SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider 1w, fem. still of The Knab, Hawfinches x 2 in Law Lane, Lerwick.

Turtle Dove flew east over Kirk Loch.

White-billed Diver still just north of Mousa at Mousa Sound.

Common Crane at Kergord Farm.

Ring-necked Duck drk at Loch of Housetter.

 

ISLANDS 

No news. 

 

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

2 Siskins and 3 Goldfinches in my garden again this morning. I'm seeing the most bees this Spring I have ever seen since I have been here, which is awesome! Overall it was a pretty dull day weather wise. Headed south to the see the Little Tern that had relocated to Pool of Virkie and watched this distantly through my scope – it was having a snooze next to a couple of Common Terns and a Black-headed Gull at the far side of the loch towards the airport. Lots of birds on the pool including good numbers of Ringed Plovers, Dunlins, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Eiders, a Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck. Saw my first butterfly of the year, a Red Admiral!

 

Lovely views of a Pale-bellied Brent Goose which Hugh H. had found on Grutness Beach and the pool. I watched 7 Swallows fly over the Sumburgh Hotel. Checked out the gardens along the road at Scatness, nothing of note, but lots of Tufted Ducks on Loch of Gards. Boddam Voe was also alive with waders including Eiders, several pairs of Shelduck, Mallard, Mute Swans, Redshanks, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew etc and I found a Chiffchaff in a small pine tree near the Crofthouse Museum. 2 Sand Martins (my first ones this Spring) flew low over Loch of Spiggie. Drove up to Mossy Hill and found several Wheatears, but nothing else of note. I really wanted to see the Common Crane at Kergord, but felt completely exhausted so returned home.

 

Fair Isle had its first record of two Spoonbills this afternoon, but they only stayed for 15 minutes on "Da Water" and then flew high south west towards Orkney – see the Fair Isle link to read about it above.

 

A lovely lady who works in Scalloway chemist recommended a shampoo called Sukin which is made in Australia and doesn't have any chemicals etc in it and works brilliantly for her. I ordered some from Amazon and along with conditioner, they arrived today – will see if this helps.