nature-shetland.co.uk

contact us

About these pages

Nature in Shetland

winner of a Shetland Environment Award 2004

Shetland Bird Club

 

Latest Bird Sightings and Photos

Send  in your news.

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.

Sunday 30th September 2007

Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar - Dougie Preston; Great Shearwater wing from Rerwick - Roger Riddington

 Grey Phalarope at Spiggie - Hugh Harrop (2 photos) Jim Nicolson (one photo); Twite on Fetlar - Dougie Preston; Peregrine Falcon at Sand Water - George Graham

The Swainson's Thrush is still at Houbie on Fetlar; there are also 2 Barred Warblers, a Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Lapland Buntings on the island and a Marsh Warbler is at Funzie.

The female Sardinian Warbler is still at Groups, by the Spiggie Hotel at South Scousburgh. The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie and the Grey Phalarope is still on the north end of Loch of Spiggie. There are 2 Yellow-browed Warblers still at Geosetter and others at Virkie and Hoswick. A Grey Plover is on Pool of Virkie. The wings of a dead Great Shearwater were found on a BBS at Rerwick.

 A male Ring-necked Duck on the Loch of Tingwall is presumably the returning bird of last winter; there are 4 male Pochards and a female Scaup there. A Hoopoe is on Trondra. A Yellow-browed Warbler is at Kergord. There are Peregrine Falcons at Sand Water and Grutness.

The Spotted Sandpiper is still at Burravoe on Yell and a Kestrel and 2 Glaucous Gulls are at Gutcher.

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, the 7th of the autumn, was on Lamba Ness, Unst, at mid-day, the Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound, the adult White-rumped Sandpiper is still at Westing on Unst, and the Great Grey Shrike is still at Norwick along with a Yellow-browed Warbler.

Saturday 29th September 2007

Grey Phalarope at Spiggie - Jim Nicolson (one photo); Hugh Harrop (4 photos)

 White-rumped Sandpiper at Westing - Mike Pennington (3 photos); Wendy Dickson (2 photos)

Common Snipe at Haroldswick and Starling at Westing - Wendy Dickson; Yellow-browed Warbler at Geosetter - Jim Nicolson

The Swainson's Thrush is still at Houbie on Fetlar (photos added below). A probable Great Snipe was seen north of the school on Fetlar but could not be relocated. A Marsh Warbler is at Funzie, Fetlar.

A Citrine Wagtail, a Richard's Pipit, a Barred Warbler and a Yellow-browed Warbler are on Foula.

The female Sardinian Warbler is still at Groups, by the Spiggie Hotel at South Scousburgh. The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie and a Grey Phalarope is on the north end of Loch of Spiggie. The Icterine Warbler, the Barred Warbler and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers are at Geosetter. A Barred Warbler is at Kergord.

The Spotted Sandpiper is still at Burravoe on Yell.

An adult White-rumped Sandpiper is at Westing on Unst; it has the same moult pattern as the Norwick bird and so must be the same bird, despite the 15 km distance in between. The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler. The Great Grey Shrike was at Norwick, an early Glaucous Gull is at Skaw, Unst, and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers are at Uyeasound.

Friday 28th September 2007

Siberian Thrush on Foula - Hugh Harrop (5 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos)

Siberian Thrush on Foula - Rob Fray (5 photos)

Swainson's Thrush on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason

Great Grey Shrike and Whinchat at Skaw, Unst - Wendy Dickson; Melodious Warbler at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

A Siberian Thrush is at Hametoun, Foula. It is the first for Shetland, which means that this is the 55th consecutive year that a species has been added to the Shetland List. There is an Icterine Warbler, a Barred Warbler and 8 Yellow-browed Warblers there.

A Swainson's Thrush is at Houbie on Fetlar. It is the 5th for Shetland. A Red-backed Shrike is in the same area.

A Pechora Pipit was on Out Skerries in the morning but could not be relocated later although a Yellow-browed Warbler is there.

The female Sardinian Warbler is still at Groups, by the Spiggie Hotel at South Scousburgh. The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie, an Icterine Warbler and 4 Yellow-browed Warblers are at Geosetter and there are 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sumburgh Head and another at Channerwick. An adult male Peregrine Falcon is at Bixter and another is at Noness.

The Spotted Sandpiper is still at Burravoe on Yell. The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound, with 5 Yellow-browed Warblers reported on Unst and a Great Grey Shrike at Lamba Ness.

A Little Bunting is at Skaw, Whalsay.

Thursday 27th September 2007

Sardinian Warbler at Scousburgh and Spotted Sandpiper at Burravoe - Hugh Harrop

White-rumped Sandpiper (with Turnstones and Sanderling) and Sanderlings at Norwick and Melodious Warbler at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

A nominate race Arctic Redpoll is at Funzie on Fetlar, with a Red-backed Shrike and a Bluethroat on the island.

The female Sardinian Warbler is still at Groups, by the Spiggie Hotel at South Scousburgh. There are 2 Common Rosefinches at Quendale and singles at Boddam, Grutness and Garths Ness, Yellow-browed Warblers at Hillwell, Quendale and Toab, and North-western Common Redpolls at Quendale and Spiggie.

A Citrine Wagtail is at Eshaness. There are 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Wester Quarff.

The Spotted Sandpiper is still at Burravoe on Yell. A White-rumped Sandpiper is at Norwick, a Black-throated Diver flew past Muness, and the Melodious Warbler and the Marsh Warbler are still at Baltasound, along with a Yellow-browed Warbler.

The Arctic Warbler is still on Out Skerries, along with a Barred Warbler and an Iceland Gull. A Bluethroat is at Sandwick, Whalsay.

There are 2 Lapland Buntings and 9 Bramblings on Noss.

There was also a good scatter of other new migrants including Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats, Redwings etc.

Wednesday 26th September 2007

Spotted Sandpiper at Burravoe, Yell - Steve Minton; Melodious Warbler at Baltasound - Jim Nicolson; Whinchat at Skaw - Mike Pennington

A female Sardinian Warbler is at Groups, by the Spiggie Hotel at South Scousburgh; it is the 7th for Shetland but the first in autumn, apart from a bird found at Cunningsburgh in July 1992 which remained until October. The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie and there is a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Blackcap is at Scatness, and a North-western Common Redpoll at Sumburgh Hotel and another Common Redpoll at Quendale.

There are 50 Knots at Sletts, Lerwick, and a Lesser Whitethroat at Seafield, Lerwick. A Redwing is at Bousta, Sandness.

The Spotted Sandpiper is still at Burravoe on Yell, but still elusive. There are also 2 North-western Common Redpolls there.

The Arctic Warbler is still on Out Skerries.

The Melodious Warbler and the Marsh Warbler are still at Baltasound, a Lapland Bunting, 30 Snow Buntings and 6 Sooty Shearwaters are at Lamba Ness, the Common Rosefinch, a Barred Warbler and 12 North-western Common Redpolls are at Norwick. A Mute Swan and a male Pochard are on Easter Loch, Uyeasound.

Tuesday 25th September 2007

Sanderling at Sandwick - Jim Nicolson

Another elusive Spotted Sandpiper is at Burravoe on Yell; it has probably been present since the 22nd. A Ruff and a Grey Wagtail are also there.

The other Spotted Sandpiper was seen briefly at Lamba Ness on Unst at mid-day. The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound, along with a Barred Warbler. The Common Rosefinch is still at Norwick along with another Barred Warbler.

A typically mobile Citrine Wagtail is at the Wart, Sandwick. The Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Fleck.

The Arctic Warbler is still on Out Skerries.

Monday 24th September 2007

The Arctic Warbler is still on Out Skerries.

The eclipse male King Eider is off Wester Quarff  and a Common Rosefinch is at Hoswick. A Common Rosefinch, a Song Thrush and a Blackcap are at Scatness, and a Brambling and a North-western Common Redpoll are at Grutness.

A Common Rosefinch is at Norwick, a Black-tailed Godwit is at Baltasound and a Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver are at Burrafirth.

Sunday 23rd September 2007

Wheatear at Westing - Mike Pennington

An Arctic Warbler is on Out Skerries.

The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie and the Pectoral Sandpiper is still at Fleck. There are 3 North-western Common Redpolls at the Sumburgh Hotel and a Carrion Crow at Hillwell. There are 4 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness.

The eclipse male King Eider is off Wester Quarff and another North-western Common Redpoll is there. A juvenile Iceland Gull is at Twatt. An Osprey flew north over Sand Water. A Black-tailed Godwit is at Linga Ness, Nesting.

A Yellow-browed Warbler is on Fetlar. There are 2 Ruffs at Burravoe, Yell.

The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound and the Shore Lark is at Lamba Ness.

Saturday 22nd September 2007

Shags, Turnstone, Snow Bunting and Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw, Brent Goose and Sanderling at Easting, Unst - Mike Pennington

Snow Bunting at Skaw - Dave Hall

The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie and the Pectoral Sandpiper is still around, but has moved towards Fleck.

Another Pectoral Sandpiper is on Fetlar.

A Yellow-browed Warbler and a very early Greenfinch are on Trondra.

The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose is at Easting on Unst. A Ruff is at Burravoe, Yell.

Friday 21st September 2007

Common Redpoll at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Red Grouse at North Nesting - George Graham; Golden Plover at Sandwick - Dave Hall

An elusive Spotted Sandpiper is on the end of Lamba Ness; it is the fifth Shetland and the second in autumn. The Shore Lark is also still there and the Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound.

A Pectoral Sandpiper is at Boddam. A Peregrine Falcon and 4 Pink-footed Geese are at Scatness.

A Common Rosefinch is at Ham, Bressay.

Thursday 20th September 2007

Red-breasted Mergansers at Garths Voe - George Graham

The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound.

A Woodcock and a Chaffinch are at Kergord.

Wednesday 19th September 2007

Shore Lark at Lamba Ness - Mike Pennington

Pectoral Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting and North-western Common Redpolls on Foula - Steve Minton

 

Lapland Bunting and North-western Common Redpolls on Foula - Rob Fray

A mobile Short-toed Lark appeared to move through Lamba Ness, Unst, at mid-day and the Shore Lark is still there along with a flock of 50 Snow Buntings, which also moved through. The Melodious Warbler and the Marsh Warbler are still at Baltasound.

A Pectoral Sandpiper, 6 North-western Common Redpolls, 6 Lapland Buntings, 4 Snow Buntings, a Common Rosefinch, 4 Willow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat are on Foula.

A juvenile Little Gull is at Pool of Virkie.

Thursday 18th September 2007

The Shore Lark is at Lamba Ness, Unst.

A Flock of 41 Knots is at Sound, Lerwick.

Monday 17th September 2007

Snipe at Boddam - Jim Nicolson; Grey Wagtail at Burn of Valayre - George Graham; Lapland Bunting at Scatness - Steve Minton

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Kettla Ness, Burra.

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness, but about 1 km south of the lighthouse. The eclipse male King Eider was off Hogaland, Trondra. There are 2 Lapland Buntings and 4 Pink-footed Geese at Scatness. There are 4 Grey Wagtails at Burn of Valayre, Voxter, suggesting a possible overlooked breeding record.

The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound and the Shore Lark has returned to Lamba Ness.

Sunday 16th September 2007

Slavonian Grebe at Boddam and Knot, Black Guillemot and Guillemot in Dunrossness - Hugh Harrop

Slavonian Grebe at Boddam - Jim Nicolson; Peregrine Falcon and Lapland Bunting at Scatness - George Petrie

The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie, along with a Ruff and a Greenshank, and the Common Rosefinch is still at Virkie. There are 2 Peregrine Falcons, a Greenshank, and 2 Lapland Buntings at Scatness.

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness.

Saturday 15th September 2007

Night Heron on Bressay - Hugh Harrop (2 photos); Steve Minton (2 photos).

North-western Common Redpolls at Skaw  - Mike Pennington (4 photos); and at Haroldswick - Wendy Dickson (one photo)

A juvenile Night Heron is on Bressay: it was found at the Voe of Leiraness before moving north to the Lochs of Beosetter, then in the evening it was relocated on the east side of Aith Voe. It is only the 8th for Shetland and the first since the only other autumn record, on Fetlar in October 1994.

A juvenile Sabine's Gull flew past Funzie Ness, Fetlar, in the morning, and 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew past. A Red-backed Shrike, a Short-eared Owl, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Siskin and 2 Willow Warblers are on Fetlar.

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness. The eclipse male King Eider is off Wester Quarff.

The Melodious Warbler and the Marsh Warbler are still at Baltasound, there are 3 North-western Common Redpolls at Skaw, and another 3 at Haroldswick, and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Skaw, while at least 4 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Lamba Ness.

There are 4 Lapland Buntings on Kettla Ness, Burra, along with 100 Rock Pipits and 50 Ringed Plovers.

Given the weather conditions yesterday, and indeed over the last two weeks, there must be every chance that the Night Heron and the Lapland Buntings, as well as last week's Shore Lark, originated on the other side of the Atlantic. All three would involve subspecies not yet on the British List, although confirming any of them would require a corpse at least.

Friday 14th September 2007

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Virkie - Rob Fray

A Grey Phalarope flew past Lamba Ness at mid-day, with an early Little Auk and 11 Sooty Shearwaters also there during the day.

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness and an adult Pomarine Skua, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, a probable Leach's Petrel and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose (which was later at Stenness) flew past.

A juvenile Pale-bellied Brent Goose is at Pool of Virkie.

Thursday 13th September 2007

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness.

The Rose-coloured Starling is still on Unst - but lying in a freezer after being found dead beside the road in Baltasound, presumably after being hit by a car.

A Sooty Shearwater flew past Sumburgh Head.

Wednesday 12th September 2007

Buff-breasted Sandpipers on Foula (with Ringed Plovers on left) - Brydon Thomason

Baird's Sandpiper and Knot at Eshaness - Hugh Harrop

Ringed Plover and Rock Pipit at Norwick - Mike Pennington; Rose-coloured Starling at Baltasound and Common Redpoll at Skaw - Dougie Preston

On Foula, there was a Citrine Wagtail at Mill Loch, a flock of 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at South Ness, at least 2 Pectoral Sandpipers (2 together at Ristie and 2 singles seen just after each other at Hametoun), a Common Rosefinch, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, a North-western Common Redpoll, 7 Lapland Buntings and a Snow Bunting.

The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Eshaness and 2 Sooty Shearwaters went past.

The Melodious Warbler, the Marsh Warbler and the Rose-coloured Starling are still at Baltasound, the North-western Common Redpoll still at Skaw along with a Snow Bunting, and 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Lamba Ness. There are 8 Bar-tailed Godwits at Hamnavoe, Yell.

A Common Rosefinch is at Virkie. A Gadwall and 10 Knots are at Bixter.

Tuesday 11th September 2007

Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper at Eshaness - Rob Fray; Baird's sandpiper with Dunlin - Brydon Thomason; North-western' Redpoll at Skaw - Mike Pennington

The Baird's Sandpiper and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper are still at Eshaness, while 5 Sooty Shearwaters went past in the evening.

The Rose-coloured Starling is still at Baltasound, the Shore Lark was back at Lamba Ness and a North-western Common Redpoll is still at Skaw, Unst. An adult Pomarine Skua and at least 10 Sooty Shearwaters went past Lamba Ness in the morning.

Monday 10th September 2007

Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper at Eshaness - Hugh Harrop

In over 8 hours seawatching at Lamba Ness, Unst, totals of 5 Great Shearwaters and 23 Sooty Shearwaters flew north, as well as singles of Manx Shearwater, Pomarine Skua and Arctic Skua. A Shore Lark was also there briefly in late afternoon. A Common Redpoll and a Grey Wagtail are at Skaw.

A Baird's Sandpiper is at Eshaness and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still there. There is a Goldeneye at Twatt and 123 Wigeons at Loch of Benston.

Sunday 9th September  2007

Knot at Virkie - Hugh Harrop; Little Gull at Uyeasound - Mike Pennington

A Pectoral Sandpiper is at Skaw, Whalsay.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is still at the Wart, Sandwick. A Barred Warbler is at Dale of Walls. There are 3 Siskins at Sound, Lerwick.

The Rose-coloured Starling is still at Baltasound and a Little Gull is at Uyeasound.

A Pintail and a Spotted Flycatcher are on Fetlar.

Saturday 8th September  2007

Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper at Sandwick - Hugh Harrop

Rose-coloured Starling, Marsh Warbler and Melodious Warbler at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

Moorhen at Boddam - George Petrie

A Baird's Sandpiper and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper are in the same field at the Wart, Sandwick. The Pallid Harrier flew north over Hillwell in the afternoon. A Greenshank and 5 Knots are at Scatness.

Another Buff-breasted Sandpiper is at Eshaness, between the lighthouse and Gerdie Loch. An albino Starling is at Sand Water.

The Melodious Warbler and the Rose-coloured Starling are still at Baltasound, along with a Marsh Warbler. There are Common Rosefinches at Norwick and Skaw.

Friday 7th September  2007

The Pallid Harrier was seen again, hunting over cut fields between Spiggie and Hillwell.

Thursday 6th September  2007

An eclipse male King Eider is off Easter Hogaland, East Burra (the Wester Quarff bird presumably). There are 6 Knots at Pool of Virkie. A Grey Wagtail is at Gulberwick.

Wednesday 5th September  2007

A Sabine's Gull was seen in Yell Sound. The Common Rosefinch is still at Gardie, Bressay. There are 26 Wigeons, 52 Ringed Plovers, 19 Sanderlings and a Bar-tailed Godwit are at Melby. A Peregrine Falcon roosted at Sullom Voe Terminal.

Tuesday 4th September  2007

Melodious Warbler and Rose-coloured Starling at Baltasound - Hugh Harrop

Rose-coloured Starling at Baltasound - Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Rob Fray (4 photos); Marsh Warbler at Skaw, Unst - Rory Tallack

The Melodious Warbler and the Rose-coloured Starling are still at Baltasound, with a Red-backed Shrike also there, a Marsh Warbler and a Common Redstart at Skaw, a Sooty Shearwater seen flying past Lamba Ness and a Kestrel near Uyeasound.

A Pied Flycatcher is at Otterswick. There are 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Pool of Virkie. A flock of about 300 Rock Doves is at Tingwall.

Monday 3rd September  2007

Melodious Warbler and Rose-coloured Starling at Baltasound - Larry Dalziel; Melodious Warbler at Baltasound - Mike Pennington

The Melodious Warbler and the Rose-coloured Starling are still at Baltasound.

The Killdeer is still at Pool of Virkie along with 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Whimbrels, a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Sunday 2nd September  2007

Gannet and Curlew in Dunrossness - Hugh Harrop

Meadow Pipit on Hermaness - Mike Pennington; Whooper Swans - Dave Okill

The Melodious Warbler is still at Baltasound, and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Lamba Ness.

The Hawfinch is at Sumburgh Head. There were 2 Sooty Shearwaters past Eshaness in the morning.

A Common Rosefinch is at Skaw, Whalsay.

Saturday 1st September 2007

Rose-coloured Starling at Baltasound - Hugh Harrop (one photo); Mike Pennington (one photo)

The Melodious Warbler and the Rose-coloured Starling are still at Baltasound, and a Sooty Shearwater flew past Lamba Ness.

The Hawfinch is at Sumburgh Head.