Nature in Shetland
31st July 2020
Yell: Juvenile Cuckoo at Midbrake, Cullivoe, and another at Heatherdale.
South Mainland: Grasshopper Warbler singing at Bakkasetter. Long-tailed Skua and Ruff at Dalsetter.
Cetacean Sightings:
Harbour porpoise at Bridge End, Burra, 2 male Orca, known as Hulk and Nott, at Sumburgh light house.
30th July 2020
Whalsay: Common Redpoll and Common Crossbill at Skaw, and Goldeneye still at Houb.
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua still Dalsetter.
Cetacean News:
Minke Whale off The Bard, Bressay. 2 Minke Whales off Compass Head, Sumburgh. 2 Minke Whales off No Ness, Sandwick.
2 male Orcas, identified as Hulk and Nott, in Bullmull Sound, working their way around Unst before heading south.
Pod of approx 20 Atlantic White-sided dolphins near Levenwick heading south.
29th July 2020
Cetacean Sightings:
Unst: 6 Risso's Dolphin off Lambaness
28th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua and Common Swift at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: Honey Buzzard at Brae, later seen at Spiggie (South Mainland). Greenshank at Dales Voe, Lerwick.
Yell: Cuckoo at Mid Brake, Cullivoe.
Unst: 2 Manx Shearwater north past Lambaness. Common Swift at Skaw.
Whalsay: Common Sandpiper at West Loch, Common Redpoll and Black-throated Diver at Skaw. Grey Plover at Houb.
27th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: Siskin at Law Lane, Lerwick. 3 Goldeneye at Loch of Benston.
West Mainland: Rose-coloured Starling at Walls.
Yell: Red-necked Phalarope at Papil Beach. Cuckoo at Mid Brake, Cullivoe.
Unst: Moorhen at Norwick.
Cetacean Sightings:
Out Skerries: 5 Risso's Dolphin just north of Skerries seen from ferry.
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Levenwick.
26th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua, 7 Common Scoter and Common Swift at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: 10 Siskin at Law Lane, Lerwick.
Yell: 4 Sanderling at Cullivoe. Red-necked Phalarope at Papil Beach.
Unst: 4 Sanderling at Easting.
Insect Sightings:
Central mainland: Snout trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick.
West Mainland: Exile trapped overnight at West Burrafirth.
Cetacean Sightings:
Whalsay: Large pod (uncounted) of Atlantic White-sided Dolphin in Lunning Sound
South Mainland: 150 Atlantic White-sided Dolphin off Sumburgh Head. 4-5 unidentified Dolphin off Mousa.
25th July 2020
Central Mainland: juvenile Cuckoo at Westerloch, Lerwick.
North Mainland: White-tailed Eagle at north Ronas Hill.
Insect Sightings:
Central mainland: Exile trapped overnight at North Hammarsland.
24th July 2020
Yell: Sanderling at Cullivoe.
Unst: 7 Common Redpoll and Siskin at Norwick.
North Mainland: Immature White-tailed Eagle seen at Lang Clodie Wick, Ronas Hill.
West Mainland: Adult Rose-coloured Starling at Walls.
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua still at Dalsetter.
Cetacean Sightings:
Out Skerries: Minke Whale seen from Skerries Ferry route between Little Skerry and Muckle Skerry.
Whalsay: Minke Whales off Ness of Setter near Fish Holm.
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Levenwick.
North Mainland: 10 Risso's Dolphin off Eshaness.
Insect Sightings:
Foula: 4 Pammene gallicana and Phaulernis fulviguttella (micro moths) found today
Central mainland: Exile trapped overnight at North Hammarsland.
23rd July 2020
Whalsay: Goldcrest and Chiffchaff at Skaw.
Unst: 7 Common Redpoll at Norwick.
Cetacean Sightings:
Central Mainland : Minke Whale off Toft Ferry terminal.
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland: Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing at Law Lane Lerwick (first of year).
West Mainland: Burnished Brass caught overnight in Culswick.
Flora Sightings:
South Mainland: Field Pansy in the Ness (first Shetland record this century).
22nd July 2020
Unst : 2 Common Crane at Stourhoul Loch.
Cetacean Sightings:
North Mainland: 8 Killer Whale (27's pod) travelling North along west coast of North Mainland to Ronas Voe. Minke Whale at Eshaness.
Central Mainland: Pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphin at Aith Voe.
21st July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. 3 Leach's Petrel at Sumburgh Head.
West Mainland: 9 Whimbrel at Bixter.
Whalsay: Grey Plover at Skaw.
Unst: 3 Eurasian Teal and Sedge Warbler at Haroldswick.
Cetacean Sightings:
West Mainland: 8 Killer Whale (27's pod) travelling North up West Mainland south coast from Burra to Dlae of Walls via Silwick during the day. 10 Risso's Dolphin at Melby.
20th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua, Leach's Petrel and 16 Whimbrel at Dalsetter.
19th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua and Common Swift at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: 9 Common Crossbill at Tumblin, Bixter.
Insect Sightings:
Yell: Wood Tiger at South Voxter Voe.
18th July 2020
Unst: 2 Knot at Ordaal.
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Lesser Grey Shrike at Bigton. Quail and Common Crossbill at Bakkasetter. 16 Black-tailed Godwit just north of Virkie.
Central Mainland: 4 female Common Crossbill near Voe . 7 Common Swift and Fieldfare at Stendaal, South Nesting.
North Mainland: Sooty Shearwater and 2 Manx Shearwater at Eshaness.
Insect Sightings:
North Mainland: Micro-moth Mompha locupletella at Heylor (5th record for Shetland).
17th July 2020
Bressay: Male Brambling at Voehead.
South Mainland: 2 Long-tailed Skua (adult and 2nd calendar year) at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: Common Crossbill at Stendaal, South Nesting. Common Swift at Clickimin.
Insect Sightings:
North Mainland: Wood Tiger at Muckle Roe.
16th July 2020
South Mainland: Lesser Grey Shrike still at Bigton. 2 Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter.
Cetacean Sightings:
Yell: pod of 15 Atlantic White-sided Dolphin in Basta Voe and later seen off Linga.
15th July 2020
Foula: Rose-coloured Starling and Grey Heron at Ham.
South Mainland: Lesser Grey Shrike still at Bigton. Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter.
Cetacean Sightings:
Yell: Minke Whale at Heoganess, Burravoe.
14th July 2020
Unst: 2 House Martin at Clibberswick. 2 Tree Sparrow (including 1 recently fledged juvenile) at Norwick.
West Mainland: 2 Whimbrel at East Burrafirth.
Central Mainland: Blackcap, Goldcrest and Wood Pigeon at Catfirth.
South Mainland: Lesser Grey Shrike still at Bigton. 3 Common Crossbill at Hoswick. Quail at Bakkasetter.
13th July 2020
Out Skerries : Green Sandpiper.
Unst: Black-tailed Godwit at Ordaal.
South Mainland: 2 Knot at Virkie. Lesser Grey Shrike at Bigton.
West Mainland: Redwing at Walls.
Cetacean Sightings:
Central Mainland: 8 Killer Whale (27s pod) tracked from Lunna to Bressay in afternoon/evening.
Insect Sightings:
Yell: Common Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla) at West Sandwick
12th July 2020
South Mainland: 4 Grey Wagtail at Ireland. Black-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie.
Central Mainland: Whimbrel at the Knab, Lerwick.
Cetacean Sightings:
Yell: Killer whale (unidentified pod) reported in Yell Sound
11th July 2020
Yell: Sandwich Tern at Mid Yell.
South Mainland: Great Reed Warbler trapped at Scousburgh. Grey Wagtail at Ireland.
Central Mainland: 20 Goosander at Weisdale Voe.
Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: Minke Whale at Clevigarth.
10th July 2020
Unst: Juvenile Common Crossbill at Haroldswick.
West Mainland: Siskin and Willow Warbler at Da Gairdins, Sand.
Central Mainland: Chiffchaff at Twageos Road, Lerwick.
Insect Sightings:
West Mainland. Magpie Moth at Culswick.
9th July 2020
Whalsay: Juvenile Common Crossbill at Skaw.
South Mainland: Quail in Bakkasetter/Brow Marsh area.
Cetacean Sightings:
North Mainland. 8 Killer Whale (27s Pod) in Yell Sound and North Roe area.
Unst: 3 Killer Whale (unidentifed pod) 3nm off Hermaness.
8th July 2020
Whalsay: 2 Red-necked Phalarope at Skaw.
Trondra: Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat at Glendale.
South Mainland: 2 Sand Martin at Spiggie
Central Mainland: Redpoll sp. at Lerwick. 3 Common Crossbill at Brae.
7th July 2020
South Mainland: Grey Wagtail at Hoswick.
Central Mainland: Drake Surf Scoter at Laxfirth Voe, Gott. 4 Common Crosbill at Veensgarth. Common Crossbill at North Hamarsland.
Cetacean Sightings
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Sumburgh Head
North Mainland: Killer Whale (27s pod) off North Roe.
6th July 2020
South Mainland: Female Red-backed Shrike at Sumburgh. 6 Common Crossbill at Hoswick.
Central Mainland: 4 Swift at Gillaburn, Stromfirth. 2 Siskin at Law Lane, Lerwick. Common Redpoll at Brae.
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Bright line brown Eye trapped at Bakkasetter overnight.
Plant Sightings:
Unst: Hoary Whitlow Grass in flower at Keen of Hamar, first record for several years.. Narrow-leaved (aka Pugsley's) Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineroides sspp. francis-drucei in flower. 2nd known Shetland site.
5th July 2020
South Mainland: Black Redstart at Sumburgh Quail at Bakkasetter.
Central Mainland: 5 Two-barred Crossbill (adult male, adult female and 3 immature) and 6 Common Crossbill at Kergord
Yell: Siskin at Gutcher
Whalsay: Cuckoo at Whitefield.
Trondra: 6 Common Crossbill.
Cetacean Sightings:
North Mainland: Minke Whale at North Roe.
Insect Sightings:
Bressay: Heart and Dart moth trapped at Voehead overnight.
4th July 2020
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua, female Red-backed Shrike and 2 Common Crossbill at Sumburgh
Central Mainland: 5 Two-barred Crossbill (ad male and 4 immature/female type) and 10 Common Crossbill at Kergord.
Unst: Common Crossbill at Setter Hill Estate.
Cetacean Sightings:
Central Mainland: 8 Killer Whale (27's Pod) went from Eswick to Fetlar via Yell during the day.
South Mainland: Minke Whale at Leebitton, Sandwick.
Insect Sightings:
West Mainland: The Exile moth trapped overnight at West Burrafirth.
3rd July 2020
South Mainland: Slavonian Grebe at Boddam. Sandwich Tern at Hoswick.
Central Mainland: Female Goldeneye on Strand Loch, Tingwall.
Unst: Blackcap and Willow Warbler at Halligarth. Redpoll sp. at Skaw.
Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: 7 Killer Whale (27's Pod) went from Toab to Bressay via Sumburgh Head during the day. 2 Minke Whale at Leebitton, Sandwick.
Unst: 11 Risso's Dolphin at Haroldswick
Insect Sightings:
Yell: Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Cullivoe.
2nd July 2020
South Mainland: Marsh Warbler and Cuckoo at Ellister, Bigton. Adult Long-tailed Skua at Clumlie. Cuckoo at Loch of Spiggie. 2 Common Crossbill at Levenwick.
Central Mainland: 2 Wood Pigeon at Mulla, Voe. Common Crossbill at Frakkafield.
1st July 2020
South Mainland: Marsh Warbler at Ellister, Bigton. Male Red-backed Shrike at Levenwick Turtle Dove at Boddam. Cuckoo at Geosetter. Adult Long-tailed Skua at Clumlie. Marsh Warbler at Bakkasetter.
Central Mainland: 10 Common Crossbill and Cuckoo at Law Lane, Lerwick.
North Mainland: Rose-coloured Starling at South Collafirth, Northmavine.
Fetlar: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Aithness.
Unst: 3 Common Crossbill and 3 Siskin at Trolla Water
Yell: Second calendar year Glaucous Gull at Cullivoe.