Penny's Hot Birding and Life!

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinch fem. still at St Olaf Street, Lerwick.

Northern Bullfinch male at Orca Country Inn, Hoswick.

Little Auks x 9 on sea from MV Good Shepherd, south of Sumburgh Head.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Pool of Virkie

ISLANDS

No news.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

Got to work today, but it wasn't a fun journey at all – didn't do much more than 30mph at any time. There was still alot of snow on all the roads around Scalloway. The scenery on route to work was magnificent, if I had had time, it would have been great to stop and take some pictures, but to be honest there wasn't anywhere to stop safely because of stacked snow either side of the roads, including the main road into Lerwick. The Scord was passable but tyre tracks were orange with grit, certainly not black (road) showing yet. Any pull over spots or viewing areas are currently non existant!

I was surprised that the hospital carpark had not been fully gritted as many spaces were thick with snow so very limited parking available, but then there will be many staff who still won't be able to get to work yet. Beautiful sunrise – see picture. We were allowed to leave a bit earlier than normal (after all essential work was done) as the ice forecast was not looking good. It wasn't great trying to reverse back up my drive, but I did it and the grit I scattered yesterday obviously helped this situation.

Open this link to Shetland News to see the incredible igloo built by children in Upper Sound, Lerwick, extremely impressive! https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/01/06/snowy-shetland-photo-gallery/

Looking towards the Knab, Lerwick

Taken from the Gilbert Bain Hospital Carpark

Monday, 5 January 2026

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

Tundra Bean Goose (probable) at Pool of Virkie.

Black Redstart fem/1w. male at Sandsayre, Leebitten, north of Sandwick.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 in crop field SE of Bruce Memorial Hall at Toab.

ISLANDS

No news.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

Heavy snow overnight again and the driveway was now really deep and I couldn't see my staggered steps down to the drive at all, which is a dangerous situation! Planned to catch the bus to work but, long story short I was told the first bus out of Scalloway would be at lunchtime when I rang up, so was going to catch that and then all services from/to Scalloway were cancelled as were most bus journeys today. Schools closed today and tomorrow too.

I spent three hours digging out and clearing snow from the drive and also an area of the road, which was really hard work. Jimmy next door was doing the same, so it was nice to have some company. I then went to the grit bin and spread this over the drive. Took forever to get all the snow off the car. Both my shed doors blocked with snow again, its getting tedious now. With car tracks now visible in Ladysmith Road down to the harbour, I should get out in the morning, fingers crossed. The top half of Ladysmith Road is still covered in snow (from my house upwards) and Jimmy said that was because the gritter lorry couldn't get up there. Because I have to leave my car in gear (sloped driveway), I'm mostly worried about my handbrake, as this stays stuck nearly all the way down to the T-junction at the harbour, after the car has not moved for a few days and trying to release this whilst driving over snow is going to be scary!

Someone saw the Kingfisher at Clickimin Loch today, so lovely to know its still around and surviving. Same birds in my garden including Chaffinches, Robin, Brambling, Blackbirds and so on. Was totally shocked to see two young lads sleighing down Gallow Hill and I heard one of them shout to his friend "I can't stop" – this hill is insanely steep and at the bottom is a drystone wall!!! They were very lucky they didn't end up in hospital! I'm going to pray for the usual Shetland weather of gales and heavy rain, PLEASE?! But looking at the forecast ahead this arctic spell is going on for far much longer than any of us would like!!! There are still many people who can't leave their house yet with high drifts of snow blocking access roads. The snow is forecast to continue to Saturday and then we have heavy rain and strong windows on Sunday, hurrah!!!

Sunday, 4 January 2026

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinch in St Olaf Street, Lerwick.

ISLANDS

No news.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

More snow since yesterday. Don't know why I bothered clearing my drive (which killed me to do) as it had completely filled in again overnight. Icicles still all around the house and one which had dripped down to a shrub in a pot and then split into a double icicle and ended on my ornamental chicks (see picture) which was really 'cool' to see!

Cool Icicle by my front door!

It took me over two hours to Karcher all my windows and all the same outside jobs as yesterday. I put extra food out for the birds today including finely chopped (a few months out of date) dried apricots which went down a treat. I couldn't defrost any of the ponds today, so got a large plastic rectangular plant tray from the shed and half filled this, which the birds instantly used to drink from and bathe in.

Taken through my window

I didn't see the Chiffchaff today, I hope it survived. I had four Chaffinches today (2 males, 2 females) and also a very smart male Brambling along with my Robin, 5 Blackbirds, around 6 Collared Doves and tons of House Sparrows and Starlings. I don't know if the Hooded Crow perched in the fir trees opposite was eyeing up the apricots or just checking out what I had on offer! Windchill reported -8°c.

My tame Blackbird (taken with phone) enjoying the apricots

The Toucan is not impressed with the weather!

Ladysmith House

Took some pictures from Gallow Hill behind my house and was intending on going for a walk around Scalloway to check out the roads for work tomorrow, but a huge snow storm started and didn't stop until dark. We are on an Amber warning now with more snow forecast. If the buses are running, I think I will choose that option rather than attempt to drive down my very steep hill with the harbour at the bottom! Even if I did take the car I will no doubt have to clear the drive again just to get out! The snow novelty has worn off now! An update from the bus service to say there will be no buses first thing and they will be reviewed at 9.30am.

Scenes from Gallow Hill, Scalloway

There are a good number of people in Shetland completely blocked in now with huge snow drifts and requesting help from tractors etc to clear minor roads. Contact was made by a very high up person at work today to try and find out who was going to be in tomorrow out of the three in our OT team, I don't think any of us know for sure until the morning!

Saturday, 3 January 2026

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

Little Auk on sea at Lingness.

ISLANDS

No news.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

Icicles from my roof

Good job I bought the snow shovel!

Birds in the garden

View from the inside of the office/studio!

Front Garden

The snow is very deep today. Icicles hanging from my guttering all around the house and also the same with other houses along the road. Tons of birds feeding in my garden after I put more food out including two male Chaffinches and I was also flabbergasted to see a Chiffchaff flicking around in a desperate search for food in my hebe plant under my living room window! Windchill reported -10°c.

I was shocked when I opened the door to find the snow a good quarter way up the door! I had to spend a long time shovelling snow away from the door, windowsills, from both sheds, gates and attempted to clear the snow in front of the car. Went for a short walk – the scenery was breathtaking and the snow on the hills gives the impression of mountains! More snow forecast.

Where the Pechora Pipit was in the Autumn

Views from the top of Ladysmith Road of Scalloway Harbour and East Voe

Views from Gallow Hill behind my house

Friday, 2 January 2026

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

American Wigeon at Setter, Iceland Gull juv. at Loch of Spiggie.

Velvet Scoters x 2 off Rerwick Head, Sumburgh.

Northern Long-tailed Tit near Strand Loch, Tingwall.

ISLANDS

No news.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

This morning from my garden

The snow is serious here now. Sunny morning with glistening white snow. Put my YakTrax snow grips on my walking shoes, which enabled me to walk outside. Looked after my birds and spent ages knocking ice out of the ponds, re-filling with water from the kettle and topped all the feeders up. A male Blackbird is particularly tame and will often feed around me as I'm putting the food out. There was a Robin in the garden again today which was nice. Had a brief chat with Murray next door and my other neighbour Jimmy. Cleared snow and ice from the car and was intended to go out for a very short drive to take some scenery pictures, but the skies turned white with snow and it turned into a serious blizzard – I couldn't see the loch, castle or hills from my house!

This afternoon from my garden

NEW YEAR'S DAY, SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Thursday 1st January

Rare Bird Alert News

MAINLAND

Glaucous Gulls x 2, Iceland Gull at Scatness.

Iceland Gull at duck farm, Swinister, Sandwick.

Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Hillwell.

American Wigeon at Setter, Glaucous Gull at Loch of Spiggie.

ISLANDS

Glaucous Gull at Haroldswick, Little Auk at Setters Hill Estate and then released at Uyeasound, Unst.

https://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sightings.html

Taken through the window before the snow started to fall

Bitterly cold, the coldest outside since I've been here. A local news station here reported -8°c in the wind. Sunshine in the morning and then snow commenced, only a sprinkling, but now late evening its falling seriously. Lots of House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and a few Blackbirds in the garden today. Toasty warm in my house with the wood burner – life would not be fun if I only had the radiators to rely on.