SHETLAND BIRD NEWS, PHOTOS, BIRDING, LIFE AND MORE! MY 14th YEAR ANNIVERSARY 2024!


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Wednesday 17 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Arctic Redpoll at Baltasound, Unst. Green-winged Teal on Isle of Foula. Snow Buntings x 3, Blue Fulmar on Fair Isle. Quail in garden at Weisdale. Little Gull off Mair's Quay, Lerwick.
 

Spent this evening sorting and filling my bird feeders up, including putting up my second (arrived today) Roamwild bird feeder, but this time without the cage, so I can see if the Starlings can use this or not, I expect they are not heavier enough to close the entry point for the seed. Cleaned the bird baths out and all looking fabulous again. I couldn't resist buying a smiling gnome swinging on a rope swing, which I purchased off Amazon, he looks so good in the tree! 😆 This will add some fun to the front garden for any children walking past... maybe! He will get plenty of swinging in the winds here! No, I haven't lost the plot, if you're asking, not quite anyway.

Had a lovely chat with Gwen this evening (who lives two doors away) as she passed my front garden and she told me that one of my trees in the front garden is a Rowan tree, which I'm hugely excited about – Gwen said that it had had a big chop at some point, but its all looking good again now, it won't get chopped again whilst I'm here – she also said that its mean't to be lucky to have a Rowan tree in your garden. There is an elder next to it and rhubarb growing below. Both these trees will be brilliant for their berries later on for any migrant birds. I'm not sure what the biggest tree is in my front garden and I have another large tree next to the shed and drive. Can't wait to get my new car in the driveway on Friday, so exciting!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 16th April

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Hawfinches x 2 at Stendaal, South Nesting. Hawfinch at Mulla, Voe. Snow Bunting x 3, Blue Fulmar on Fair Isle.
 

2 Red-breasted Mergansers on East Voe, Scalloway viewed from the bus on the way home. 6 Bramblings, 5 Siskins, 2 Chaffinches, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Robin in my garden this evening.

Monday 15 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Iceland Gull at Loch of Hillwell. Tundra Bean Goose, Little Gull on Isle of Bressay. Hawfinch at South Nesting. Hen Harrier between Aywick & Gossabrough, Yell. Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, Snow Bunting, Blue Fulmar on Fair Isle.

2 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins in my garden this evening.

Sunday 14 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Green-winged Teal on Isle of Foula. Great White Egret at Baltasound, Unst. Tundra Bean Goose on Isle of Bressay. White-tailed Eagle, Snow Buntings x 2 on Fair Isle. Hawfinch at South Nesting. Hen Harrier at Bakkasetter. Little Gull at Shetland Catch, Gremista.
 

The Roamwild PestOff Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder is going to save me a fortune! House Sparrows, Siskins, Chaffinches and Goldfinches took a while to venture through the caged area, but they are now in and very happy! Its mostly been used by the Siskins and Goldfinches. The Starlings are extremely disgruntled indeed and trying to find a hole above the green metal area and obviously failing. The sunflower hearts have hardly gone down in the tube since I filled it up a few days ago! In the garden today: 2 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins, 6 Chaffinches, 1 robin, 1 blackbird, 4 Collared Doves, Starlings and good numbers of House Sparrows. I still haven't recovered from my trip to Aberdeen and didn't get anything much done today.

Saturday 13 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
None.
 

My Phenergan travel sickness tablets prevented me from being sick last night. The ferry was rocking in the early hours of the morning and even though I was laying on the floor, I had to hold onto the floor a few times to stop myself being rolled over! Later on I heard a huge crashing noise – which sounded like loads of crockery smashing to the floor! Eventually it calmed enough for me to get up. I didn't bother with breakfast this morning. The ferry arrived at 7.30am and I walked to the bus stop and caught the 7.50am bus back to Scalloway. A beautiful sunny and crisp morning, cooler than Aberdeen and much more tolerable.

When I reached home, I put my bags indoors and immediately fell asleep. I have been extremely sleepy all day and done nothing at all. The Phenergan tablets always do this too me, you can't drive after taking these or do anything to be honest. Two Goldfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on my feeders this morning.

Friday 12 April 2024

New Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Estate!

Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI Monte Carlo Estate

 

Woke up at 5am after a night of tossing and turning, wasn't ill, so all good. Had a full breakfast. Arrived in Aberdeen at 7am. Stayed on the ferry for a while until 7.45am. Caught a bus to Trust Ford.

At last I have found a new car and an estate, which is what I wanted for several reasons including being able to sleep in it if I wanted to and getting wood for the fire etc etc. I nearly didn't buy this, as I thought it would remind me of my written off car, but changed my mind, as its the best car I've seen for the money I had to spend. Can't afford to buy new again, this car is a 2020 model, one previous owner, 16,338 miles. Salesman Donnelly Wilson at Trust Ford in Aberdeen has been extremely helpful indeed. Service being done and 12 months MOT (was 6 months). Three months warranty and covered by any Ford Garage, so this includes the Ford garage in Shetland. Car being delivered to Lerwick next week!

I had no idea what a huge city Aberdeen was until I had a walk round later! Also 19 degrees here and I am boiling hot, roll on Shetland to cool down! Had lunch in Pizza Express.

Aberdeen

Celebrated in Pizza Express!
 

Now on the ferry waiting to leave at 7pm to return to Lerwick. I have been given a warning card that its going to be rough tonight – so exciting, not!  Managed to get my favourite place mid ship with camp bed and sleeping bag.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Hawfinch at South Nesting. Orcas x 2 at Isle of Mousa. Snow Bunting, Blue Fulmar on Fair Isle.
 

Thursday 11 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Little Gull at Lerwick. Ring Ouzel, Blue Fulmar on Fair Isle.
 

After work I walked to the ferry terminal and caught the 7pm ferry to Aberdeen. No cabins, but I didn't want one anyway, as simply going over to look at a new car. Brought my roll up camp bed, pillow and sleeping bag and slept mid ship.

Wednesday 10 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Hawfinch at Sandwick. Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Lerwick. Tundra Bean Goose on Isle of Bressay. Blue Fulmar, 2 Snow Buntings on Fair Isle. Snow Buntings x 4 at Ordaal, Unst.
 
 
My new bird feeder looks untouched at the moment, maybe they need to get used to the cage around the bottom or it may be due to the fact the rest of the general bird seed in other feeder and on bird table has not run out yet. I might try it without the cage at the weekend to see if the Starlings are able to balance on the weighted perch. 2 Chaffinches in the garden before work. Raining all day.

Tuesday 9 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Hawfinch at North Staney Hill, Lerwick. Hawfinch at Sandwick. 2 Snow Buntings on Fair Isle. Glaucous Gull at Norwick, Unst.
 
 
Goldfinch in my garden before and after work along with 2 fem and 1 male Chaffinch.
 
Today I received a new bird feeder I sent off from the company Roamwild. I have put it together and will report back another day. I also bought the add on cage which is supposed to stop Starlings (won't believe it until I see it) and other bigger birds from accessing the seed. Its a very large feeder and I have filled this with sunflower hearts. On first impressions it looks far superior to my RSPB feeders. See the product video here. The test will be on how empty it is after work tomorrow! There are no squirrels in Shetland, so that won't be an issue for me!
 

RBA Weekly Round-Up 2nd to 8th April!

By Jon Dunn

Monday 8 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Ring Ouzel, Snow Buntings x 2 on Fair Isle.
 
 
A lovely sunny day here. This evening I had 2 male and 2 fem Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, Starlings, a good number of House Sparrows, 1 Blackbird and one Robin in the garden. Several Swallows and House Martins were skimming over my house! There is only one issue with all these birds in the garden – its nearly impossible to photograph anything, as the only window that opens wide enough (living room) is far too close to the birds and so its a case of trying to photograph through the glass stable door. This door is divided up into 6 panes of glass – I have tried to open the top half section, but the birds are very wary of me standing there and most will fly off. I tried to photograph birds outside by sitting at the extreme opposite end of the front garden, but the birds were not happy with that, however still I sat. This will be insanely frustating WHEN I get a mega in the garden!!! 😉

Sunday 7 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Glaucous Gull on Isle of Foula. Bittern still at Loch of Hillwell. Glaucous Gull at Mair's Quay, Lerwick. Arctic Terns x 2 or "Tirriks" (earliest record ever, last earliest record was 18th April) at Grutness. Ring Ouzel, Twite x 4 on Fair Isle. Snow Buntings x 2 at Baltasound, Hawfinch at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.
 
 
Very strong winds but fabulous sunshine and blue skies. The Hawfinch has not returned, but I had a fabulous selection of birds in the garden today! 2 male and 2 fem Chaffinches, 1 male Goldfinch, 4 Bramblings, 3 Siskins, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Blackbirds, 35+ House Sparrows, Starlings+++. Then later in the afternoon I had my first hirundines of the Spring – such a welcome and magical sight to watch 4 Swallows and 3 House Martins skimming and twisting low over my garden! What a day!

After doing lots of housekeeping with paperwork and filing etc, I finally got out and walked around Scalloway to find some birds. More Swallows and House Martins skimming over my road as I headed down to the harbour. Other than that, very little found, they were all in my garden! Found a Curlew and the usual Hooded Crows were around. Took some nice pictures of houses and gardens with Spring flowers and Daffodils on show. The wind was still very strong and it was raining lightly. On returning to my house, I walked part way up Gallows Hill to see my house from a different aspect – Scalloway looks amazing from even half way up the hill. Sheep and Shetland ponies on the hill make an idyllic scene.

I completely changed my mind about the car I put a deposit on yesterday and emailed Skoda to say I'm not interested. Instead I put a deposit on another car, which I am very happy about – just need to clarify a few things, which I have emailed to the sale room where its for sale in Aberdeen. Hopefully will have another car soon and before May with fingers crossed!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Saturday 6th April
Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Hawfinch on Isle of Foula. Ring Ouzel male on Fair Isle.
 
 
Very strong winds and rain for most of the day. 4 Bramblings in my garden again with the usual birds and 7 Collared Doves at one time. 2 Siskins in next door's garden. No sign of yesterday's Hawfinch. Spent most of the day looking for another car on-line, which I'm getting very fed up with, as I don't trust any garage I phone up, especially when you are told different things about a car from two different members of staff within the same company! My insurance is now going to be tons more too after my accident, which I expected. I put a deposit on a car, but the very cheap make of tyre, which would not have been put on when it was new and the low mileage, don't add up – waiting for answer by email. Wish I could afford to buy a new Skoda on finance, but I can't, so will have to accept that. Mixed weather tomorrow!

Friday 5 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Bittern at Loch of Hillwell. Hawfinch at Scalloway. Waxwing at South Nesting. Hawfinch at Out Skerries. Long-eared Owl, Snow Buntings x 3 on Fair Isle.
 
 
Something very strange occured this morning, when I first got up and looked out into the front garden, two of my feeders were on the ground – there has been very little wind and they are heavy feeders. Seeking advice from Hugh H., he said it may have been Hooded Crows who work in the night! Cleaned all the now empty feeders properly and scrubbed down the hanging bird table and bird baths. Topped everything up again and it didn't take too long for all my usual birds to return.
 
New garden bird today – a Male HAWFINCH at 3pm!!! Its very handy that I can view all of my neighbour's Jimmy's long standing bird feeders and bird baths in his garden from my living room, without even leaving the house! I was scanning with bins and was suddenly aware of a large chunky bird that had flown to drink from a pedestal bird bath and was very excited to see it was a stonking male Hawfinch! It then flew up to perch in the tallest trees. I grabbed my camera and went outside and of course it had vanished! I went back indoors and walked to my front door to view my feeders and there it was sitting in my tree, peering down at the bird feeders and the boisterous Starlings scrabbling over the fat balls! WOW! By the time I had got my camera, it had disappeared again, so sadly no pictures at all, but what a bird to have in my garden!
 
Supporting cast of Bramblings x 4, Siskins x 2, House Sparrows, Starlings, Blackbirds, Robin, Collared Doves and Rock Doves. A sunny day here, but light rain and cloud later on. Heavy rain and strong south, south easterlies all day tomorrow. A mixture of strong and light south west winds on Sunday, with rain and sunshine!

Searching on line for a second hand Skoda Fabia Estate SE L or Monte Carlo in blue!!! I dithered about one the other day and regretted it – the next day someone reserved it and beat me to it and now sold – this was on Cinch who deliver free to Shetland. I have changed my mind about buying another rallyee green Skoda, it would bring back too many bad memories of my accident.

Thursday 4 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 
Bittern at Loch of Hillwell. Glaucous Gull, Little Gull at Lerwick. Long-eared Owl, Snow Buntings x 2 on Fair Isle.
 
 
Bramblings x 3 in my garden this evening, along with the usual birds in the garden.

Wednesday 3 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Bittern at Loch of Hillwell. Glaucous Gull at Mair's Quay, Lerwick. Northern Bullfinch at Kergord.
 
 
My builder came round at 6pm to check on the concrete floor of the second bedroom and said it is now dry enough to insulate and put a new floor in etc. I had decided a few days ago, that being as this room is now in a serious state, with skirting board taken up and holes in the bottom of the walls, that it would be the best and only time to get this room insulated properly, so I discussed this with 'Alex' who said he would price up the job and get a quote to me. I only need the two outside walls doing and so I am hoping it won't be insanely expensive?! When Alex explained the process to me, it sounds like a big job. The existing plasterboard has to be knocked out and removed and then 75mm insulating board placed against the inside of outside wall, wood struture around, then another 25mm of insulating board, then plaster board. This will then mean that the window frames will have be replaced and all the skirting board and then a decorator in to skim and paint the two new walls and all the skirting. It think its going to be a long time before this office gets completed and then a long time for me to finish the rest of the house. I really hope its all going to get done in the next few months.

Tuesday 2 April 2024

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News 

Hawfinch near Fjara Cafe, Black Redstart in garden at Lerwick. Hawfinch at Marrister, Whalsay.
 
 
The weather has switched to strong and chilly north easterlies – no rain, no sun. 4 male Bramblings, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 6 Siskins, 1 Robin, 2 Blackbirds, 7 Collared Doves, 15+ House Sparrows, Starlings+++ feeding in my garden. So lovely to have the lighter evenings now the clocks have changed. Sunrise is now 6.24am and sunset is 19.52.

RBA Weekly Round-Up 16th March to 1st April!

By Jon Dunn