SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

White-billed Diver off Bannaminn Beach, West Burra.

King Eider fem. at Horse of the Knab on south side of Lerwick.  

White-billed Diver juv. north of Lunning, 2.5 miles NE of Vidlin from Whalsay Ferry.

White-billed Diver off north tip of Mousa, Mousa Sound.

Hawfinch at Loch of Hillwell.

 

ISLANDS 

Black Redstart on Out Skerries.

White-billed Divers x 3 (all ads) on sea off White Hill Lighthouse, Vatsetter, Yell.

 

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

 

Glorious sunny day here and felt quite warm! I didn't get up early enough to watch my bird feeders and arrived home too late, so don't know if the Hawfinches are still around or not. The Tourist Office reopened in Lerwick today, which is very good news for everyone.

Channerwick Beach

 

 

After work I headed south to Channerwick to see if I could see last night's reported Pied Flycatcher – didn't find this but had my first Wheatears this Spring and there were several of them around the Channerwick area, fabulous to see. Also saw a male Blackcap in the scrub next to the large house at the bottom of the road which got me excited as it took forever to reveal itself. It was so beautiful here, the climb down to the beach over a short area of rocky path was a little tricky for my painful knee, but worth it to spend time on this stunning beach, where the burn runs over rocks into the sea. 2 Great Northern Divers on the sea, nothing else of note.

Levenwick Beach

 

 

At The Geosetter Burn I had a female Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Blackbird – so lovely to see everything coming out into bud and the willows starting to green up. Sat at the top of the burn for a while, so peaceful here and listened to a Wren singing its heart out. Parked up at Levenwick Beach and decided to go a bit crazy and get my fold-up backpacking chair out of its bag and sat on the beach! 4 Ringed Plover on the shoreline, a Pied Wagtail and a Bonxie flew over. I pretended it was boiling hot whilst sitting in my chair, but it actually wasn't! 😆 Black Rabbits and Wheatears feeding on the hillside next to the cemetery. As I returned to my car, a lady and her daughter (presumably) arrived and the young lass when for a swim – hardcore! The water would have been icy cold. A good number of people swim regularly in Shetland and in all weathers throughout the Winter, rather them than me! Returned home, lit the fire and cooked tea. Car in for its yearly service tomorrow morning.