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Latest Bird Sightings and Photos

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. 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 Bird Report 2005 The report is here, with a full colour systematic list and literally dozens of colour photos. If you saw any of these birds you need this report. E-mail Martin Heubeck for report sales (the report costs £10 inc. p&p) or e-mail Roger Riddington about becoming a member of the Shetland Bird Club for just £10 (the same price as the report and you get a copy as part of your membership). 'The best just got better' - Birding Scotland.

New Shetland Checklist. Downloadable as a pdf here.

Vacancies at Fair Isle Bird Observatory in 2007 see homepage.

Icelandic goose counts Counts for any of the census dates of 14/15 October, 11/12 November and 16/17 December should be sent to Paul Harvey at SBRC asap.

Low tide counts (NEWS) We hope to get full coverage from Shetland sample sites. Counts can be done on any dates in December and January but they must be done 3.5 hours either side of low tide. Tide predictions can be found here.

Thursday 28th December 2006

The Gyrfalcon is still at Funzie on Fetlar.

Up to 15 Little Auks are in Bressay Sound, off Lerwick.

Wednesday 27th December 2006

A Gyrfalcon has been reported again, this time at Funzie on Fetlar.

There are 3 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull at the Catch in Lerwick and male Goosanders at East Voe of Scalloway and Loch of Tingwall.

Sunday 24th December 2006

The Pink-footed Goose is still at Spiggie, with a Shoveler also there.

Thursday 21st December 2006

A ringtail Hen Harrier is at Uyeasound.

Monday 18th December 2006

Kumlien's type Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull (with Herring Gull in last photo) at Scalloway - Brydon Thomason

A probable Gyrfalcon flew north over Baltasound in the morning. An adult Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth along with a male Merlin, a Great Northern Diver and 5 Purple Sandpipers.

The Smew and the first-winter Little Gull are still at Loch of Hillwell.

The third-winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull is still at Scalloway along with 3 first-winter Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull.

Sunday 17th December 2006

Whooper Swans at Uyeasound and Bufflehead at Loch of Snarravoe (with Goldeneyes and Tufted Duck) - Mike Pennington

The Bufflehead is back on Loch of Snarravoe on Unst, although it has been absent on at least four visits since Saturday 9th. A first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Belmont. There were just 255 Greylag Geese counted on the island over the weekend as well as 275 Curlews and 144 Golden Plovers in three flocks.

The third-winter Kumlien's Iceland Gull is still at Scalloway along with 6 first-winter Iceland Gulls and 3 first-winter Glaucous Gulls. There are 11 Grey Herons at Dales Voe, Delting. A Coot and a Common Pochard are on Loch of Tingwall.

A Black-throated Diver is at Grutness and a redhead Smew and a first-winter Little Gull are at Loch of of Hillwell. There are 620 Greylag Geese at six sites in Dunrossness and a Pink-footed Goose still at Spiggie. Also at Spiggie there are 88 Whooper Swans, 9 Moorhens, 3 Coots, a Little Grebe, a Slavonian Grebe and 25 Fieldfares but there were no Pochards and no sign of the putative Redhead - it has not been seen since 7th December. There are 105 Dunlins and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits at Pool of Virkie. Water Rails are at Scatness, Spiggie and Boddam. There are also 2 Gadwalls at Scatness, 3 Meadow Pipits at Fleck, a Carrion Crow at Sandwick and a Stonechat at Boddam.

Counts of Red-breasted Mergansers included 18 at Bixter Voe, 15 at Weisdale Voe and 10 at West Burrafirth.

A Jack Snipe is at Burravoe, Yell.

Saturday 16th December 2006

A late Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Pool of Virkie. There are 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls and a first-winter Glaucous Gull at Scalloway. A first-winter Iceland Gull with characters of Kumlien's Gull is at the Shetland Catch in Lerwick.

The Canada Goose is now at Northdale, Unst, there are 22 Redwings at Haroldswick and a Knot is at Baltasound along with 28 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Tuesday 12th December 2006

Glaucous Gulls (with GBB and Herring Gulls) at Burrafirth - Micky Maher

A first-winter Iceland Gull and 8 Glaucous Gulls (6 adults and 2 first-winters) are at Burrafirth and an adult Iceland Gull is at Baltasound.

Monday 11th December 2006

A first-winter Iceland Gull and 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adults and a first-winter) are at Burrafirth.

A Peregrine Falcon and 3 Carrions Crows are at Twatt, Bixter.

Sunday 10th December 2006

An adult Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth and a first-winter Iceland Gull is at Uyeasound, along with a Canada Goose, which has presumably come from Kirk Loch, Yell.

Saturday 9th December 2006

putative American Herring Gull at Lerwick - Dougie Preston

A putative first-winter American Herring Gull is at Shetland Catch in Lerwick, along with an Iceland Gull.

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst, and there are 15 Whooper Swans and the 2 Shovelers at Uyeasound.

Friday 8th December  2006

Long-eared Owl and Chiffchaff on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason; Waxwing at Sandwick - Dave Hall; Iceland Gull at Scalloway - Micky Maher

A Chiffchaff is on Fetlar along with 2 Long-eared Owls, a Woodcock and a Peregrine Falcon.

A Waxwing is at Sandwick.

Thursday 7th December  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst, and a Moorhen is at Burrafirth.

The putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

The male Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall. There are up to 7 Iceland Gulls and a 3 Glaucous Gull at Scalloway.

An Iceland Gull, a Little Auk, 2 Long-eared Owls, 30 Fieldfares, a few Redwings and a Song Thrush are on Fetlar.

Tuesday 5th December  2006

Little Auk at Belmont - Micky Maher

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst, a Little Auk is at Belmont and an Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull are at Haroldswick.

Monday 4th December  2006

Iceland Gulls at Scalloway - Dave Hall (3 photos); Russ Haywood (2 photos)

There are about 7 Iceland Gulls in Scalloway, including a third-winter and 2 first-winters believed to be showing characters of Kumlien's Gull.

Sunday 3rd December  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst.

The male Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall. There are up to 6 Iceland Gulls and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Scalloway. Iceland Gulls were also seen at Loch of Clickimin and the Shetland Catch in Lerwick.

Saturday 2nd December  2006

Iceland Gull (showing characters of Kumlien's Gull) at Scalloway - Hugh Harrop

The putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

There are at least 4 Iceland Gulls and one Glaucous Gull at Scalloway, while a Glaucous Gull is at the Shetland catch in Lerwick.

There are 3 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull at Haroldswick. An exhausted first-winter female Peregrine Falcon was picked up at Baltasound.

Thursday 30th November  2006

 

Glaucous Gull at Scalloway (with Iceland Gull in last photo) - Brydon Thomason

First-winter Iceland Gull at Scalloway (showing some characters of Kumlien's Gull) and third-winter Kumlien's Gull at Scalloway (last Saturday, not seen since). - Brydon Thomason

Mealy Redpoll at Scalloway - Brydon Thomason

Up to 3 first-winter Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull have been at Scalloway all week.

A first-winter Iceland Gull is at Haroldswick along with a Glaucous Gull.

A Mealy Redpoll was caught by a cat at Scalloway (it is not as dark and buffy as it looks in the photos).

Wednesday 29th November  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst.

The Dark-bellied Brent Goose is still at Sandwick.

Tuesday 28th November  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst and the putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

Sunday 26th November  2006

Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull (2 photos ) at Scalloway  - Hugh Harrop; Iceland Gull at Westing - Mike Pennington

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst. There are Iceland Gulls at Westing, Uyeasound and Haroldswick. There are still  2 Carrion Crows at Baltasound.

The putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie, along with 4 Slavonian Grebes, a first-winter Iceland Gull and 2 Scaups. Another 10 Scaups and 2 Pintails are on Loch of Brow. A Pink-footed Goose is at Hillwell and a Stonechat is at Virkie..

There are 3 Iceland Gulls at Scalloway, none of showing characters of 'Kumlien's Gull' today, and a Glaucous Gull there. A Sparrowhawk is at Kergord and about 600 Golden Plovers are at Wethersta, near Brae.

Saturday 25th November  2006

There are 3 Iceland Gulls at Scalloway, one of which shows characters of 'Kumlien's Gull' and at least one Glaucous Gull around Scalloway and Trondra.

The Chaffinch flock at Twatt, Bixter, has now built up to about 200.

Friday 24th November  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst.

An Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull are at Scalloway. A Waxwing is in St Olaf St, Lerwick.

Thursday 23rd November  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst. There are 2 Waxwings at Baltasound.

Wednesday 22nd November  2006

Bufflehead on Unst - Hugh Harrop NB the last picture is a link to a Quicktime movie (2 Mb - broadband users only)

A white morph Gyrfalcon was seen coming in off the sea at Sothers on Hermaness. The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst. There are 2 Slavonian Grebes at Uyeasound and 20 Snow Buntings at Snarravoe. There were 6 Little Auks and a Puffin in Bluemull Sound.

The putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

Two male Pheasants at Mangaster would suggest a fresh release.

Tuesday 21st November  2006

The adult male Bufflehead is back on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst; despite having been looked for almost every day since, it was last a week ago. The Red-necked Grebe is still at Uyeasound.

There are 70 Chaffinches at Bixter.

Monday 20th November  2006

There are 2 Glaucous Gulls at Burrafirth and another Glaucous Gull and an Iceland Gull at Haroldswick.

Sunday 19th November  2006

The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Tingwall and an Iceland Gull is still at Scalloway, along with 4 Waxwings.

A Blackcap and 14 Chaffinches are at Baltasound.

The putative female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

Saturday 18th November  2006

Red-necked Grebe at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington; Iceland Gull in Scalloway - Micky Maher

A juvenile Red-necked Grebe is at Uyeasound, along with a Slavonian Grebe, 4 Scaups and the Goosander, while the Common Scoter is still on Loch of Snarravoe. At Burrafirth there are 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adults and a first-winter) and a first-winter Iceland Gull.

There are 2 Iceland Gulls at Scalloway.

Friday 17th November  2006

putative Redhead at Spiggie - Dave Hall (2 photos).

The female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie. The white on the tips of the underside of the secondaries is possibly diagnostic. More photos from Sunday just added. Comments welcome.

The Ring-necked Duck is back on Loch of Tingwall. The Iceland Gull is still at Scalloway and another is at Gremista, Lerwick. A first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Benston. A Common Scoter is at Lochend and a ringtail Hen Harrier is at North Roe.

Thursday 16th November  2006

The female Redhead is still on Loch of Spiggie.

Wednesday 15th November  2006

putative Redhead at Spiggie - Roger Riddington (4 photos); Dave Hall (2 photos); Hugh Harrop (5 photos).

A putative female Redhead is on Loch of Spiggie; if confirmed it will the another first for Shetland.

The Canada Goose is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.

A late Whinchat is at Dalsetter, near Boddam.

Incidentally, the Bufflehead has not been seen since Tuesday lunchtime.

Tuesday 14th November  2006

Ring-necked Duck at Clickimin - Hugh Harrop

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst. The Goosander is still at Uyeasound.

What is presumably the same Ring-necked Duck is now on Loch of Clickimin; there was no sign of a bird on Tingwall just afterwards.

Monday 13th November  2006

 

Bufflehead on Unst - Hugh Harrop (one photo); Dave Hall (2 photos); Jim Nicolson (one photo); Ring-necked Duck at Tingwall (right, with Tufted Duck) - Hugh Harrop

The adult male Bufflehead is still on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst and first-winter Iceland Gulls are at Uyeasound, Belmont and Burrafirth. There are also 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adults and a first-winter) at Burrafirth. Another first-winter Iceland Gull is at Ulsta on Yell.

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall. The Iceland Gull is still at Scalloway and 12 Jackdaws are at Gott.

Sunday 12th November  2006

Iceland Gull at Scalloway - Tony Gerrard

A male Bufflehead is on Loch of Snarravoe at Uyeasound on Unst; it is the first record for Shetland. A Common Scoter is also there and a Lapland Bunting and a first-winter Iceland Gull are at Skaw, Unst.

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall along with a Slavonian Grebe and a Common Coot. A first-winter Iceland Gull is at Scalloway. A Hen Harrier is at Tresta, 3 Common Scoters are at Catfirth and 6 Purple Sandpipers are at Melby. There are 82 Whooper Swans at Loch of Spiggie along with 48 Goldeneyes, a Little Grebe, a Common Coot and 8 Moorhens. A Dark-bellied Brent Goose is at Sandwick.

There were 732 Greylag Geese in Dunrossness including 250 at Clumlie, 187 at Hillwell and 157 at Ringasta.

Saturday 11th November  2006

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall. A late Wheatear is at Laxo.

The Taiga Bean Goose is still on Unst, although it is now at Uyeasound, while 426 Greylag Geese were counted on the island.

Thursday 9th November  2006

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall.

A flock of 45 Knots is at Loch of Clickimin in Lerwick.

Wednesday 8th November  2006

Ring Ouzel at Sandgarth - Tony & Beth Gerrard

The Little Egret was still on Mill Loch, Foula, early morning but flew east and has not been seen since.

A very late Garden Warbler, the Ring Ouzel and 2 Blackcaps are at Sandgarth, Voe. A late Northern Wheatear is at Ness of Sound, Lerwick.

There are 100 Ringed Plover at Norby, a Blackcap at Melby and a Gadwall on Stanevatstoe Loch.

A Snow Goose has been reported at Ronas Voe after having been seen at North Roe on 5th and 6th.

Tuesday 7th November  2006

A Little Egret is on Foula; it may have been at Cunningsburgh over the weekend as there were reports from there.

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall.

Monday 6th November  2006

The Siberian Stonechat is still at Hamister, Whalsay, along a Carrion Crow and a Goldcrest.

A Ring Ouzel and a Blackcap are at Sandgarth, Voe, with a Little Auk also found dead there.

An adult Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth.

Sunday 5th November  2006

A Canada Goose and a Slavonian Grebe are at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.

A first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Westing, Unst.

Saturday 4th November  2006

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Tingwall along with a Little Grebe and 2 Pintails. There are 8 Jackdaws by the Califf junction. A late Wheatear is at Skelberry.

The Goosander and 2 Shovelers are still at Uyeasound.

Friday 3rd November  2006

A Little Auk is at Basta Voe. A first-winter Glaucous Gull and a Song Thrush are at Burrafirth.

Thursday 2nd November  2006

A male Siberian Stonechat is at Hamister, Whalsay.

A Wheatear is at Norwick.

There are 50 Chaffinches at Bixter.

Wednesday 1st November  2006

A Waxwing is at Baltasound and a first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Uyeasound.

A Kestrel is at Spiggie. A Peregrine Falcon is at Bixter along with 430 Golden Plovers.

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