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Nature in Shetland

winner of a Shetland Environment Award 2004

Shetland Bird Club

 

November and December 2005 Bird Sightings and Photos

Thursday 29th December 2005

There are 11 Greenfinches and 15 Snow Buntings on Trondra. Just 3 Greenfinches remain at Sound, Lerwick.

Wednesday 28th December 2005

There are 3 Bar-tailed Godwits at Voe of Leiraness, Bressay, and a Rook nearby at Voehead.

Tuesday 27th December 2005

The Smew, the Canada Goose and 11 Moorhens are at Loch of Hillwell.

There are 7 Knots at Garderhouse, Seli Voe in West Mainland.

Monday 26th December 2005

A pair of Bullfinches are at Upper Sound in Lerwick. There are 17 Grey Herons at Vidlin.

Sunday 25th December 2005

A Rough-legged Buzzard flew south over Fladdabister. A male Goosander is at Mail, Cunningsburgh.

Saturday 24th December 2005

Common Buzzard - Dougie Preston

There is now a Common Buzzard on Fetlar, which may have been around for a few days; there was no sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard.

Tuesday 20th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot has been relocated in Lerwick harbour, on the Bressay side, south of the ferry terminal off the Taing of Ham.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting. There are 4 Scaups at Lochend, Northmavine.

A first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth.

Monday 19th December 2005

King Eider - Tom Thomason

The first-winter male King Eider is still in the Bluemull triangle off Sound Gruney, north of Fetlar.

A Kestrel is at Sumburgh Head and a Carrion Crow is at Sandwick.

There are 11 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick.

Sunday 18th December 2005

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar, along with a Pink-footed Goose, a Barnacle Goose and 2 Common Scoters.

There are 7 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick.

There was no sign of the Brunnich's Guillemot in Lerwick harbour.

Saturday 17th December 2005

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar, along with a Short-eared Owl.

There are 16 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness along with 202 Greylag Geese. A Water Rail and a Woodcock are at Fladdabister.

Another Water Rail is at Baltasound.

A juvenile Moorhen is at Collafirth, Northmavine.

Friday 16th December 2005

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar.

A Waxwing is still at the Sletts in Lerwick and a Chaffinch is at Sandgarth, Voe..

Thursday 15th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, but it was only seen on the Bressay side.

The first-winter male King Eider is still in the Bluemull triangle off Sound Gruney, north of Fetlar.

Wednesday 14th December 2005

A Waxwing is still at Sletts Park, Lerwick.

Note that the absence of reports of the Brunnich's Guillemot may be due to it being on the Bressay side and unreported, rather than it being absent.

Tuesday 13th December 2005

A male Hen Harrier is at Sand Water and a Water Rail is at Sandgarth, Voe.

Monday 12th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, on the Bressay side. A Grey Wagtail and 2 Waxwings are in Lerwick and a first-winter Glaucous Gull is at the Catch. A female Bullfinch is at Upper Sound and another at Brae is giving the 'trumpet' call.

A Pomarine Skua flew north through Lerwick harbour in the morning and at least 2 were in Yell Sound.

Sunday 11th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, on the Lerwick side in the morning but over at Bressay in the afternoon. A Waxwing is in Lerwick and 20 Greenfinches are at Sound. Another 3 Waxwings are at Ocraquoy.

A White-billed Diver is off the north end of Sandwick in Mousa Sound.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting.

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar.

Saturday 10th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour. There are 3 Waxwings at the Sletts, Lerwick. Another 3 Waxwings are at Ocraquoy. There are still 1000 Golden Plovers at Fleck and a Grey Plover at Pool of Virkie.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting.

Friday 9th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour.

A Waxwing is at Gulberwick.

Thursday 8th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, on the Bressay side.

The King Eider is still in Mousa Sound, off Sand Lodge.

Wednesday 7th December 2005

Canada Goose at Loch of Spiggie - Steve Minton

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour.

A first-year male King Eider is in the 'Bluemull triangle' between Linga and Sound Gruney. There are still 9 Barnacle Geese at Baltasound.

A Greater Canada Goose of unknown race is on Loch Spiggie. The Smew is still on Loch of Hillwell along with 2 Little Grebes. There are single European White-fronted Geese at Ringasta and Spiggie and 13 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness, along with 2 Gadwalls. A Song Thrush and 8 Skylarks are at Sumburgh Hotel and 10 Meadow Pipits are still at Quendale. There are 5 Sanderlings at Grutness and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Pool of Virkie.

Tuesday 6th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting. A Pintail is on Grunna Water, South Nesting, and 8 Greenfinches are at Tingwall. There are 5 Common Redpolls in Scalloway.

The Smew is still on Loch of Hillwell. There are 2 Waxwings at Scatness and one at Toab and 5 Barnacle Goose flew south over Scatness.

There are 4 Greenfinches at Baltasound.

Monday 5th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, moving between the Bressay ferry terminal in Lerwick and the Bressay side. There are 6 Waxwings at the Sletts, in Lerwick.

The Smew is still on Loch of Hillwell. A Hawfinch and a Waxwing are at Norwick. There are 2 Greenfinches at Sandgarth, Voe.

Sunday 4th December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, usually off the Bressay ferry terminal but it has also been seen from the Bressay side. There is also a second-winter Glaucous Gull at the Shetland Catch, 4 Waxwings at the Sletts and 14 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick.

A Kestrel is at Collafirth, Northmavine, along with 2 Goosanders, while 5 Scaups are at North Roe. A Short-eared Owl is on Whalsay.

Saturday 3rd December 2005

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, usually off the Bressay ferry terminal but it has also been seen from the Bressay side. There are also 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls there.

Friday 2nd December 2005

Brunnich's Guillemot in Lerwick - Steve Minton

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, usually off the Bressay ferry terminal but it has also been seen from the Bressay side.

Thursday 1st December 2005

Dead Mealy Redpoll from Uyeasound - Mike Pennington

The Brunnich's Guillemot is still in Lerwick harbour, ranging between the Bressay ferry terminal and the Northlink ferry terminal. A Waxwing flew over Lerwick and a Grey Wagtail was there.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting.

The King Eider is still in Mousa Sound, off Sand Lodge.

An adult male Mealy Redpoll was found dead at Uyeasound.

Wednesday 30th November 2005

Brunnich's Guillemot at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop

A Brunnich's Guillemot is off the Bressay pier in Lerwick. It is the 12th Shetland record and the first since 1997.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting, and a Velvet Scoter and 11 Slavonian Grebes are in Cat Firth.

Tuesday 29th November 2005

There are Water Rails at Haroldswick and Norwick. There are 12 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick.

Monday 28th November 2005

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar. There are 2 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness. A Grey Wagtail is in North Road, Lerwick.

Sunday 27th November 2005

White-billed Diver at Kirkabister - 2 photos, Dougie Preston; 3 photos, Roger Riddington

The adult White-billed Diver is still at Kirkabister, Nesting. There are still 2 Pomarine Skuas off Lunna, with a Little Auk also there. There are 8 Greenfinches at Sound in Lerwick and a female Scaup on Loch of Clickimin.

The King Eider is still in Mousa Sound, off Sand Lodge. The Common Sandpiper is still at Grutness, the Smew is still at Loch of Hillwell, along with 3 Little Grebes, there are 4 Barnacle Geese and 2 European White-fronted Geese at Quendale along with a a Goldfinch and 2 Grey Plovers are at Pool of Virkie. Another 13 Barnacle Geese flew over Scatness.

There are still 7 Barnacle Geese at Baltasound.

Saturday 26th November 2005

A first-winter Iceland Gull is at Scatness.

A Waxwing and 2 Blackcaps are still at the Sletts in Lerwick and a Song Thrush is at Sound..

Thursday 24th November 2005

There are 10 Greenfinches at Gulberwick and 2 at Sandgarth, Voe. There are 100 Snow Buntings at south Burra.

Wednesday 23rd November 2005

There are 12 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness. A Woodcock is on Papa Stour.

Tuesday 22nd November 2005

The Olive-backed Pipit is still at Sumburgh Hotel and the male King Eider is still in Mousa Sound.

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar along with a Grey Wagtail and a Greenfinch.

There are 12 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick, and a Waxwing and 2 Blackcaps are still at the Sletts, Lerwick. Another 5 Greenfinches are at Sandgarth, Voe.

Monday 21st November 2005

A Grey Wagtail is at Sound, Lerwick. There are 130 Black-headed Gulls at Gonfirth, 100 Fieldfares at East Burrafirth and 70 Snow Buntings at Bixter. A Jackdaw is in Scalloway.

Sunday 20th November 2005

There are 2 Pomarine Skuas and 2 Little Auks off Lunna. A Common Redpoll, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Greenfinches are at Gulberwick. A Water Rail was in Burgh Road, Lerwick, at dusk and a Waxwing is in Lerwick.

Saturday 19th November 2005

Snow Bunting at Sandwick - Hugh Harrop

The male King Eider is still in Mousa Sound and an Iceland Gull and 200 Snow Buntings are at Sandwick. Single Scaups are at Scatness and Brow, a Water Rail is Scatness, 3 Grey Plover and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Virkie, 9 Pink-footed Geese and an adult White-fronted Goose are at Spiggie, 23 Pochards are on Brow and the Smew is still on Hillwell.

A Waxwing, a Greenfinch and 2 Blackcaps are still at the Sletts, Lerwick. There are female Bullfinches at South Collafirth and Sullom and some Goldcrests still at Sullom. The Pink-footed Goose and 8 Barnacle Geese are still at Baltasound.

Friday 18th November 2005

Pomarine Skua - Hugh Harrop

At least 9 Pomarine Skuas were seen during a boat survey between Whalsay and Sullom Voe, with a single Little Auk off Lunna and 6 Slavonian Grebes in Sullom Voe. A Sparrowhawk is at Voxter and a Water Rail, a Woodcock and several small flocks of Snow Buntings are in North Roe.

Thursday 17th November 2005

A male King Eider is in Mousa Sound, off Leebitton, Sandwick. The redhead Smew is still on Loch of Hillwell. There are 17 Barnacle Geese at Kirkabister, Nesting.

Wednesday 16th November 2005

Great Northern Diver - Dougie Preston

The adult White-billed Diver and 4 Great Northern Divers are at Kirkabister, Nesting.

A Common Redpoll and a Greenfinch are on Trondra. There are 13 Grey Herons at Sandgarth, Voe.

Tuesday 15th November 2005

A redhead Smew is on Loch of Hillwell. The Red-necked Grebe is still on Loch of Spiggie along with 3 Little Grebes. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose is still at Ringasta and there are 100 Snow Buntings at Quendale, 72 Snow Buntings, 35 Fieldfares and 12 Redwings at Scatness and 27 Red-throated Divers in Bay of Quendale.

There are 8 Waxwings, a Greenfinch and 2 Blackcaps at the Sletts in Lerwick. A Chaffinch is at Northdale, Unst.

Monday 14th November 2005

The Pale-bellied Brent Goose is still at Ringasta and a Grey Plover is at the north end of Spiggie. A male Bullfinch is at Upper Sound, Lerwick.

Sunday 13th November 2005

Snow Bunting in Dunrossness - Hugh Harrop

The adult White-billed Diver is still at Kirkabister, Nesting.

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar. A Chaffinch is at Norwick and a Greenfinch is at Baltasound.

There are 300 Snow Buntings in the south Mainland with flocks of 100 at Skelberry and 100 at Hardbrakes, Quendale. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose is at Ringasta. The Green-winged Teal is still at Scatness and the Red-necked Grebe is still at Spiggie, along with 4 Little Grebes. A Siskin, a Greenfinch and a Brambling are at Cunningsburgh.

There are still 6 Waxwings and 2 Blackcaps at the Sletts, Lerwick. A Chiffchaff is still at Kergord. An extremely late juvenile Wood Pigeon is at Collafirth, Northmavine.

Saturday 12th November 2005

Waxwings in Lerwick - Margaret Stevenson

A Red-necked Grebe is on Loch of Spiggie. A flock of 130 Snow Buntings are at Skelberry. Up to 25 Waxwings have been visiting Burgh Road, Lerwick, over the last week, although there are fewer now, while there are 2 Greenfinches at the Sletts, Lerwick.

A Pink-footed Goose and 7 Barnacle Geese are still at Baltasound and a first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Haroldswick. A Pomarine Skua is off Toft and a Glaucous Gull is at Ulsta.

Two Blackcaps and a Greenfinch are lingering at Collafirth, Northmavine.

Friday 11th November 2005

A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was briefly at Grutness.

Thursday 10th November 2005

Flocks of about 50 Snow Buntings are at Gremista in Lerwick and Sandwick.

A Slavonian Grebe and a Knot are on Fetlar.

Wednesday 9th November 2005

Laughing Gull at Fetlar - Fetlar ferry crew

A Laughing Gull was at the ferry terminal on Fetlar at Hamars Ness before flying off towards Brough. It is the sixth Shetland record, the first since 1998 and the third for Fetlar.

The Olive-backed Pipit is still at Sumburgh Hotel, Waxwings are still at Maywick and 130 Snow Buntings are in a stubble field near Ringasta.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting, and a female Gadwall is on Loch of Benston. A Pomarine Skua is off Melby. There are 23 Waxwings at Burnside in Lerwick.

Tuesday 8th November 2005

Siskin at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

A first-winter Glaucous Gull and 6 Little Auks flew past Virkie and 2 Siskins are at Cunningsburgh. A female Bullfinch and 4 Waxwings are at Maywick.

Monday 7th November 2005

Waxwing at Brae (2 photos) Bryan Gray; Waxwing at Haroldswick - Anne Meller

The Common Sandpiper is still at Grutness.

There are 3 Waxwings at Brae and 2 on Unst.

An Arctic Tern is at Scalloway.

Sunday 6th November 2005

Waxwing at Maywick - Hugh Harrop

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is still at Grutness, along with a malingering Wheatear and the Common Sandpiper. A male Green-winged Teal has returned to Scatness. There are 6 Sanderlings at West Voe of Sumburgh and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Grey Plovers at Pool of Virkie.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting, and 2 Peregrine Falcons at South Nesting. The Smew is still at Lochend and 9 Greenfinches are at Collafirth.

There are 8 Waxwings at the Sletts in Lerwick and 10 at Maywick.

A Grey Plover is still at Baltasound.

Saturday 5th November 2005

Waxwing at Scatness - Steve Minton

The male Pine Bunting is still at Challister on Whalsay and 2 juvenile Pomarine Skuas are at Symbister, Whalsay.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is still at Grutness. There are 16 Pink-footed Geese at Skelberry and a Long-eared Owl is at Maywick.

The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting.

There are 507 Greylag Geese on Unst and a Pink-footed Goose and a Siskin are at Baltasound.

Waxwings include one at Baltasound, one at Collafirth in Northmavine, one at Laxo, one at Upper Sound, 6 at Skelberry 14 at Maywick, one at Sumburgh Hotel and one at Scatness.

Friday 4th November 2005

Pine Bunting on Whalsay - Hugh Harrop

A male Pine Bunting is at Challister on Whalsay. A juvenile Pomarine Skua and a Great Skua were at Symbister, Whalsay, and 3 Little Auks were seen from the ferry in Dury Voe.

The elusive Olive-backed Pipit is still at Sumburgh Hotel. A Yellow-browed Warbler and a male Bullfinch are at Maywick, and a female Bullfinch is at Wester Quarff.

The juvenile American Golden Plover previously reported at Sullom is now at Gluss.

A juvenile Pomarine Skua is still off Ulsta, Yell.

Waxwings include 3 at Burrafirth, one at Norwick, 2 at Baltasound, 6 at Burravoe on Yell, 2 on Whalsay, 4 at Trondra, 9 at the Sletts in Lerwick, 14 at Wester Quarff, 3 at Maywick and 2 at Scatness.

Thursday 3rd November 2005

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is still at Grutness, along with a Common Sandpiper which has been there since late September, and a Sanderling.

A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Helendale and there are 12 Waxwings at the Sletts, Lerwick. Another 16 Waxwings are at Upper Kergord, along with a Sparrowhawk and a Hen Harrier, while 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Yellow-browed Warbler are at Kergord. There are 7 Waxwings and 2 Moorhens at Sandgarth, Voe.

A juvenile Pomarine Skua was seen from the Whalsay ferry in Laxo Voe.

There are further Waxwings at Firth and at Oxensetter, Northmavine.

Wednesday 2nd November 2005

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is still at Grutness.

A new American Golden Plover is at Sullom, Northmavine, initially near the village then later on the Houb. The Smew is still at Lochend. A Mistle Thrush and 2 Sparrowhawks are at Sullom plantation where some Common Crossbills were heard but not seen.

A male Bullfinch and a Yellowhammer are at Sandgarth, Voe. A late Arctic Tern is at Scalloway.

A Hawfinch is at Norwick.

Tuesday 1st November 2005

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Grutness (2 photos) and Rough-legged Buzzard on Fetlar - Hugh Harrop

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Grutness and Rough-legged Buzzard on Fetlar (2 photos) - Steve Minton

A Semipalmated Sandpiper is at Grutness: it is just the fifth confirmed record for Shetland, including two on Fair Isle.

The Rough-legged Buzzard is still on Fetlar. A juvenile Pomarine Skua is still at Ulsta, Yell.

A male Hen Harrier is at Sand Water. A Waxwing and 2 females Bullfinches are at South Collafirth in Northmavine.