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Nature in Shetland

winner of a Shetland Environment Award 2004

Shetland Bird Club

 

Latest Bird Sightings and Photos

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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. Recording forms are available here. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR RECORDS It is time to send in bird records for 2006. records can be sent to this site or to the new recorder, Paul Harvey.

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. New Shetland Checklist downloadable as a pdf here. Species in red are BBRC rarities. Species in orange are local rarities.

Monday 30th April 2007

White-billed Diver in Bluemull Sound - Brydon Thomason; Mandarin Duck at Scatness - Steve Minton; Long-tailed Ducks and Greylag Geese - Mike Pennington

Three White-billed Divers have been see today: an adult at Kettla Ness, Burra, could be the bird that was seen flying past there on Saturday; an adult at Burrafirth on Unst could be the bird that was there 2 weeks ago, but it has moulted very quickly; another adult was seen in the Bluemull triangle off Sound Gruney.

A male Mandarin Duck is at Scatness. A Marsh Harrier over Flossy Loch, near Gulberwick, was seen while flying a paramotor (a small motorised hang-glider).

There are 2 Swallows at Sandgarth, Voe.

Sunday 29th April 2007

Chiffchaff at Burrafirth - Mike Pennington; Carrion Crow at Burravoe - Dougie Preston; Robin at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

There are 4 Chiffchaffs in north Unst and 11 Wood Pigeons at Baltasound. A Carrion Crow is at Burravoe, Yell.

A Cuckoo is at Rerwick. A Robin, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a House Martin, a Fieldfare and 2 Common Terns are at Scatness. There are 2 Swallows at Scousburgh.

Saturday 28th April 2007

King Eider at Walls - Brydon Thomason; Redshank at Scalloway - Jim Nicolson

The Killdeer is on Kettla Ness, Burra. An adult White-billed Diver flew past Kettla Ness in the morning, as well as Shetland's earliest ever Pomarine Skua and a Manx Shearwater.

The adult White-billed Diver is still at Laxo.

A male King Eider is at Burrastow, Walls. A late Jack Snipe is at Loch of Brouster, Walls.

There are Iceland Gulls at Burrafirth and Uyeasound.

There are 2 Common Terns, a Brambling, a Chaffinch and a Carrion Crow at Scatness.

[photos of the Uyeasound dolphin, now identified as Striped Dolphin, on the Latest Sea Mammals page]

Friday 27th April 2007

Common Terns at Scatness - Steve Minton; Whooper Swan at Walls - Dave Hall; Iceland Gulls at Burrafirth and Meadow Pipit - Wendy Dickson

An immature White-billed Diver flew north through Mousa Sound at 6 am. The adult White-billed Diver is still at Laxo.

The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff.

There are 2 Common Terns, 10 Whimbrels and a Fieldfare at Scatness.

Thursday 26th April 2007

Marsh Harrier (pursued by Oystercatcher, Common Gull and Curlew) at Haroldswick - Mike Pennington; Snipe at Scatsta - Karn Crow

The Killdeer is still at Banna Minn, Burra. A juvenile White-billed Diver is off Kettla Ness, Burra.

The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff.

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo. Two Hawfinches are at a garden in Voe. There are 3 Iceland Gulls at Scalloway. A first-summer Little Gull is at Loch of Tingwall.

There are 3 Willow Warblers, a Blackcap and Robin at Gorie, Bressay

A Marsh Harrier is at Haroldswick, 2 Ring Ouzels are at Norwick and 17 Wood Pigeons are at Baltasound.

Wednesday 25th April 2007

A Stock Dove, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaffs are on Noss.

There are 3 Black-tailed Godwits at Melby and a Song Thrush at Dale of Walls.

A first-summer Iceland Gull is at Burrafirth.

Tuesday 24th April 2007

White-billed Diver at Laxo - Hugh Harrop

The Little Egret is now at Laxo and the White-billed Diver is still there. A Common Tern is at Whiteness Voe. A very early Garden Warbler is in North Road, Lerwick.

A Mistle Thrush, 3 Jackdaws and a Willow Warbler are on Noss, with an early Manx Shearwater feeding with Gannets off the north end of the island in the evening.

A Scandinavian Rock Pipit is at Lamba Taing, Sandwick. The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff. The Green-winged Teal is still at Scatness, along with 2 Whimbrels and 3 Swallows. Another Lesser Whitethroat is at Virkie, along with a Willow Warbler, and a Willow Warbler is at Geosetter, a Carrion Crow is at Ringasta and 2 Shovelers are on Loch of Spiggie. A blue Fulmar is at Clevigarth.

Monday 23rd April 2007

Killdeer on Burra - Steve Minton; Swallows and Oystercatcher at Skaw - Mike Pennington

The Killdeer is still at Banna Minn, Burra. A Common Swift over Burra equals the earliest ever Shetland record, which was way back in 1976.

A Bittern is within the grounds of Sullom Voe Terminal (no public access); it is the the 3rd in the last 2 years.

The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff. The 2 Stock Doves are still at Sumburgh Farm.

Two Common Cranes were reported from Semblisetter, west Mainland. there are 2 Sandwich Terns at Trondra.

A Tree Pipit, 2 Swallows, 3 Gadwalls, 11 Wood Pigeons and a Chiffchaff are at Baltasound, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Reed Buntings and 2 Jackdaws are at Haroldswick, a Kestrel, a Peregrine Falcon, a Sparrowhawk and 3 Chiffchaffs are at Norwick and 5 Swallows are at Skaw, Unst.

Sunday 22nd April 2007

Killdeer on Burra - Hugh Harrop

Little Egret at Brae - Hugh Harrop (2 photos); Jim Nicolson; Reed Bunting on Skerries - Peter Flint; Carrion CRow at Haroldswick and Collared Dove at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Guillemots at Sumburgh Head - Karn Crow

The Killdeer is still at Banna Minn, Burra. There are 4 Iceland Gulls on Burra and Trondra.

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo. The Little Egret was still at the Ayre of Brae in the morning. A pair of Pintails are at Houb of Scatsta.

The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff, along with a male Common Scoter. The earliest ever Lesser Whitethroat seen in Shetland is at Ireland, Bigton.

Two Common Cranes were between Uyeasound and Muness in the morning before flying off towards Fetlar. There are 2 Iceland Gulls at Uyeasound, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Carrion Crows and 2 Jackdaws at Haroldswick, 3 Gadwalls and a Blackcap at Baltasound, and an Iceland Gull at Skaw.

A Reed Bunting and 12 Bramblings are on Out Skerries.

Saturday 21st April 2007

Black-tailed Godwits at Uyeasound - Rory Tallack

A Little Egret is at Brae, on the small saltmarsh at the head of Busta Voe.

The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Clickimin, with the blue Fulmar still at Shetland Catch and Iceland Gulls at Gremista and Ness of Sound. There are 2 Stock Doves at Sumburgh Farm.

There are 12 Black-tailed Godwits at Uyeasound and another 7 at Burrafirth along with a first-winter Glaucous Gull.

A male Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs and 4 Song Thrushes are on Noss.

Friday 20th April 2007

White-billed Diver at Laxo - Brydon Thomason; Twite at Sumburgh and Purple Sandpiper and Starling at Sandwick - Dave Hall

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo. A Willow Warbler is at Gletness, South Nesting. There are 2 Pink-footed Geese at Sandwick.

A Lapland Bunting is at North Roe.

There are 3 Pintails (2 males) at Uyeasound and 3 Gadwalls (one male) at Baltasound and 2 Jackdaws at Haroldswick.

A Green Sandpiper and a White Wagtail are on Out Skerries.

Thursday 19th April 2007

Blue Fulmar at Lerwick - Brydon Thomason; Iceland Gull (with Herring Gull) at Scatness - Steve Minton; Long-tailed Duck at Sandwick - Dave Hall; Redwing at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

The Killdeer is still at Banna Minn, Burra.

There are 2 male Pintails at Uyeasound and a first-winter Iceland Gull at Westing.

A 'blue' Fulmar is at Shetland Catch in Lerwick, along with 2 Iceland Gulls, with another Iceland Gull at Strand Loch. A Pink-footed Goose is at Sandwick and a Swallow and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Virkie. A first-summer Iceland Gull is at Scatness.

Wednesday 18th April 2007

Ring-necked Duck at Clickimin - Larry Dalziel; Glaucous Gull and Great Northern Diver at Burrafirth - Wendy Dickson

The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Clickimin.

A first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth.

Tuesday 17th April 2007

The Killdeer is slightly further north, near Ruff Loch on Burra. An Arctic Skua is at Virkie.

Monday 16th April 2007

Hooded Crow and Wren at Burrafirth - Wendy Dickson

The Killdeer is still at Kettla Ness, Burra.

The male King Eider is still at Wester Quarff.

Sunday 15th April 2007

Killdeer on Kettla Ness - Hugh Harrop (3 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos)

The Killdeer is still at Kettla Ness, Burra.

A Rook and a Carrion Crow are at Toab and the Smew is still on Loch of Hillwell.

A Swallow and 2 Greenfinches are at Baltasound and 5 Jackdaws are at Haroldswick. A Swallow is at Burravoe on Yell, and another is on Fetlar.

Saturday 14th April 2007

White-billed Diver at Burrafirth - Rory Tallack; Lapwing and Wheatear at Haroldswick - Wendy Dickson; Brambling at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

The Killdeer has been relocated on Kettla Ness, Burra, not far from where it was originally.

The adult White-billed Diver is still at Burrafirth. There are 19 Redwings, 18 Bramblings, 9 Wood Pigeons and a male Greenfinch at Baltasound, 7 Redwings at Northdale and another 2 at Skaw, Unst.

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo.

There are 6 Wheatears, 4 Swallows, 2 Moorhens, a Merlin and a Collared Dove at Scatness. There are 2 Wheatears at Eshaness.

Alec Moncrieff meanwhile had a Goldcrest at Bigton.

Friday 13th April 2007

Gadwalls at Haroldswick (phone-scoped) - Rory Tallack

An adult White-billed Diver is at Burrafirth, a Sparrowhawk, 4 Jackdaws and 2 Gadwalls are at Haroldswick and 2 Wheatears are at Uyeasound.

On Noss, 4 Rooks and 2 Jackdaws flew over. There are 2 more Jackdaws and 8 Wheatears at Virkie.

A Great Tit is on Whalsay for its second day.

Thursday 12th April 2007

Chaffinch and Brambling at Baltasound  - Mike Pennington

A Willow Warbler, 3 Bramblings and 2 Chaffinches are at Baltasound, and a Chiffchaff and 2 Bramblings are at Skaw.

There are 4 Wheatears at Grutness and a family party of 5 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Sumburgh Farm.

A female Greenfinch is at Sandgarth, Voe. A Ring Ouzel is at Tresta. A male Ring Ouzel, 4 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes and 2 Fieldfares are on Noss.

There are 6 Bramblings and 2 Chaffinches on Out Skerries.

There are 2 Arctic Skuas on Fetlar.

Wednesday 11th April 2007

Snow Goose at East Burrafirth - Steve Minton (2 photos); Larry Dalziel (one photo); Hugh Harrop ( 3 photos)

Little Gull at Virkie - Roger Riddington; Skylark at Skaw and Rock Dove at Haroldswick - Wendy Dickson; Ring-necked Duck at Clickimin - Hugh Harrop

The Snow Goose was still with Greylag Geese at East Burrafirth, Aith, in the morning but had gone later in the day.

A very early House Martin is at Fladdabister. A Little Gull at Virkie is assumed to be the wintering bird from Hillwell. The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch of Clickimin. A Song Thrush and a Goldcrest are at Sandgarth, Voe.

There are still 750 Eiders in Tresta Voe. A Wheatear is at Bixter.

The Sandwich Tern is still at Burrafirth, with a Brambling at Baltasound.

There are 4 Bramblings, a Collared Dove and 6 Fieldfares on Out Skerries.

Tuesday 10th April 2007

Snow Goose at East Burrafirth - Hugh Harrop

A Snow Goose is with Greylag Geese at East Burrafirth, Aith; there are only 7 previous Shetland records (including a flock of 6), the last in 2002.

The Sandwich Tern is still at Burrafirth.

A Greenfinch is on Foula.

Monday 9th April 2007

Sandwich Tern at Burrafirth - Rory Tallack; Rock Pipit at Westing - Mike Pennington; Smew at Scatness - Steve Minton; Brambling on Skerries - Peter Flint

The male King Eider is still in Clift Sound and was seen from Burra.

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo.

A Sandwich Tern is at Burrafirth, with single Bramblings at Norwick and Baltasound and a Chiffchaff still at Baltasound.

There are 2 Shelducks, 2 Gadwalls, the male Green-winged Teal, the Smew and a Song Thrush at Scatness. A Wheatear is at Gruting.

Sunday 8th April 2007

There are 9 first-winter Iceland Gulls on Trondra and Burra and 5 at Shetland Catch in Lerwick, including the bird showing characters of Kumlien's Gull.

The Yellowhammer is still at Baltasound and a Great Skua is at Uyeasound.

Saturday 7th April 2007

Ring-necked Duck and Tufted Duck at Clickimin - Jim Nicolson; Shelducks in Lerwick - Jim Gray

There are male King Eiders in Tresta Voe and at Wester Quarff.

The White-billed Diver is still at Laxo. A Glaucous Gull is at Loch of Benston.

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Clickimin. A pair of Shelducks are at Pullar's Loch, Lerwick. There are 8 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull at Scalloway and 3 Iceland Gulls and a 'Blue' Fulmar at the Shetland Catch in Lerwick.

A Carrion Crow is at Bigton and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Pool of Virkie.

The Yellowhammer and a Chiffchaff are at Baltasound

Friday 6th April 2007

Killdeer on Burra - Jim Nicolson

A Killdeer is at Banna Minn, Burra; it is only the 2nd for Shetland following one at Hillwell in March 1993.

The White-billed Diver, probably a second-winter, is still at Laxo.

A Common Crane at Heogland, Eshaness, is presumably the bird seen last weekend.

There are 744 Common Eiders in Tresta Voe and a Black-throated Diver at Norby.

A Yellowhammer is at Baltasound and a Peregrine Falcon is at Skaw.

Thursday 5th April 2007

Rock Dove at Baltasound  - Mike Pennington

A male King Eider is at Wester Quarff.

The Hawfinch is still at the Sletts in Lerwick.

A Bar-tailed Godwit, a Fieldfare and a Moorhen are at Sandgarth, Voe.

A Great Skua is on Fetlar.

Wednesday 4th April 2007

A Hawfinch is at the Sletts in Lerwick.

Tuesday 3rd April 2007

Brambling at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Pied Wagtail at Skaw and Goldcrest at Norwick - Mike Pennington

The Red-flanked Bluetail is still on Out Skerries.

There are 4 Goldcrests at Norwick, a first-summer Iceland Gull and 2 Pied Wagtails at Skaw, and a Siskin, 3 Redwings and the Bar-tailed Godwit at Baltasound.

There are 2 Goldcrests at Sandgarth, Voe. The Green-winged Teal, the Mallard x Pintail hybrid, the 2 Gadwalls and 2 Moorhens are at Scatness and a Brambling is at Cunningbsurgh.

Monday 2nd April 2007

Red-flanked Bluetail on Skerries - Peter Flint; Bar-tailed Godwit at Baltasound - Wendy Dickson

A Red-flanked Bluetail is on Out Skerries.

The Velvet Scoter is still at West Voe of Sumburgh, a pair of Common Scoters are at Bay of Quendale, a Water Rail is at Virkie willows, and a first-summer Iceland Gull is at Scord, Sumburgh. There are 3 Jackdaws at Kergord.

A Chiffchaff and a Bar-tailed Godwit are at Baltasound.

Sunday 1st April 2007

Common Crane at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington

What is presumably the same Common Crane was at Small Waters, Uyeasound, in late afternoon but it had gone by early evening. The 5 Barnacle Geese are still at Baltasound, 4 Redwings are at Burrafirth and a Goldcrest is at Skaw.

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch of Clickimin and 9 Iceland Gulls are at Scalloway. A Black Redstart is at Sound, Lerwick. A Goldcrest and 10 Fieldfares are at Swining. There are 4 Common Scoters in West Voe, Burra.

A Wheatear is at Grutness, a Yellowhammer is at Quendale, the Smew and the Mallard x Pintail hybrid are at Scatness, 12 Common Coots and the Little Gull are at Loch of Hillwell and the adult Black-throated Diver and 14 Great Northern Divers are in Bay of Quendale.