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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!

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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. 

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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!

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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!

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Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh.  

AMERICAN BLACK TERN at Tingwall Loch

Common Rosefinch, Quail at Sandness. 

 

ISLANDS

American Golden Plover SE of Burrafirth, Unst.

 

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

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Greenish Warbler still in garden at Grutness.

Curlew Sandpipers x 4 at Boddam.

Sooty Shearwaters x 26 flew past The Lookout, Sumburgh Head.

Pallid Harrier at Geosetter.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh.

 

ISLANDS

Lapland Bunting on Isle of Mousa.

 

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

After an extremely busy day at work I returned my leaking walking boots to a shop in Lerwick and they refunded me with no issues. It was another gorgeous sunny day here, so I headed south to The Grutness Garden and had fabulous views of the Greenish Warbler, along with a couple of Willow Warblers, one Whitethroat, one Pied Wagtail and Gordon the cat! Whilst here, Garry Bagnell turned up, nice to have a quick catch up.

GREENISH WARBLER
Grutness Garden, Sumburgh

 

 

PALLID HARRIER
Very distantly at Brow Marsh

   

I then headed to Brow Marsh where I had fabulous views of the Pallid Harrier along with Hugh H., Jim N., Roger R. and another birder. On the way home I had a look for the other Pallid Harrier that has been seen around Levenwick, but no luck with that. So glad I made the effort to go out this evening, when I could have very easily gone home and fell asleep on the sofa. Arrived back at about 9pm and obviously had a late tea!

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EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR – NO SIGN OF at Eastshore, Virkie!

Common Rosefinch at Loch of Clevigarth, Exnaboe.

Greenish Warbler in garden at Grutness.

Wryneck on roadside near Orca Inn, Hoswick.

Pallid Harrier at Brow Marsh.

Pallid Harrier at Levenwick.

Black Tern juv. flew south past harbour, Lerwick.

Red-backed Shrike 1w. in garden at end of Eastshore Road, Pool of Virkie. 

 

ISLANDS

No news.

 

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

My Egyptian Nightjar photo from the first day, headlines BIRDGUIDES Review of the week, chuffed! Thank you very much indeed!

https://www.birdguides.com/articles/review-of-the-week/review-of-the-week-1-6-september-2026/ 

No sign of the Egyptian Nightjar first thing this morning or the rest of the day, which was heartbreaking for birders arriving by plane, ferry and local boats. I fear the worst very sadly – I would love to think that the Egyptian Nightjar has simply moved on, but the atrocious weather yesterday might have been too much for it and has possibly not survived. Today was the opposite to yesterday with wall to wall blue skies, sunshine and a glittering sea from the hospital windows at work. A total contrast, typical Shetland weather really I suppose! Northern Lights showing here this evening, but can't see them from my house.

What a MASSIVE start to Autumn birding! I didn't think anything would get bigger than the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, how wrong was I and its only the beginning of September, bring it on! So glad I moved here! Huge congratulations again to finder Roger Riddington and for so conveniently finding this at the weekend and not when I was at work, perfect, thank you!

My birding gear was drying overnight and wasn't dry enough to put back in the car before going to work, so I was praying I wouldn't need it when I finished work. There was a Wryneck and a Greenish Warbler to see, which meant I would have had to divert home to get my gear, but I was far too tired to drive that far anyway. Did a quick food shop after work and returned home. Too exhausted to be looking through any more photos to select of the Egyptian Nightjar, but will do over the next few days. Phoned Ray and Vivien up this evening – its Ray's birthday today!

 

" HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY "

⚓ 😊 66 Today! 🎉 🎊 🎶🎵

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR – Day Two! Beach At Eastshore, Virkie!

 

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR
Early morning amongst the boulders along Eastshore Road, Virkie

 

Sheltering from the rain under a large boulder

 

After hardly any sleep I was the third person to arrive early morning, I was seconds behind Rebecca! It was nice to share lovely views of this incredible bird with Rebecca and Roger. Raining all day and at times extremely heavy. A few glimpses of brightness in the evening. After taking far too many photographs again this morning, I then left to drive to the Grutness Pool, where there were a couple of Dunlins and two Shelducks. Had late breakfast and a snooze – I felt exhausted.

Went to the airport as did a few other Shetland birders to pick up birders arriving from south. I collected Steve G. and dropped him off on site. I sat in the car for a while and not long after I dropped Steve off, Ashley Banwell turned up (who I had offered a lift to, but he had a hire car). It was raining fairly heavily and I was still drying the camera out from earlier on, so I left and went to Brow Marsh and Spiggie and tried to find the Pallid Harriers, but no luck. Drove along the Noss Road and in a stubble field with round hay bales there were tons of Starlings, Rock Doves, House Sparrows and good numbers of Meadow Pipits along the fence lines, it was a busy scene, but didn't find anything more exciting.

Went to the Geosetter Burn and had lunch, then walked up to the top of the burn and found nothing but a single Starling. Headed back south and drove around Boddam – even more scary driving round there in rainy gloomy conditions, you never know who or what might appear! I didn't run over any blades of grass, so think I got away with it! 😉

Birders in the rain at Virkie

 

 

Returned to the pull-in area at Virkie. It was good to see more birders arriving to see the magnificent Egyptian Nightjar. Norfolk birder Mike Edgecombe had also arrived on scene and the crowd was a little larger than earlier on. Still atrocious conditions. Much later on I finally got out of the car when the rain had stopped and joined others to watch the Egyptian Nightjar in the last throws of light. I became so cold I had to leave before it flew to roost and the main reason for that is because the new walking boots (fabric type) I bought from Lerwick a few weeks ago leaked from the offset when I wore them for the first time today, so my socks were soaked all day, which wasn't fun at all – they won't be worn again. Its that time of year when you need your wellies on I think! What a weekend! Back to work tomorrow and the weather looks a whole lot better than today. I hope birders arriving in the morning have some cracking views in the forecast sunny weather!

I don't have the energy to look through another 400+ photos again, so quickly decided the one above would do, I may have sharper, I may not, but will look tomorrow night. 

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Pallid Harrier at Boddam.

Red-backed Shrike in garden at east end of Eastshore Road, Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie. 

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR still on rocky beach south of east end of Eastshore, Virkie!

 

ISLANDS

No news.

 

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

MEGA!!! EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR in garden at east end of Eastshore, Virkie!

  

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR

Found by Roger Riddington in his garden at Virkie!

HUGE "CONGRATULATIONS" ROGER! 🎉 

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR

 

What a insane garden tick!!! Congratulations to Roger Riddington who found this sitting on his driveway. By the time I got there I had missed the short time it had been flying around and it had also gone missing for an hour. I initially watched it on a high wall of boulders behind a fence and field next to Roger's garden, it then moved a little closer and sat as you see it in the picture and behind one of those irritating wire fences and that's where I left it. It was completely unphased by sheep walking past it. You had to position yourself just right to get a photograph through the wires! What a bird, just WOW!!! There were a dozen birders left as I was leaving.

For those arriving by plane tomorrow, the airport is behind the boulder ridge!

The Egyptian Nightjar was resting on the stones between the two fence posts on the left just over the grass. 

 

As I was leaving and it was freezing cold

 

 

This Egyptian Nightjar is the third for Britain

 

The first one was shot in Nottinghamshire in June 1883

The second was seen by a single observer in Dorset in June 1984.

Third found by Roger Riddington, Shetland on 5th September 2026 

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Sooty Shearwater from boat at Sumburgh Head.

Curlew Sandpiper at Boddam Voe.

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR in garden at east end of Eastshore, Virkie!

Pallid Harrier this evening at Loch of Brow.

 

ISLANDS

No news.

 

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

 

Gardening plans were put on the back burner!!!!!!