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Nature in Shetland

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Latest Bird Sightings

 

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NOTE that ALL records go into the database used in the compilation of the Shetland Bird Report produced by Shetland Bird Club, EVEN IF they do not appear on this page. Recording forms are available here. 

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.

Recent local rarity decisions added here. (Updated 19th October). Recent Scottish Bird Records Committee decisions can be found here.

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Grey Plover at Virkie - Rob Fray

The Mediterranean Gull has reappeared at Firth. A Grey Plover is still at Pool of Virkie and a Pink-footed Goose is at Toab. A Sparrowhawk is at Wester Quarff. A Jackdaw and 200 Curlews are at Kergord.

There are 2 Goosanders at Uyeasound and a Glaucous Gull is at Haroldswick.

A Water Rail is at Brough, Whalsay.

Tuesday 9th March 2010

Wren at Burravoe, Yell - Ian Towriess

A Short-eared Owl is at Virkie, a Slavonian Grebe is at Loch of Spiggie and 3 Coots are at Loch of Brow.

Monday 8th March 2010

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull is at Baltasound.

On Whalsay, there are still 2 Common Scoters at Brough and a Woodcock is at Skaw.

Sunday 7th March 2010

Stonechat at Ocraquoy - George Petrie; Eiders at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick, 4 Wood Pigeons and 2 Greenfinches are at Helendale and a Moorhen is on Loch of Clickimin. A Stonechat and a Woodcock are at Ocraquoy. A Pheasant and 6 Goldcrests are at Sand, Gardehouse, and 70 Ringed Plovers are at Sandness. A Grey Plover is at Virkie. A Peregrine Falcon is at Firth.

Saturday 6th March 2010

Siskin, Skylark, Jackdaw and Starling at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Eiders and Black Guillemots at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop

A Black-throated Diver is in Bay of Quendale, a Short-eared Owl is at Virkie, 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Pink-footed Goose is at Toab, a Slavonian Grebe is on Spiggie, a Pintail is at Hillwell, a Skylark was in song at Brow and 2 Common Scoters are at Grutness. A Blackbird was in song at Twatt. A Lesser Black-backed Gull is at Brae.

The Siskin, 2 Carrion Crows and at least 8 Jackdaws are at Baltasound.

Friday 5th March 2010

Goosander at Uyeasound - Rob Brookes; Siskin at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; 'sooty' House Sparrow at Scatness - Ronnie Robertson; Brent Geese at Scatness - Steve Minton; Egyptian Goose at Seafield - Sandy McMillan

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick. There are 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Carrion Crow at Scatness. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew north at Wester Quarff.

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with a Siskin, and 6 Goosanders are at Uyeasound.

A male Hen Harrier is at Skaw, Whalsay.

There are still 4 Jackdaws on Out Skerries.

Thursday 4th March 2010

Great Crested Grebe and Robin at Burrafirth - Rob Brookes; Knot on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson; Long-tailed Ducks at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick, there are 2 Wood Pigeons at Helendale and 10 Knots at the Sletts, Lerwick. There are still 2 Common Scoters and a Velvet Scoter off the east side of Muckle Roe. There are 20 Skylarks at Grutness.

There are 2 Common Scoters, a Knot, 10 Skylarks and a probable Black-throated Diver at Brough, Whalsay.

There 3 Goosanders at Uyeasound, 6 Jackdaws at Baltasound and the Great Crested Grebe is still at Burrafirth.

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Whooper Swans at Spiggie - Anne Anderson

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick. A Carrion Crow and a Jackdaw are at Sabdwick. There are 38 Whooper Swans and a Coot at Loch of Spiggie.

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound and 2 Common Scoters are still at Haroldswick.

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Egyptian Goose and Redshank at Seafield - Roger Riddington; Turnstone at Burravoe - Dougie Preston

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick. A Grey Plover is at Virkie and 22 Skylarks are at Grutness.

A Red-throated Diver is back on fresh water in Whalsay.

Monday 1st March 2010

Egyptian Goose at Seafield - Gary Bell; Mistle Thrush at Seafield - George Petrie, Jim Nicolson, Gary Bell (one photo each); Greylag Geese at Burravoe - Dougie Preston

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick, along with a Mistle Thrush. There are 4 Taiga Bean Geese at Virkie and one at Spiggie. A Tundra Bean Goose is at Wester Quarff.

A Knot is at Brough, Whalsay.

Sunday 28th February 2010

Tundra Bean Goose at Hillwell - Roger Riddington; Mute and Whooper Swans at Spiggie - George Petrie; Song Thrush at Scatness - Ronnie Robertson

The Egyptian Goose is still around Seafield, Lerwick, and a Greenfinch and 30 Golden Plovers are at Sound. There are 3 Taiga Bean Geese and 2 Tundra Bean Goose at Hillwell.  The juvenile European White-fronted Goose and the Pink-footed Goose are at Swinister, Sandwick. A Song Thrush is at Scatness. There are 2 Goldcrests at Sand, Garderhouse.

There are 2 Goosanders and 8 Whooper Swans at Uyeasound.

In north Yell there are 12 Whooper Swans at North Garth, 3 at Loch of Gutcher and 10 on Sandwater.

The Song Thrush and a Knot are still at Brough, Whalsay.

Saturday 27th February 2010

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound.

The juvenile European White-fronted Goose, a Pink-footed Goose and a Woodcock are at Swinister, Sandwick. A Dunnock is at Sound, Lerwick.

Friday 26th February 2010

Egyptian Goose at Lerwick - Hugh Harrop (2 photos); Jim Nicolson (2 photos); Tony & Beth Gerrard (2 photos)

Greylag Geese at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Merlin at Burravoe - Dougie Preston; Snow Bunting at Grobsness - Vicki Lamey

The Egyptian Goose has reappeared in Lerwick, on the west side of Brei Wick between Tesco and Pullar's Loch. The 7 Taiga Bean Geese at Spiggie along with one Tundra Bean Goose.

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound along with 2 Carrion Crows.

Thursday 25th February 2010

Bean Goose at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Woodcock at Baltasound - Rob Brookes

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound along with a Wood Pigeon and 11 Jackdaws.

A Jack Snipe is at Trebister, Gulberwick.

There are 58 Cormorants and 250 Eiders on Linga in Bluemull Sound and 15 Whooper Swans at Loch of Gucther.

Wednesday 24th February 2010

Egyptian Goose and Woodcock at Ocraquoy - George Petrie

An Egyptian Goose was at Ocraquoy briefly. It is the first record for Shetland and is in category C of the British List, although the nearest sustainable breeding populations in Britain are in East Anglia, where, nevertheless, there is evidence of some movement in January to March, especially in hard weather, while Denmark and the Netherlands also have feral populations. The specie is not on the Scottish List (except in Category E) but this surely a candidate as a Category C vagrant, but its origins will remain the source of debate.

There are also 3 Woodcocks at Ocraquoy and 2 at Helendale. There are 3 pale Mealy Redpolls in Lerwick and 7 Greenfinches at the Sletts, Lerwick..

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound along with a Meadow Pipit, the Dunnock and the Mute Swan, and the Little Grebe is still at Burrafirth.

A Common Buzzard and a Long-eared Owl are on Fetlar.

Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Taiga Bean Geese at Bigton - Hugh Harrop; Fulmar at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Common Snipe at Ocraquoy - George Petrie;

Greenfinches in Lerwick - Ray Johnston; Robin at Girlsta - Paula Moss; Fieldfare at Norby - Gundel Grolimund; Skylark and Turntsone at Burravoe - Dougie Preston

There are  7 Taiga Bean Geese ,and 3 Tundra Bean Geese around Bigton. There are 2 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick, and 6 Greenfinches and a Dunnock in North Road, Lerwick.

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound and the Great Crested Grebe has reappeared at Burrafirth.

A Long-eared Owl, 2 Water Rails and a Woodcock are on Fetlar.

There are 2 Skylarks at Burravoe, Yell.

Monday 22nd February 2010

Bean Geese and Brent Goose at Bigton - Hugh Harrop; Snipe at Sandwick - Diane Adams; Snow Bunting at Aywick - Dougie Preston; Dunnock at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Redwing at Lerwick - Sandy McMillan

There are  7 Taiga Bean Geese, 3 Tundra Bean Geese and 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Bigton, between Ireland and Geosetter. A Hawfinch is at Toab. A Dunnock and 6 Chaffinches are at East Voe, Scalloway.

A Dunnock and a Skylark are at Baltasound.

There are 2 Skylarks at Burravoe, Yell.

Sunday 21st February 2010

Bean Geese at Ireland - Hugh Harrop; Wren at Burravoe - Dougie Preston

There are 3 Tundra Bean Geese and  4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Ireland, near Bigton. A Grey Plover and 2 Water Rails are at Virkie, and a Sanderling and the male Gadwall are at Grutness. There are 5 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Sandwick. There are 9 Whooper Swans, 138 Wigeons, 30 Purple Sandpipers, 30 Twites and 12 Redwings at Sandness. Two very pale redpolls were sighted in Lerwick.

A Waxwing and 4 Jackdaws are on Out Skerries.

There are 5 Slavonian Grebes and 4 Jackdaws at Baltasound.

Saturday 20th February 2010

Gadwall and Grey Plover at Grutness - Gary Bell; Whooper and Mute Swans at Uyeasound and Bean Goose at Baliasta - Mike Pennington

A Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with at least 2 Jackdaws.

A Tundra Bean Goose is at Hillwell, and a Grey Plover, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and the Gadwall are at Grutness. A Velvet Scoter and 2 Common Scoters are off Muckle Roe.

A Short-eared Owl is at Skaw, Whalsay.

Friday 19th February 2010

Taiga Bean Geese at Burravoe - Dougie Preston; Knot (with Turnstones) at Burravoe - Ian Towriess

A flock of 6 Taiga Bean Geese is at Burravoe on Yell (they are apparently the same birds that were at Sandwick).

There are 5 Jackdaws at Lerwick.

About  500 Gannets were feeding off Uyeasound and a Puffin and about 450 Eiders are in the Bluemull 'triangle' including 2 male Northern Eiders.

Thursday 18th February 2010

Bean Geese at Haroldswick - Mike Pennington

There are still 4 Tundra Bean Goose and 9 European White-fronted Geese at Haroldswick, and a Glaucous Gull is at Burrafirth.

There are still 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Exnaboe.

There are 5 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Knots in south Yell.

Wednesday 17th February 2010

White-fronted Goose at Swinister - Dougie Preston

There are 4 Tundra Bean Goose and 8 European White-fronted Geese at Haroldswick.

One Taiga Bean Goose and 2 Tundra Bean Geese are still at Spiggie along with 4 Pink-footed Geese, and the Canada Goose, a Tundra Bean Goose is at Hillwell, a White-fronted Goose is at Brake, there are 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Exnaboe, a Pink-footed Goose is at Boddam, 2 Pink-footed Geese and and the flock of 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese are at Ireland. and there are 4 Pink-footed Geese at Sandwick, and a juvenile European White-fronted Goose at Swinister.

Tuesday 16th February 2010

Bean Geese at Spiggie - Roger Riddington

One Taiga Bean Goose and 2 Tundra Bean Geese are still at Culsetter, Spiggie, and the European White-fronted Goose is still at Swinister, Sandwick.

On Unst, the Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound along with a juvenile Mute Swan, presumably the bird from Skerries, while 2 male Goosanders are at Uyeasound.

There are 10 Greenfinches, 4 Chaffinches and a Dunnock at Sound, Lerwick.

Monday 14th February 2010

A Chiffchaff is at Helendale and a Stonechat and 6 Jackdaws are at Clickimin.

There are 4 Jackdaws on Out Skerries.

Sunday 14th February 2010

Bean Geese at Spiggie - Roger Riddington; Whooper Swans at Asta - Gordon Carle

One Taiga Bean Goose and 2 Tundra Bean Geese are at Spiggie, and a Woodcock and the Gadwall are at Grutness. A Jackdaw is at Kergord.

On Unst, the Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound along with 11 Jackdaws and a Carrion Crow, with another Carrion Crow at Uyeasound.

Saturday 13th February 2010

Taiga Bean Geese at Sandwick - Juan Brown

A flock of 7 Taiga Bean Geese is at Sandwick and a European White-fronted Goose is at Hoswick. A Pintail and a Pochard are at Loch of Brow and the Canada Goose is still at Loch of Spiggie. At least 27 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers, a Little Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebes are in South Nesting Bay. There are 4 Chaffinches at Sound, Lerwick.

The Great Crested Grebe is still at Burrafirth on Unst, along with a first-winter Glaucous Gull.

There are still 2 Common Scoters at Brough, Whalsay.

Friday 12th February 2010

Great Crested Grebe at Burrafirth - Rob Brookes

A Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe are at Burrafirth and 2 Common Scoters are still at Haroldswick.

A Smew is at Stromness Voe, there are 4 Common Scoters and 2 Goosanders in Weisdale Voe, and there are 76 Slavonian Grebes between Whiteness and Seli Voe. There are 16 Jackdaws at Weisdale. A Common Scoter is at Laxo. A Waxwing is in Lerwick. Another 31 Slavonian Grebes are in Sullom Voe.

There are 2 Common Scoters at Brough, Whalsay.

There are 11 Whooper Swans at West Sandwick, Yell.

Thursday 11th February 2010

On Unst, the Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound.

There are 10 Greenfinches and 3 Chaffinches at Sound, Lerwick. A Peregrine Falcon is at Unifirth, West Burrafirth.

The Mute Swan is still on Out Skerries.

Wednesday 10th February 2010

Great Northern Diver at Baltasound - Rob Brookes; Iceland Gull on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson

On Unst, the Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with 6 Jackdaws and a Carrion Crow.

There are 2 Shelducks at Loch of Spiggie. There are 3 Chaffinches and a Dunnock at Sound, Lerwick.

Tuesday 9th February 2010

White-fronted Goose at Grutness - Gary Bell; Purple Sandpiper at Hamnavoe - Dougie Preston

A Tundra Bean Goose and a Pink-footed Goose are at Hillwell, there are still 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Canada Goose at Spiggie, a Greenland White-fronted Goose is at Sumburgh and 4 Pink-footed Geese at Sandwick. A Hawfinch is with 7 Greenfinches at Sound, Lerwick.

There are 9 Bar-tailed Godwits at Hamnavoe, Yell.

Monday 8th February 2010

A Wood Pigeon is at Swinister, Sandwick, along with 8 Jackdaws. There are 2 Chaffinches at Sound, Lerwick, and 2 Goosanders at Strand Loch.

There is an Iceland Gull and a Woodcock at Hamister and a Knot at Brough, Whalsay.

Sunday 7th February 2010

Bean Goose on Fetlar - Brydon Thomason

On Fetlar, there is a Taiga Bean Goose , a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Canada Geese and a Pink-footed Goose.

On Unst, the Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with an Oystercatcher, 6 Jackdaws and 4 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Goosanders are at Belmont, a Woodcock is at Skaw,  and 2 Glaucous Gulls are at Burrafirth.

The Great Crested Grebe is still at Aiths Voe, Bressay.

There are single Tundra Bean Goose at Brake and Quendale, the flock of Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Spiggie has increased to 11 and the Canada Goose is still there, a Slavonian Grebe is on Loch of Spiggie  and a Shelduck is at Boddam. Hundreds of Guillemots were ashore at Sumburgh Head. There are 8 Jackdaws at Swinister, Sandwick.There are 6 Goosanders at Stromfirth.

A Knot is at Brough, Whalsay.

Saturday 6th February 2010

Brent Geese at Spiggie and Dipper at Uradale - Roger Riddington; Dunlin and Knot at Burravoe - Dougie Preston

The Black-bellied Dipper is still along the Burn of Sundibanks at Uradale, along with 2 Woodcocks.The adult Mediterranean Gull is still at Firths Voe, near Mossbank, along with an injured first-winter Iceland Gull. A Great Crested Grebe is at Vidlin. There are 2 Goosanders at Strand Loch. At Sound, Lerwick, there are 4 Greenfinches.

There are 2 Tundra Bean Goose at Brake, near Quendale, 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Canada Goose at Spiggie and 2 Woodcocks at Grutness. Another Woodcock is at Fladdabister.

The Mute Swan, 4 Jackdaws and a Skylark are still on Out Skerries.

A Dunlin and 3 Knots are at Burravoe, Yell.

Friday 5th February 2010

Mediterranean Gull at Firths Voe - Tony & Beth Gerrard; Northern Eider candidate at Lerwick - Brydon Thomason

An adult Mediterranean Gull is at Firths Voe, near Mossbank. A Woodcock and 6 Whooper Swans are at Sullom Voe Termina. Male Eiders showing characters of the northern race borealis (Northern Eider) were in the Bluemull triangle and at the Shetland Catch in Lerwick. A Glaucous Gull is at the Catch in Lerwick.

A Bar-tailed Godwit is at Burravoe, Yell.

A Long-eared Owl is at Hillswick.

Thursday 4th February 2010

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with a Little Grebe and a Slavonian Grebe.

A ringtail Hen Harrier and a Water Rail are at Brettabister, Nesting.

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Black-bellied Dipper at Uradale - George Petrie; Bean Goose, Grey Heron and Greyalg Geese at Baltasound - Mike Pennington; Long-tailed Duck and Redwing at Belmont - Rob Brookes; Snow Bunting on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson

The Black-bellied Dipper is still at Uradale. A Woodcock is at Ocraquoy and a Canada Goose is at Loch of Spiggie.

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, while 2 Goosanders are at Belmont.

A Great Crested Grebe is in Aith Voe, Bressay.

A Knot and 2 Skylarks are at Brough, Whalsay.

Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Bean Goose at Baltasound - Rob Brookes; Dunnock in Lerwick - Ray Johnston; long-billed Starling on Whalsay - Jason Atkinson

A Tundra Bean Goose is at Easter Quarff, along with a Pink-footed Goose and a Jack Snipe. A Stonechat is at Clickimin and a Dunnock is still in North Road, Lerwick.

The Tundra Bean Goose is still at Baltasound, along with 5 Jackdaws.

A Song Thrush is at Brough, Whalsay, with a Coot and a Scaup at Sandwick on the isle.

Monday 1st February 2010

Dipper at Uradale - Jim Nicolson; long-billed Starling at Baltasound - Rob Brookes

The Black-bellied Dipper is still at Uradale.

The Black-throated Diver is still off Challister Ness, Whalsay, and a Knot is at Brough.

There are still at least 3 Jackdaws and a Carrion Crow at Baltasound.