SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Baird's Sandpiper still at Dalsetter, Boddam.

American Black Tern still at Tingwall Loch.

King Eider ad. fem off Twagoes Road, Lerwick.    

Buff-breasted Sandpiper still near lighthouse at Eshaness.

Glossy Ibis flew high north over Braewick Cafe, NE of Eshaness.

Lapland Bunting flew over Exnaboe.

Citrine Wagtail in farmyard at Quendale Mill.

 

ISLANDS

Pallid Harrier juv. at Houlland, Buff-breasted Sandpipers x 2 near Easting at Sandwick, Unst.

 

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

Late yesterday I went to try and see the Western Bonelli's Warbler at Glover Lodges and failed, which was nobody's fault but my own, which I regret very much indeed. Sadly not seen there this morning either. Started today checking for birds in Scalloway. Walked to the end of my road and chatted with Marcus L. who has just moved back here permanently (long story) along with his wife – they live a couple of houses away from me and moved here from Norfolk originally. One of my lovely neighbours Gwen was doing some gardening. In the burn along the road I could only find House Sparrows and a couple of Blackbirds. Checked out the Sunken Garden next to Lover's Lane and found nothing.

AMERICAN BLACK TERN
Tingwall Loch

 

Went to Tingwall Loch for another look at the American Black Tern by the boathouse. So lovely to bump in to Dave and Jacquie Bridges and their friend Graham from Norfolk who arrived here last night for their yearly visit for a few weeks. Also Dave Fairhurst here, Anne and a few other birders. It was glorious sunshine this morning and the ABT was showing fabulously and put on a very close display in front of us for a while! Managed to get slightly better shots than my last visit, but for some reason I'm not mastering flight photography since I had this camera. I was fine with my Canon 7D Mark II and 300mm prime lens. I really need to get the bottom of this – I can't seem to get on with the animal tracker mode either. Anyway, after this I had to return home as I received a call from Robertsons (electrical goods shop) in Lerwick to come and look at my 'frost free' freezer I purchased from them last September which doesn't seem to be frost free! This took an hour out of my plans. My receipt says frost free but the electrician didn't think it was and said he would discuss with the manager etc and they would get back to me. I reported this issue to them yesterday when I was in the shop to look at a new oven and cooker hood. I have only used my airfryer and the hob since I have lived here as the oven didn't look in a good state and when I fully investigated the cooker hood I was horrified with the poor state it was in behind the metal cover – I won't go into the gory details but it needs to go the dump.

Left the house again and went to Gulberwick. Parked up by the kirk and walked along the track to Wick House and the Burn of Wick – found nothing at all. Left here and headed south when news of a Citrine Wagtail came up on the pager that Roger R. had found at Quendale which "came up from the burn just below the road". When I arrived there were no other birders there at all. Spent a while searching and then walked along the burn towards the dam and back again. Chatted to a couple of birders who turned up and we couldn't find it. More birders turned up and a young man called James refound it along the road past the barns and viewed very distantly by farm machinery. I only saw it once and the 50mph winds were now in full force and I didn't even get a rubbish shot, but glad I saw it. A huge Heatherlea tour group turned up and I think several of them got to see it through a scope, but it wasn't good viewing conditions at all.

Returned to my car and went to Grutness so I could use the loo – two notices on the door saying the toilet was out of action – great! The vast area of concrete here looks so depressing. Its not fully clear where you are supposed to leave your car if you were heading across to Fair Isle, but I suppose the ferry crew would let you know. Checked out the Grutness garden in the now gloom, fading light and light rain – only found House Sparrows. Returned home. Robertsons are coming out at 9am to look at my old cooker hood to give me a quote for a new one, but I have my sandwiches etc done for the day, so I can go straight out after that. The weather looks much nicer tomorrow and no strong winds forecast. 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on pool by end of power lines near carpark, Lapland Bunting south of lighthouse at Eshaness.

Baird's Sandpiper still at Dalsetter, Boddam.  

American Black Tern still at Tingwall Loch.

Western Bonelli's Warbler at Glover Lodges, Ocraquoy.

Spotted Sandpiper at Voxter House Burn then flew west, Voxter.

Yellow-browed Warbler trapped & ringed at Scousburgh.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Ronas Voe, Ronas Hill.

Citrine Wagtail 1w. half way along beach at 4.05pm, Grutness.

White-beaked Dolphins x 100+ this morning off Sumburgh Head. 

 

ISLANDS

Barred Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider ad. fem still in harbour off Victoria Pier car park, Lerwick. 

American Black Tern still at Tingwall Loch. 

Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater seen from The Lookout, Sumburgh Head.

Glossy Ibis still, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on pool by end of power lines near carpark at Eshaness.  

Baird's Sandpiper at northern loch, Dalsetter, Boddam.

Slavonian Grebe at Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS

American Golden Plover on ridge of Hill of Clibberswick, Barred Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

American Black Tern still from boathouse at Tingwall Loch. 

Lapland Bunting flew over Hillwell.

Glossy Ibis still on pool by B9078 1.5 miles east of lighthouse, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on pool by end of power lines near carpark at Eshaness. 

King Eider ad. fem SE of Victoria Pier car park, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS

Barred Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider ad. fem in harbour off Victoria Pier car park, Yellow-browed Warbler at Seafield, Lerwick. 

American Black Tern still from boathouse at Tingwall Loch.

Glossy Ibis still on pool by B9078 1.5 miles east of lighthouse, Buff-breasted Sandpiper on grass 50yds east of lighthouse at Eshaness. 

Pallid Harrier juv. near Loch of Brindister, SSW of Gulberwick.

 

ISLANDS

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Isle of Foula.

Common Rosefinch at Hillend, Mid Yell, Yell. 

Barred Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Black Redstart at Valsgarth, Unst.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider ad. fem off North Ness Business Park, Lerwick. 

American Black Tern still from boathouse at Tingwall Loch.

Sooty Shearwaters x 4 from The Lookout, Sumburgh Head.

Glossy Ibis on flood by lighthouse at Eshaness.

Storm Petrol flew past Mousa Sound.

Curlew Sandpiper at Scatness.

 

ISLANDS

Barred Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

 

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

 

Leucistic House Sparrow with others, 1 Siskin, Starlings, 9 Collared Doves and a very daring and cheeky couple of Hooded Crows at my bird feeders. A mixed day of heavy rain, sunshine and increasingly stronger south westerly winds. Finally got round to finishing my photography curtain, which included added grommets with my Grommet Tool Kit that I bought in the Spring and lots of hand sewing – this allows me to open the top half of the front stable door and photograph any birds at the feeders.

 

Petrol is seriously expensive here now: current fuel prices average around 171.8p per litre for unleaded petrol and up to 199.8p per litre for diesel, so if you are about to arrive on Shetland, fill up to the max before you get the ferry over! It cost me £37.01 to fill up exactly half a tank in my Skoda estate a few days ago, never paid that much before.

 

Continuing to chat about Nutcrackers, I dug out my Austrian hand-written diary to look up the date I saw my only sightings of Nutcrackers. Prior to owning any kind of laptop or iMac I used to write holiday diaries in A5 spiral bound hardback books, which I illustrated with postcards and pictures cut from travel brochures and printed out the headings etc from whichever print job I used to be in. I have one for every holiday I went on in the past, which is not that many really, Austria x 2, Corfu x 2, Portugal x 2, Paris, Wales x 2, Scotland x 2, Fair Isle x 2 (3rd & 4th trip on my blog).

Anyway, Austria 13th June- 27th June 1990 with my then partner Keith (we married in 1992), we stayed at the "Hotel Post" in Heiligenblut, a fairy-tale village nestling beneath Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner – the most magnificent scenery and loads of birds and wildlife. I had forgotten some of the incredible birds we had seen there which included 2 Nutcrackers together. Here is an excerpt from 24th June: "...... as we turned the corner just past a house and stream, we saw the BIRD of our holiday, a NUTCRACKER. At first Keith and I thought it was a Jay, we then picked it up in our bins in flight and could see it was unmistakably a Nutcracker, which then landed on the top of a larch tree where he shook and ruffled his feathers. I got very excited when I realised what it was and so close as well! Then as the Nutcracker took off a second bird joined it and both flew off into the trees together!" Other birds seen on the trip included Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Pale Crag Martin, Alpine Accentor, Bonelli's Warbler, Black-throated Thrush, Golden Oriole, male Pine Grosbeak (right in front of us on a branch!), Alpine Chough and lots more!

 

Very sadly I only had a Kodak instamatic film camera in those days! My very first SLR camera was one my father gave me (old one of his) a Canon EOS 300mm film camera which I used for the first time on my first trip to Fair Isle in June 2005. I would love to return to Heiligenblut again one day, that would be so good. I loved Austria so much that I went again with my sister Vivien and we stayed at "The Waldrand", Scheffau in September 1997. Happy times!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Great Shearwater flew past Sumburgh Head.

American Black Tern still at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warbler in thistles opposite burn at Geosetter.

Common Rosefinch at Hillwell.

Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie.

Nutcracker (possible) reported in garden then flew towards Henderson's Garage  + no further sign at Scousburgh.

 

ISLANDS

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Isle of Foula.

Common Rosefinches x 2 at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

 

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

I needed a day of rest and doing nothing much at all and that's exactly what I did. Siskin on my bird feeders along with House Sparrows and Starlings. No Nutcracker in my garden yet! See pictures I have added to yesterday's post.

RBA Weekly Round-Up 11th to 17th September!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp

 

Thanks to the RBA Team for using my Blackpoll Warbler photo taken on 17th October 2025 in their round up. 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider ad. fem off North Ness, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS

King Eider at Djubawick, off Hascosay Sound. 

 

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

Andy Johnson found a male Kingfisher (scarce bird here) at Clickimin Loch in Lerwick today. In a very small window of dry weather after work, I cleaned and disinfected all my bird feeders and hung them up in the shed to dry. I haven't filled them for ages, which means it must have been costing my neighbour Jimmy a small fortune to feed the birds. I then got the hosepipe out to wash down all my plant pots etc that were blasted with crap after my pressure washing last night. That's the garden finished.

 

Birder Paul Harvey highlighted on our WhatsApp group that there are sightings of Nutcracker in Norway currently and suggested we keep a look out – I've never seen one in the UK, I saw one in Austria, many many years ago. It would be fabulous to see one here, fingers crossed. I will make sure I get the nut feeder up tomorrow! Somewhere in my father's photographic collection (in a box somewhere in my office) is a photo of a Nutcracker in his hand at Holme, so looking back at the records on RBA it must have been either 11th or 12th August 1968 – I was aged 3 and have no recollection, but may have seen it 😉😀 I see there was one in Lerwick, on 21st to 23rd August 1968 – the year of the Nutcracker invasion.

 

I dug out the following from father's diaries: 

My father's written entry into his notebook

11th August 1968 at Holme Bird Observatory

Note: 'The Firs' was where we lived and this was Holme Bird Observatory, until the Norfolk Naturalist's Trust (now called Norfolk Wildlife Trust) purchased the house. Very few people left alive from those days that would know this.

 

Entry in the NOA report for 1968

RAR drawing on front cover 

 

I'm now on annual leave for a week, which I'm very pleased about as its been really busy at work over the last few weeks. I have several jobs to get done intermingled with birding – jobs I want to get done before the more serious Autumn birding in my two weeks off in October. At the Egyptian Nightjar, Roger Riddington said "its all down hill from here", but is it? I think we will get some mega surprises and at least a first for Britain, that's my prediction!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Icterine Warbler at Toab.

AMERICAN BLACK TERN still from boathouse at Tingwall Loch.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Geosetter.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in garden, Law Lane, Lerwick.

Common Rosefinch in garden just south of Scalloway Caravan Park, just west of Asta.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hillwell.

 

ISLANDS

Yellow-browed Warbler at Brough Lodge, Fetlar.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 on Isle of Whalsay.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick, Unst. 

 

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

After work this evening I pressure washed all the paths, concrete, patio and steps this evening – I had to put my head torch on to finish the job. Its my least favourite job, but had to be done,  otherwise the concrete would be like a skating rink once Winter hits – I should have done it in the Spring too, but never got round to it. I was soaked from head to toe when I finally finished. Straight in the shower. Glad I got it done as it is forecast to rain every single day for quite a while.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

PETE SNOOK!

 

🎊 🎉 🍹 🎂 😊 😘 🤗 

 

Best Wishes Penny xx

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Baird's Sandpiper still, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Dalsetter, Boddam.

AMERICAN BLACK TERN still from boathouse at Tingwall Loch. 

Sooty Shearwater from boat off Sumburgh Head.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Sumburgh Head. 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Grutness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Quendale.

Common Rosefinch in garden at Hillwell.

Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie.

 

ISLANDS

Yellow-browed Warbler on Isle of Bressay

 

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

Raining all day again. After work I tried to find my own YBW locally and checked out Burn of Njugalswater at Bridge of Fitch, but not a single bird seen there or in the large sunken garden in Scalloway. Parked up in my driveway to discover some selfish git allowed their dog to crap right in front of my large wooden rubbish box on the small concrete area, right where you have to stand to lift the lid up to put the rubbish in. I had no choice but to clear it up and bleach the concrete, absolutely disgusting. If you can't be bothered to clear up after your dog, then you shouldn't have one.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Baird's Sandpiper still at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam. 

AMERICAN BLACK TERN still at Tingwall Loch.

Sooty Shearwaters x 2 past The Lookout at Sumburgh Head.

Pallid Harrier at Hillwell.

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Law Lane, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS

Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie, Common Rosefinches x 2 at Halligarth ENE of Baltasound, Common Rosefinches x 3 at Norwick, Unst. 

Yellow-browed Warbler on Isle of Mousa.

 

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

I was up so early this morning, I managed to go and have a quick look at the American Black Tern at Tingwall Loch before work – it was fairly distant and flying across the loch in the 10 minutes I had to watch it. Also watching the ABT were Robert C. and his wife, who had just arrived on Shetland this morning for their annual Autumn trip – lovely to see you both!

Yesterday I spent the entire day getting the garden sorted, pruned, weeded, swept up and cut and strimmed the grass so I don't have to do any gardening in my forthcoming week off. I'm now hoping for a sunny evening (0% chance of that looking at the weatherforcast) so I can do the last outside job of pressure washing all the concrete. Its been raining ALL day and night here. The first YBW's have arrived here today! After work I did a Tesco shop and then in the pouring rain walked along Helendale Terrace to see if I could find a YBW, not worth getting soaked for as didn't find a single bird.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Baird's Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Lapland Buntings x 6 at Dalsetter, Boddam.

AMERICAN BLACK TERN still at Tingwall Loch.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh, Loch of Brow.

Quail on road at Ringsta, NW of Hillwell.

King Eider ad. fem off North Ness, Lerwick. 

 

ISLANDS

Pacific Diver ad. at Haroldswick, Unst.

Quails x 14 at Out Skerries.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam.

Baird's Sandpiper at Dalsetter, Boddam.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh, Loch of Brow. 

 

ISLANDS

Common Rosefinches x 2 at Skaw, Unst. 

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

AMERICAN BLACK TERN (form surinamensis) juv. still by boat shed at Tingwall Loch.

Pallid Harrier at Loch of Hillwell.

Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam.

Sooty Shearwater flew past The Lookout at Sumburgh Head.

Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie. 

 

ISLANDS

Common Rosefinches x 2 on Out Skerries.

American Golden Plover at south side of voe, Baltasound, Unst. 

 

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

 

Was in bed most of the day with a temperature, didn't feel well at all.

RBA Weekly Round-Up 4th to 10th September!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp 

 

Thank you to the RBA Team for including my Egyptian Nightjar photo in their round-up!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

AMERICAN BLACK TERN (form surinamensis) juv. still by boat shed at Tingwall Loch.

Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh.

Black Tern juv. at Clickimin Loch, Lerwick.

Sooty Shearwater flew past The Lookout at Sumburgh Head.

 

ISLANDS

Black Redstart at domestic site at Saxa Vord, Unst.

 

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

 

Went to see the American Black Tern again after work this evening, but it was dull conditions, very strong wind and then rained. The ABT was nearly always right across the other side of the loch and at this range you could you only just see it with your bins, no hope for any exciting photos. I watched it for around 2.5 hours and was hunted by a Bonxie for a short while, unsuccessfully thank goodness. Lovely to meet a Shetland lady birder called Mary with her daughter – this was so nice, as I realised they were the first female birders I have met who were born here, so lovely to meet you both. Seeing some of the totally stunning photos on line and with the American Black Tern perched, it was obviously considerably closer and with much nicer weather this morning.

AMERICAN BLACK TERN AT TINGWALL LOCH!

AMERICAN BLACK TERN

TINGWALL LOCH

Found and identified by Paul Sclater and Phil Harris 

 

Another amazing bird and only 2.9 miles from my house! Watched this stunning American Black Tern skimming over the loch in lovely sunshine along with several local birders. Another FIRST for Shetland in a matter of days!!! The tern then flew off the north end of the loch and over the sheep on the hill. Hugh decided and so did I that it might have headed to Strand Loch, but it wasn't there. I took a phone call, Hugh left and then I returned to Tingwall Loch to find no birders and no tern, so it had obviously departed. So glad I was able to see this after work before it disappeared. Too distant for my lens – you needed a much longer lens to get some good shots. It was always over the far side of the loch and never came closer. The photographs on-line with it perched beautifully on a wall were before I was able to get there. What an evening!