Saturday 30th April 2005
Mandarin Duck at Sand and Oystercatcher - Dougie Preston; Chiffchaff at
Haroldswick - Mike
Pennington
The Mandarin Duck is still at Sand and 4 Swallows are at
Watsness.
The pair of Garganeys is still at Scatness and a Common Swift
is at Ringasta.
A Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank are at Baltasound along with
a Pied Flycatcher, 2
Linnets are at Norwick and 4 Swallows are at Uyeasound along with the
2 Mute Swans.
New for the year on Foula were 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlins
(displaying) and a Grasshopper Warbler. There was also a Whooper Swan,
3 Greylag Geese, 4 Wigeons, 9 Teals, 11 Golden Plovers,
6 Whimbrels, 4 Turnstones, 25+ Arctic Skuas, 2 Swallows,
a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, 4
Dunnocks, 2 Robins, a Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrushes, 2
Redwings, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler,
the Great Tit, 2 Chaffinches, 7 Bramblings, 8 Twites,
the male Common Redpoll and 2 Reed Buntings.
Friday 29th April 2005
Mandarin Duck at Sand (before it escaped?) - Steve Minton; Linnet at Baltasound - Mike
Pennington
A male Mandarin Duck is at Sand, west Mainland.
A pair of Garganeys and 3 Gadwalls are at Scatness and 14
Swallows at Hillwell.
The 3 Linnets are still at Baltasound along with a Sparrowhawk.
A Ring Ouzel is at Gutcher.
On Foula
there were 2 Wigeons, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 5 Arctic
Skuas, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Common Gulls, 19 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls, a Short-eared Owl, a Sand Martin, 2
Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 2 Dunnocks,
3 Robins, 20 Fieldfares, 5 Song Thrushes, a Redwing,
a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Chaffinches, 2
Bramblings, a Hawfinch, 6 Twites and a Common Redpoll.
Thursday 28th April 2005
A White's Thrush is at Wester Quarff: it is the first spring record
for Shetland.
A Waxwing is at Virkie. A Scaup is off Cunningsburgh, a
Common Tern is at Pool of Virkie and a
Common Redpoll is at Grutness.
The Great Crested Grebe is still on Loch of Tingwall.
A Ring Ouzel is on Hermaness, a Kestrel is at Burrafirth, a
male Linnet is at Norwick and a Common Redstart and 3 Linnets at Baltasound.
A Ring Ouzel is on Out Skerries.
On Foula there were 5 Greylag Geese, 4 Wigeons, 6 Teals,
2 Gadwalls, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Whimbrels, a Greenshank,
an Arctic Skua, a Short-eared Owl, a Sand Martin, a
Swallow, a Pied Wagtail, a Dunnock, 2 Robins, a Ring
Ouzel, 3 Fieldfares, 2 Song Thrushes, a Redwing, 7
Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, the Great Tit (from
previously), 2 Chaffinches, 5 Bramblings, a male Common Redpoll
and 2 Reed Buntings.
Wednesday 27th April 2005
A Wryneck is on Out Skerries along with 3 Swallows, a Sand
Martin, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Reed
Buntings.
A Willow Warbler is at Skaw, Unst, a Swallow is at Norwick, 3
Reed Buntings are at Haroldswick and a Carrion Crow is at
Baltasound.
A Great Grey Shrike is at Fleck and a Goldfinch is at Toab. A Dunnock, a Reed Bunting and 4 Bramblings are at
Cunningsburgh.
The Great Crested Grebe is still on Loch of Tingwall.
On Foula
there were 5 Greylag Geese, 4 Wigeons, the pair of Gadwalls,
a Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua, a Wood Pigeon, a Wryneck,
a Swallow, 2 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, 2 Common Redstarts,
a Ring Ouzel, 3 Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrushes, 4 Redwings,
a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings,
7 Twites and the male Bullfinch.
Tuesday 26th April 2005
The Dark-breasted Barn Owl has been
found dead at Veensgarth. The Great Crested Grebe is still on Loch of
Tingwall. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker is at Helendale. The
Kestrel is still at the Black Gaet near Scalloway.
An Arctic Tern is at Whiteness Voe.
A Hawfinch is at Gutcher, Yell.
A female Bullfinch is at North Roe.
A Ring Ouzel is at Grutness.
On Foula
there were 5 Greylag Geese, 2 Wigeons, 2 Gadwalls, a
Merlin, 6 Robins, a Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrushes, a
Redwing, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Chaffinches, a male Bullfinch,
a Hawfinch and 6 Twites.
Monday 25th April 2005
The Dark-breasted Barn Owl, which reported here about 10 days ago and
is presumably the bird from Reawick, roosted in a barn at Veensgarth. A Great
Crested Grebe is on Loch of Tingwall. A Kestrel is at Black Gaet and
an Iceland Gull and a Carrion Crow are at East Voe of Scalloway. A
Swallow is at Kergord and there are another 2 at Brig of Fitch. There are
still 4 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull at Gremista.
There are 2 Swallows and 2 Gadwalls at Loch of Spiggie and 2
Swallows at Scatness.
A Bullfinch is at Norwick and a Rook is still at Haroldswick
and 4 Swallows are at Norwick.
New on
Foula were a pair of Gadwalls, a Short-eared Owl and a
Swallow. Also present were 8 Greylag Geese, 5 Wigeons, 5
Teals, 4 Whimbrels, an Arctic Skua, 4 Lesser Black-backed
Gulls, a Wood Pigeon, a White Wagtail, 2 Dunnocks, 7
Robins, 3 Song Thrushes, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff,
2 Chaffinches, 8 Bramblings, 5 Twites and a Reed
Bunting.
Sunday 24th April 2005
Great Northern Diver at Banna Minn, Burra - Chris White
A Common Buzzard is at Laxo for its second day.
A Black Redstart and a Sparrowhawk are at Grutness, a Common
Tern, a Willow Warbler and an Arctic Skua are at Scatness, an
Iceland Gull is at Quendale, a Ring Ouzel is at Scatness and 3
Swallows 2 Shovelers and 2 Gadwalls are at Loch of Hillwell.
A Willow Warbler is at Skaw, Unst, a Sparrowhawk and a
Bullfinch are at Norwick, 2 Greenshanks are at Burrafirth and the
Common Redstart is still at Baltasound, while 7 Song Thrushes were
seen in north Unst.
On Foula
there were 8 Greylag Geese, a Whimbrel, a White Wagtail, a
Pied Wagtail, 2 Dunnocks, 8 Robins, a Black Redstart,
a Common Redstart, a Ring Ouzel, 6 Fieldfares, 7 Song
Thrushes, 4 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, 2
Chaffinches, 8 Bramblings and 5 Snow Buntings.
Saturday 23rd April 2005
A Common Crane flew north over Scalloway at tea-time and an Osprey
flew north over Bridge End, Burra, at lunch-time. There are 30 Bramblings and 2 Greenfinches on Trondra.
There are 2 Swallows at Loch of Hillwell and a Black-throated Diver
off Scatness.
An Arctic Skua is at Loch of Sung, near Walls. A Waxwing is at
Tresta.
There are still 6 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull still in
Lerwick.
There are now 46 Bramblings at Baltasound, along with a male Common
Redstart and a Swallow.
On Foula
there were 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Wigeons, a Kestrel, a
White Wagtail, a Dunnock, 6 Robins, a Black Redstart, 2
Fieldfares, 13 Song Thrushes, 2 Redwings, a Blackcap,
3 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, a Brambling
and a Reed Bunting.
Friday 22nd April 2005
Snow Bunting on Foula -
Tony Mainwood
A flock of 25 Ravens flew south over Sumburgh Head (although 4
chickened out and flew back). A grey shrike sp. has been reported from the NW of
Spiggie. A Whimbrel is on Mousa.
A male Ring Ouzel is at Eshaness.
There are 35 Bramblings at Baltasound.
On Foula
there were 7 Greylag Geese, 6 Golden Plovers, a Wood Pigeon,
a White Wagtail, 7 Robins, 6 Fieldfares, 10 Song
Thrushes, 2 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler,
2 Goldcrests, the Great Tit, 2 Chaffinches, 10
Bramblings, 4 Twites, 5 Snow Buntings and 3 Reed Buntings.
Thursday 21st April 2005
Red Grouse at Graven - Dougie Preston
A large falcon flew over Loch of Brouster.
On Foula there were 7 Greylag Geese, 40+
Common Gulls, a Wood Pigeon, 10 Robins, a female
Stonechat, 30+ Wheatears, 5+ migrant Blackbirds, 7
Fieldfares, 16 Song Thrushes, 3 Redwings, the Blackcap,
a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, the Great Tit, a Chaffinch,
11 Bramblings, 2 Twites, a male Bullfinch and a
Lapland Bunting.
Very little elsewhere: a Bullfinch at Tresta, a
Carrion Crow at Bigton, 18 Bramblings at Cunningsburgh and the odd
Chiffchaff or Pied Wagtail.
Wednesday 20th April 2005
Brambling on Unst - Mike
Pennington; Brambling on Foula -
Tony Mainwood
A Common Crane was at Brig of Bakkasetter in early evening. A
Linnet is at Virkie, 4 Shovelers, 7 Shelducks and a
Gadwall are at Scatness and a Little Grebe is at Loch of Spiggie.
There are 6 Iceland Gulls still at Gremista, Lerwick. Fifteen
Bramblings are at Gulberwick. A Goldcrest and a Song Thrush
are at Voehead, Bressay.
A Waxwing is at Baltasound along with 11 Bramblings and 4
Chiffchaffs.
On Foula
today there were 6 Greylag Geese, a male Peregrine Falcon, 3
Golden Plovers, 3 Purple Sandpipers, an Arctic Skua (first of
the year), 36 Common Gulls, a Dunnock, 11 Robins, 30+
Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, 15 Fieldfares, 10 Song Thrushes,
5 Redwings, a male Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests,
the Great Tit, 2 Chaffinches, 14 Bramblings, a Linnet,
a female Bullfinch (a “tooter”) and 6 Snow Buntings.
Tuesday 19th April 2005
Purple Sandpiper at Haroldswick -
Micky Maher
A Great White Egret, presumably the bird from Eshaness, was at Loch of
Hillwell in the morning.
A Common Tern is at Grutness and 4 Siskins are at
Cunningsburgh.
There are 2 Mute Swans at Uyeasound, the Barnacle Goose still
at Baltasound along with a Chiffchaff, a male Blackcap and a
female Bullfinch, while a Green Sandpiper is at Haroldswick along
with 2 White Wagtails.
On Foula
there was a Barnacle Goose, a Kestrel, a Green Sandpiper, a
Collared Dove, 8 Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrushes, a Mistle
Thrush, 7 Bramblings and a female Bullfinch as well as the
Slavonian Grebe, 3 Whooper Swans, 6 Greylag Geese, 5
Black-headed Gulls, 22 Common Gulls, 3 Robins, 2 Wheatears,
a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, the Great Tit, the Jackdaw,
a Chaffinch, and a Reed Bunting.
Monday 18th April 2005
Osprey - Mike
Pennington
Iceland Gulls at Gremista, Purple Sandpiper at Boddam, Rock Pipit at
Grutness and Whooper Swans at Loch of Tingwall -
Rob Fray
An Osprey is between Uyeasound and Watlee on Unst and a Rook is
at Haroldswick.
New on Foula were a Chiffchaff, a Reed Bunting and 2
Bramblings while there were also 2 Whooper Swans, 3 Purple
Sandpipers, a Robin, a Wheatear, a Fieldfare, a Song
Thrush, 10+ Redwings, the Great Tit, the Jackdaw and a
Chaffinch.
Sunday 17th April 2005
Turnstones at Quendale - Brian Gray
A Great White Egret was seen briefly on
moorland at Leascole, Eshaness.
The Green-winged Teal is at Scatness, along with 2 Pintails and a Dunnock.
Two Ring Ouzels are at Sumburgh Head and a White Wagtail and a
Chiffchaff are at Sumburgh Farm. A Dunnock, a
Goldcrest and a female Bullfinch are at Ocraquoy There are 700 Golden Plovers at Fleck and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits at
Pool of Virkie. An Iceland Gull is at Sandwick.
A Dunnock is at Upper Kergord. There are 4 Iceland Gulls and a
Glaucous Gull in Lerwick.
A Glaucous Gull is at Nibon. Further Dunnocks are at Baltasound
and Skaw on Unst.
On Foula
there were 7 Whooper Swans, the Goosander, c 30 Redwings
and a Great Tit.
Saturday 16th April 2005
Green-winged Teal at
Scatness and small Canada Goose at Spiggie -
Roger Riddington; Iceland Gull at Gremista -
Dougie Preston
The Green-winged Teal
and 3 Gadwalls are at Scatness, the small Canada Goose and a
Great Crested Grebe are on Loch of Spiggie, along with 2 Shovelers
with a Peregrine Falcon also there, another 2 Gadwalls are at
Sumburgh Hotel, and a Chiffchaff is at Quendale. There are 2 Knots
and 3 Sanderlings at Pool of Virkie.
There are still 4 Iceland
Gulls at Gremista. A Kestrel is at Scousburgh.
On Foula
there were 7 Whooper Swans, 6 Greylag Geese, 10 Teals, the
male Goosander, 3 Moorhens, 3 Purple Sandpipers, a
Dunnock, 2 Robins, 7 Wheatears, c 30 Redwings, a new
Goldcrest and a Chaffinch.
Friday 15th April 2005
A ringtail Hen Harrier
is at Clumlie and the Black-throated Diver is in West Voe of Sumburgh.
A female Bullfinch is at
Kergord, there are 4 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick and a first-summer Glaucous Gull is at Frakkafield.
On Foula
there was a Slavonian Grebe, a Goosander, a Jackdaw and a
Lapland Bunting as well as 7 Whooper Swans, 6 Greylag Geese,
17 Common Gulls, a Wood Pigeon, a Dunnock, a Robin,
2 Wheatears, c 50 Redwings, a Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinches
and a Snow Bunting.
Thursday 14th April 2005
A female Sparrowhawk is
at Sullom.
There are 2 Knots at
Pool of Virkie and a Chiffchaff in the willows there. Ducks at Scatness
include the Green-winged Teal, 3 Gadwalls, a Shoveler and a
Pintail.
On Foula, there were 7
Whooper Swans, 4 Greylag Geese, 11 Teals, 2 Moorhens, 2
Golden Plovers, 200+ Great Skuas, a new Dunnock, a Robin,
2 Wheatears, c 40 Redwings, a Willow Warbler, 2
Chaffinches and a Snow Bunting.
Wednesday 13th April 2005
A Barn Owl has been
reported from Tingwall.
An Iceland Gull is
at Vatsetter, Yell.
A female Yellowhammer is
at Voxter and a male is at Lower Voe. A Dunnock is at Firth.
On Foula
there were 7 Whooper Swans, 4 Greylag Geese, 20 Teals, 3
Moorhens, 2+ Golden Plovers, a Woodcock, a Dunnock, a
Robin, 5 Wheatears, c 50 Redwings and 3 Chaffinches.
Tuesday 12th April 2005
There are still 4 Iceland
Gulls at Gremista, Lerwick.
On Foula
there were 7 Whooper Swans, 50-100 Great Skuas (with birds now
sitting on territories), 8 Common Gulls (again birds on territories),
120+ Skylarks, 7 Wheatears, 30+ Redwings, 20+ Ravens,
2 Chaffinches and 3 Snow Buntings.
Monday 11th April 2005
Great Skuas are now fairly widespread - this bird was on Hermaness - Anne
Meller
There are 7 first-summer Iceland Gulls and a first-summer Glaucous
Gull are at Gremista, Lerwick.
On Foula,
poor weather hampered observations but there were 7 Whooper Swans, 8
Greylag Geese, a Merlin, a Wood Pigeon, 2 Dunnocks, a
Robin, c. 40 Redwings and 2 Chaffinches.
Sunday 10th April 2005
The male King Eider is still on Linga in Bluemull Sound.
Saturday 9th April 2005
Bramblings at Gulberwick - Chris White
On Foula there were 7 Whooper Swans, 7 Greylag
Geese, 15 Teals, 130+ Eiders, 3 Moorhens, 13+ Ringed
Plovers, a Jack Snipe, 50+ Great Skuas, 3 Black-headed
Gulls, 3 (or possibly 5)
Lesser Black-backed Gulls,
10+ Guillemots, 150+ Razorbills, 15+ Puffins, a Wood
Pigeon, c 150 Skylarks, c 20 Meadow Pipits, a Dunnock,
5 Robins, a Wheatear, 11+ Blackbirds, 3 Fieldfares,
2 Song Thrushes, c 60 Redwings, 2 Goldcrests,
30+ Ravens, 2
Chaffinches, 4 Twites and a Snow Bunting.
Friday 8th April 2005
There are 3 Iceland Gulls and 3 Glaucous Gulls in Lerwick and a
Pink-footed Goose at Loch of Tingwall. Two ringtail Hen Harriers
roosted at Sand Water. A Sanderling is at Channerwick.
On Foula
there were 5 Whooper Swans, (4 adults and a juv), 8 Teals, 9
Purple Sandpipers, 4 Great Skuas, a Dunnock, 2 Robins,
10+ Redwings and 2 Chaffinches.
Wednesday 6th April 2005
A Hawfinch is in Burgh Road, Lerwick. A Bullfinch is at Crueton
on Bressay.
Tuesday 5th April 2005
A second-winter male King Eider is off Mousa.
A Hawfinch and 2 Bramblings are in Helendale.
A male Yellowhammer is at Westing on Unst and the Rook is still
at Baltasound.
Monday 4th April 2005
There are still 4 Iceland Gulls in Lerwick. A Great Tit is in
Burgh Road and a Blackcap is at Sletts Park, Lerwick. The
Yellowhammer is still at Toab.
The Hawfinch is still at Baltasound, along with an Iceland Gull
there. A Grey Wagtail is still at Skaw and a Reed Bunting is at
Haroldswick.
There are Bullfinches at North Roe and Kergord.
Sunday 3rd April 2005
The Blue Tit is still at Collafirth in Northmavine. A Great Skua
is near Haggrister and 2 Wheatears are at Brae.
What is presumably the same male Hawfinch has reappeared at
Baltasound. There are also 2 Bullfinches at Norwick, the Great Tit
is still at Northdale, the first Unst Wheatear at Uyeasound, a
Goosander at Haroldswick, a Grey Wagtail at Skaw and several other
commoner migrants. A Swallow was reported at Haroldswick.
The European White-fronted Goose is still at Sandwick, the small
Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie, there are 9 Bar-tailed Godwits
at Virkie, 2 Gadwalls at Scatness and 3 at Virkie, and several
Goldcrests are around, including 4 at Sumburgh Head and 3 at Virkie. A male
Yellowhammer is at Toab.
Saturday 2nd April 2005
A Blue Tit is at Gulberwick. A Sandwich Tern is at Bigton.
There are 2 Dunnocks at Cunningsburgh. At Helendale there are 3
Bramblings and 2 Chaffinches. A Carrion Crow is still at
Sandwick.
Another Blue Tit is at Collafirth, Northmavine, along with a
Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrests and 5 Wood Pigeons. A Peregrine
Falcon is at Mavis Grind.
A Great Tit is at Northdale, Unst, with 3 Grey Wagtails at Skaw
and singles at Norwick and Haroldswick, a Rook at Baltasound and
Dunnocks at Skaw and Northdale.
Friday 1st April 2005
There are Bullfinches at Skaw and Norwick and a Sparrowhawk
at Norwick. A Great Skua flew through Bluemull Sound.
The Green-winged Teal is still at Scatness.
A Hawfinch is at
Eswick and a Chiffchaff is at Swining. There are 2 Goosanders on
Strand Loch.
Nature in Shetland
