CHRISTMAS DAY!

Dining Room

 

I woke up very late morning, must have been tired from work I guess. By the time I had had a shower, washed hair, put all the Christmas lights on and phoned my sisters, it was early afternoon. Cooked brunch and then went to Meal Beach. This stunning beach with white sands and clear turquoise water is the nearest one to where I live and is only four miles away. I just managed to get there before the light started to disappear. I had the entire beach to myself which was wonderful! 

 Meal Beach, West Burra

 

Lit the fire when I returned home and simply couldn't be bothered to cook Christmas dinner, so I didn't! This the first time I have not done on a roast on Christmas day. Watched TV and did a Zoom with Lucy, Vivien and Ray.

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Long-eared Owl at Cunningsburgh.

Northern Long-tailed Tit at Herrisdale Park, Veensgarth.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Christmas Eve!

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

To my Family, Friends and Readers

Wishing you all a happy and joyful time with your families. If you are spending the day alone as many people are, try and see it in a positive light, no stress, choice of doing whatever you wish, eating whatever you want and when, watching your choice of TV, radio or simply doing nothing at all! Go for a walk, go birding, immerse yourself in nature. Have a happy day

 

Many of us have lost our nearest and dearest and this can be a very difficult time, but love and happy memories never fade –
they are always with you, now and forever –
nothing and nobody can take that away.

Sending a 🤗 to everyone

Love and Best Wishes

Penny xxx

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider fem. still at Quendale Bay.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Iceland Gull at Grutness Pier.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

As expected it was another very busy day at work with Jane and Catherine. Looking forward to having four days off! Had a catch up with Lucy and Vivien on the phone and we are all doing a Zoom tomorrow!

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

No news.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Popped into Tesco after work for last minute items and it was very busy, but not crazy. There were no frozen raspberries left though, which are a regular item for me, but managed to get them in the Co-op and my favourite local Bressay eggs from my Scalloway shop. I felt completely exhausted this evening and had to push myself to get essential jobs done. The new door is dry and looking good and the baked beans by the wood stained step have been returned to the cupboard!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider fem. still at Quendale Bay.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Siberian Chiffchaff in garden at Brakefield Road, Sandwick. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

The usual and typically busy day in the run up to Christamas Day at work, as is normal for the majority if not all hospitals. I had no idea what the weather was doing until I left work – windy and rain.

 

Went to AC Paint shop after work and Ivor helped me choose the right darker colour – he always gives his honest opinion and is extremely helpful. The new dining room door has had two coats of Sadolin 'Light Oak' and this evening I painted a final coat of Sadolin 'Burma Teak' and now the door looks as close as I can get it to the other pine doors – very pleased with the result. I discovered that the Burma Teak colour is very good for patching up pale sections on the other old pine doors, which I did too and also re stained the step between the kitchen and the corridor to give it a facelift – I have tins of baked beans positioned either side of the step so I don't stand on it for 24 hours! Lets hope I remember about the tins! 😆

 

I'm now completely and utterly DONE with DIY this year. Its not been easy to achieve by myself alongside going to work too, but very pleased with the results so all my hard work has paid off. Also huge thanks to my builder Alex and my electrician Lewis for all their huge input and work – couldn't have done it without them. The only room I haven't done is my bedroom, that will have to wait financially.

 

I don't know where the last year has gone, but its disappeared far too quickly, its seems the older you get the quicker the time seems to go. I have been in this house two years in January! Next year I'm going to attempt to paint the house, gates, walls and railings etc!

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Da Elves an da Oo-makker | Promote Shetland Christmas Dialect Film

This is SO beautiful to watch!

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/12/20/a-virtual-christmas-caird-o-sorts/ 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider fem. still at Quendale Bay.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Didn't get round to doing the supermarket run yesterday so went very early this morning and arrived at Tesco at 7.30am, which is a good job I did as things were already running out from items being packed for click and collect overnight, but got most things I needed.

 

Did the second coat on the dining room door and its no where near dark enough to match the other doors so will have to go to the paint shop tomorrow after work and get a darker woodstain. A third darker coat should hopefully be enough to finish it.

 

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Saturday 20th December

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider fem. still at Quendale Bay.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Firecrest at Swinister Burn, Sandwick. 

Northern Bullfinch at North Road, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

A jobs day, which included sanding down the new door to the dining room and applying the first coat of woodstain – its going to need more coats than I thought it would. Filled up all the bird feeders and cleaned the ponds out. Watched the Strictly Final and the last time seeing Claudia and Tess presenting – it won't ever be the same again 😢 

 

Lovely to receive a copy of Dutch Birding today with my Blackpoll Warbler and Siberian Thrush in print. A top quality publication, thank you for requesting my photos!

 

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider fem. still at Quendale Bay.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Northern Long-tailed Tit at Herrisdale Park, Veensgarth. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Good news: all the paintings are up and looking fabulous!!! Its been hard work doing this by myself with lots of measuring, cutting out brown paper templates, spirit level etc, but all worth it. If there is anyone wanting to sell me their RAR's, please contact me – I have space left on the wall!

 

Bad news: I waited in all day for the Octopus engineer to visit and upgrade my Smart Metre to 4G and I was told I would get an hours notice when they rang and it would be between 8am and 5pm. They didn't ring and didn't turn up. The thing I'm most unhappy about is not receiving a phone call or email to say WHY my appointment was cancelled!!! When it got to 4pm I rang Octopus, but discovered the customer service hours have shortened even further again and shuts at 4pm on a Friday. I have sent them a very lengthy ranting email, which I'm sure they will enjoy reading at this festive time!

 

I have had some useful tips on one of the Shetland Facebook pages including an email address which gets you a quicker response from Octopus which is [issueresolution@octopus.energy] rather than the usual [hello@octopus.energy] 

 

80+ House Sparrows in the garden today along with a Robin, Starlings and 10+ Collared Doves. Couldn't start sanding the dining room door and wood staining, as this is the door that the Octopus engineer would need to walk through, so decided it would be sensible to start this after they left LOL!!! Now I can leave the house, I can get the Christmas supermarket shop done tomorrow.

 

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RBA Weekly Round-Up 12th to 18th December!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_51.aspx?s_id=726874591 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

American Wigeon ad. drk at Setter, Loch of Spiggie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider 1w fem. at Quendale Bay.

Glaucous Gulls x 3, Iceland Gull at Loch of Spiggie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Still hanging paintings, although I have hung all the RAR's – will have finished by tomorrow night. I didn't think I would have enough wall space for all my paintings, but to my surprise I have spare space! I will have to get some more RAR's framed up from the big collection in the folder. I only have a Northern Lights canvas picture in the office/studio and no other paintings left to go in here at all, so have decided I will get some of my best bird photos and maybe a few beach ones made into canvas pictures to adorn the walls in this room – a job for the new year.

I suppose I better get the Christmas food shopping list done, but its only me on Christmas day (same as the last two years), so won't be much different to normal. I'm planning to make a nut roast at least though! Rubbish rainy and windy weather today, but really doesn't make much difference when you are busy at work. Whichever hospital you work in, its always crazy busy in the lead up to Christmas day. Working next week and on Christmas Eve. I have Christmas Day off and I don't work Friday's anyway which is Boxing Day and return to work on Monday 29th December. Then have Thursday 1st January off and Friday 2nd (both public holidays here in Shetland), but again I don't work on Friday's and then back to work as normal on Monday 5th January.

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

American Wigeon ad. drk at Loch of Spiggie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

The Kingfisher is still being seen around Clickimin Loch, Lerwick – so lovely this gorgeous bird is still here. Sunny day here. Typically very busy at work at this time of the year. Vivien visited Lucy today and will see her again tomorrow. Its not too many weeks away until I get to see my sister's again 😍

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

Siberian Chiffchaffs x 2 in garden at Brakefield Road, Sandwick.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Pullars Loch, Lerwick. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

I have been hanging paintings all weekend – its taking far longer than I had anticipated, but the measuring is all paying off as they are all lining up where they are supposed to and looking good. If my father is looking down, I would like to think he would be smiling, seeing his paintings re-framed and hung up on newly painted walls. I have hung all the RAR's on the corridor walls, as these are internal so won't be affected by sunlight or outside walls. My artworks and other bird paintings and landscapes are in the living and dining room. 😊

 

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.

 

ISLANDS 

Iceland Gull at Loch of Littlester, Yell.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

Waxwings x 2 at Dalsetter, Boddam.

 

ISLANDS 

Red-necked Grebe at Westing, Unst. 

 

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

 

Sunny day here. Did some necessary gardening which included pruning and sweeping up leaves. 60+ House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and Blackbirds in my garden including a male Blackbird feeding on an apple next to my feet, whilst I was pruning the fuschia bush. Northern Lights showing brilliantly in Shetland tonight.

 

From the Webcams:

RBA Weekly Round-Up 5th to 11th December!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_50.aspx 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider fem. at Quendale Bay.

Iceland Gull juv. at Mairs Pier, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS 

Red-necked Grebe at Westing, Glaucous Gull ad. flew in off sea at Norwick, Unst. 

 

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

 

Almost no wind today! I think there was some sunshine, but not really sure as it was very busy at work. Another female King Eider has been found in Quendale and a different bird to the one that was here in Scalloway.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Glaucous Gull juv. at Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS 

Glaucous Gull, Red-necked Grebe at Westing, Unst. 

 

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

 

Sunshine this morning, but the afternoon and this evening was wild! Last night and tonight, the first thing I did when I reached home was to walk round the house and garden with a torch to inspect for any damage – luckily there hasn't been any yet! First job inside the house is to relay and light the fire. My house warms up pretty quickly which is good. Apart from my office/studio on 18°C, I'm now keeping all the rest of my electric Rointe Radiators on 14°C and only turning them up to 17°C when I get home in the evenings and then switching back to 14°C just before I go to sleep. I can't have another bill like last month.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 9th December

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Siberian Chiffchaff in garden at Sandwick.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Blue Fulmar on beach at Scousburgh.

Northern Bullfinches x 2 (both males) at Anderson High School, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

 

Strong winds and heavy rain here.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Firecrest at top of Fogralea, Helendale, Lerwick.

Red-necked Grebe at Loch of Hillwell.

Firecrest at Swinister Burn, Siberian Chiffchaff in garden at Sandwick. 

Siberian Chiffchaff at West Voe, Sumburgh.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Loch of Hillwell.

Firecrests x 2, Siberian Chiffchaff at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.

American Wigeon ad.drk still east of Setter at Loch of Spiggie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Loch of Hillwell.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

 

Busy weekend so far. Finished all the Christmas decorations on Friday night. Yesterday I had the Warmworks Surveyor's appointment, which took around three hours. It was very interesting to find out that what I thought was spray foam insulation in my loft is in fact shredded paper!!! I was told this is what was used in the day – I don't know how I feel about that, but there we go!

 

Today was a brilliant day, apart from the weather which was strong winds and lashing rain. I picked up my pine door from Jewsons in September and have been waiting for Alex to fit this door in my dining room since then. All builders and tradesmen here are insanely busy. Alex arrived at 9.30am to fit my new door into the dining room, which involved building a frame too as there has never been a door here (as far as I know). Alex also created some holes with a circular saw in my dining room bookcases, to allow the TV wire to be hidden. The door took Alex far longer than he expected – nothing fits instantly in a old house! I had to leave him to finish the job when I went out to lunch.

 

This afternoon I went to "The Scalloway Good Companions" lunch for over 60's in the Cornerstone Cafe in Scalloway at 1pm, which was for Scalloway and Trondra residents. It was such a wonderful atmosphere, fabulous food which included main course (I had parsnip & cashew strudel), dessert (I choose trifle), had a ginger beer and there were mincepies, star shaped shortbread with tea or coffee. It was so joyous to meet some lovely folk. A gentleman called Brian sitting to my left lives in one of the houses that had the Siberian Thrush in he was telling me! Brian also told me he had the Blue-cheeked Bee eater that was at Asta Loch in 1997 perched on his washing line! Another gentleman was full of banter, which was very funny indeed, but not really appropriate to write the details on here, but thank you for making me chuckle!

 

I had no idea there was going be music as well. Some gifted youngsters played some jolly Christmas and Shetland tunes, a young lass playing a keyboard, violinists and a young man who was particularly brilliant playing his accordian –  it brought tears to my eyes, especially the violins. Everytime I hear a violin being played it makes me think of Lucy. For new readers of my blog, my sister Lucy is a violinist and attended the Royal College of Music, but because of her mental diagnosis throughout her life, she never got to fulfill her biggest dreams musically. The lady hosting the event was Sonia, who is a lady who lives in my road. Sonia was giving a few folk lifts home at the end, so I volunteered to take a couple back to their house in Berry Road – the gentleman was telling me he was 90 years old – there is no way he looked 90! It was a pleasure to take them home. It was so nice to meet some lovely people and huge thanks to the organisers and the "Good Companions" – as a newcomer to Scalloway I was made to feel very welcome. Thank also to the fabulous staff at the Cornerstone Cafe. I can't believe I will have been in Shetland three years in May and in January it will be two years since I bought my lovely little house here.

 

When I returned home Alex had left and the new door looks so good. It took me forever to clear up and put everything back on the shelves in the cupboards, then I nipped to the shop to buy some sandpaper. Tomorrow I need to lightly sand the door and get the first coat of woodstain on. I also have lots of paintings to hang still. Going for a local beach walk tomorrow whatever the weather is doing. Its forecast to be rain and sunshine and less windy. I will post some more Christmas decorations pictures another day.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Siberian Chiffchaff, Northern Bullfinch (male) in garden at Sandwick.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick.

Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Loch of Hillwell.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

RBA Weekly Round-Up 28th November to 4th December!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_49.aspx?s_id=286030213 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Loch of Hillwell.

Northern Bullfinches x 5 at Mulla, north of Voe.

King Eider female at East Voe, Scalloway.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

 

Dentist appointment today, which included a repair filling and a scale and polish. I used to be able to have hygiene work done without pain relief, but in recent years the nerve pain has been terrible, so now always have to have injections – this knocked me out for ages this evening. Still decorating the Christmas Tree – but it will be finished before I retire for the night.

 

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SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT female again at 9.30am in crop field near loch at Scousburgh.

Red-necked Grebe still at Loch of Hillwell.

King Eider female in bay north of Cutts, Scalloway.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

 

I can't believe Ruby Wax was voted out, I thought she would be in the final – oh well its only a show at the end of the day, but she looked gutted to leave – love her sense of humour, she doesn't hold back!

 

Started decorating this evening – as a creative perfectionist, its taking far longer than I thought. This time last year the dining room was full of boxes and I didn't have the sideboards in the corridor, so much more to think about, but really enjoying it, now the house is finished. Just waiting for the dining room door to be fitted, which I hope can be done before Christmas 🤞

 

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