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Shetland Bird Club
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2004 Bird Sightings and Photos
(September)
Send in your news.
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.
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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.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE BROWN
SHRIKE IN THE HAND AND IN THE FIELD
Thursday 30th September 2004
A Rustic Bunting is on Out Skerries along with a Siberian Stonechat,
4 Bluethroats, a Barred Warbler a Yellow-browed Warbler and the Short-toed Lark.
Other migrants included a Pink-footed Goose, 5 Teals, a Hen
Harrier, 2 Jack Snipes, a Purple Sandpiper, 3 Wood Pigeons,
2 Swallows, a Tree Pipit, 4 Robins, a Common Redstart,
6 Fieldfares, 5 Redwings, 5 Song Thrushes, a Chiffchaff,
9 Goldcrests, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Brambling, 3
Greenfinches and a Lapland Bunting.
A Great Snipe was reported to have been flushed at Boddam in the
morning. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Sandgarth, Voe, and the Honey
Buzzard is still in Helendale in Lerwick. A Red-breasted Flycatcher
is at Geosetter and a Short-eared Owl is at Maywick.
An injured Nightjar was picked up at Cullivoe on Yell.
A Barred Warbler is at Baltasound and a male western Stonechat
is at Burrafirth.
On Foula there was a Grey Heron, 23 Teals, 3 Mallards, 2
Red-Breasted Mergansers, the adult male Peregrine, 3 Moorhens
(an adult and 2 juvs), 2 Dunlins, 4 Jack Snipes, the Bar-tailed
Godwit, 13 Curlews, a first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, a
Turtle Dove, a Short-eared Owl, the Grey Wagtail, 2
White Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, 13+ Wheatears, a Fieldfare,
2 Song Thrushes, 25 Redwings, a Lesser Whitethroat, a
Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests,
2 Brambling, 10 Common Redpolls, the Arctic Redpoll, 4
Lapland Buntings and 50 Snow Buntings.
Rustic Bunting, Siberian Stonechat, Bluethroat and Pink-footed Goose on
Out Skerries - Michael McKee
Wednesday 29th September 2004
On Foula the bird of the day was an Arctic Redpoll of the
hornemanni race which was in the company of 5 Common Redpolls of
Iceland/Greenland origin.
Also present on Foula were the Slavonian Grebe, 25 Greylag Geese,
7 Wigeons, 10 Teals, 6 Mallards, 200+ Eiders, 2
Red-breasted Mergansers, the adult female Merlin, a Corncrake,
an adult Moorhen, 2 Ringed Plovers, 152 Golden Plovers, 35
Lapwings, a Purple Sandpiper, 3 Dunlins, 3 Jack Snipes,
62 Snipes, 14 Curlews, a Common Gull, 2 White Wagtails,
3 Pied Wagtails, a Whinchat, 11 Wheatears, a Fieldfare,
4 Redwings, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Chiffchaff, 2 new
Willow Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, 2 Bramblings, 65 Twites,
the 2 Common Rosefinches, 17 Lapland Buntings and 125 Snow
Buntings. It was also noted that 2 Ravens headed east out over the
sea towards the Mainland till lost to sight and also 45 Starlings were
seen to set off SE at some height over the sea from the north of the island.
A Short-toed Lark was the highlight of the day on Out Skerries where
it was found at the end of the airfield. Other migrants there included 6
Greylag Geese, a Turtle Dove, 9 Skylarks, 2 Wrens, a
Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 2 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 2
Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 6 Twites and 135 Snow Buntings.
The Citrine Wagtail is still on Whalsay at Symbister and there is a
Yellow-browed Warbler and a Grey Plover also on the island.
A Pectoral Sandpiper has been reported from Scatness. There are Red-breasted Flycatchers in Lerwick and at Sumburgh Head, a Bluethroat at
Channerwick and Yellow-browed Warblers at Geosetter, Toab and
Boddam. A Carrion Crow is with 56 Hooded Crows at Sandwick and a
Little Stint is with 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie.
A Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Scatsta and there are 6
Yellow-browed Warblers in north Mainland at Busta, Collafirth (2), Leon,
Ollaberry and Heylor. There are 15 Common Redpolls at Sandgarth, Voe, and
a few elsewhere in north Mainland.
On Unst, there are 5 Common Redpolls at Skaw, a Common Redstart
at Northdale, a Red-necked Grebe and the Little Stint at
Baltasound and a Scaup at Uyeasound.
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Arctic Redpoll on Foula - Paul Wright; Short-toed Lark on Out Skerries (3
photos) - Michael McKee
Tuesday 28th September 2004
The Common Rosefinch is still at Norwick, along with the Marsh Warbler,
which was trapped and proved to be the bird ringed on 4th September (!). A
Sparrowhawk is at Baltasound.
Birds on Foula included the Slavonian Grebe, 32 Pink-footed Geese,
20 Greylag Geese, a Brent Goose (probably pale bellied), 6
Teals, 5 Mallards, the 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, the
Merlin (thought to be an adult female), a Chiffchaff, a Willow
Warbler, 3 Goldcrests, 5 Common Redpolls, 2 Common
Rosefinches, 3 Lapland Buntings and at least 75 Snow Buntings.
The numbers of Wheatears and Meadow Pipits appear to be down from
yesterday.
A Common Redstart, a Wood Pigeon and 293 Greylag Geese
are at Sandwick.
On Out Skerries, new migrants included 7 Pink-footed Geese, 23
Greylag Geese, a Merlin, a Lapwing, 6 Purple Sandpipers,
a Wren and a Goldcrest, the Pale-bellied Brent Goose, the
Swallow and 2 Lapland Buntings are still present and there were 18
Snow Buntings.
Lapland Bunting on Out Skerries -
Michael McKee
Monday 27th September 2004
The American Golden Plover has been relocated on Fetlar.
The Little Stint is still at Baltasound and the Common Rosefinch
is at Norwick, along with a Marsh Warbler. There are 10 Whooper Swans
at Uyeasound.
A Slavonian Grebe is on Loch of Clickimin.
New migrants on Out Skerries included 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a
Greylag Goose, a Turtle Dove and a Common Redpoll while the
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, the Swallow, 2 Lapland Buntings and
55 Snow Buntings are still present.
Birds on Foula included the Slavonian Grebe, a Grey Heron, 18
Pink-footed Goose, 35 Greylag Geese, (plus 130 unidentified grey
geese), 9 Teals, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Merlin, a
juvenile Moorhen, 3 Ringed Plovers, c 80 Golden Plovers, 10
Lapwings, 8 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Dunlins, a Ruff, 2
Jack Snipes, 100+ Snipes, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 10
Curlews, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 3 Kittiwakes,
2 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, c 40 Rock Doves, the Grey
Wagtail, 4 White Wagtails, the Pied Wagtail, c 25 Wheatears,
a Redwing, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests, 4 Common
Redpolls, 2 Common Rosefinches, 6 Lapland Buntings and 95
Snow Buntings.
Common Redpoll on Out Skerries -
Michael McKee
Sunday 26th September 2004
The juvenile Pallid Harrier is still on Trondra (photos below).
The
Citrine Wagtail is still at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay.
An eclipse male Mandarin Duck is at Sandness. A juvenile Little
Stint is at Houb of Scatsta.
A first-winter Grey Phalarope is on Out Skerries, with the
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, the Swallow and the Spotted Flycatcher
also there, while a juvenile Arctic Tern was seen offshore.
On Foula,
there were at least 28 Pink-footed Geese, one of the Slavonian Grebes,
the Tufted Duck, the Red-breasted Merganser, a Purple Sandpiper,
2 Dunlins, the Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-headed Gull, 3
Common Gulls, the Pied Wagtail and 4 Common Redpolls.
North-western Redpolls on Foula - Russell Wynn
Saturday 25th September 2004
A juvenile Pallid Harrier is on Trondra, having been seen hunting over the
centre of the island and at Burland. The Saker x Gyr Falcon hybrid is
also on Trondra. Another large falcon, also believed to be the Saker x Gyr
was at Ulsta, Yell, at dusk. It is clear that there are at least two large
falcons around, one slightly smaller and with paler underwings.
The
Citrine Wagtail is still at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay, near the
ferry terminal, but there was no sign of the Brown Shrike today.
A Barred Warbler is at Easting beach, Sandwick, Unst, with 5 Arctic
Terns also there.
There are also Barred Warblers still at Sandgarth, Voe, and at Upper
Sound, Lerwick. There are still 12 Swallows at Quendale.
On Out Skerries, a Teal was new and there are 25 Golden Plovers,
2 Purple Sandpipers and 35 Snow Buntings.
On Foula, there were 2 Slavonian Grebes, c 120 Pink-footed Geese,
2 Wigeons, a Tufted Duck, a Red-breasted Merganser, 8
Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlins, a Ruff, a Jack Snipe, 6
Curlews, a Common Gull (the first this month), 9 Kittiwakes,
the Grey Wagtail, 3 White Wagtails, the Pied Wagtail, c 20
Wheatears, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrests, a Common
Rosefinch, 3 Common Redpolls
and 5 Lapland Buntings.
A Grey Plover and a Little Stint are at Scatness.
Slavonian Grebe on Foula - Tony Mainwood; Pallid Harrier (two photos) -
Hugh Harrop; Gyr x
Saker -
Hugh Harrop
Friday 24th September 2004
The Brown Shrike has been relocated at Skaw, Whalsay, and the
first-winter
Citrine Wagtail is still at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay.
There are Little Stints at Boddam and Virkie, 196 Greylag Geese
at Sandwick, 234 Curlews and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Virkie and a
Carrion Crow and 136 Wigeons at Hillwell.
The Wryneck is still at Firth.
Another Little Stint is at Baltasound.
Birds on Foula included the Grey Heron, c 150 Pink-footed Geese,
8 Greylag Geese, a Long-tailed Duck, a Red-breasted Merganser,
the adult male Peregrine Falcon, 7 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Dunlins,
a Ruff, 2 Jack Snipes, the Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Curlews,
6 Kittiwakes, c 20 Guillemots, 20 Razorbills, the Grey
Wagtail, 2 White Wagtails, the Pied Wagtail, c 20 Wheatears,
2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 4
Goldcrests, 2 Common Redpolls, a Lapland Bunting and c 160
Snow Buntings.
On Out Skerries, the Pale-bellied Brent Goose is still in West Voe and
the Swallow was there again briefly while. other birds of note were 23
Golden Plovers, 3 Purple Sandpipers, a Black-headed Gull, a
Goldcrest, 2 Lapland Buntings and 9 Snow Buntings.
Little Stint at Virkie - Roger
Riddington
Thursday 23rd September 2004
The
Citrine Wagtail is still at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay, near the
ferry terminal, but there was no sign of the Brown Shrike today.
There are 3 Grey Plovers, an adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose and
c. 200 Curlews at Scatness, 5 Arctic Terns and 4 Common Terns
at either Virkie or Scousburgh, a Slavonian Grebe at Brow, a Ruff
at Hillwell and c 250 Skylarks around the Ness in general. A Kestrel
is at Brettabsiter, Nesting.
The only birds of note on Out Skerries were a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in
West Voe and a Swallow.
A Bluethroat is still at Baltasound.
Among the birds on Foula were a Grey Heron, 3 Teals, an adult
Peregrine Falcon, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2
Kittiwakes, 15 Guillemots, a Razorbill, 5 Swallows, the
Grey Wagtail, 4 White Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, 2 Willow
Warblers, 2 Common Redpolls and 7 Lapland Buntings.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese - left Russell Wynn; right
Michael McKee
Wednesday 22nd September 2004
The adult Brown Shrike is still at Skaw, Whalsay, but is very elusive
and moving around the area between the plantation and the golf course (the claim
on Birdguides that it was seen to eat a vole requires confirmation - any vole
would be a first for Shetland, whereas Brown Shrike is 'only' the third for the
islands :-) ). The
Citrine Wagtail is still at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay, near the ferry
terminal.
There are 2 Snow Buntings, a Ruff,
8 Knots and 2 Grey Plover at Scatness.
A Bluethroat is still at Baltasound.
Birds on Foula today included a Grey Heron, 5 Greylag Geese, 3
Wigeons, 3 Teals, a Merlin, the Peregrine Falcon, 15
Ringed Plovers, 2 Knots, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Dunlins,
a Jack Snipe, a first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, an Arctic Tern, a Guillemot, 8 Swallows,
3 White Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, c 15 Wheatears, a
Common Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 6
Goldcrests, 2 Common Redpolls (both of Iceland/Greenland origin), 8
Lapland Buntings, c 100 Snow Buntings and 2 Reed Buntings.
The only new migrant on Out Skerries was a Goldcrest with the Knot,
the House Martin, the Lesser Whitethroat and the Spotted
Flycatcher still present.
Tuesday 21st September 2004
The adult Brown Shrike was still at Skaw, Whalsay, in the morning but
became elusive in the afternoon and could not be found in the evening. A
Citrine Wagtail is at the pools at Symbister on Whalsay, near the ferry
terminal.
The Booted Warbler is still at Baltasound along with 2 Common Rosefinches and
a Bluethroat and another Common Rosefinch is at Norwick, while the
Barred Warbler is still at Northdale. There are 2 Grey Plovers at
Easting beach on Unst and another at Baltasound.
A juvenile Dotterel is on Out Skerries, feeding near the edge of the
cliff top on North Hill. Also new today were 2 Wrens and 2
Twites, the Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher are both
still present and there are now 35 Snow Buntings.
Birds seen on Foula today included a 'blue' Fulmar, 5 Pink-footed
Geese, 2 Wigeons, 2 Teals, a Mallard, a Peregrine
Falcon,
11 Ringed Plovers, c 60 Golden Plovers, a Purple Sandpiper,
6 Dunlins, 3 Ruffs, 2 Jack Snipes, a Bar-tailed Godwit,
8 Curlews, 10+ Redshanks, 2+ Swallows, 2 'alba' Wagtails,
c 15 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Willow
Warbler, 6 Goldcrests, a Common Redpoll (probably of
Iceland/Greenland origin), 3 Lapland Buntings, c 140 Snow Buntings
and a Reed Bunting.
The Wryneck is still at Firth. At Sandgarth, Voe, there are 2
Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, a Garden
Warbler, a Barred Warbler and a Reed Warbler. A Kestrel
is at Sumburgh.
Juvenile Dotterel on Out Skerries -
Michael McKee
Monday 20th September 2004
An adult Brown Shrike has been trapped and ringed at Skaw, Whalsay. It
is the fourth for Britain following singles in Shetland, at Sumburgh in
September 1985 and on Fair Isle in October 2000, and another in Scilly in 2001.
Brown Shrike - in the hand John Laurie Irvine;
in the field (taken on 22nd Sept) Hugh
Harrop
A Booted Warbler is at Baltasound along with 2 Bluethroats, a Common Rosefinch,
a Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Carrion Crows, while the Barred
Warbler is at Northdale and another Common Rosefinch is at Norwick.
An American Golden Plover is on Fetlar.
On Foula there are 12 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Wigeons, 6 Ringed
Plovers, a Purple Sandpiper, 5 Dunlins, a Ruff, a
Bar-tailed Godwit, at least 35 Turnstones, 9 Black-headed Gulls
(the first seen this month), the 5 Swallows, a White Wagtail, 4
Wheatears, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrests,
8 Snow Buntings and a Reed Bunting.
There were a few new migrants on Out Skerries with a Knot, a Dunlin,
3 Skylarks, a House Martin, a Song Thrush, a Lesser
Whitethroat and a Lapland Bunting, while the Spotted Flycatcher
and Chiffchaff are still about.
Sunday 19th September 2004
There are 2 Common Rosefinches and a Chaffinch at Baltasound
and a Kestrel and 40 Snow Buntings at Skaw.
A shrike sp. was seen at Skaw, Whalsay, late in the evening.
The Yellow-browed Warbler is still at Scatness. A Common Rosefinch
is at Beosetter, Bressay.
There are 142 Wigeons and a Ruff at Loch of Benston with a
Goldeneye at Loch of Houlland.
On Out Skerries there was a Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a
Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Grey Herons and 17 Snow Buntings.
On Foula, there were 13 Pink-footed Geese, 4
Ringed Plovers, a Knot, 2 Dunlins, at least 2 Swallows,
3 'alba' Wagtails, a Pied Wagtail, at least 6 Wheatears and
a Goldcrest.
Saturday 18th September 2004
A Rose-coloured Starling is at Ham, Bressay, and a Slavonian Grebe
in Bressay Sound was seen from both Bressay and Lerwick.
A Barred Warbler is at Northdale, Unst.
The Yellow-browed Warbler is still at Scatness. There are 27
Pink-footed Geese, 2 Whinchats, a Willow Warbler and 3
Goldcrests at Sumburgh, a juvenile Little Stint at Grutness along
with 3 Common Terns and 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Knots and 3
Purple Sandpipers at Scatness, 160 Wigeons at Loch of Hillwell along
with a Pochard and 4 Ruffs, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at
Quendale and 119 Pink-footed Geese at Fleck.
On Foula, there are 30 Pink-footed Geese,
6 Wigeons, 3 Ringed Plovers, 80+ Golden Plovers, a Knot,
the 6 Swallows, the Grey Wagtail, 4 'alba' Wagtails, 6
Wheatears, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, the Wood Warbler,
a Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs and 15 Snow Buntings.
Thursday 17th September 2004
A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Scatness.
A flock of 48 Pink-footed Geese are at Quendale and there are also 28
at Spiggie and Ringasta. The Gyr x Saker hybrid was at Bigton. A
Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Grey Plovers are at Virkie.
The Honey Buzzard is still in Lerwick.
New on Foula today were a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a
Reed Bunting. Also present were c. 200 Pink-footed Geese, a
Moorhen, 10 Ringed Plovers, 80+ Golden Plovers, a Purple
Sandpiper, a Dunlin, 6 Curlews, 6 Swallows (a brood of
4 just fledged), the Grey Wagtail, 3 alba Wagtails, c. 10
Wheatears, the Wood Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow
Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, 50+ Twites and c. 80 Snow Buntings.
Yellow-browed Warbler - Steve Minton
Thursday 16th September 2004
An orange-bellied ringtail harrier sp. was seen in the evening at distance at
Veensgarth in the evening.
The Honey Buzzard is still in Lerwick and was at Helendale today.
A Yellow-browed Warbler is East Ham and a Common Rosefinch is
at Uphouse, both on Bressay.
A Wryneck is at Firth.
A Pied Flycatcher is at Baltasound and there are still 2 Snow
Buntings on Hermaness.
In two sea-watches off Sumburgh, a 'Blue' Fulmar and an adult
Arctic Skua were seen in the morning and a juvenile Pomarine Skua at
mid-day.
There are at least 250 Pink-footed Geese
and 3 Greylag Geese on Foula.
Wednesday 15th September 2004
A Barred Warbler is in Knab Road, Lerwick.
There are 50 Snow Buntings and 400 Golden Plovers at
Clibberswick, Unst, and 6 Snow Buntings on Hermaness.
Birds present on Foula include a Grey Heron, 5 Ringed Plovers,
4 Dunlins, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Curlews, 4 Swallows,
a Pied Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtails, a Common Redstart, 6+
Wheatears, a Garden Warbler, the Wood Warbler from before, a
Chiffchaff (a third apparently moulting adult), 4 Willow Warblers,
5 Goldcrests, 55+ Twites, a Lapland Bunting and 22 Snow
Buntings.
Tuesday 14th September 2004
There are 3 Common Rosefinches and the Wood Warbler at Norwick.
The Honey Buzzard is still in Lerwick and a ringtail harrier sp. flew over
Brindister.
There are 5 Snow Buntings at Brough, Bressay, and 2 Blackcaps
and a Pied Flycatcher at Uphouse.
The
juvenile Stonechat is still at Hoswick along with a Chaffinch, 7
Swallows and about 50 Twites, while a Whinchat is at
Sandwick.
On Foula, there are single Grey Heron and Greylag Goose, 5
Wigeons, 4 Ringed Plovers, a Wryneck, a Sand Martin, 3
Swallows, 4+ alba Wagtails, 20+ Wheatears, a Fieldfare,
3 Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a Wood Warbler, 3
Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 12 Goldcrests, 50+ Twites,
a Common Rosefinch, 3 Lapland Buntings and 10 Snow Buntings.
Monday 13th September 2004
A Citrine Wagtail is in the ditches at Tingwall airport. It is an
adult female but it is clearly different from the Spiggie bird.
A Wood Warbler is at Norwick and a Common Rosefinch is at
Northdale, Unst.
The Honey Buzzard is still at Lerwick.
On Foula, a Corncrake was the best find of
the day, and also present is a Grey Heron, 7 Wigeons, a
Red-breasted Merganser, a Moorhen, c.120 Golden Plovers, 27
Lapwings, 8 Curlews, 30+ Turnstones, a Sand Martin, 2+
Swallows, the Grey Wagtail, 4+ 'alba' Wagtails, c. 15
Wheatears, a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs,
2 Willow Warblers, 3 Goldcrests and a Common Rosefinch.
Citrine Wagtail (two photos) -
Micky Maher;
Citrine Wagtail (videograb) - Brydon Thomason; Corncrake -
Tony Mainwood
Sunday 12th September 2004
Four Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Sumburgh Head, both travelling
in pairs, the first two attacked by Great Skuas but eventually escaped.
The Gyr x Saker was at Black Gaet between Lerwick and Scalloway.
There are Blackcaps at Baltasound and Skaw and a the Kestrel is
still at Norwick.
On Foula, the Slavonian Grebe is still
present as well as 7 Wigeons, 6 Ringed Plovers, a Knot, a
Dunlin, 7 Curlews, 5 Guillemots offshore, a Sand Martin,
2 Swallows, the Grey Wagtail, 4+ 'alba' Wagtails, a
Garden Warbler, a Wood Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 5 Willow
Warblers, 2 Goldcrests and a Lapland Bunting. Late additions
were a Pintail, at least one Kestrel, a Common Rosefinch,
a further 2 Lapland Buntings and 2 Snow Buntings.
Saturday 11th September 2004
There are Common Rosefinches at Skaw and Norwick on
Unst but little else, apart from a Blackcap at Skaw and a Goldcrest
at Norwick and an unusual proportion of Pied Wagtails amongst the albas.
Around Sumburgh and Grutness there are 2 Sanderlings, a juvenile
Little Stint, 2 Whinchats, 2 Song Thrushes, 2
Blackcaps, 3 Garden Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a
Common Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, a
Spotted Flycatcher and 5 Pied Flycatchers. A Ruff,
a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel,
237 Curlews and a Common Sandpiper are at Pool of Virkie.
A juvenile
Stonechat and a Pied Flycatcher are at Hoswick, with a migrant
Swallow nearby at Swinister and at least 10 alba Wagtails in the
Sandwick area. Also 2 Long-eared Owls have been reported in Hoswick in
the evenings recently.
A Water Rail is at Sandgarth, Voe. A Pied
Flycatcher, a male Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a
Goldcrest are at Kergord.
Present
on Foula are the Slavonian Grebe, a Grey Heron, 5 Wigeons,
a Kestrel, 2 Swallows, a Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail,
a Pied Wagtail (that had been ringed in April), 4+ 'alba' Wagtails,
a Barred Warbler (one from a couple of days ago), a Common Whitethroat,
2 Garden Warblers, a Blackcap, a Wood Warbler (one of the
two from before), 2 Chiffchaffs (both adults from before), 5 Willow
Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, a Red-backed Shrike, 2 Common
Rosefinches and 3 Lapland Buntings.
Friday 10th September 2004
The Honey Buzzard is still in Lerwick, although it was also reported
over Gulberwick.
A Barred Warbler and a Common Rosefinch are on Out Skerries.
A Spotted Redshank flew over Spiggie and there are 38 Black-tailed
Godwits are at Pool of Virkie.
The juvenile Stonechat is still at Northdale, Unst.
A Blackcap and a Goldcrest are at Sandgarth, Voe.
On Foula, there is a Slavonian Grebe, 7 Wigeons, a Kestrel,
a Knot, a Dunlin, 2 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, 8+
'alba' wagtails, a Barred Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers, a
Blackcap, a Wood Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers,
2 Goldcrests, 35+ Twites, 2 Common Rosefinches and at least
3 Lapland Buntings.
Thursday 9th September 2004
A large falcon, in all cases assumed to be the Gyr x Saker, was seen
at North Collafirth in theday, then at Black Gaet at 17:30 and in Lerwick after
18:00. The Honey Buzzard is still in
Lerwick and has been seen almost daily since the weekend. A Kestrel is at
Ollaberry.
On Foula, there are 38 Lapwings, a juvenile Guillemot heard
offshore, 2 Swallows, 4+ White Wagtails, 20+ Wheatears, 2
Barred Warblers (both new), a Common Whitethroat (new), a
Garden Warbler (new), a Wood Warbler (from yesterday), 2
Chiffchaffs (the original adult and a new moulting adult), 2 Willow
Warblers (new) and 3 Goldcrests (2 new).
A Common Rosefinch is at Norwick.
Wednesday 8th September 2004
The Red-backed Shrike is still at Skaw on Unst, a juvenile
Stonechat is at Northdale and there are 4
Ruffs at Voesgarth.
On Foula, there are 3+ Swallows, a Sand Martin, 12+ alba
wagtails, the Reed Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 2 Wood
Warblers, the Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest,
40+ Twites and a Common Rosefinch.
Tuesday 7th September 2004
The Arctic Warbler is still at Norwick and one Yellow-breasted
Bunting is still at Skaw, Unst, along with
a Common Rosefinch and a Red-backed Shrike. The Turtle Dove
is still at Baltasound.
A first-winter Mediterranean Gull was at Scatness in the early evening
before flying off towards Fitful. A Kestrel is at Sumburgh.
On Foula, there were there are 4 Teals, a Merlin, 6+ alba
wagtails (mainly Whites), the Reed Warbler, one of the Barred
Warblers from a couple of days ago, 2 Garden Warblers, 2
Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest, and a Common
Rosefinch.
Common Rosefinch -
Micky Maher
Monday 6th September 2004
An Arctic Warbler is at Norwick, along with the Marsh Warbler,
and the 2 Yellow-breasted Buntings are still at Skaw, Unst, along with
the 2 Common Rosefinches.
A Greenish Warbler is at Ham, Bressay. The Honey Buzzard was
seen over Lerwick again in the morning.
A Citrine Wagtail is at Setter marsh, Spiggie. It is an adult female
and has been present since 30th August, but only conclusively identified today.
There are 4 Common Rosefinches on Fetlar.
The 2 Common Redpolls are still at Sandgarth, Voe.
On Foula, there are 2 Common Rosefinches, a Lapland Bunting, a
Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler, the Chiffchaff, a
Goldcrest, the Red-backed Shrike, 12+ White Wagtails and at
least 30 Wheatears (of which some were large and bright suggesting
Greenland race).
As to how all these migrants are arriving in a westerly ...
Yellow-breasted Buntings (two together on right) -
Micky Maher;
Citrine Wagtail at Spiggie - Roger
Riddington
Sunday 5th September 2004
There are 2 Yellow-breasted Buntings at Skaw, Unst, along with 2
Common Rosefinches and a Whinchat. Another Whinchat is at
Norwick and the Turtle Dove is still at Baltasound.
The Honey Buzzard was seen over Lerwick again in the morning. There are 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Knots and 4 Bar-tailed
Godwits at Pool of Virkie.
There are 2 Common Redpolls at Sandgarth, Voe, and 4 redpolls at
Voxter which include 2 juvenile Lessers.
On Foula there are 7 Wigeons, 14 Teals, at least 10 'alba'
wagtails (two of which were Pieds), the Reed Warbler, 4 Garden
Warblers, a Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Pied
Flycatchers, 30 Twites and 2 Common Rosefinches.
Yellow-breasted Bunting -
Micky Maher
Saturday 4th September 2004
A Honey Buzzard was seen flying over Noss at mid-day and was then seen
flying south over Ocraquoy before returning north to Lerwick where it was seen
several times in the evening.
New today on Foula were 2 Barred Warblers, an Icterine Warbler
and a Reed Warbler. There were also at least 3 Red-throated Divers
(including an adult and a juvenile at Luimiesheddon), 27 Lapwings, 4
Dunlins, a Ruff, 3 Swallows (local breeders), the Grey Wagtail,
2 White Wagtails, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, the
Pied Flycatcher, a Red-backed Shrike (presumably the same one from
a few days ago) and a Common Rosefinch (also presumably the same as a
couple of days ago).
On Unst, a Common Rosefinch is at Skaw, along with a Common
Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler, while an Icterine Warbler, a
Marsh Warbler and a Common Rosefinch are at Norwick.
There are 2 Barred Warblers on Fetlar.
A Shoveler and a Goldeneye are at Loch of
Spiggie, at Pool of Virkie there is a Greenshank and 4 Curlew
Sandpipers, there are 20 Knots at Grutness and 3 Common Swifts
at Ringasta, Quendale. A Whinchat is at Black Gaet, near Lerwick.
The eclipse male King Eider is with Common Eiders off Black Skerry,
Scalloway isles.
Icterine Warbler -
Micky Maher
Friday 3rd September 2004
The 'Saker' falcon which has been in Shetland over the last few weeks is in
fact a Gyr x Saker hybrid which has escaped from a collection in Dumfries-shire. There is a reward
in the increasingly unlikely event of its recapture, as it seems to be 'going
native'.
A Red-backed Shrike and a Common Rosefinch are on Fetlar.
On Foula the Chiffchaff and the Grey Wagtail are still present
together with 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers and about 60
Golden Plovers.
The Turtle Dove is still at Baltasound.
Thursday 2nd September 2004
A Barred Warbler is on Foula, along with 10 Teals, 23+
Ringed Plovers, 12+ Lapwings, 2 Sanderlings, 10 Purple
Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a Ruff, 15 Redshanks, the Grey
Wagtail, 4 White Wagtails, 3 Garden Warblers, 3 Willow
Warblers, the Pied Flycatcher and a Common Rosefinch.
A juvenile Stonechat at Quendale this evening still had plenty of down
and so must have been bred quite nearby.
A Barred Warbler is on Mousa. A Common Sandpiper and a flock of 100 House Sparrows are at
Sandwick.
A Garden Warbler is at Sandgarth, Voe.
A Turtle Dove is at Baltasound and there are Garden Warblers at
Norwick and Skaw, with a Common Whitethroat also at Skaw.
Wednesday 1st September 2004
A large falcon, probably the Saker, flew north over Trondra this
morning.
There are 4 Wood Pigeons and a Fieldfare at Catfirth.
On Foula, a Greylag Goose was new and a Manx Shearwater, a
Storm Petrel and an adult Guillemot with a juvenile were seen from a
boat about 2km offshore. Otherwise, there are 3 Swallows, a Grey
Wagtail, 5 White Wagtails, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden
Warblers, the Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher and the Common
Rosefinch.
There are 37 Collared Doves at Baltasound and still several
Swallows on the island, including a pair feeding a fledged second brood at
Haroldswick and another pair feeding a second brood in a nest at Baltasound.
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Nature in Shetland
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