Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Glaucous Gull at Dalsetter Wynd, Boddam.
Northern Bullfinches x 4 (3 male) at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.
ISLANDS
White-billed Diver in bay at Baltasound, Unst.
Sunday, 22 February 2026
Saturday, 21 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
American Wigeon at Setter Marsh, Loch of Spiggie.
ISLANDS
White-billed Diver in bay at Baltasound, Glaucous Gull at Easter Loch, Uyeasound, Unst.
It was the best day for what seems like months! Sunshine, blue skies, no wind, no rain and a balmy 6 degrees!!! Checked out my road for any birds and sadly found a deceased Heron at the bottom of the burn, which I hadn't expected to see here. Curlews, Rock Doves, Hooded Crows and Starlings on Gallow Hill along with the sheep and the usual House Sparrows in the gardens along the road.
At Asta Loch I found the Coot and male Pochard that John C. had found earlier and also saw the Carrion Crow which Phil H. had found on Friday. There were also 2 Goldeneye, lots of Tufted Duck, Mallards and in the fields on the otherside of the road opposite Tingwall Loch were around 10+ Golden Plover, Redshanks, Lapwings, Curlew, Greylags and Starlings.
Headed south and for the first time went to Hymhus (the former Kirk) at Bigton to the "Bigton Weekend Bakery" open from 9.30am until 2pm on a Saturday only. Its obviously extremely popular as the only thing left was some Cheese Twists with Sun Dried Tomatoes – I purchased three as had no lunch with me and OMG there were totally scrumptious! Its probably a good job there were not any cakes left if they were as good as the twists were. I was told there is a queue at 9.30am every Saturday! Sat in the coach carpark overlooking St Ninian's for a while.
Took pictures of the seals on the beach at Rerwick from my car on the roadside and then drove to Spiggie Loch. Parked by the RSPB hide and walked along the sandy track to Scousburgh Sands and had a lovely walk to the end of the beach. A pony and rider were galloping along the beach and I realised it was the daughter of someone I know at the hospital, she stopped briefly to say hello. I returned to my car and stopped at Little Spiggie Beach where someone had left their little green plastic bag of dog poo in the small carparking area! I very rarely see this in Shetland and it was disappointing to see. Heron on the south end of the loch, but no sign of last week's gorgeous Pintail. Scanned for the American Wigeon on Setter Marsh but couldn't find it. There were huge amounds of seaweed on the beaches I visited today especially at Grutness.
I went to Grutness to see how the new pier is coming along and there were JCB's working there and its still looking like a building site, so promptly left and parked up and had a look at Grutness Beach – there were 28 Oystercatchers flying overhead and there were several Turnstones on the beach. At West Voe Beach there were 180+ Long-tailed Ducks which were fabulous to see along with 6 Goldeneye, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Sanderlings, several Turnstones and 1 Great Northern Diver.
On route home I checked out Sandsayre at Sandwick to see if the Black Redstart was still around, but didn't see it. Drove home and spent the evening by the fire. A beautiful day out. I think tomorrow is a mixture of sun and rain, oh well at least I got out today!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Friday, 20 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
ISLANDS
No news.
Thursday, 19 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
Glaucous Gull 1w. at Loch of Hillwell.
Iceland Gull at Loch of Spiggie.
ISLANDS
No news.
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Waxwing still in garden at Mulla, north of Voe.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Iceland Gull on Isle of Whalsay.
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
Taiga Bean Geese x 3, Tundra Bean Goose at Exnaboe.
ISLANDS
No news.
It was a icy drive to work this morning. Sprinkling of snow everywhere and a mixed day of sunshine and sleet and very cold. Phoned Eddie this evening to wish him Happy Birthday.
"HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY EDDIE"
Can't believe Eddie is 70 - no way he looks that age!
Love and Best Wishes Penny x
🎉 🎊 🎶 🔭 🐦 😊 🎂 🤗
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Monday 16th February
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Quendale.
Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Brake, north of Hillwell.
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Goose north of central crossroads at Sandwick.
Waxwing still in garden at Mulla, north of Voe.
Tundra Bean Goose at Exnaboe.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 in galley shed field, Uyeasound, Unst.
Snow here AGAIN!
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Saturday, 14 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Northern Bullfinches x 3 (1 male) at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
Taiga Bean Geese x 3, Tundra Bean Geese x 4 at Exnaboe.
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.
Tundra Bean Goose at Tingwall.White-billed Diver, Northern Eiders x 3 (possible, form borleasis) on sea off Sound Gruney, Bluemull Sound.
ISLANDS
No news.
Friday, 13 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Taiga Bean Geese x 3, Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Exnaboe.
American Wigeon still at Setter, Loch of Spiggie.
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.
Waxwing still in garden at Mulla, north of Voe.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 4 at Skaw, Isle of Whalsay
Robin in the garden again today. Sprinkling of snow everywhere and beautiful sunshine all day! Had to wait in this morning for Scottish Water to come out. Sadly there was no news on the Bittern that Hugh H. found two days ago, but I headed south anyway, in case it reappeared. I checked the outfall and other areas where it had been seen but no sign. I hope it survived and either relocated somewhere else or moved on – pity it didn't hang on for me today, but that's the way it goes when you have to work.
Bumped into Nat Hall at the little car parking area by Spiggie Beach and she had just found a Pintail which was lovely to see. Lots of Wigeon, a Heron, a Goldeneye and Whooper Swans on the loch. Stopped at Boddam and saw another Heron and 2 Mute Swans. Headed home and had a cosy evening by the fire and caught up with Vivien & Ray and Lucy on the phone.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 12th February
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Bittern at outflow, American Wigeon still at Setter, Loch of Spiggie.
Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 13 Russian White-fronted Geese at Loch of Tingwall.
Taiga Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Goose x 1 at Pool of Virkie.
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
ISLANDS
No news.
Had a late afternoon GP appointment and was prescibed some steroid cream for my scalp, which the doctor described as "inflamed", none in stock in chemist though, so have to wait until tomorrow. Had to scrape ice off the car this morning before going to work – it was a stunningly beautiful day here – the second day of sunshine for absolutely ages. Light covering of snow this evening.
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Loch of Clumlie, north of Boddam.
Bittern at North end of Loch of Spiggie.
Waxwing still in garden at Mulla, north of Voe.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at Cullivoe, Yell.
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Uyeasound, Unst.
Lovely photos on Shetland Facebook pages of the Bittern at Loch of Spiggie today – a very rare bird here and under 30 previous records someone stated! It was a very rare day here also with blue skies for most of the day, if not all, but couldn't keep track of the entire day being as I was at work. Its now light after 4.30pm, but not light enough to drive down to Spiggie Loch to see a Bittern before dark!
Going through a difficult time right now (again). Last Spring my scalp developed a severe burning and itching, which is why I got the water tested in the first place (see my post on 8th Feb) and that is when I discovered to my horror that my pipe to the house was a lead pipe and the lead levels were above what they should be and lead can cause scalp irritation amongst other things. I have had much milder symptoms of this since, but around a week again this intensified to severe burning and itching, much worse than last year. Had to wash my hair two days later when I normally wash it around every 5 days and it made no difference to the burning feeling at all. Its torture it really is and last night I didn't get much sleep because of the severity of the burning. I have Scottish Water coming out again this week to see if the lead levels have increased further. I googled that lead levels can increase when there has been an increase in rainfall and we have certainly had that for several weeks now, so this may be the cause? It also increases when the water is heated, which of course the shower does exactly that. The last time I washed my hair I made sure the shower temperature was luke warm to cold and it made no difference whatsoever.
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Tundra Bean Goose at Loch of Clumlie, north of Boddam.
Northern Bullfinches x 3 at Soldian Court, Lerwick.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Baltasound, Black Redstart at Kirkaton, Norwick, Unst.
I had to go to Tesco and the Co-op yesterday evening after work and again this evening – the supermarkets are mostly stocked up again thank goodness. Phoned Lucy before I went to work today, no reply and the same in my lunch break but eventually she answerered her phone this evening so I could sing Happy Birthday to her!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO MY DEAR SISTER LUCY
🥳 🎂 💐 🎁 🎉 😻 💝 😘 🎻 🎶
Monday, 9 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Taiga Bean Geese x 3 still at Virkie.
King Eider 1w. fem still at Bay of Quendale.
ISLANDS
No news.
Heavy rain all day again.
Mother holding me at The Firs, Holme
Happy Birthday to my dear mother who would have been 86 today 💕 xx
Sending you love – thinking of you today and always 💔
Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show!
This has to be the best half time show ever, for so many reasons. I loved it and can't stop watching it over and over again! Lady Gaga was one of his surprise guests, who looked totally stunning – watching her dancing with Benito has got to be the hottest moment in history!
One of the commercials at Super Bowl – Benson Boone!
Sunday, 8 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Little Auk at Quendale.
ISLANDS
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at Cullivoe, Yell.
Heavy rain and wind all day long. Went to Tesco and to the Co-op and there were no vegetables or fruit at all and also a huge lack of general products – shelves stripped bare. So my shopping bill was considerably cheaper than I expected it to be. I managed to get some spring onions and potatoes in my local shop though. I will survive without any of the things I couldn't get, but the most important thing was bottled water as I only have four bottles left. I probably haven't mentioned this before but I have had to buy bottled water since last Spring when I discovered through a test with Scottish Water that I have a lead pipe from the Scottish Communication pipe to my kitchen and the lead levels are higher than they should be. The quote for replacing this pipe was/is £6,500 which I obviously don't have, so the only alternative is to buy bottled water. Filtered water does not remove the lead content in case anyone messages me. I obviously didn't know this when I bought the house. I only buy the water for drinking, so still having to cook and shower with lead contaminated water. Anyway I hope they get some bottled water in soon! Weather forecast for the rest of the week remains poor. Back to work in the morning! It would have been my mother's birthday tomorrow 💞
NFL Super Bowl live on Channel 5 now and "Bad Bunny" (Benito) is the half time show! For anyone not able to sleep, he will be worth watching! 🔥🔥🔥
Benito was born in Puerto Rico, the Grammy-winning singer,
rapper, and producer is known for driving the global popularity of Latin
trap and reggaeton. Known as the King of Latin Trap. He is considered one of the best Latin rappers of all time.
Saturday, 7 February 2026
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
MAINLAND
Black Redstart still at Sandsayre, Leebitten, north of Sandwick.
King Eider still at Bay of Quendale.
ISLANDS
Glaucous Gull at Loch of Littlester, Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at Cullivoe, Yell.
Weather back to being rubbish. Some essential chores done, exercises done and generally had a chilled day at home and started to read a novel this evening. Putting off going to Tesco, but guess I will have to go tomorrow before returning to work on Monday. Brambling and Robin still in the garden.
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