February 2008
Bird Sightings and Photos
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Friday
29th February 2008
No news received today.
Thursday
28th February 2008
A first-winter Iceland Gull and 8 Jackdaws are at Gremista, 9 Siskins are at Ocraquoy and 2 Siskins are at Levenwick. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull is at Haroldswick, Unst.
On Out Skerries, 13 Grey Herons roosted on West Isle.
Wednesday
27th February 2008
A first-winter male Common Scoter is off Leog, Lerwick. Also in Lerwick, a Siskin is at North Road and 4 Siskins are at St Sunniva Street. 30 Siskins at East Voe, Scalloway have been around for about a week. An early adult Lesser Black-backed Gull is at Haroldswick, Unst.
Tuesday
26th February 2008
  
Siskins at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Siskin at Foulawick - Jim Ratter
A pale-bellied Brent Goose is on Linga, near Firth. A first-winter Iceland Gull and 7 Jackdaws are at Gremista. An arrival of Siskins included 19 at Cunningsburgh, 3 at Hillswick, 2 on Trondra, 2 at Foulawick, near Brae, 2 at Gutcher, Yell and singles at Sumburgh Farm and on Out Skerries.
Two Goosanders are at Setter, Mid Yell.
Monday
25th February 2008
  
Siskin at Cunningsburgh - Jim Nicolson; Siskin at Foulawick - Jim Ratter; Hooded Crow at Gutcher, Yell - Andy Gear
The drake King Eider is still in Mousa Sound. The drake American Wigeon is still at Loch of Vatsetter, Maywick and a Hen Harrier is also there. There are 22 Snow Buntings at Lunna Water and 17 Purple Sandpipers and 3 Red-throated Divers at Melby. A Siskin and 2 Moorhens are at Foulawick, near Brae, 2 Siskins are at Cunningsburgh and 6 Chaffinches flew through Noss Sound.
Two Goosanders are at Gutcher, Yell.
Sunday
24th February 2008
Great Black-backed GullI at Lerwick - Russ Haywood
On Unst, 6 Scaup, the Aythya hybrid and a first-winter Glaucous Gull are at Easter Loch, Uyeasound, an adult Iceland Gull is at Burrafirth, single first-winter Iceland Gulls are at Norwick and Haroldswick, 3 Goosanders are at Dam Loch and a Carrion Crow is at Quoys.
A first-winter Iceland Gull is at Loch of Houss, Burra, a Kestrel is at Firth, a Peregrine Falcon and a Barnacle Goose are at Twatt and 3 Jackdaws are at Scalloway.
Saturday
23rd February 2008
A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Wester
Quarff, along with 20 Red-breasted Mergansers. There are first-winter
Iceland Gulls at Papil Water, Burra, and Gremista, Lerwick. A Water Rail
is at Burland, Trondra. The female Velvet Scoter is still at Brae, 2 Common Scoters are at Dury Voe, a male Sparrowhawk is at Laxo and 3 Scaup are at Lunna.
There are 6 Scaups and a first-winter
Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound, and the 2 Common Scoters are still at
Lund.
Friday
22nd February 2008
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Iceland Gulls at Lerwick (left 2) - Jim
Nicolson; and at Haroldswick (right 2) - Wendy Dickson
A Peregrine Falcon is at Twatt, a
first-winter Iceland Gull is in Lerwick and a Siskin is at
Cunningsburgh. A Pink-footed Goose is at Baltasound and a first-winter
Iceland Gull is at Haroldswick.
Thursday 21st February 2008
Kittiwake, Hooded Crow, Common Gull,
Black-headed Gull and Red-breasted Merganser at Sandwick - Jim Nicolson
Tuesday 19th February 2008
Water Rail at Virkie - George Petrie
The Lesser Scaup
is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, along with the male Aythya hybrid
(although this was also seen on Unst today).
A White-billed Diver,
probably the smaller adult, was in the Bluemull triangle, with an adult
borealis-type Eider off Sound Gruney and a ringtail Hen Harrier
seen flying over Linga.
On Unst, there are 2 Goosanders at
Burrafirth, a Common Scoter at Haroldswick, and 10 Scaups, a
Goosander and a winter-plumaged Red-throated Diver on fresh water at
Uyeasound.
An Iceland Gull is at Firth. The first
drumming Common Snipe was heard at Wester Quarff.
Monday 18th February 2008
Jackdaw at Asta, Lapwings and Goosanders at
Billister and Coot at Tingwall - George Graham
The 2 Velvet Scoters and 3 Common Scoters
are still at Catfirth. There are 4 Jackdaws at Asta, 3 Goosanders
at Billister, North Nesting, a Coot at Loch of Tingwall and a Kestrel
at Sullom Voe Terminal. A roost of 51 Grey Herons was counted at Loch of
Vatster, Tingwall. A Wren was in full song at the Sletts in Lerwick.
A first-winter Iceland Gull and a
first-winter Glaucous Gull are at Uyeasound.
Sunday 17th February 2008
Jackdaws at Brae - Jim Ratter
The Lesser Scaup
is at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe.
There are 5 Scaups, a male Goosander
and a first-winter Iceland Gull at Uyeasound, a redhead Goosander
and 2 winter-plumaged Red-throated Divers on the south end of Loch of
Cliff, and 2 Goosanders and 3 Jackdaws at Baltasound.
There are 4 Jackdaws at Wethersta, Brae,
with 2 recently joining a pair which have been present for a few weeks.
Saturday 16th February 2008
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Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound - Wendy Dickson
The Lesser Scaup
was on Easter Loch, Unst, at mid-day with 4 Tufted Ducks, the Aythya hybrid and a
first-winter male Greater Scaup, with a first-winter Glaucous Gull
and 3 Goosanders also at Uyeasound. By mid-afternoon, there were only 2
Tufted Ducks on Easter Loch and the Lesser
Scaup was back at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe. There are 2 Common
Scoters at Lund and 2 Iceland Gulls (a
first-winter and a second-winter) at Lamba Ness, Skaw.
The male Green-winged Teal
is still at Loch of Tingwall. The 2 Velvet Scoters are still at
Catfirth, with 6 Redwings and Fieldfares there, while 42
Jackdaws are at Kergord. The Velvet Scoter is still at Brae and the
male Goosander is in Sullom Voe. There are 3 Iceland Gulls and a
Glaucous Gull in Lerwick.
Friday 15th February 2008
Iceland Gull at Cullivoe
- Brydon Thomason
The Lesser Scaup
was with 5 Tufted Ducks on Wester Loch (Scata Water) at Uyeasound in mid-afternoon
before flying towards Easter Loch but only 4 Tufted Ducks, the Aythya
hybrid and a first-were there at dusk, along
with 2 Mute Swans. There are 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls at
Cullivoe.
The male Green-winged Teal
is still at Loch of Tingwall, while there are 13 Jackdaws at Asta and 4 at
Blydoit, Scalloway.
A first-winter Iceland Gull is at
Symbister, Whalsay, along with 250 Eiders.
Thursday 14th February 2008
Starling on Burra - Russ Haywood
The drake King Eider is still in Mousa Sound and the drake Green-winged Teal is still at Loch of Tingwall. A first-winter Iceland Gull is at Loch of Houss, Burra, and another is at Scalloway. The pale-bellied Brent Goose is still at Spiggie.
A Goosander is at Melby along with 17 Long-tailed Ducks, 101
Wigeons, 4 Jackdaws and a Redwing.
Wednesday 13th February 2008
Great Black-backed Gull and Hooded Crows at Leog Beach, Lerwick - Dennis Coutts; Shag - Gordon Carle
The White-billed Diver is still off Kirkabister. There are 6 Greenfinches, 3 Wood Pigeons, 12 Redwings and a Goldcrest at Helendale, Lerwick.
Tuesday 12th February 2008
Grey Heron at Spiggie - Jim Nicolson
The female Lesser Scaup is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell. The drake Green-winged Teal is still at Loch of Tingwall.
An immature Velvet Scoter is at Brae and a
male Goosander is in Sullom Voe.
Monday 11th February 2008
The drake Green-winged Teal is still at Loch of Tingwall and the male American Wigeon is still at Loch of Vatsetter, Maywick. A first-winter Iceland Gull and a first-winter Glaucous Gull are at Gremista and the redhead Smew is at Hillwell. The Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Virkie and the drake Mallard x Pintail hybrid is again at Scatness.
An Iceland Gull is at Hamnavoe, Yell.
Sunday 10th February 2008
Purple Sandpiper at Grutness - Hugh Harrop
Red-throated Diver and Turnstone at Grutness - Hugh Harrop; Water Rail at Sandgarth, Voe - Tony Gerrard; Grey Heron on Yell - Dougie Preston
The female Lesser Scaup is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.
The male King Eider is still in Mousa Sound. The Little Auk is still at Grutness, the pale-bellied Brent Goose is still at Spiggie and the redhead Smew is still at Scatness. A Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 120 Jackdaws are at Virkie and 4 Snow Buntings are at Bigton.
The White-billed Diver is still in South Nesting bay. The 2 Velvet Scoters and 3 Common Scoters are still at Catfirth, along with at least 8 Slavonian Grebes. 19 Grey Herons and 14 Whooper Swans are at Loch of Vatster, Laxfirth. 28 Jackdaws are at Tingwall and 2 Water Rails are at Sandgarth, Voe.
A Woodcock and a Red-throated Diver are on Out Skerries. Two Bar-tailed Godwits are at Maryfield, Bressay.
Saturday 9th February 2008
Glaucous Gull, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Oystercatcher at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop
Blue Fulmar at Lerwick - Brydon Thomason
Glaucous Gull at Scalloway - Brydon Thomason
Two first-winter Glaucous Gulls, a first-winter Iceland Gull and and a blue Fulmar are at the Catch in Lerwick and a first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Scalloway. A Water Rail, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and 130 Jackdaws are at Virkie, 3 Little Grebes are at Hillwell and another Little Grebe is at Spiggie. A Water Rail is at Oxensetter, South Collafirth, Northmavine.
Friday 8th February 2008
Purple Sandpiper at North Ness, Lerwick - Mike Knowles
On Unst, a first-winter Glaucous Gull is at Loch of Cliff and a Red-throated Diver is at Haroldswick.
Ten Grey Herons are on West Isle, Out Skerries.
Thursday 7th February 2008
The female Lesser Scaup is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.
A 2nd-winter Iceland Gull and a Bar-tailed Godwit are at Virkie. A Pied Wagtail is at Helendale, Lerwick.
Wednesday 6th February 2008
Lesser Scaup at Kirk Loch, Yell - Hugh Harrop
The female Lesser Scaup is still at Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell.
The 2 Velvet Scoters and 3 Common Scoters are still at Catfirth, a 2nd-winter Iceland Gull and 24 Jackdaws are at Scalloway and a drake Goosander is at Strand. A Peregrine is at Twatt. There are 70 Purple Sandpipers, 61 Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 88 Wigeon and 70 Teal at Melby. 22 Jackdaws are at the tip in Lerwick.
Tuesday 5th February 2008
Little Auk, Shag and Wren at Grutness - Hugh Harrop
The female Lesser Scaup has now moved to Kirk Loch, Cullivoe, Yell. There are 3 White-billed Divers (2 adults and a juvenile) in Bluemull Sound, along with 5 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers and a Puffin.
A first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull is
at Firth; it is only the third winter record of this age class. The Little Auk is still at Grutness. The Great Tit is still at Helendale, Lerwick, along with 5 Chaffinches, 5 Greenfinches and a Redwing.
A Jack Snipe, a Jackdaw and the first Black-headed Gull of the winter are on Out Skerries.
Monday 4th February 2008
Little Auk at Grutness - Rob Fray; Moorhen at Baltasound - Brydon Thomason
A drake Green-winged Teal is at Loch of Tingwall. The Little Auk is still at Grutness and 150 Jackdaws roosted at Virkie. A Little Auk is off Kirkabister.
Sunday 3rd February 2008
Little Auk at Grutness - Hugh Harrop
Red Grouse near Bixter - Gordon Carle; Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls at Lerwick - Russ Haywood
Whooper Swans at Uyeasound and Twite at Baltasound - Mike Pennington
The Little Auk is still at Grutness and 120 Jackdaws roosted at Virkie. A drake Goosander is at Strand, 35 Jackdaws are at Scalloway and 22 Jackdaws are at Gott. In Lerwick, a first-winter Iceland Gull is at the Catch and a Robin is at King Harald Street.
On Unst, there was an Aythya hybrid on Easter Loch at midday, along with 6 Tufted Ducks, but they had all left by dusk; it was rather Lesser Scaup-like, but with a small crest (rather like a female Tuftie), a dark grey back without vermiculations and an extensive black tip to the bill. A male Goosander and a first-winter Glaucous Gull were also at Uyeasound and at least one Jackdaw is still at Baltasound. An adult Iceland Gull is at Burrafirth and 6 Scaup are at Loch of Cliff.
On Bressay, there are 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Maryfield.
Saturday 2nd February 2008
Snipe, Raven, Redshank and Blackbird at Maywick - Hugh Harrop
Purple Sandpiper, Redshank and Turnstone at Sandwick - Jim Nicolson
Stonechat, Shag, Ringed Plover, Purple Sandpipers and Dunlins on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason
A drake American Wigeon was at Spiggie during the afternoon; it is the same bird that has has been at Maywick recently. The redhead Smew is at Scatness. There are two first-winter Iceland Gulls at Scalloway, one at the Catch in Lerwick and another at Gremista. A Chaffinch is at the Sletts in Lerwick.
A first-winter Iceland Gull is on Out Skerries and a Stonechat is on Fetlar .
Friday 1st February 2008
There are three first-winter Iceland Gulls at Norwick, Unst. 150 Jackdaws roosted at Virkie and a Shelduck is at Sound Voe.
A Mute Swan is on Fetlar.
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Nature in Shetland
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