SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Yellow-browed Warbler at pumping station, Veensgarth.

Barred Warbler at Levenwick.

PECHORA PIPIT still at Quendale Mill.

Barred Warblers x 2 at south end of farm at Quendale.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Siberian Chiffchaff at Muckle Roe.

Greenland Redpolls x 2, Yellow-browed Warblerx 3 at Scousburgh.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Tresta.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Burn of Valayre, Voxter.

Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Siberian Chiffchaff at head of Ronas Voe.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Wester Quarff.

Wood Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Geosetter Burn.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Channerwick.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler in small plantation north of Braewick, Aith.

Barred Warbler at Levenwick.

Red-backed Shrike at Sullom Plantation.

Snow Buntings x 20 at Esha Ness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Swining.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Ollaberry.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burrafirth.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 south of Boddam.

 

Red-backed Shrike 1w at marina plantation, Cullivoe, Yellow-browed Warbler at Gutcher, Blue-headed Wagtail at Sandwater, Yell.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (possible), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler on Out Skerries.

Grey Phalarope, Little Bunting at Skaw, Yellow-browed Warbler, Barred Warbler at Uyeasound, Yellow-browed Warbler at Haroldswick, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at Norwick, Unst.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Isbister, Whalsay.

Common Rosefinch at Aithness, Yellow-browed Warbler at Tresta, Fetlar.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff at Gorie, Isle of Bressay.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Lovely to be back at work. But it was a stressful day for Vivien, Lucy and I. Lucy's home is moving all the residents out on 18th October. Apparently after a third survey, the building is deemed unsafe. Just over two weeks notice. Lucy will have very little choice about where she goes, it will either be one of two places in Gayton, which means she will be extremely isolated, as there is only a petrol station and a fish and chip shop in Gayton and Lucy will never get on the bus to go to King's Lynn to go to her favourite shops: Morrisons and M&S. There are two butchers shops (no good to Lucy at all) and a pub. Long and short of it, both Vivien and I are emailing the manager to let her know how angry we are, that Lucy will be moving in just over two weeks and to somewhere she doesn't want to be. Understandably Lucy is massively stressed. None of the staff knew until today either. How very, very unfair for all concerned and stressful for resident's families.

 

I have worked out why this has been done at such short notice. Lets be honest, the powers to be would have known about this for a good number of weeks at least – if they had given everyone lots of notice, it would have given staff enough time to search for another job etc and would have put the residents at risk with not enough staff to look after them and this in turn means the residents would have had to be re-housed in more costly temporary accommodation – its all about money at the end of the day. Lucy is mostly stressed about packing her room up and before I even got a chance to talk to her after work, she had gone out to buy dustbin bags (Vivien told me) to pack her stuff up, bless her! Both Vivien and I have explained that she will be given boxes and helped to pack everything up properly.

 

I phoned someone very helpful in Shetland about services here for Lucy, long and short of it – if she is unhappy where she gets moved to, she can always consider relocating to Shetland! Lucy could join the orchestra here, she would love the food and cakes etc, love all the Shetland ponies, sheep and cows etc etc – the more I think about it, I think she would love it here.

I investigated the damp chimney breast this evening. Unscrewed a plastic vent and got a torch in there. Talk about opening a can of worms! Back of the wall was wet. Hole in the ground that goes quite a way down. Who knows what's going on?! Phoned Fire specialist and sent him a load of pictures. He asked me to send him pictures of the the chimney from the outside and he will take a look when he does the other work booked in and try and get it done sooner than he was going to.

Tonight was a 'Fish Supper' (as its called here: fish 'n' chips) and a large bar of chocolate night!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Turtle Dove 1w still at Toogs, West Burra.

PECHORA PIPIT, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale Mill.

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Muckle Roe.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Hawfinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Springfield, Siberian Chiffchaff at Wildrig, Scousburgh.

Barred Warbler at top of burn (below fire station), Sandwick.

Richard's Pipit at Loch of Hillwell.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatcher at Swining.

Snow Buntings x 27, Yellow-browed Warbler at Esha Ness.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Barred Warbler at Levenwick.

Corncrake at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Geosetter Burn.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Maywick.

Bluethroat, Barred Warblers x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at head of Ronas Voe.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Dale of Walls.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Pool of Virkie.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Sumburgh Hotel.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Ireland.

Great Tit in large garden opposite school at Sandness.

Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler x 2 at Out Skerries.

Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Feal, Barred Warbler at Leagarth, Houbie, Fetlar.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Rosefinch at Isle of Bressay.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Pictures added on 13th and 25th September. Lovely day here, but had to continue with essential DIY stuff, so I'm free from Friday onwards.

 

My sister Lucy's residential home is having a big meeting tomorrow at 1pm, which family are invited to – neither Vivien or I can get there. I guess this is about the big move for them all, which is worrying for Lucy and for us.

 

Yesterday I discovered something in my house which has really worried me – at the base of the old chimney at the opposite end of the house, where they would have been a fireplace, once upon a time, its damp/wet – the skirting is mouldy and so is some of the wallpaper – the bad news is, that this is where the head of my bed is, so had to move it a foot away from the wall – something else to sort financially and there is only one fire specialist in Shetland and I'm already on his three month waiting list to get my chimney (the working one) swept and checked out! Back to work in the morning.

MEGA: PECHORA PIPIT AT QUENDALE MILL!

PECHORA PIPIT

Quendale Mill

 

Found by Andrew Jordan

 

Spectacular views of my first Pechora Pipit at Quendale Mill this afternoon! It was shockingly cold today, but my own fault as I forgot to layer up properly and also left my collection of gloves in the boot of the car. This bird was far more flamboyant than I expected it to be. It fed in the grasses and the field behind the dry stone wall and went missing for fairly short periods, but always appeared on a stone again at some point and seemed fairly settled. I felt sorry for it, as it really was freezing cold today.

Lovely to catch up with John Coutts, Rebecca N, Jill and others. By the time I got back to my car, my hands were too cold to actually turn the ignition on, seriously! I had to put one hand over the other to get the car started. Full heat all the way home! Looking through my photos, unusually I have quite a lot of 'keepers' as we say, which is very pleasing indeed! Last day tomorrow before I return to work on Monday – for four days only and then have another two weeks off! Exciting times!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Corncrake at Tingwall Loch.

Siberian Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher in sunken garden, Hawfinch in garden at top of Hillside Road, Scalloway.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Findlins Farm, Hillswick.

PECHORA PIPIT, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Marsh Warbler (possible), Hawfinch at Quendale Mill.

Barred Warblers x 2 at back of barns at Quendale.

Common Rosefinch at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Barred Warbler at Ringasta.

Turtle Dove 1w still at Toogs, West Burra.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Mid Dale, Walls.

Wood Warbler at Orca Inn, Pied Flycatcher, Barred Warbler at Visitor Centre, Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burn of Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Barred Warbler at Swining.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Setter, Sandwick.

Snow Bunting at Grutness.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Muckle Roe.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Levenwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Scousburgh.

 

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Out Skerries.

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at Haroldswick, Snow Buntings x 2 at Valsgarth, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Black Redstart at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Red-backed Shrike juv., Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Cullivoe, Yell.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillend, Mid Yell.

Yellow-browed Warbler at West Yell.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Feal, Fetlar.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Friday 27th September

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Turtle Dove 1w still, Barred Warbler at Toogs, West Burra.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale.

Common Rosefinch at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Corncrakes x 2 at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Tresta.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Barred Warbler at Sandgarth, north of Voe.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Barred Warbler at Swining.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Strand Loch. 

Barred Warbler at Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Kergord.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Brake, Loch of Hillwell.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Queyon, Otterswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Scalloway.

 

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Out Skerries. 

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Lusetter House, Common Rosefinch at Hillend, Yellow-browed Warbler at Windhouse Lodge, Mid Yell.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burravoe, Yell.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Wood Warbler at Norwick, Unst.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Very cold here today, only 5 degrees and north west winds. Warming up again tomorrow. Leucistic House Sparrow still here with large flock of House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and Rock Doves.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Thursday 26th September

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Corncrakes x 2 ad. + 1w. (then 1w. hit by car and died) at Tingwall Loch.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hestingott.

Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler at Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation at Burrastow.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Papa Lodge, Ocraquoy.

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Bigton.

Turtle Dove 1w still at Toogs, West Burra.

Common Rosefinch, Greenland Redpoll at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Geosetter Burn.

Barred Warbler at Toab.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burn of Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Westing.

 

Red-breasted Flycatcher on Out Skerries.

Red-breasted Flycatcher in garden east of pier on Mid Yell.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

RBA Weekly Round-Up 17th to 23rd September!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2024_39.aspx?s_id=479223354 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Turtle Dove 1w at Toogs, West Burra.

Corncrake at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Houl Road, Scalloway.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in community woodland, Brae.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Pool of Virkie.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warblers x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Siberian Chiffchaff at Quendale.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Loch of Clickimin.

Hawfinch at Levenwick.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Papa Lodge, Ocraquoy.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Wester Quarff.

Barred Warbler in field at pumping station, Greenland White-fronted Goose at Loch of Hillwell.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in garden at Sand Voe, Greenland Redpolls x 5 at Oxensetter, North Roe.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Barred Warbler at Boddam, Dalsetter.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Loch of Housetter.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hoganess, Burrastow.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Baliasta.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Cruisdale, Sandness.

Greenland Redpolls x 4 in willows at playground, Ollaberry.

Arctic Warbler in burn south of Spiggie Hotel, Loch of Spiggie.

Common Rosefinch at Scousburgh.

 

Blyth's Reed Warbler & Barred Warbler still at Skaw, Whalsay. 

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Mid Yell.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Norwick, Unst.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

 

Spent all day birding in beautiful sunny weather. Checked out my road first, but didn't find anything except for watching my Leucistic House Sparrow fly past me at eye level and land on my nut feeder! Searched for migrants at Gulberwick and found a Garden Warbler and 2 Blackbirds along the woodland stream walk at Westerwick House. Had lunch by the voe at Boddam, but no birds of note seen here.

Leucistic House Sparrow

Ladysmith Road, Scalloway

Walked to the quarry at Quendale and beyond. Best birds in the quarry were a Garden Warbler, 2 Willows Warblers and 2 Blackbirds. Several Meadows Pipits seen, one very smart orangy Wheatear and 4 Swallows. Back at the main copse at Quendale Mill, I watched a Red-breasted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, male Blackcap, a Wren, a Robin (which I hadn't expected and not seen one since February in my garden) and a Siberian Chiffchaff. Lots of House Sparrows and Starlings by the mill itself.

Siberian Chiffchaff

Quendale

Drove up the road to overlook Quendale Beach – what a view! Lots of Eider on the sea and 2 Slavonian Grebes, Sanderlings, Turnstones and Oystercatchers on the beach. Had a snooze in the car and then cruised home in beautiful light.

This evening I painted the living door frame a second coat of the pine overlay and the second coat on the bathroom inner frame. Vivid aurora showing on the Shetland webcams, nothing seen from my garden though and too tired to drive out again.

MEGA! LIFER! PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER!

PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER

Maywick Burn, Shetland

 

Found by Dan Owen, Dan Beadle & Jack Morris

After finding a Lanceolated Warbler at Levenwick, congratulations all!

 

I was just on my way to see my first Lanceolated Warbler and was last to the party, which is extremely poor, being as I have never seen one, when I switched direction at the Bigton turn off, when the 'Rare' WhatsApp bleeped off with Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler at Maywick, found by the same finders of the Lanceolated Warbler - OMG! I indicated left just in time and was third on scene. A tour group got there seconds after me, but they legged it ahead me, because I mislaid my car keys!

After walking down the field and crossing dykes and burns I joined a few others and eventually had good views for around 30 seconds by a fence across a dyke, just long enough to get one half decent picture. It showed well again a bit later, but by then there were too many people and most considerably taller than me in front and not a hope of seeing it again.

 

I left and headed to Levenwick and of course there wasn't a single person here now. I walked through the irises all around the pumping station near the beach and as expected I didn't find it. 4 Swallows overhead, a Blackbird, one Common Snipe, 1 Curlew. I suddenly spotted a small bird flush from the dyke by the road into an iris patch – I didn't take my eye off where it landed and walked towards it. Another birder turned up and walked through the patch I was watching to try and flush whatever was there, but sadly nothing.

The business end of birding has started today, no more decorating, no more messing about, out first thing in the morning! Shetland birding commences!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Sandgarth, north of Voe

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillswick.

Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler at Boddam.

Corncrakes x 2 at Loch of Tingwall.

Golden Oriole, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at the plantation at Leeans, south of Mid Walls.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Quendale.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Kergord.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at Geosetter Burn.

Yellow-browed Warbler in roses at Sumburgh Light House.

Lapland Bunting, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler in 2nd quarry at Sumburgh Head.

Barred Warbler at Sumburgh Farm.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Wester Quarff.

LANCEOLATED WARBLER in burn by pumping station, Yellow-browed Warbler at Levenwick.

Red-breasted Flycatcher still, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Grutness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Veensgarth.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at St Michaelswood, Aith.

Common Rosefinch in field, Yellow-browed Warbler at Bigton.

Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Hoswick.   

Yellow-browed Warbler in community woodland at Brae.

PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER in burn, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Maywick.

Common Rosefinch at Loch of Spiggie.

Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation at Sullum.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Garth, Sandness.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at South Nesting.

Arctic Warblers x 2 at Burrafirth, Barred Warbler at Uyeasound, Unst.

Isabelline Shrike sp. around Freyers, Foula.

Red-breasted Flycatchers x 3, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 on Out Skerries.

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Barred Warblers x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 12, Wood Warbler at Skaw, Whalsay.

Yellow-browed Warbler x 7 on Fetlar.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Dalsetter, Little Bunting still at Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Sandgarth, north of Voe.

Hawfinch flew over Sumburgh Head.

Red-breasted Flycatcher still, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2  in garden at Grutness.

Turtle Dove, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at New Grunasound Plantation, East Burra.

Black-throated Diver at Bay of Quendale.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale. 

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Papil, West Burra.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Burn of Sound, Lerwick. 

Corncrake at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Mid Walls.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Cliff Cottage, Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Mail, Cunningsburgh.

 

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Valyie, Norwick, Yellow-browed Warbler east of Ordale, Yellow-browed Warbler at Uyeasound, Unst.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Voehead, Isle of Bressay. 

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Feal, Fetlar.

Red-breasted Flycatchers x 3, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Out Skerries. 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

To my frustration I had to do a third coat of paint on the bathroom walls early morning. My electrician turned up just before 9am and installed the last two radiators and also put up a irregular shaped mirror I purchased for the bathroom. Hairdressing appointment later on. The Leucistic House Sparrow was back in the garden again, along with 60+ House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and Rock Doves. I was hoping for a Hawfinch, not yet! My electrician is going to get back to me with a quote for doing an outside sensor floodlight, set up on the outside of the shed nearest to the drive.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Arctic Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 in garden at Bigton.

Black Kite ad., Yellow-browed Warblers x 6 at Geosetter Burn.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Sandgarth, north of Voe.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Orca Country Inn, Hoswick.

Black-throated Diver at Bay of Quendale.

Barred Warbler by barns, Yellow-browed Warblers x 4  at Quendale.

Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Papa Lodge, Ocraquoy.

Whinchat at Bakkasetter.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Loch of Flugarth, Sandvoe.

Common Rosefinch at Loch of Hillwell.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Little Bunting, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 in garden along North Road at Boddam.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Garth, Yellow-browed Warbler, Hawinch at Loch of Norby, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Magpie at Cruisdale, Sandness.

Red-breasted Flycatcher still, Yellow-browed Warblers x 4  in garden at Grutness.

Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation at Sullom.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Bousta.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Laxo.

Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Dale of Walls.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 7 at Mid Dale, Yellow-browed Warbler at Cloka Burn WNW of Walls.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Scarff, Esha Ness.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Hillswick.  

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Burrastow.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Gulberwick.

 

Isabelline Shrike sp. on Isle of Foula.  

Yellow-browed Warbler at Isbister, Whalsay.

Red-breasted Flycatchers x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 9 on Out Skerries.

Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Westing, Red-backed Shrike male, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Uyeasound, Yellow-browed Warbler at Baltasound, Unst

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Gloup, Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Cullivoe, Yellow-browed Warblers x 22 in northern areas, Yell.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 on Isle of Noss. 

Yellow-browed Warblers x 9, Common Rosefinch on Out Skerries. 

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Yesterday I was pressure washing concrete paths, steps, bird baths, feeders and the list goes on – it looks much brighter around the outside of the house now and less slippery.

Today I topped all the feeders up as the Starlings were waiting in the wings! Nothing rare in my garden yet, just the usual scene of Starlings, House Sparrows, Collared Doves and Rock Doves. Finally got round to painting the first coat (undercoat done a while ago) Crown 'Stepping Stone' on the bathroom walls, which took me an hour and forty minutes to complete. Had cheese and tomatoes on toast and then FINALLY got out birding mid afternoon.

Bumped into Steve Arlow at Bigton – no sign of the Arctic Warbler since it was first seen early this morning. Went to the Geosetter Burn and found two lovely Yellow-browed Warblers chasing each round and very busily feeding at the furthest end of the burn in the willows – neither would pose for a photo sadly though. Nothing else here, but I forgot how much the nights are drawing in now and the light has been atrocious all day. Headed to Boddam, but no sign of any birders (or other) or the Little Bunting – too late. Drove home and did the second coat of paint on the bathroom.

 

My electrician is coming back tomorrow to install the last two radiators, then hairdressers later on. Paint/DIY jobs left to do: two coats of grey on inner frame in bathroom, then third coat of special metallic grey paint and bathroom sealant along tiles. Finish pine effect on living room door frame and wood coloured sealant along corridor skirting. When those are complete, I won't be doing any more painting until Autumn birding is complete!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Sandgarth, north of Voe.

Sooty Shearwater, Blue Fulmar, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Common Rosefinch at Sumburgh Head.

Lapland Bunting at Sumburgh Farm.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Loch of Clickimin, Hawfinch at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Eswick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 south of Brough, South Nesting.

Red-breasted Flycatcher still, Yellow-browed Warbler at Grutness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillswick.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale Mill.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Frakkafield.

Black Kite flew south, north of Toab, at Loch of Hillwell, Loch of Brow.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Toab.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Gletness. 

Arctic Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Bigton.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Kirkabister.

Yellow-browed Warbler at South Voxter.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Brakefield Road, Sandwick.

Pied Flycatcher at Fladdabister.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Billister, Laxfirth.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hestingott.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Levenwick.     

Yellow-browed Warbler at New Grunasound Plantation, East Burra.

Yellow-browed Warbler at plantation, Vidlin.

Barred Warbler at Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Swining.

Long-eared Owl at Pumping Station, Veensgarth.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at Hamnavoe, Lunna.

 

Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Uyeasound, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Skaw, Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Westing, Unst.

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Barred Warbler at Skaw, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Isbister, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Rosefinch at Isbister, Yellow-browed Warbler at Vaivoe, Yellow-browed Warblers x 7 on Isle of Whalsay.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 8, Hawfinch at Tresta, Fetlar.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Snow Buntings x 2 on Isle of Noss.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 12, Pied Flycatcher on Out Skerries.

Yellow-browed Warbler at West Yell.

 

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

Busy Day & Being Creative with Moon & Stars!

After having a very long sleep from not feeling well at all, the day improved no end. My last Rointe Belize Radiator arrived at GTS which I collected and unexpectedly my massive flat-packed white bookcases for the office/studio have arrived! They have completely taken over my living room – only place to stack 6 x 8ft boxes, I can only see half of the TV now! 😆 The very nice man who delivered them made the mistake of saying he used to do all the flat-packing for Muddy Bay (shop here) – I took my opportunity to ask if he would be interested in me paying him to help me put these bookcases together, as there is no way I can physically do that one myself, in fact I think it needs three people to be honest – I gave him my number, we'll see what happens.

I have had my creative head on and wanted to do something funky with the skylight which is half way along my corridor. The skylight is flat plastic sheeting under a wavy plastic section and part of the corrugated iron roof. I asked my builder if this could be changed to glass as it would be brilliant to see all the stars above, his answer was 'no'. So, I decided to create my own starry scene and its turned out much better than I expected, even though I do say so myself! I already have two battery powered sensor lights in the front porch (where you can't have any electric) so I sent off for another one to represent the moon! I then spent ages on the top step of my new tall step ladder, fixing up some fairy lights I bought last year, but hadn't used yet. The lights come with a remote control which I have stuck to the door frame with double-sided sellotape!

 

Skylight and hatch before being painted and in daylight

Skylight and hatch painted, at night and complete!

 

Remote control on door frame for fairy lights

 

My new Duette insulating blinds installed yesterday

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Gulberwick.

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Grutness Pier.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Orca Inn, Hoswick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Levenwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Sumburgh Head.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burn of Ireland, Bigton. 

Barred Warbler at Quendale.

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Maywick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Lunna.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Hillwell.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Vatsetter, Sandwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Weisdale Voe.

Pied Flycatcher at Sandgarth, Voe.

 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Uyeasound, Yellow-browed Warbler, Greenland Redpolls x 6 at Skaw, Yellow-browed Warbler at Haroldswick, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Burrafirth, Common Rosefinch at Norwick, Barred Warblers x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 on Unst.

Hawfinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 7, Red-backed Shrike on Fetlar.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warblers x 14 on Out Skerries.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Snow Bunting on Isle of Noss.

Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 19, Yellow-browed Warbler at Challister, on Isle of Whalsay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hestingott.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale Mill.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Exnaboe.

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Loch of Clevigarth, near Exnaboe.

Barred Warbler at Hoswick.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Levenwick.

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Sumburgh.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Ollaberry.

Pied Flycatcher Esha Ness, near Urafirth.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Setter, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.

 

Yellow-browed Warbler, Wood Warbler at Gorie on Isle of Bressay.

Bluethroats x 2, Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 on Out Skerries.

Pied Flycatcher at Burravoe, Yell.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Clivocast, Uyeasound, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Baltasound, Greenland Redpoll, Common Rosefinch at Northdale, Yellow-browed Warbler, Barred Warbler at Norwick, Unst.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at The Manse, Tresta, Hawfinch at Feal, Barred Warbler at Braeside, Fetlar.

Snow Bunting at Isle of Noss.

Common Rosefinches x 4, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 on Isle of Whalsay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

My first job this morning, was to remove the old corridor carpet, then the stapled down underlay and then spent ages pulling out staples with my late father's brilliant old philip's screwdriver and heavy duty pair of pliers. I have developed (last night) a horrible cold virus, so really did not feel like doing this at all. This job took far longer than I thought it would. Packed up the car with all the rubbish and other stuff. Had some porridge. Carpet being fitted at 1pm.

 

At 12pm I went to have quick look in a neighbour's large pine tree, as they felt they had an unusual bird in there yesterday – in fact they popped round whilst I was painting the bathroom door and I was not able to leave at that moment, to go and have a look. I was sent pictures of a bird later on last night, obscurred by pine cones and branches, photographed from underneath, high up in the tree – looking at the picture, I regretted not dropping my paint brushes yesterday afternoon. Next to the size of the cones, it looked far too big to be a Starling and very prominently marked and yes I know Starlings vary a lot. The neighbour said it was bigger than a Starling and much longer beak. You could hardly see the head or beak in the picture. There is only one other bird that looks remotely like a Starling and that's a Nutcracker. There has only been one in Lerwick, Shetland in 1968! The last one in the UK was in Castletown, Highland on 10th November 2021 and prior to that, all the way back to 6th September 1998 in Kingsdown, Kent. More on this shortly.

Carpet fitted in the corridor and looks amazing, same colour as my office/studio carpet. I just got the last coat of 'Summer White' on the walls last night, so it was dry for today, thank goodness. After peeling the painting tape from the high pine skirting along the corridor, I realised I need to buy some wood beading to nail in, as there is an annoying gap all the way round and this now shows dribbles of paint, so need to get that sorted to complete. I also need to finish off my pine effect look on living room door frame, it was the colour of hot chocolate and didn't look right at all. I have painted the first creamy coloured layer x 2 and now need to add Sadolin Wood Stain (all recomended by Ivor at the A&C Paintshop in Lerwick) over the top with a rough brush to try and emulate a pine effect – we'll see how that goes!

 

The Duette 'Cashew' blinds in the office look out of this world and are so quick and easy to open and close, very posh indeed! Adam bought over the bathroom one aswell, but I have had to ask him to come back again at a later date, as not finished decorating the bathroom yet. Still have 2 coats to put on the walls, (ceiling finished) and inner window frames to do – outer window frames and door finished.

This afternoon I had to nip into Lerwick to buy some more DIY bits and emptied my car at the dump. Later on my neighbour sent me another picture of the mystery bird in her tree, which showed underneath the tail and with no white vent showing, which probably confirmed its not a Nutcracker. But, I still want to believe it is. My neighbour also said she saw the same bird on Sunday sitting on a roof top, when I mentioned Nutcracker, she felt certain it was one. I have asked her to let me know the second she sees it again and I will be over there super quick! Its obviously a very popular pine tree as she had 'my' Leucistic House Sparrow perched in there at the same time! In past Winter's they have also had 'owls roosting' in this pine tree too.

So many jobs to do, started clearing all the piles of sycamores leaves from the windy day we had recently, but then gave up as felt too ill, came in and fell asleep. I'm busier at home, than I am at work right now! Light winds from the south east tomorrow.