May 2006
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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.
Species in red are BBRC rarities.
Species in orange are local rarities.
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.
Shetland Breeding Bird Survey
Second visits should be between 20th May and
10th June.
Wednesday 31st May 2006
Savi's Warbler at Skaw -
Micky
Maher; Golden Plover at Skaw -
Mike
Pennington; Turtle Dove at Burravoe - Dougie
Preston
The Savi's Warbler is still
at Skaw, Unst.
A Turtle Dove is at Burravoe, Yell.
The Pectoral Sandpiper is
still at Hillwell and the male Golden Oriole is still at Cunningsburgh.
Tuesday 30th May 2006
Savi's Warbler, Willow Warbler and Great
Skua at Skaw, Unst -
Stef McElwee
The Savi's Warbler is still
at Skaw, Unst.
A Marsh Harrier is at Gossa Water, North Nesting.
The Pectoral Sandpiper is
still at Hillwell, along with a male Garganey, and a Short-eared Owl
is at Sumburgh airport.
Monday 29th May 2006
Common Rosefinch at Baltasound -
Stef McElwee (2 photos);
Mike
Pennington; Savi's Warbler at Skaw and Great
Skua at Clumlie - Dave Hall; Iceland Gull at Wats Ness - Tim Vaughan
A White-billed Diver is off
Foula.
The Savi's Warbler is still at Skaw,
Unst and a red male Common Rosefinch is at Baltasound, along with a
Spotted Flycatcher, while a Tree Pipit is at Northdale.
A Pectoral Sandpiper is at
Hillwell, a Long-eared Owl is at Virkie and a Tree Sparrow is at
Sumburgh.
At Wats Ness, 3 Long-tailed Skuas and a first-summer
Iceland Gull were seen. Another 4 Long-tailed Skuas and a Manx
Shearwater were seen off Maywick in the evening.
Sunday 28th May 2006
Savi's Warbler at Skaw -
Stef McElwee
A Savi's Warbler is at Skaw, Unst - there are only 8
previous Scottish records, all in Shetland.
Four Long-tailed Skuas flew inland over St Ninian's Isle
in the morning and another flew north past Yaafield, near Maywick, along with 6
Manx Shearwaters, while 9 Long-tailed Skuas flew north past Wats Ness.
There were 2 Pomarine Skuas seen off Eshaness.
Saturday 27th May 2006
Bluethroat at Dale of Walls -
Hugh Harrop; Arctic Skuas on Mossy Hill
- Dave Hall
An adult male Common Rosefinch is visiting a garden in
North Road, Lerwick.
A male Bluethroat is at Dale of Walls.
A Marsh Harrier is at Levenwick.
Friday 26th May 2006
Long-eared Owl at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson
A Canada Goose is at Loch of Clumlie, a Long-eared Owl
is at Sumburgh and a male Golden Oriole is at Cunningsburgh. A
Bar-tailed Godwit is at Sandgarth, Voe.
A female Sparrowhawk is still at Norwick.
Thursday 25th May 2006
Arctic Tern - Dave Hall
There were 16 Long-tailed Skuas (including
flocks of 5 and 3), 29 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters, and
300+ Arctic Terns past Eshaness between 07:30 and 12:15. Another 2
Pomarine Skuas flew past Yaafield, west of Maywick.
A male King Eider is at
Tresta Voe.
A Hawfinch is on Fetlar.
Wednesday 24th May 2006
Purple Sandpipers at Scatness -
Hugh Harrop; Common Snipes on Fetlar - Anne Meller
A European Bee-eater flew
over Maywick in the morning. A hybrid House Martin x Swallow is at
Scatness along with 30 Purple Sandpipers and 25 Sanderlings. A Greenshank is at Spiggie.
A Cuckoo is at Upper Kergord.
Tuesday 23rd May 2006
Red-backed Shrike at Northdale -
Mike
Pennington (one photo); Anne Meller (3 photos);
Black-tailed Godwit at Baltasound - Anne Meller; Red-necked Phalarope on Fetlar
- Malcie Smith; Shelducks at Boddam - Dave Hall
A Red-backed Shrike is at Northdale, Unst, and a
Black-tailed Godwit is at Baltasound.
The Common Rosefinch is still at Burravoe. Yell.
The first Red-necked Phalaropes are back on Fetlar and the
Little Egret is still there are Loch of
Funzie.
A Sedge Warbler and a Kestrel are at Virkie.
Monday 22nd May 2006
Red-throated Diver at Saxa Vord
-
Mike
Pennington
A Common Crane flew over Toab at mid-day. There are 3 male
Shovelers and a pair of Pintails at Loch of Hillwell, a female
Brambling at Exnaboe and a female Chaffinch at Virkie. A Canada
Goose is on Mousa. A Carrion Crow is at Rova Head, Lerwick.
The Common Rosefinch is still at Burravoe on Yell.
A Short-eared Owl is on Fetlar.
Sunday 21st May 2006
Wood Sandpiper at Scatness and Long-eared Owl at Boddam - Rob
Fray
The Common Rosefinch is still at Burravoe on Yell. A
first-summer Iceland Gull is still at Burrafirth on Unst.
A Long-eared Owl is at Boddam. Single Black-tailed
Godwits are at Pool of Virkie and Loch of Hillwell, and 2 Pintails, a
Shoveler and a Gadwall are at Hillwell. there are 3 Carrion
Crows at Huesbreck. A Wood Sandpiper
and a Greenshank are at Scatness.
A Kestrel is at East Voe of Scalloway.
A Common Crane has been reported on Fetlar.
Saturday 20th May 2006
Knot at Virkie -
Hugh Harrop; Spotted Flycatcher at
Sumburgh - Rob Fray
An adult Pomarine Skua was in Bay of Quendale before
heading towards Pool of Virkie. The Osprey is now at Sumburgh Head along with a Spotted
Flycatcher, a Willow Warbler and a Dunnock. A Siskin is
at Scousburgh. At Loch of Hillwell the pair of Garganeys and the pair of
Ruddy Ducks are at Loch of Hillwell. A Wood Sandpiper is at Scatness along with 3 House
Martins, 20 Swallows, 27 Sanderlings, 24 Knots a
Common Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher and there are 7 Knots
at Pool of Virkie. There are 8 House Martins at Sandy Loch, Lerwick.
A Common Rosefinch is at Burravoe on Yell. A Sedge
Warbler is at Baltasound and a Song Thrush is at Northdale, Unst.
Friday 19th May 2006
Knot at Virkie - Rob Fray
A male Subalpine Warbler and
a Hobby are on Foula.
An Osprey flew south over Virkie in late afternoon and a
female Bluethroat is there. At Quendale there is a Chiffchaff, a
male Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroats, a Robin, a Sand
Martin, a Willow Warbler, and a Garden Warbler. At Loch of
Hillwell there is a pair of Garganeys, the pair of
Ruddy Ducks, 2 male Shovelers, a female Long-tailed Duck
and a Wood Sandpiper. There are 2 Common Whitethroats at Scatness.
A Common Redpoll and a Lesser Whitethroat are at Hoswick.
Another Osprey was at the north end of the Loch of
Tingwall in the early evening. A Peregrine Falcon was at Scord,
Scalloway, in the morning.
The Wood Sandpiper is still at Baltasound along with a
Kestrel, and a Sparrowhawk is still at Norwick. A Glaucous Gull
is at Burravoe, Yell.
Thursday 18th May 2006A Little Gull was
at Loch of Hillwell in the evening and there were also the pair of
Ruddy Ducks, a pair of Pintails, 3
Gadwalls, and 2 male Shovelers. There are 20 Knots, 22
Dunlins, and 25 Sanderlings at Pool of Virkie. A Peregrine Falcon
was at Scatness and a Common Swift was at Scord. A Reed Warbler
is at Toab. A Reed Bunting
is at Ocraquoy, where the first fledged House Sparrows
were also seen. A Brambling
is at Sandgarth, Voe.
A Short-toed Lark is on
Foula.
On Unst, there is a Wood Sandpiper at Baltasound, a
Common Swift at Haroldswick and a Reed Warbler at Skaw.
Wednesday 17th May 2006
Common Redpoll at Northdale, Unst - Anne Meller
A female Common Redstart, a male Whinchat, a Garden Warbler
and 2 Willow Warblers are at Quendale, the pair of
Ruddy Ducks are still at Loch of Hillwell
along with 3 Gadwalls, a male Shoveler, 8 Swallows and a
Common Swift.
There are 2 Common Redpolls at Northdale, Unst.
Tuesday 16th May 2006
Red-throated Diver and Common Tern on Fetlar - Anne Meller
A male Bluethroat is at Virkie willows. There are 2
Shovelers, 31 Dunlins, 11 Sanderlings, and 8 Knots at
Pool of Virkie, the pair of Ruddy Ducks, the
pair of Garganeys, a female Long-tailed Duck, 3 Gadwalls,
and 3 Shovelers at Loch of Hillwell, a Garden Warbler, a male
Blackcap, and a Chiffchaff are at Quendale and a House Martin
and 4 Swallows are at Boddam Voe.
Two Ospreys have been seen again near Baltasound, west of
Alma.
Monday 15th May 2006
Little Egret on Fetlar - Malcie Smith
The Little Egret
is still at Funzie, Fetlar.
Sunday 14th May 2006
White-throated Sparrow at Quendale -
Hugh Harrop (2 photos);
Long-eared Owl at Baltasound - Malcolm Lett; Knots at Virkie -
Dave Hall; Knot (and Dunlin) - Fetlar - Dougie Preston
The
White-throated Sparrow
has been relocated at Quendale. A
Common Whitethroat and a
House Martin are also there.
There are 2
Ruddy Ducks,
2
Garganeys, 3
Shovelers and a
Gadwall at Hillwell. There are
5
Knots at Pool of Virkie. An
adult summer
Black-throated Diver
is in West Voe of Sumburgh. A
Pied Flycatcher is at Maywick
and a
Whinchat is at Hoswick. A
Common Buzzard is at Wester
Quarff and appears to be the bird that was in Lerwick recently.
A White-billed Diver is off
Foula and a Short-toed Lark is there as well
as the male
American Wigeon still.
A Long-eared
Owl is at Baltasound along with the 6
Tree Sparrows and 2
Tree Pipits, the Slavonian
Grebe is still at Haroldswick and a
first-summer Iceland Gull
is still at Burrafirth.
A Glaucous Gull
and a Reed Bunting
are at Burravoe on Yell.
Saturday 13th May 2006
White-throated Sparrow at Sumburgh -
Hugh Harrop (2 photos); Jim Nicolson
(one photo); Dave Hall (2 photos); Steve Minton (2 photos)
Common Nightingale on Fetlar - Malcie Smith; Slavonian Grebe
at Haroldswick and Chiffchaff at Norwick
-
Mike
Pennington
A
White-throated Sparrow
is at Sumburgh Farm. It is the 12th Shetland record. There are also 5
Tree Sparrows and a male
Common Redstart
there. There are 2 Ruddy Ducks
on Loch of Hillwell.
On Fetlar, a
Common Nightingale
is at West Manse and a Little Egret
is at Funzie.
A Slavonian
Grebe is at Haroldswick.
Friday 12th May 2006
Lesser Whitethroat at Baltasound - Anne Meller; Kestrel on Out
Skerries - Tony & Beth Gerrard
On Out Skerries there were at
least 5 Whinchats, 10
Common Redstarts, a
Lesser Whitethroat,
several Willow Warblers,
Garden Warblers and
Chiffchaffs, a
Stonechat, a male
Red-breasted Flycatcher and a
Kestrel.
There were 2
Ospreys reported south of Baltasound
in the morning and the 6 Tree Sparrows
and the Greenshank
are still at Baltasound, along with a Kestrel.
A Siskin
and a Common Redpoll
are at Hoswick. Thursday 11th May 2006
Common Whitethroat and Pied Wagtail at Skaw
-
Mike
Pennington
A Sandwich Tern was in Noss Sound in the
morning and an Osprey flew over heading north. A male Stonechat, 3
Reed Buntings, a Tree Pipit and a Common Redstart are at
Gorie, Bressay.
A Yellowhammer and a
Common Redpoll are at Cunningsburgh and the 4 Siskins are still
there.
A Sparrowhawk is at Norwick and the
Greenshank is still at Baltasound.
Wednesday 10th May 2006
 
Scops Owl at Swining - Jim Nicolson, Dave Hall, Tim Sykes,
Steve Minton (4 photos); Collared Flycatcher at Bakkasetter and Scops Owl at
Swining - Hugh Harrop; Red Grouse at
Swining - Dave Hall
A Scops Owl is at Swining.
It is the 12th Shetland record but the 4th in 6 years. A Common Whitethroat
and a Pied Flycatcher are also there. A Pied Flycatcher is at
Lunna and 2 Common Redpolls are at Voe.
The Collared Flycatcher
is still at Bakkasetter. A Sedge Warbler is at Grutness, 2
Sedge Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatcher and a Common Redstart are at
Geosetter and the Wood Warbler are at Virkie. There are 2 Tree Pipits
on Noss.
A Common Nightingale
has been caught at Skaw, Whalsay.
A Short-toed Lark
is on Foula.
A Wryneck is at Heogland on Unst where
there is also a Sedge Warbler at Northdale and a Greenshank at and
2 Tree Pipits Baltasound.
A Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Brambling are at
Burravoe on Yell and a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a
Pied Flycatcher are at Otterswick.
Tuesday 9th May 2006
Collared Flycatcher at Brig of Bakkasetter
(Brow Marsh) - Dave Hall (2 photos); Steve Minton (3 photos)
Common Whitethroat at Skaw and Greenshank at
Haroldswick - Anne Meller; Pied Flycatcher at Norwick
-
Mike
Pennington
A male Collared Flycatcher
is at Brig of Bakkasetter (Brow Marsh). A Hawfinch, a Spotted
Flycatcher and 3 Jackdaws are at Boddam. A Wood Warbler, 2
Common Redstarts and 3 Whinchats are at Virkie and a Grasshopper
Warbler is at Sumburgh Head. There are 4 Siskins
at Cunningsburgh. A Long-eared Owl is at Hoswick.
The Hawfinch and a Pied Flycatcher are still at
Vidlin, a Long-eared Owl is at Swining and there are 2 Tree Pipits,
a Common Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher at Eswick.
A female Bluethroat is on Noss near the Noup. Other
migrants on the island include 2 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Chiffchaffs,
4 Willow Warblers, 4 Common Redstarts, a Lesser Whitethroat,
a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Fieldfare, 3 Reed
Buntings and 3 Common Sandpipers.
There are 3 Tree Sparrows still at Baltasound, a
Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher and are at Norwick, a
Pied Flycatcher and a Common Redstart are at Saxa Vord, 2 Common
Redstarts, a Common Whitethroat and a Whinchat are at Skaw, a
Barnacle Goose is at Burrafirth, and the Greenshank is still at
Haroldswick.
Monday 8th May 2006
Subalpine Warbler at Grutness - Dave Hall (2 photos), Steve Minton
(2 photos); 'Blue' Fulmar at Quendale - John Moncrieff
Subalpine Warbler at Vidlin - Tony & Beth Gerrard
Waxwing at Hermaness and Skylark at Lamba Ness
- Anne Meller; Meadow Pipit and Lapwing at Skaw -
Mike
Pennington
A White-billed Diver
is off Foula.
A male Subalpine Warbler
of the western race is at Grutness. A good scatter of migrants around
Dunrossness include Grasshopper Warblers at Sumburgh Head and Brig of
Bakkasetter, a Waxwing at Sumburgh Hotel, 40 Swallows at Hillwell,
a Greenshank at Hillwell and 2 at Levenwick, a male Black Redstart
at Scatness, Common Redstarts at Maywick and Scatness, 3 Common
Redpolls at Levenwick and 6 Lesser Whitethroats at Levenwick, as well
as scatter this species and other commoner warblers. Only yesterday's
Whinchat remains at Virkie. A 'Blue' Fulmar is at Quendale.
A Spotted Flycatcher is at Wester Quarff
and a male Pied Flycatcher is in North Rd, Lerwick.
On Bressay, a Linnet is at Gorie, a
Carrion Crow and 7 Knots are at Bruntland and a Tree Pipit and
a Common Redstart are at Uphouse. A Pied Flycatcher is on Noss.
A male Bluethroat is on Foula.
Another male Subalpine
Warbler, of the SE European race albistriata, is in song at
Vidlin. There are also 2 Willow Warblers, a male Common Redstart,
a Hawfinch and a Pied Flycatcher there.
A Waxwing is on Hermaness, a Greenshank
is at Haroldswick and there are at least 2 Tree Sparrows at Baltasound
along with 2 Gadwalls and a Wood Sandpiper.
Sunday 7th May 2006
Caspian Stonechat at Virkie - Steve Minton (3
photos), Dave Hall (one photo)
Subalpine Warbler
at Sumburgh - Dave Hall (one photo); Malcie Smith (one photo); Steve Minton (one
photo); Scaups at Scatness - Steve Minton
Rough legged Buzzard at Skaw; Swallows at
Northdale -
Mike
Pennington
A Caspian Stonechat
(Saxicola torquatus variegatus) is at Virkie; there is only one previous
British record of this race. A male Subalpine Warbler
of the SE European race albistriata is at Sumburgh Head, along with 4
Tree Sparrows, 2
Black Redstarts and a Tree Pipit. A Grasshopper Warbler is at
Quendale. There are also 4 Shovelers,
2 Scaups and the Garganey at Scatness, along with a Whinchat
and a Black Redstart. There are 3 Fieldfares, 2 Linnets, 2
Common Redpolls and a Song Thrush at Toab. At Hillwell there are
50 Swallows, 3 House Martins and 3 Sand Martins.
A Red-rumped Swallow
is on Foula.
A Rough-legged Buzzard
flew over Skaw, Unst, in mid-afternoon before drifting back south. There
is also a Turtle Dove at Skaw, along with a Sedge Warbler and 5
Common Redpolls, while there are 2 Gadwalls, 6 Tree Sparrows,
a Jackdaw and 5 Carrion Crows at Baltasound. Flocks of up to 15
Swallows are everywhere.
A Hawfinch is at Sandwick. A Garden
Warbler is at Sandgarth, Voe.
Saturday 6th May 2006
Red-rumped Swallow at Baltasound -
Mike
Pennington
released Rough-legged Buzzard in Lerwick - John Coutts; Garganey at Scatness - Steve Minton;
American Wigeon on Foula - Geoff & Donna Atherton
A Red-rumped Swallow
is at Baltasound along with 16 Swallows, 4 House Martins and a
Sand Martin. A Sparrowhawk, a Whinchat and 2 Reed Buntings
are at Skaw, Unst, a Garden Warbler is at Norwick and there are at least
3 Tree Sparrows and 7 Carrion Crows at Baltasound.
A male American Wigeon
is on Foula.
The released Rough-legged Buzzard is still at the Knab,
Lerwick. A male Blackcap is at Eshaness.
A Wryneck is at Hoswick along with a
Sedge Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Willow Warblers, 2
Blackcaps and a Siskin around Hoswick and Swinister.
A male Garganey, the Smew and a
first-summer Iceland Gull are at Scatness. A Common Whitethroat, 3
Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldfinches and a Common (Mealy) Redpoll are
at Ocraquoy.
A Goldfinch, a Dunnock
and 10 Swallows are on Out Skerries.
Friday 5th May 2006
A Shore Lark is on Noss along with a
Common Redstart, a Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroats,
8 Chiffchaffs and 3 Willow Warblers.
A Wood Sandpiper, a
Wryneck, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting, 3 Lesser
Whitethroats and 2 Common Redpolls are on Whalsay.
What was thought to be a Common Buzzard but
actually turned out to be a released North American race Rough-legged Buzzard is at the Knab, Lerwick.
A Goldfinch is at Upper Sound, Lerwick.
There are 11 Swallows, a House Martin
and a Sand Martin at Culswick and a Lesser Whitethroat and a
Blackcap at Scatness. The Smew is still at Hillwell.
There are 26 Swallows, a House Martin,
18 Wood Pigeons and 4 Siskins at Baltasound. Another 5 Swallows
and a House Martin are at Burrafirth and a male Shoveler is at
Haroldswick.
Thursday 4th May 2006
Brunnich's Guillemot from West Sandwick - Mick
Mellor; Tree Sparrow at Baltasound -
Mike
Pennington; Purple Sandpiper at Burravoe, Yell - Dougie Preston; gull sp. at
Clickimin - Dave Hall
A summer-plumaged
Brunnich's Guillemot was found dead today on the monthly beached bird
survey at West Sandwick on Yell.
A scatter of migrants in Dunrossness include a
Common Redstart at Hoswick, 3 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a
Goldcrest at Channerwick, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, 2
Blackcaps and 2 Goldcrests at Geosetter, 22 Swallows, 4
House Martins, a Sand Martin and 2 Gadwalls at Hillwell and 2
House Martins, 2 Willow Warblers and a Blackcap at
Quendale.
There are now 4 Tree Sparrows are still at
Baltasound, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 4
Carrion Crows, 2 Rooks and a Pink-footed Goose. A Glaucous
Gull and 2 Knots are at Burravoe, Yell.
Wednesday 3rd May 2006
Tree Sparrow at Baltasound -
Mike
Pennington; Glaucous Gull at Gremista and Turnstone at Sandwick ('a few days
ago') - Dave Hall; Arctic Terns at Haroldswick and Eiders at Westing - Anne
Meller
A second-summer Glaucous Gull is at
Gremista, Lerwick. A Short-eared Owl is at Bellister, Nesting, and a
House Martin is at Sand Water. A Blackcap, a Goldcrest and 2
Bramblings are at Sandgarth, Voe.
There are 10 Swallows at Hillwell and a
Garden Warbler and 2 Blackcaps at Scatness.
A Sedge
Warbler, a Common Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and a
Dunnock are on Whalsay.
The 2 Tree Sparrows are still at
Baltasound.
Tuesday 2nd May 2006
Wheatear and Arctic Skuas at Hermaness - Anne
Meller
The Hooded Merganser
is still at Loch of Quoys, and despite its long stay is still extremely wary. A
Goldfinch is at Burrafirth, and there are 2 Tree Sparrows at
Baltasound, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk at Norwick, and 2
Arctic Terns at Haroldswick.
The exilipes
Arctic Redpoll is still on Foula and a
Common Nightingale is there.
Another 3 Arctic Terns were seen in Yell
Sound and another at Sandgarth, Voe. There are 9 Wood Pigeons and 2
Willow Warblers at Catfirth, along with a male Pheasant. A Goldfinch is at Gulberwick.
Monday 1st May 2006
Dunnock at Scatness - Steve Minton
The Hooded Merganser
is still at Loch of Quoys, feeding avidly on small fish, and a Short-eared
Owl was also there
An early Garden Warbler is at Sandgarth,
Voe, along with a Dunnock and a Swallow. A Dunnock and a
Blackcap are at Scatness.
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Nature in Shetland
