfinches and a Chaffinch at Baltasound and 6
Fieldfares at Muness. One of the Saker x Gyr hybrids is at
Baltasound.
A Song Thrush is on Fetlar. There are 2 Bullfinches at Burravoe,
Yell.
Thursday 16th December 2004
There are 3 Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth, 2 female Bullfinches
at Upper Sound in Lerwick and Red-throated Divers at Grutness and
Bigton.
Wednesday 15th December 2004
A Goosander is in the East Voe of Scalloway and there are 5
Greenfinches at Sletts Park, Lerwick.
Tuesday 14th December 2004
There are 4 Bullfinches at Sound, Lerwick, and a Greenfinch at
Sandgarth, Voe. There are 2 1st winter Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth.
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- Monday 13th December 2004
- There are 3 Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth, an adult, a 2nd winter
and a 1st winter.
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- Two Sparrowhawks are still roosting at Collafirth in Northmavine.
Sunday 12th December 2004
Small race Canada Goose -
Roger
Riddington
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston.
The Lesser Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie, along with 16
Barnacle Geese, the Ruddy Duck and a Shoveler. The male American Wigeon
is still at Loch of Hillwell, along with a Little Grebe. A Jack Snipe
and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Pool of Virkie. There are 9
Woodcocks at Geosetter.
A Red-throated Diver on Loch of Tingwall is unusual for the time of
year. There are 37 Knots at Strand and 43 Red-breasted Mergansers
at Catfirth.
- There are 2 Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth.
Saturday 11th December 2004
The Lesser Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie, along with 16
Barnacle Geese and 29 Whooper Swans, the male American Wigeon
is still at Loch of Hillwell, along with a Little Grebe and 15 Whooper
Swans, and there are 45 Dunlins at Pool of Virkie.
There are 3 female Bullfinches at Busta House and one at Sound,
Lerwick. There are 4 Greenfinches at Sletts Park, Lerwick.There
are 5 Woodcocks at Catfirth and 5 Kergord and Upper Kergord. Two
Bullfinches are in Helendale.
There are 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adults and a 1st winter) at Burrafirth.
Thursday 9th December 2004
There are 3 female Bullfinches at Oxensetter, Northmavine, and 32
Snow Buntings and 29 Ringed Plovers at Sandwick. A 1st winter
Glaucous Gull is at Maryfield, Bressay. A Grey Wagtail is at Staney
Hill, Lerwick.
Wednesday 8th December 2004
A Greenfinch is at Baltasound and a Fieldfare is at Sandgarth, Voe.
Tuesday 7th December 2004
A female Bullfinch is Sletts Park, Lerwick.
Monday 6th December 2004
There are 2 Greenfinches at Sandgarth, Voe, and 3 at Sletts Park,
Lerwick.
Sunday 5th December 2004
One of the Saker x Gyr hybrids is at Strand, along with 17 Knots,
there are 91 Teals and a Scaup at Grunna Water, South Nesting, and
the 3 Pochards are still on Loch of Tingwall, along with a Little
Grebe.
The Hen Harrier is still on Unst, at Uyeasound, where there are also
47 Whooper Swans, 88 Tufted Ducks, 85 Goldeneyes and 22
Snow Buntings.
Saturday 4th December 2004
The American Coot is still on Loch of Benston, along with a
Slavonian Grebe. There are 17 Knots at Strand and 3 Pochards
and 2 Scaups on Loch of Tingwall. At Loch of Clickimin there are 84
Tufted Ducks, a Scaup and a Chiffchaff.
Thursday 2nd December 2004
The male American Wigeon is at Loch of Hillwell, the Ruddy Duck
is at Loch of Brow and the Lesser Canada Goose, 17 Barnacle Geese
and 69 Whooper Swans are at Loch of Spiggie. There are still 4
Bar-tailed Godwits at Pool of Virkie and there are 11 Snow Buntings
and 2 Robins at Sumburgh.
On Loch of Clickimin there are 76 Tufted Ducks, 20 Whooper Swans,
a Coot and a Scaup, while 2 Waxwings, 2 male Bullfinches
and a male Chaffinch are at Helendale.
The Water Rail and the Brambling are still at Sandgarth, Voe.
The ringtail Hen Harrier is still on Unst, between Baltasound and
Haroldswick.
One of the Saker x Gyr hybrids is still at Ollaberry.
Wednesday 1st December 2004
A male Blackcap and 12 Snow Buntings are at Hoswick and 4
Bullfinches are at Sandgarth, Voe.
A ringtail Hen Harrier is at Uyeasound on Unst and a Peregrine
is at Baltasound.
Tuesday 30th November 2004
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston.
A Grey Wagtail is in Bank Lane, Lerwick.
An adult Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth and there at least 7
Bullfinches on Unst.
Monday 29th November 2004
There are 4 Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth (2 adults, a 1st winter and a
2nd winter), 3 Bullfinches at Norwick and a Little Grebe at
Baltasound.
A Greenfinch and a Brambling are at Sandgarth, Voe.
Sunday 28th November 2004
American Coot at Benston (with Wigeon) -
Paul Sclater
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston.
At least 4 Bullfinches and the Sparrowhawk are still on Unst,
while there are 44 Whooper Swans at Uyeasound.
Saturday 27th November 2004
The American Wigeon is still at Loch of Hillwell, while there are 2
Peregrines at Fitful Head and there are 80 Whooper Swans at either
Spiggie or Hillwell.
A Sparrowhawk and 2 Greenfinches are at Baltasound.
Friday 26th November 2004
A 1st winter Glaucous Gull is in Brei Wick in Lerwick and a Waxwing
is also there, near the Police station.
A Sparrowhawk is at Collafirth in Northmavine and a Bullfinch
is at Busta.
The Carrion Crow is still at Baltasound and there are still 2
Bullfinches at Norwick.
Thursday 25th November 2004
Bullfinches at Norwick - Micky Maher
There are at least 8 Bullfinches still on Unst along with a Waxwing
at Norwick and 3 Common Redpolls at Baltasound.
A Chiffchaff is at Twageos, Lerwick.
Wednesday 24th November 2004
There are 3 Glaucous Gulls (a 1st winter, a 2nd winter and an adult)
at Burrafirth on Unst and the 4 Bullfinches are still at Norwick.
There are 30 Snow Buntings at Scatness.
The Water Rail is still at Sandgarth, Voe.
Tuesday 23rd November 2004
Northern Bullfinch at Norwick -
Micky Maher
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston.
There are 9 Greenfinches, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Woodcocks and
a Bullfinch on Trondra.
There are 4 Bullfinches at Norwick on Unst.
A female Bullfinch is on Out Skerries, suggesting that a few new
immigrants are arriving.
Monday 22nd November 2004
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston.
One of the Saker x Gyr Falcons is back in Northmavine.
A Bullfinch is at Northdale, Unst.
Sunday 21st November 2004
The Lesser Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie
(where it has actually been since the 9th), while the Ruddy Duck and 2
Shovelers are still there. The male American Wigeon is still at Loch
of Hillwell and the Common Scoter and the male Green-winged Teal
are still at Scatness, while there are
43 Whooper Swans at Spiggie, 24 at Hillwell and 9 at Scatness. There are
100 Twites at Sandwick and a female Bullfinch at Bigton.
There are 3 Little Auks in Bressay Sound. On Bressay, there are 4
Bullfinches, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests and a Water Rail. There are 3 Greenfinches at Sandgarth, Voe.
A male Goosander is at Bridge of Walls.
A 1st winter Glaucous Gull is at Uyeasound.
Saturday 20th November 2004
The American Coot is still at Loch of Benston. Is it the bird from
Iceland? It disappeared 3 days before this bird turned up.
There are 228 Greylag Geese, 2 European White-fronted Geese, 2
Pink-footed Geese, a female Common Scoter and 41 Snow Buntings
at Scatness.
A male Bullfinch is in Voe.
Friday 19th November 2004
There are 4 Pink-footed Geese, 215 Greylag Geese, a 1st winter
Glaucous Gull and 16 Snow Buntings at Scatness.
A Water Rail and a male Bullfinch are at Sandgarth, Voe.
Thursday 18th November 2004
There is a Blackcap and 10 Redwings at Norwick and 30
Redwings and 2 Song Thrushes at Baltasound.
A flock of 6 Bullfinches is at Laxo.
Tuesday 16th November 2004
partial albino female Wigeon at Sandness, apparently in its third winter
here - Steve Minton
The American Coot is still on Loch of Benston.
The Lesser Canada Goose, the Ruddy Duck, a first-winter
Iceland Gull and 2 Slavonian Grebes are at Loch of Spiggie along with
an albino Greylag Goose which has been around for a few weeks. The male
American Wigeon and 2 Gadwalls are at Loch of Hillwell.
Another first-winter Iceland Gull is at the Shetland Catch in Lerwick. There are 2 Waxwings and a male Bullfinch at Nesbister,
Whiteness. There are 7 Woodcocks in West Burrafirth plantation.
A male Black Redstart is at Baltasound. There are 98 Goldeneyes,
70 Tufted Ducks, 43 Whooper Swans and 39 Wigeons at Easter
Loch, Uyeasound.
Monday 15th November 2004
There are 3 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap still around Hoswick and
Sandwick. A flock of 16 Knots is at Strand.
Sunday 14th November 2004
The small Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie, along with 5
Shovelers. There are 6 Snow Buntings at Bigton.
A flock of 16 Knots is at Strand.
The Bluethroat is still at Sullom.
An adult Iceland Gull, 7 Knots and a male Pochard at at
Beosetter, Bressay.
The Emperor Goose is still at Baltasound.
Saturday 13th November 2004
An American Coot is at Loch of Benston, Nesting. There must be a
chance that this is the returning bird from last winter and it will be
interesting to see if it relocates to Clickimin. Interestingly though, the bird
that was in Iceland was last seen on 10th November.
The small Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie (it was first seen
here on 9th), and there
is also a Richard's Pipit at Loch of Spiggie, while the Ruddy Duck
is still there.
A male Red-spotted Bluethroat is in a garden at Sullom, the latest
ever in Shetland, and a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, also extremely
late, is also present and has probably been present since 5th,
Also in Dunrossness there is a first-winter Glaucous Gull, 4
Bar-tailed Godwits and 50 Snow Buntings at Virkie, the male
American Wigeon and 7 Coots at Loch of Hilllwell, the Green-winged
Teal at Scatness, and a Chiffchaff,
1000 Golden Plovers and 2 Grey Plovers at Boddam.
On Unst, an Emperor Goose is in fields by Halligarth; it is presumably
an escape as it breeds in either side of the Bering Straits and is common in
captivity. There were just 5 Bullfinches found in north Unst.
A Waxwing and 3 Greenfinches are at Sandgarth, Voe, and there
are 3 Waxwings at the Sletts, Lerwick.
Thursday 11th November 2004
A Waxwing is at Sandgarth, Voe, and there are still 2 at the Sletts,
Lerwick. A female Sparrowhawk is still at Collafirth, Northmavine. Only
odd records of 1-2 Bullfinches at at least 6 sites.
Wednesday 10th November 2004
Water Rail at Oxensetter - Stan Brown
A large dark falcon, probably a Saker x Gyr and possibly the bird that
has been present since August, was at Belmont, Unst, this afternoon. There are
54 Whooper Swans at Easter Loch, Uyeasound, the highest count since 1992,
along with 84 Goldeneyes and 52 Tufted Ducks.
There are 2 Waxwings at Sletts, Lerwick, along with
a male Bullfinch; have most of the Bullfinches moved on now? There are 30
Snow Buntings at Dalsetter and 120 at Levenwick. A Water Rail
is at Oxensetter, Northmavine.
A Hoopoe is at Funzie, Fetlar; it equals the latest ever Shetland
record.
Tuesday 9th November 2004
The small Canada Goose has moved to Loch of Spiggie.
A Waxwing and a Blackcap are at Sletts,
Lerwick, there are 8 Bramblings and 3 Greenfinches at Sandgarth,
Voe, and a Waxwing is at Collafirth, Northmavine. There are 3
Slavonian Grebes on Loch of Spiggie. A Waxwing is at Baltasound.
On Foula, there were 10 Whooper Swans, 60+ Greylag Geese, a
Water Rail, a Robin and a Dunnock.
Monday 8th November 2004
A Hawfinch is at Scatness and the Green-winged Teal
and 2 Gadwalls are still there.
A Black Redstart and a Water Rail are at
Baltasound and a Long-eared Owl and a Water Rail are at Norwick.
There is just one Waxwing left at Sletts Park,
Lerwick, and 19 Knots are at the Knab.
On Foula there were 10 Whooper Swans, 68 Greylag Geese, 3
Wigeons, 15 Teals, 23 Mallards, 7 Goldeneyes, c 35
Golden Plovers, 8+ Lapwings, 3+ Purple Sandpipers, a Jack
Snipe, a Wood Pigeon, at least 2 Meadow Pipits, 40+
Blackbirds, 20+ Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes, 30+ Redwings,
3 Chaffinches, a Brambling, 18 Twites and 15+ Snow
Buntings.
Sunday 7th November 2004
The Green-winged Teal
and a male Gadwall are still at Scatness. The American Wigeon is
at Loch of Hillwell, along with a Carrion Crow. The Ruddy Duck is
on Loch of Spiggie. There are still 2
Bar-tailed Godwits and a Knot at Pool of Virkie.
A Grey Wagtail is at Tingwall and a Hen Harrier is at Catfirth.
There are 4 Waxwings and 6 Greenfinches at Sletts Park, Lerwick.
There are 2 Barnacle Geese at Eshaness.
A Black Redstart is at Norwick on Unst.
A Stock Dove and 2 Waxwings are at Ham, Bressay.
On Foula there were 10 Whooper Swans, 56 Greylag Geese, 3
Wigeons, 20 Teals, c15 Mallards, 3+ Goldeneyes, 4
Ringed Plovers (which were a surprise and the first since 22 October), c150
Herring Gulls, a first-winter Glaucous Gull, c 200 Greater
Black-backs, a Robin, a Chaffinch and 2 Bullfinches.
Saturday 6th November 2004
Small race Canada Goose -
Roger
Riddington
A small race Canada Goose (probably Taverner's Canada Goose) is at
Scatness, along with a male Green-winged Teal, the American Wigeon
and 2 Gadwalls.
A Black-bellied Dipper is at Ham, Bressay, where there are also 2
Stock Doves, while a Black Redstart is at Mail on Bressay.
A very late Hobby which has roosted at Sullom plantation for the last
four nights was seen again.
On Unst, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Waxwing are at Baltasound,
the 2 Reed Buntings are still at Skaw and there are at least 24
Bullfinches on the island.
On Foula there were 10 Whooper Swans, 95 Greylag Geese, 8
Wigeons, 25 Teals, 20 Mallards, 7 Goldeneye, the Ham
Water Rail, a Moorhen, 16 Lapwings, 7 Purple Sandpipers,
a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock, a Wood Pigeon, a Dunnock,
2 Robins, 80+ Blackbirds, 60+ Fieldfares, 3 Song
Thrushes, 100+ Redwings, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a
Chaffinch, a Brambling, 5 Twites, 6 Bullfinches, 7
Snow Buntings and a Reed Bunting.
Friday 5th November 2004
A Ruddy Duck is at Loch of Brow.
A Ring Ouzel is in a garden at Westerloch, Lerwick.
There are 10 Bullfinches, 3 Greenfinches and 3 Blackcaps
at Sandgarth, Voe.
There were few observations on Foula but the following were noted: 7
Whooper Swans, c 70 Greylag Geese, 3 Wigeons, c 10 Teals,
16 Mallards, at least 4 Goldeneyes, a Water Rail (this one
at Ham and there was another yesterday at Braidfit – both have probably been
present for a while), c 40 Golden Plovers, at least 4 Purple
Sandpipers and c 100 Snow Buntings.
Thursday 4th November 2004
The American Wigeon has
moved to Scatness.
On Unst, there are 4
Long-eared Owls and a Chiffchaff at Northdale, a Black Redstart
at Haroldswick, a Wood Pigeon and a Blackcap at Norwick, 2 Reed
Buntings and a Blackcap at Skaw and a slight increase to 22
Bullfinches. A ringtail Hen Harrier and a large dark falcon were at
Skaw.
There are 4 Scaups and a
Coot are on Loch of Clickimin, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps
at Helendale, 8 Waxwings at Sletts Park in Lerwick and a Greenfinch
and a Stock Dove
at East Ham, Bressay.
On Foula, there were 10
Whooper Swans, c 220 Greylag Geese, 5 Wigeons, 20 Teals,
20 Mallards, 7 Goldeneyes, a Merlin, 2 Moorhens, 3
Golden Plovers, 14 Lapwings, 3 Jack Snipes, a Woodcock,
4 Curlew, a Waxwing, 2 Robins, 80+ Blackbirds, 150+
Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrushes, 150+ Redwings, 4 Goldcrests,
a Greenfinch, 18 Twites, 4 Bullfinches and a Snow
Bunting.
Wednesday 3rd November 2004
The Great Grey Shrike is still at Norwick, a Long-eared Owl is
at Northdale on Unst and a Reed Bunting is at Skaw.
There are 8 Waxwings and 10 Greenfinches at Sletts Park,
Lerwick, 8 Waxwings and a Black Redstart at Burnside, Lerwick, and a Coot is at Loch of Spiggie.
On Foula observations were limited but there were 7 Whooper Swans, c
180 Greylag Geese, 2 Wigeons, c 20 Teals, c 15 Mallards,
3 Goldeneyes, 6 Lapwings, 4 Purple Sandpipers, a Wood
Pigeon, a Waxwing, 2 Blackcaps, a Goldcrest, a
Bullfinch and 10+ Snow Buntings.
Tuesday 2nd November 2004
A male American Wigeon has returned to Loch of
Hillwell.
A Great Grey Shrike is at Norwick and a Grey Wagtail is at
Baltasound.
There are still 7 Waxwings at Sletts Park, Lerwick, along with 10
Greenfinches.
Numbers of Bullfinches continue to decline, but there were at least 18
on Unst and 8 at Sandgarth, Voe.
On Foula there were 7 Whooper Swans, c 200 Greylag Geese, 4
Wigeons, c 25 Mallards, 7 Goldeneyes, a Water Rail, 5
Lapwings, 7 Purple Sandpipers, a Woodcock, 3 Curlews,
a Robin, 50+ Blackbirds, 50+ Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes,
50+ Redwings, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinches
and c30 Snow Buntings.
Monday 1st November 2004
A very late Reed Warbler is at South Collafirth, north Mainland.
The Turtle Dove is still at Baltasound.
A Black Redstart is at Mail, Bressay, and there are 100 Snow
Buntings at Ham.
On Foula there was a late Lesser Whitethroat as well as 7 Whooper
Swans, c 230 Greylag Geese, 5 Wigeons, c 10 Teals, c 20
Mallards, c 300 Eiders, 6 Goldeneyes, 7 Lapwings, 2
Purple Sandpipers, 6 Robins, 100+ Blackbirds, 200+
Fieldfares, 300+ Redwings, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest,
a Bullfinch and c30 Snow Buntings.
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Nature in Shetland
