SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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White-billed Diver off Ling Skerry, South Nesting.

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

 

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

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

Male Siskin on my feeders early morning. Headed to the carpet shop and picked up some sample books. Bought a spider plant in the Red Cross charity shop for £5 - bargain! Had a browse around Muddy Bay at their sideboards etc.

I was still in Lerwick, when news of Orcas came through! I had magical views of them heading past Victoria Pier with others, just wow! Always exciting and thrilling to watch! The weather here today is absolutely freezing, 4 degrees and north west winds with a mixture of rain and sun. The Orcas spent a good while around Lerwick and later were on a kill in front of the Northlink ferry, which would have been an incredible sight for the departing passengers who were watching from the deck! There is also insane footage of an Orca snatching an Eider on Facebook this evening!

 Pictures to be added

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

 

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

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

 

 

On the 2nd May two years ago I moved to Shetland –

the time seems to have gone so quickly, no regrets at all.

Love my job, the diverse weather, the people, the birds,

the light and the peace!

 

After months of trying to find library bookcases at a reasonable price and high enough to cover my alcove between living and dining room, I have succeeded! I found the perfect ones on Wayfair a while back, but they have been out of stock for months. A couple of nights ago, I was excited to see them back in stock, but even better were more appropriate sizes from the same company. My other issue has been the fact that I have run out of pennies, so last night I increased my car loan, just enough to get the bookcases, a carpet for the dining room, ceiling lights for both rooms and a sideboard for the corridor. This means I will be able to unpack all of the rest of my boxes!!! Yes, I could have saved up, but time is not on my side at my age and I would rather be unpacked now, rather than in five years time.

 

223cm high and 74cm wide

I have ordered four bookcases for the living room and four (same style/brand) with a double cupboard at the bottom for the dining room (all back to back, either side of the alcove) and they are flatpacked – oh dear, I will be insanely busy putting all those together! If I get stuck, I will ask my builder Alex, who put my office/studio ones together for me. The idea behind all of this, is also to seperate the two rooms to make it warmer, plus I needed furniture to put all my books etc in anyway. I knew I wanted to do this from the moment I saw the house. Everything has been at a stand still over the last months, so pleased to finally be getting everything sorted. Off to the carpet shop to order the new carpet tomorrow!

RBA Weekly Round-Up 25th April to 1st May!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_18.aspx?s_id=535599450

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Thursday 1st May

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

 

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Ring Ouzel on Isle of Mousa.

Iceland Gull at Maywick.

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

Hawfinches x 2 at Mid Yell.

 

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Blue-headed Wagtail at Exnaboe.

 

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

White-billed Diver off Ham Voe, Isle of Foula.

 

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

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

 

From the summit of Mossy Hill, near Levenwick

 

 

Another beautiful day here. After a busy day at work I headed into town and bought a 'fish supper'. Drove up to Mossy Hill (near Levenwick) and had my tea at the highest point of the hill overlooking St Ninian's Isle, Foula and beyond! Stunning light and very peaceful up here, a place I particularly love. Tried to find a mega, but nothing seen apart from a handful of Meadow Pipits, a couple of Wheatears and the beautiful song of Skylarks singing and of course lots of sheep.

 

Ended up at Loch of Spiggie - bumped into Hugh H. and had a brief catch up. Ruff on the loch along with the usual Tufted Ducks, Mute Swans, Mallard, Gadwall, Greylag Geese, Oystercatchers, Lapwings etc. A Pied Wagtail and a single Twite were feeding in a field close the hide. Tried to find the Purple Heron, but no luck with that. Drove to Noss, an area I've not but not been to for a quite a while – large flock of Greylag Geese in a field, Rock Doves and Starlings feeding, a few House Sparrows and a couple of Blackbirds. Also a pair of Mallard in a flooded pool on a field. Lots of newly born, cute lambs skipping around in fields on route to Boddam! I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have still not seen a single hirundine yet!

 

At Boddam I found a pair of Linnets in the wild walled garden of the house (not lived in) next to the headquarters of the new Boddam Wildlife Sanctuary, I've recently heard about, sounds very exciting indeed! It was lovely to hear a Snipe drumming in the same spot, I saw the Linnets from my car and had my finger on the shutter button, when a car drove past flushing them, so no pictures, which was a pity as they were posed very prettily in a willow type tree. Pair of Shelduck on the voe – will be nice to see cute fluffy ducklings soon (fingers crossed), also several Eiders chilling amongst the seaweed, Turnstones, Redshank and Starlings. Headed home and watched the end of MAFS (only addicts of this will know what I'm talking about!).

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Hawfinch at Law Lane, Lerwick.

White-billed Diver ad. at South Nesting Bay.

Purple Heron in SE corner, viewed from Setter pull-in at Loch of Spiggie.

 

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Unst.

Blue-headed Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher male at Out Skerries.

 

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

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

 

After work this evening I went to Greencroft Shetland Ltd at Wester Quarff to collect my two small (Northouse) planters from owner Kate. I purchased a large (Da Ness) planter last year and have been on a waiting list since November for these. Gorgeous turquoise blue doors as I requested, can't wait to get them planted up at the weekend!

 

Went birding in same area and found an LBJ in a large willow by someone's house, but I simply could not coax this bird out to ID it – spent ages there and failed. Nothing else of note. A stunning day here and my car read that it was 14 degrees, when I first got in it tonight – hottest day so far this year! I'm so glad its not going to reach the high temperatures forecast south this week.

Lea Gardens Open Today and Birding!

Brought my garden ornaments out of the shed today and arranged creatively. Sorted out the bird feeders and ponds. No exciting birds at my feeders, but a Robin visiting regularly.

🌲 🌲 🌲

This afternoon I visited Lea Gardens at Tresta for the first time (famous for the Tengmalm's Owl in February 2019). I fell in love with these beautiful gardens. So many species of trees – wild, rambling, full of surprises, so much colour and has to be the best garden in Shetland! Can't wait to go back. Surprisingly though, I only heard a Blackcap singing, no other birds seen at all.

Write up in Shetland News on 18th April:

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/04/18/good-soul-lea-gardens-ready/ 

Gorgeous cat enjoying the garden

 

Headed to Lerwick, filled up with petrol and did a food shop in Tesco, returned home and went out again. Lots of cute lambs near Berry Road, but couldn't find any migrants. At Tingwall Loch there were 14 Tufted Ducks and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and in fields around: Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Curlew. Tried to find my own Blue-headed Wagtail, but no luck with that. Went to Bridge End at Burra, just in case the Night Heron was still around, it wasn't. Raining late afternoon and this evening.

Lots of pictures of Da Gairdins at Sand added to my post on 20th April.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Blue-headed Wagtail male at Hillwell.

Subalpine Warbler sp. on Friday at Scatness.

 

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Norwick, Long-eared Owls x 2 at Baltasound, Unst.

Blue-headed Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher male at Out Skerries.

 

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Saturday 26th April

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Hawfinches x 2 briefly at Law Lane, Lerwick.

Purple Heron at Loch of Brow.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Sumburgh.

 

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Norwick, Unst.

Blue-headed Wagtail at Out Skerries.

 

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Ring Ouzel at Quendale.

Ring Ouzel at Geosetter. 

 

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Norwick, Ring Ouzels x 2 at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Eastern Stonechat sp. male (probably Siberian) at Isle of Noss.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Isle of Foula.

Blue-headed Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher male, Ring Ouzel at Out Skerries.

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

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

 

Gorgeous day here. Car serviced and Winter tyres swopped for Summer ones, whilst I went to work on the bus to do a mandatory training course, that is only held on a Friday, so have a couple of hours time in lieu, which will come in useful. Nothing else of interest to report today!

RBA Weekly Round-Up 18th to 24th April!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_17.aspx?s_id=489864361 

Thank you to the RBA Team for including my flycatching shot of the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler. Pictures of the week has to go to Hugh Harrop, who got some stonking pictures of last week's rarities here, particularly of the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Iceland Gull at Quendale.

 

Ring Ouzel fem. at Mid Yell.

Pied Flycatcher adult male at Stringa, Ring Ouzel male at Out Skerries.

Serin in garden at feeders at Millfield, Norwick, Unst.

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Hawfinch at Scatsta Farm, Scatsta.

Ring Ouzel at Sumburgh Farm.

Purple Heron at Loch of Brow.

 

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER still in plantation at Skaw, Whalsay.

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

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

 

Beautiful sunny day here, but chilly (my perfect kind of day). After work I went birding at Clickimin Loch in Lerwick. Spent a good while searching for migrants and also at Helendale Terrace, but disappointingly didn't find a single bird, apart from the usual Starlings and Hooded Crows. Returned home to far more birds at my feeders, but nothing exciting.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Eastern Subalpine Warbler male in gardens at end of road, Scatness.

Purple Heron at Loch of Brow.

Ring Ouzel at Toab.

Ring Ouzel at Sumburgh Farm.

 

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER still in plantation at Skaw, Whalsay.

Hawfinch at Out Skerries.

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

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

 

In April its always a good idea to have essential birding gear in the car for after work. Headed south, straight from work to Scatness. After getting helpful info from Hugh H. to help me locate the Eastern Subalpine Warbler (found by Roger Riddington this morning), I spent an hour and three quarters searching, but failed. There was a moment when I thought I could hear it singing briefly in a clump of rosa bushes, but it wasn't long enough to be sure. A flock of 12+ Fieldfares flew in and landed on a field and there were a few Wheatears around, a couple of Wrens, House Sparrows and Starlings.

 

There were a good number of Long-tailed Ducks on the sea at West Voe Beach, but I didn't stop to count them. Checked out the Sumburgh Hotel garden, but didn't find anything exciting there. In the Grutness Garden there was a Chiffchaff and a Redwing landed briefly. There was a Pied Wagtail by the Grutness Pool along with a Redshank and 2 Black-headed Gulls. Drove around Toab in the last throws of light, thinking I might get lucky with the earlier sighting of a Ring Ouzel, but wasn't. The one disadvantageous of birding straight after work, is the fact that a mega bird could have been feeding at my bird feeders all day and I would never know!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Monday 21st April

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Purple Heron at Loch of Brow.

 

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER still in plantation at Skaw, Whalsay.

Ring Ouzel, Hawfinches x 2, Blue-headed Wagtail (probable) at Out Skerries.

Eastern Subalpine Warbler male at Isle of Foula.

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

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

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER at Skaw, Whalsay and Da Gairdins at Sand!

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER

SKAW, WHALSAY

 

Found by John Lowrie Irvine

 

Hugh Harrop very kindly said I could join him on the ferry from Laxo to Whalsay, to go and see the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler. Met Hugh at the ferry terminal and left my car in the carpark – we caught the 10.30am ferry. The only time I have been over to Whalsay, was for the Eastern Olivacious Warbler with Jill and Rob and it wasn't a fun crossing – today's was pretty smooth, thank goodness. The Eastern Bonelli's Warbler was at the far end of the island, in a plantation at Skaw.

Within seconds of getting out of the car, we immediately saw the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler in the plantation, which was flighty and seemingly feeding well. There was a couple and a single man along with Hugh and I, to see this very rare bird. Fantastic birding views, but the light wasn't brilliant for photography at this time of the day. Fabulous bird and a new tick for me! There was a Willow Warbler (singing) and a Chiffchaff in the plantation too and also a Red Grouse distantly in the heather!

EASTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER

 

Hugh was out of sight and round the end of the plantation, when I turned to see the other two birders walking as fast as they could over the boggy/mossy ground, to check on the lady who was laying on the ground! She had apparently fainted, so I administered first aid (feet up) until the colour came back to her cheeks. She was ok and was able to get up a while later and return to her car with her husband. Hugh arrived on scene, shocked at seeing us all there together in a huddle and thought we were all looking at plant or something! Whilst this had been going on, Hugh had got a fabulous shot – best picture I have seen so far by miles and I doubt if anyone will get a better one! (see Twitter/X here). Caught the 12.45pm ferry back to Laxo, which was another smooth crossing. Huge thanks to Hugh for giving me a lift over there.

Blackbird perched on New Zealand Flax at Da Gairdins

I decided to visit Da Gairdins at Sand, which was about half an hour away. I went for the first time last year and have been wanting to return. These gardens are spectacular and have several nature ponds, many varieties of trees, shrubs and plants and a stunning beach close by. I thought I might find some exciting birds there, but alas only found 1 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow and 2 Collared Doves. Got a nice photo of a Blackbird singing on top of a New Zealand Flax. Chatted to Ruby who runs and works these spectacular gardens and I remarked how surprised I was to see Sea-buckthorn here (which reminded me of Holme). Went to the beach where I photographed a Wren singing its heart out on a boulder. Black-headed Gull here, a Rock Pipit and a Wheatear.

Horsetail (don't know which one) in the far pond at Da Gairdins

 

Water Cricket

Thank you to one of my blog readers and to John F. on Whalsay for the ID

 

Da Gairdins at Sand

Beach at Sand

 

Wren singing by the beach at Sand

 

Headed south – stopped at the shop at Bixter and bought a small bag of Kitkat Easter eggs! Not far from Scalloway I stopped and checked out the Burn of Njugalswater, which is SW of the Bridge of Fitch (where the Arctic Warbler was last Autumn) – nothing here at all. Went to Gulberwick to walk along the burn towards Wick House and no birds seen here either. Returned home and lit the fire. I was disappointed to find that I hadn't got one pleasing shot of the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, oh well, can't get good shots every time! Back to work on Tuesday.