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Nature in Shetland

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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. 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.

Thursday 31st May 2007

Blyth's Reed Warbler and Blackcap at Burrafirth - Mike Pennington

 

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Skaw and Icterine warbler at Norwick - Stef McElwee; Little Crake at Burrafirth - Mike Pennington

 

Icterine Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel, Wood warbler at Geosetter and Red-backed Shrike at Quendale - Dave Hall; Red-backed Shrike at Scatness - Steve Minton

A Blyth's Reed Warbler is at Skaw, Unst, the Little Crake is still at Burrafirth, there are Marsh Warblers at Burrafirth and Northdale, a Red-backed Shrike at Northdale, Icterine Warblers at Skaw and Norwick, and a female Yellowhammer at Baltasound.

A Rustic Bunting, a Marsh Warbler and a male Red-backed Shrike are at Grutness. There are also male Red-backed Shrikes at Scatness and Quendale and a female at Sandwick, and Icterine Warblers at Geosetter and Sumburgh Hotel and 2 at Boddam, while a Wood Warbler is at Geosetter. A Corncrake is at Sumburgh and a Little Gull is at Loch of Hillwell. There are 30 Sanderlings and 5 Knots at Pool of Virkie. An Icterine Warbler and a Hawfinch are at Quarff.

A male Snow Bunting, a Reed Warbler and 2 female Red-backed Shrikes are on Fetlar.

There are 2 Red-backed Shrikes, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, an Icterine Warbler and a Sedge Warbler on Whalsay.

A female Bluethroat and a flyover Yellow Wagtail are on Noss.

A scatter of other migrants are also around, with Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warblers and Blackcaps in the forefront.

Wren fledglings in Halligarth mean the species can be added to the list of early breeders for the year.

Wednesday 30th May 2007

Little Crake at Burrafirth and Icterine warbler at Norwick - Stef McElwee; Mallard duckling and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Burrafirth - Mike Smith

The Little Crake is still at Burrafirth, an Icterine Warbler is at Norwick and a Spotted Flycatcher is at Skaw.

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth in Dunrossness and an Icterine Warbler and a Cuckoo are at Grutness. A subadult sinensis Cormorant is at Pool of Virkie, presumably the bird reported earlier in the month. A Hawfinch is at Scousburgh.

A female Goosander is on Fetlar.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler are on Noss.

Tuesday 29th May 2007

Little Crake at Burrafirth - Stef McElwee (2 photos); Steve Minton (2 photos)

Little Crake at Burrafirth - Mike Pennington (3 photos); Brydon Thomason (one photo)

Red-necked Phalaropes on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason

A Little Crake is at Burrafirth. It is only the third Shetland record following singles at Uyeasound in April 1959 and on Fair Isle in May 1970. The bird may have been around for several days as a rail or crake was seen here on 26th May and another, behaving in exactly the same manner, was at the same site on 9th May!

A Little Egret is at Brig of Bakkasetter.

A Red Kite has been reported at Gulberwick for a second day.

A Common Rosefinch flew over Noss.

Monday 28th May 2007

Turnstone at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson

A male Garganey is at Loch of Tingwall.

Sunday 27th May 2007

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Burrafirth - Stef McElwee (one photo); Mike Pennington (one photo); Wendy Dickson (one photo); Iceland Gulls at Skaw and Burrafirth - Wendy Dickson; Ruff and Siskin at Baltasound - Stef McElwee

Lapwing, Eider and Dunlins at Skaw; Arctic Terns and Common Tern at Lund - Mike Pennington

Killdeer at Clevigarth - Rob Fray

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth in Dunrossness, a Bluethroat is at Virkie, and a first-summer Little Gull and a Little Grebe are at Loch of Hillwell. An Iceland Gull is at Spiggie. A brood of Shelducks are at Boddam. There are 2 Knots and 31 Sanderlings at Pool of Virkie.

A female Red-breasted Flycatcher is at Burrafirth, Iceland Gulls are at Burrafirth and Skaw, a Wood Sandpiper is at Haroldswick, and a Ruff and the Cuckoo are at Baltasound.

A female Lapland Bunting is on Kettla Ness, Burra, and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew north there. A brood of Ringed Plover chicks is on East Burra. A male Common Scoter is still at Sound, Lerwick.

Saturday 26th May 2007

Sanderlings at Virkie - Jim Nicolson; dead Common Crossbill at Lerwick - Ray Johnston; Golden Plover at Skaw and Lapwing and Cuckoo at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Shovelers at Haroldswick - Wendy Dickson

A White-billed Diver flew north past West Burra at mid-day.

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth in Dunrossness, the Great White Egret has reappeared at Brig of Bakkasetter and a Sedge Warbler is at Virkie.

A female Common Crossbill flew into a window in North Road, Lerwick.

A Cuckoo is at Baltasound, 2 male Shovelers and a Greenshank are at Haroldswick, a Common Swift is at Norwick and the Water Rail is still at Burrafirth.

Friday 25th May 2007

Golden Plover and Ringed Plover at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington; Turnstone at Westing - Wendy Dickson; Sanderling at Virkie and Oystercatcher and Arctic Tern at Grutness - Dave Hall

A Little Egret is at Sand Water.

A Moorhen is at Belmont and an Iceland Gull is at Baltasound.

Thursday 24th May 2007

Cuckoo at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Wheatears at Norwick - Mike Pennington; Iceland Gull and Common Scoters at Burrafirth - Wendy Dickson; Kittiwake and Dunlin at Grutness - Dave Hall

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth in Dunrossness.

A Quail and a Common Whitethroat are at Norwick, an Iceland Gull and the 2 Common Scoters are at Burrafirth and a female Scaup is at Uyeasound.

A Cuckoo is at Cunningsburgh.

Wednesday 23rd May 2007

Knots at Virkie - Dave Hall

There are 2 Wood Sandpipers, a Sand Martin and at least 6 House Martins at Loch of Hillwell, with 50 Swallows at Hillwell, 25 at Brow and 10 at Quendale. There are 8 Knots at Pool of Virkie. A Cuckoo is at Ocraquoy. A first-summer Iceland Gull is at Wester Quarff.

There are 2 Common Scoters at Burrafirth and a Grey Wagtail is at Haroldswick.

A Sedge Warbler and a Sand Martin are on Whalsay.

Tuesday 22nd May 2007

Arctic Skua at Kettla Ness - Brydon Thomason; Little Egret on Out Skerries - Peter Flint; Whimbrel in south Mainland - Jim Nicolson; Willow Warbler and Jackdaw at Ocraquoy - George Petrie

The Little Egret is still on Out Skerries.

A first-summer Pomarine Skua and 3 Manx Shearwaters flew past Kettla Ness and an adult Pomarine Skua flew over Banna Minn, Burra.

A Willow Warbler and a Jackdaw are at Ocraquoy. A Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and 50 Swallows are at Loch of Hillwell. There are 2 House Martins at Sumburgh Head.

A male Shoveler and 2 Gadwalls are at Haroldswick and the Sedge Warbler is still at Skaw, Unst..

Monday 21st May 2007

Common Crane at Laxfirth and Arctic Skua at Clumlie - Dave Hall

A first-summer White-billed Diver was at Norwick in mid-afternoon, but not later. A Sedge Warbler is at Skaw, a Kestrel, a Ring Ouzel and 2 Pied Flycatchers are at Norwick, a Garden Warbler is at Haroldswick, and a Curlew Sandpiper and a Tree Pipit are at Baltasound.

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth.

A male Bluethroat, a Willow Warbler and a House Martin are on Noss. A sub-adult Iceland Gull showing characters of 'Kumlien's Gull' was at Gremista, Lerwick, in the afternoon.

On Out Skerries there are 2 Collared Doves, a Sedge Warbler, a Little Egret and a Tree Sparrow.

The 3 Common Cranes are still at Laxfirth, Tingwall.

A Rook is on Fetlar.

A Pomarine Skua flew overland at Braewick, Eshaness.

Sunday 20th May 2007

Pomarine Skuas off Wats Ness - Brydon Thomason

Common Gull, Arctic Tern and Arctic Skua in south Mainland - Hugh Harrop

Purple Sandpiper at Sandwick - Jim Nicolson; Common Cranes at Tingwall - Gillian Okill; Tree Sparrow on Out Skerries - Peter Flint; Eider at Haroldswick and Arctic Skuas and Common Gulls at Clibberswick - Mike Pennington

A Baird's Sandpiper was at Haroldswick briefly in the afternoon, but it was not seen later.

There are 3 Common Cranes at Tingwall, presumably the 3 that have been in the islands over the last few days. A first-summer Iceland Gull is at Laxfirth and 6 Swallows are at Catfirth.

Off Wats Ness there were 11 Manx Shearwaters, all but one heading north, 18 Pomarine Skuas and an adult Long-tailed Skua. There were 15 also Pomarine Skuas and a single Long-tailed Skua past West Burra in the afternoon. Another Pomarine Skua was seen flying north up Weisdale Voe.

There are 2 broods of Coots at Loch of Hillwell, along with 24 Swallows and a House Martin. A male Peregrine Falcon flew over the Spiggie Hotel.

The Tree Sparrow is still on Out Skerries.

A Tree Pipit is at Baltasound and a Peregrine Falcon is on Hermaness.

Saturday 19th May 2007

Stock Dove at Norwick and Iceland Gull at Skaw - Mike Pennington; Shelduck at Haroldswick and Golden Plover at Skaw - Wendy Dickson

A Common Crane is at Strand.

A Wryneck is at Sandwick.

Eight Pomarine Skuas and 2 Manx Shearwaters passed Wats Ness in the afternoon. Another Pomarine Skua and 7 Manx Shearwaters were seen past Yaafield, near Maywick.

On Unst, a Grey Wagtail and the Iceland Gull are at Skaw, a Stock Dove and a Rook are at Norwick, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Sanderlings, 2 Shelducks and 3 Carrion Crows are at Haroldswick, 10 Knots are at Baltasound and a Mute Swan is at Uyeasound.

Friday 18th May 2007

Little Gulls at Hillwell - Hugh Harrop; Purple Sandpiper at Sandwick - Dave Hall

A probable Red Kite flew south over Hermaness in early evening. A Greenshank and a Whinchat are at Baltasound.

The Killdeer is still at Clevigarth, the 2 Common Cranes are still at Spiggie and 2 Little Gulls are at Loch of Hillwell.

A Grey-headed Wagtail, a Sanderling and a Sand Martin are on Noss.

The Tree Sparrow is still on Out Skerries, along with 2 Swallows.

Thursday 17th May 2007

Common Crane at Sandness - Frances Taylor; Greylag Goose in south Mainland - Jim Nicolson; Black-tailed Godwit at Spiggie - Dave Hall

A presumed white-phase Gyrfalcon was described by a visitor; it was seen flying south along the Hermaness side of Burra Firth before heading off north along the Saxa Vord side. A Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull and a female Snow Bunting are at Burrafirth and a Whinchat and a Carrion Crow are at Haroldswick.

The 2 Common Cranes are still around Spiggie, along with a Black-tailed Godwit, the Great White Egret was still at Brig of Bakkasetter in the morning, there are 14 Swallows at Loch of Hillwell and a Corncrake is at Sumburgh.

Another Common Crane is at Sandness.

The Carrion Crow is still at Burravoe, Yell.

Wednesday 16th May 2007

Common Crane at Spiggie - Hugh Harrop (4 photos); Jim Nicolson (one photo)

 

Red-throated Diver near Voe - Steve Minton; Carrion Crow at Burravoe, Yell - Dougie Preston; Great Skua and Iceland Gull at Skaw and Lapwing and Curlew at Haroldswick - Wendy Dickson

The 2 Common Cranes are still at various sites around Spiggie, and the Great White Egret is back at Brig of Bakkasetter.

Another Common Crane flew north over Gremista, Lerwick.

The first-summer Iceland Gull is still at Skaw, Unst, and there are 42 Swallows there.

The Carrion Crow is still at Burravoe, Yell.

Tuesday 15th May 2007

Killdeer at Clevigarth - Hugh Harrop (3 photos); Jim Nicolson (one photo); Dave Hall (2 photos)

Great White Egret at Spiggie and Brow- Roger Riddington (2 photos, second with Common Cranes); Steve Minton (2 photos)

Great Skua at Yell - Dougie Preston; Arctic Terns at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington

The Killdeer is still along the coast between Virkie and Clevigarth.

The Great White Egret was back at Brig of Bakkasetter in the morning, but later moved to Setter, where it was seen together with the Common Cranes. The Mallard x Pintail hybrid is still at Scatness.

Monday 14th May 2007

Common Cranes at Spiggie - Hugh Harrop (top row); Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Steve Minton (one photo)

A Killdeer is along the coast between Virkie and Clevigarth.

Two Common Cranes which flew over Scousburgh were found later in a ploughed field at the north end of Loch of Spiggie. A Pied Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler are at Virkie. A male Garganey is at Loch of Hillwell.

There are 2 Jackdaws at Baltasound.

A Dunnock and a Chiffchaff are on Noss.

Sunday 13th May 2007

Whooper Swan and Wheatear at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Lapwing with chicks, Common Sandpiper and Black-headed Gull in central Mainland - Brydon Thomason; Pied Flycatcher at Quendale - Rob Fray

A Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank and 2 Willow Warblers are at Baltasound.

A Garganey, a Pintail and 2 Gadwalls are at Loch of Hillwell and 9 Sanderlings are at Grutness. A Pied Flycatcher is at Quendale. A female Black Redstart is at Scatness.

Saturday 12th May 2007

Calandra Lark at Baltasound - Mike Pennington (6 photos, first a videograb)

 Calandra Lark at Baltasound - Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Brydon Thomason (2 photos); Dave Hall (2 photos)

 Calandra Lark at Baltasound - Dougie Preston (4 photos); Steve Minton (3 photos)

 the webmaster adds Calandra Lark to his garden list - Margaret Pennington

A Calandra Lark is at Baltasound. moving between the old 'pig field' and the newly ploughed crop 50 m away. It is the 4th for Shetland, but the first away from Fair Isle, and the 14th for Britain.

A Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper and 3 Common Redpolls are at Scatness. There are 2 Knots, a Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie.

A Pheasant was seen near Mangaster.

Continuing the theme of early breeding, Blackbirds have fledged chicks at Maywick already, and a very early Golden Plover chick was seen near Dury Voe, Delting.

Friday 11th May 2007

Dunlin at Grutness - Jim Nicolson

A Common Crane is on Foula.

There are 2 Linnets and a pair of Shovelers at Virkie and a House Martin, a Sand Martin, 3 Shovelers, a pair of Pintails, a pair of Gadwalls and 25 Swallows at Loch of Hillwell. A Short-eared Owl is at Sandwick.

Thursday 10th May 2007

Common (Mealy) Redpoll at Northdale - Rory Tallack

A Brambling is at Baltasound, and a Common Whitethroat and a Common (Mealy) Redpoll are at Northdale, Unst.

A male Common Scoter is still at Sound of Sound, Lerwick. There are 2 Grey Wagtails at Weisdale.

There are 2 Linnets at Virkie and 14 Swallows, a Little Grebe, a pair of Pintails, a pair of Gadwalls and 2 pairs of Shovelers at Loch of Hillwell.

Wednesday 9th May 2007

A female Sparrowhawk is on Fetlar.

A Hawfinch is at Wester Quarff. A Short-eared Owl and a first-summer Iceland Gull are at Scatness. A Brambling and a Peregrine Falcon are at Sumburgh.

An extremely early fledged juvenile Collared Dove was picked up in Lerwick.

Tuesday 8th May 2007

A Great White Egret is at Brig of Bakkasetter (Brow Marsh).

A Greenshank, a Redwing, 4 Carrion Crows and a Brambling are at Baltasound and 8 Whimbrels and a first-summer Iceland Gull are at Skaw, Unst. Another Greenshank is on Fetlar.

There were 7 Pomarine Skuas and a very late Little Auk flew past Esha Ness, while Pomarine Skuas were also reported off Wats Ness but no details are available. There are Arctic Terns at several sites now including Scord, South Nesting Bay and Haroldswick.

A male Common Scoter is at Sound of Sound, Lerwick.

Monday 7th May 2007

Swallow on Out Skerries - Peter Flint; Dunlin on Unst - Mike Pennington

There are 6 Swallows on Out Skerries.

A Grey Wagtail is on Fetlar.

There are 5 Arctic Terns at Haroldswick, 3 over East Burra and 3 at East Voe of Scalloway. A first-summer Glaucous Gull is at Scalloway.

Sunday 6th May 2007

Greylag Goose on Unst - Mike Pennington; Red Grouse at Scatsta - Brian Gray

A Shoveler is at Haroldswick and a Glaucous Gull is at Uyeasound.

There are 2 Bramblings, a Swallow and a Siskin on Out Skerries. A Siskin is at Scousburgh and a House Martin is at Boddam.

A Blackcap, a Willow Warbler, a Fieldfare and an Arctic Tern are on Noss.

Saturday 5th May 2007

Mandarin Ducks at Cullivoe - Dougie Preston; Siskin at Ocraquoy - George Petrie; Pied Flycatcher at Sandwick - Jim Nicolson

There are 2 male Mandarin Ducks at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.

There are 3 Tree Sparrows at Norwick, a male Ring Ouzel at Northdale, a Rook at Haroldswick and an Iceland Gull at Burrafirth.

An Osprey flew south over Rerwick in late afternoon and there are 2 Linnets still at Virkie. An Iceland Gull is at Grutness. Five Siskins are at Ocraquoy and a male Pied Flycatcher is at Sandwick.

A Jackdaw flew over Noss.

Friday 4th May 2007

Blackcap at Sandgarth, Voe - Tony & Beth Gerrard

The Killdeer is still around, back at the small pools on the hillside north of Banna Minn, Burra.

A Common Crane is at Tingwall, just north of the church. A female Blackcap is at Sandgarth, Voe.

A Reed Bunting, a Kestrel and a Wood Pigeon are at North Roe, and there are 2 Glaucous Gulls at Urafirth.

A Wood Sandpiper, a Little Grebe, a pair of Pintails, a pair of Gadwalls and a pair of Shovelers are at Loch of Hillwell. A Black-throated Diver and 7 Great Northern Divers are in Bay of Quendale. At Virkie there is a Linnet and a Redwing, with a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie, while the Mallard x Pintail hybrid is still at Scatness.

A Siskin is at Burravoe, Yell.

A male Pied Flycatcher and a Common Tern are on Noss.

Thursday 3rd May 2007

Moorhen at Graven - George Graham

A probable sinensis Cormorant is at Loch of Hillwell, where it was first seen distantly on 30th April. If confirmed, it will be the first for Shetland, although several suspected birds have been seen in the past but without details of the gular pouch and other critical features being seen.

A Little Egret was on Out Skerries at about 7:30 pm before flying east; it may be the bird last seen at Laxo.

The adult White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister, Nesting. There are 2 Linnets at Virkie.

There is a Common Sandpiper, a Common Swift, a Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Pied Flycatcher and a Linnet on Foula.

A Moorhen is at Graven, by Sullom Voe Terminal.

Wednesday 2nd May 2007

The Killdeer is still on Kettla Ness, Burra.

A Chiffchaff, a Common Swift and a Goldcrest are on Out Skerries.

There are 2 Common Terns at Loch of Spiggie.

A Tree Pipit and a male Blackcap are on Noss with 3 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Tree Pipit and a Redwing at Gorie, Bressay.

Tuesday 1st May 2007

 

White-billed Diver off Fetlar - Brydon Thomason

Common Crane at Skaw and Pied Flycatcher at Burrafirth - Rory Tallack

Three adult White-billed Divers were seen again today. One off Sand of Sand, Brough, Fetlar, was definitely different to the one seen north of Fetlar yesterday; another one was seen off Kirkabister, Nesting, was not the Laxo bird; the adult was still in Burrafirth, Unst.

A Common Crane was seen flying over Baltasound, before being relocated at Skaw, and it was last seen flying off towards Hermaness. A Pied Flycatcher is at Burrafirth.

There are 2 Common Terns at Hoswick and one at Spiggie, a Green Sandpiper at Swinister, Blackcaps at Channerwick and Geosetter, Willow Warblers at Geosetter and Maywick and a Pied Flycatcher at Geosetter.

There are 30 Knots at South Ness, Lerwick. A Glaucous Gull is at Urafirth.

A female Lapland Bunting is on Noss for its third day.

Exceptionally early House Sparrow fledglings have been seen on Trondra.