SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

Ring-necked Duck drk still at Loch of Asta.

Quail flew from rose bushes at lighthouse, Sumburgh Head.

Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Swinister Burn, Sandwick.

Red-backed Shrike by A970 south of Levenwick.

Red-backed Shrike male on fence by road to Papa Stour ferry, just north of Unifirth, NW of Twatt.

Red-backed Shrike still in garden at 9am, but no sign since at Bakkasetter. 

Red-spotted Bluethroat still in wet ditch on south side of s-shaped pool at Sumburgh Hotel.

 

ISLANDS

Todd's Canada Goose still at Gloup, Turtle Dove at Gutcher, Yell.

Nightjar briefly at Leagarth, Fetlar. 

Red-spotted Bluethroat male at Out Skerries. 

 

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

 

SW winds, lots of rain and fog later on in the afternoon.

 

Checked out the sunken garden in Scalloway and some areas at East Voe. At Wester Quarff I had 2 Swallows fly over – nothing else of note, but much warmer today. Explored Quarff and found a beach and a track leading to some very secluded houses with huge gardens right next to the sea, which I need to check out another time. I did find a couple of Siskins whilst exploring this area briefly.

 

Headed to Quendale Mill – as I got out of the car a Cuckoo flew up from the rhubarb under the small copse of trees and flew away along the track and landed briefly on a fence post, was duely mobbed by a Meadow Pipit, then flew off over the valley. My camera was in my bag as it was raining, so no time to get a photo. Paul H. phoned me as he needed Cuckoo for his 10 kilometer competition he was doing. I walked all the way up to the quarry and saw a few Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits and Wheatears. Paul had joined me part way along the burn and then returned to the mill when he phoned me to say the Cuckoo had returned to the trees, so he got to see it which was good. I returned to my car and spent a good bit of time around the barns as there has to be a Turtle Dove due any moment! A Turtle Dove was found at Gutcher today. Lots of House Sparrows, Starlings and Rock Doves around the mill.

Red-spotted Bluethroat

Near the Sumburgh Hotel

 

 

Drove to Sumburgh Hotel and walked down the coast path and along to a stile. 11 people, most of whom was part of a tour group had just had fabulous views of the Red-spotted Bluethroat. I waited by a dry stone wall facing a water filled ditch. I was the only one here and I didn't have to wait too long before the flamboyant bluethroat arrived in the ditch to feed. A Wheatear was harrasing the bluethroat, which resulted in it flying very close to me a couple of times, so huge thanks to the Wheatear! I spent approximately an hour here and I was completely soaked and the camera needed to get dried out too, even though I had a waterproof cover over it. Made my way back to the car. Laid out all my gear on a towl on the passenger seat and then had my tea in the car.

Red-spotted Bluethroat

Near the Sumburgh Hotel

 

Drove to Bolts petrol pumps near the airport and spent the most money I have ever spent on fuel, it came to £60!!! Went to The Spiggie Hotel as Paul had had a Spotted Flycatcher there earlier, but it was too late in the day. Drove home in fog. Took ages to sort my gear out.

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MAINLAND

Pectoral Sandpiper still near Sandsayre Pier, Leebitten, Sandwick.

Red-backed Shrike in garden at Setter (10.45am, then again at 4.34pm in different garden) Bakkasetter.

Short-toed Lark (then flew north) at Levenwick.

Wood Sandpiper at Smalla Water, Grass Water, NE of Bridge of Walls.

Ring-necked Duck drk still at Tingwall Loch.

Bluethroat still in wet ditch on south side of s-shaped pool (no news all day until this evening at 5.36pm) at Sumburgh Hotel.

 

ISLANDS

Red-spotted Bluethroats x 2 (1 male) at Vadill Pool, Blue-headed Wagtail still on Out Skerries. 

Bluethroat male at Skibberhoull, Isle of Whalsay.

 

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

 

SE winds again, dull conditions and foggy in the afternoon. Spent ages birding around Scalloway, East Voe and Trondra and all I could find was a Woodpigeon at Trondra. Found a House Martin and 3 Swallows at Loch of Tingwall. Chiffchaff at Geosetter Burn and a Linnet at Maywick. No sign of the Bluethroat at Sumburgh first thing, but then news out later that it was still there at 5.36pm.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 19th May

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Pectoral Sandpiper near Sandsayre Pier, Leebitten, Sandwick.

Bluethroat fem. in burn before quarry, Wood Sandpiper flew over at Quendale.

Ring-necked Duck drk still at Loch of Asta. 

Bluethroat in wet ditch on south side of s-shaped pool at Sumburgh Hotel.

 

ISLANDS

Thrush Nightingale at Ham, Red-backed Shrike on south side of island, Isle of Foula.

Greenland Redpoll (possible) at Mid Yell, Yell.

Little Stint again on beach at Haroldswick, Unst. 

Bluethroat adult male at Vadill Pool, Blue-headed Wagtail on Out Skerries.

 

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

 

45mph SE winds, very cold and torrential rain mid afternoon and evening.

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MAINLAND

Hawfinch at Helendale House, Lerwick.

Ring-necked Duck drk still at Loch of Asta.

Pectoral Sandpiper near Sandsayre Pier, Leebitten, Sandwick.

Wood Sandpiper at Loch of Hillwell.

Arctic Redpoll at Findlin Farm, Hillswick.

Icterine Warbler in garden (very elusive) at Springfield, Scousburgh.

 

ISLANDS

Little Stint on beach at Haroldswick, Unst.

Blue-headed Wagtail this evening on Out Skerries.

 

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

 

Stunning day, a balmy 12.5 degrees and SE winds! After Andy J. found a Spotted Flycatcher in Lerwick this morning, I decided this must be one here. I have had a Spot Fly in the tall trees opposite my garden before. I spent a long time searching my road and different areas of Scalloway but only found Siskins. I also checked out the areas where the Golden Oriole had been but found nothing other than a Blackbird and House Sparrows. Someone had found the first Cuckoo of the year at Kergord.

Sycamores in Ladysmith Road, Scalloway

 

Sitting in my front garden, Scalloway

Leebitten – Pectoral Sandpiper feeding on the shore

 

PECTORAL SANDPIPER

Sandsayre Pier, Leebitten, Sandwick
 

 

Headed to Leebitten where visiting birder Andy H. had found a cracking Pectoral Sandpiper feeding on the shore amongst the seaweed with Turnstones and one Purple Sandpiper. I sat with Hugh and Anne photographing this in the sunshine – as we sat still and in silence, the Pectoral Sandpiper walked right up to us and then a bit later it decided to sit in the seaweed to have a snooze until the Turnstones got it moving again! The entire scene was a wonderful spectacle with gulls bathing at the waters edge and the Mousa Ferry going back and forth with trips. I sat at the picnic table to have my lunch and then left and headed to Noness. I sat on the cliffs – the sea was glittering in the sunshine and the first Sea Thrift was out in flower. I video called Vivien who was doing her monthly visit to Lucy and showed them the view where I sitting, Lucy seemed impressed. A very small bee was on the pink thrift – I'm not good at bee ID, which I need to get better at. I suddenly felt a whoosh of air close over my head, a Bonxie had almost skimmed my head and headed over the clifftops – this reminded me of the Bonxies that come for you on Ward Hill on Fair Isle, which is a seriously scary experience. It was an idyllic spot to be enjoying the sunshine and there were lots of lambs in the field alongside the road.

Pink Sea Thrift on the cliffs at Noness

 

 

Walked along Swinister Burn and found 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Blackbirds. The sun had gone in and it all looked quite dull now. I watched a Wren with a feather in its beak head for a hole just under the riverbank, which I thought was very unusual. Seconds after this I heard a huge commotion of splashing water – a cocker spaniel off lead was charging all the way through and along the burn with owner shouting at it to come back and of course it didn't, no recall whatsoever. There was another dog owner with a dog off lead here too although that was better behaved overall. Swinister Burn has sadly got a poor reputation for dogs off lead here, which is why I don't go there very often.

 Swinister Burn, Sandwick

 

 

At The Orca Inn there were no birds at all. I was on route to walk my favourite Geosetter Burn when a message came up that a singing Icterine Warbler was in a garden at Scousburgh, so I naturally switched direction. It was a garden I was unfamiliar with, but found it and also found Anne's car so I knew I was in the right place, but couldn't see her anywhere. I walked all around the circumference of the garden (fields) and then found Anne who had seen the Icterine briefly. We stood for a long time at the entrance to the driveway of the garden and eventully the Icterine showed briefly for Anne, I saw a movement but couldn't get on it, so can't count it! There were some lovely Linnets here, a Blackbird and House Sparrows. It was freezing cold by the time we left. Drove home via the road over Mossy Hill that comes out on the main road by Levenwick – it was totally foggy up here and I had a job to see the road, which I hadn't expected! I was back home too late to think about lighting the fire and it was chilly in my house. Bird feeders all empty again! SE winds again tomorrow, but 45mph and rain!

 

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MAINLAND

Wood Sandpiper at Loch of Hillwell.

Long-tailed Skua at Lunga Water, Sandwick.

Arctic Redpoll in garden at Hillswick.

Long-eared Owl in garden at Boddam, Dunrossness.

Greenland Redpoll at Dalsetter, Boddam.

 

ISLANDS

Wood Sandpiper at Smaa Waters, Unst.

Todd's Canada Goose at West-a-Firth, Greenland Redpoll at Mid Yell, Yell.

 

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

 

Had a lovely catch up on the phone with Sophie Barker (was NOA warden at Holme) this morning. Three Siskins still on my feeders with good numbers of House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and my tame male Blackbird. Had lunch, loaded the car up with garden waste (no room left in compost bin) and headed to the dump. The skies were full of Ravens (never seen this many together) and also Hooded and Carrion Crows feeding in fields opposite the entrance to the dump.

 

Went to Planticrub, my first visit since last year and bought a couple more colourful large pots, three perennials, some bedding plants and four bags of seaweed compost. When I reached home it started lashing down with rain and I got soaked just emptying everything out of the car. My plan had been to pot up all my plants etc before the birding gets serious, but rain stopped play! Plants will have to wait now, as there should be some birds to find tomorrow. All diet food prepared for the day. Goodnight!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Wood Sandpiper at Loch of Hillwell.

Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Setter Marsh, Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS

Red-necked Phalarope at Funzie, Fetlar.

Common Cranes x 2 north of Loch of Kettlester, Yell.

Common Rosefinch still at Norwick, Unst. 

 

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

 

Spent three hours trying to find the Golden Oriole in East Voe, Scalloway. Returned home and had two tonne bags of logs arrive from Mackenzie's Farm Shop which took me a long time to stack in my shed. I have ordered far more logs this year due to the long Winter. Was shattered after this so had a cat nap, then lunch. Siskins x 3 on my feeders. After a rainy start this morning, the afternoon was sunny and beautiful light for the rest of the day.

 

Headed south to the see the Bottle-nose Dolphin in the bay at Ireland, but it had departed when I was on route. Watched two Common Terns over West Voe Beach and there were some Eiders on the sea and Oystercatchers and Turnstones on the beach.

West Voe Beach, Sumburgh

 

 

Drove to Grutness to see how the new pier and workings was looking and still couldn't understand why there is a very large area of concrete and next to this a huge flat hardcore area – I presumed that maybe it was for a new waiting room and toilets. I also presumed that it would all be returned to how it looked before eg natural, boulders and wildflowers etc, but I heard something really bad from a local person about what the concrete area and hardcore area is intended for and hopefully when the planning permission is submitted, everybody will be contesting it!!! Pair of Shelduck on Grutness Pool along with a Ringed Plover and a Pied Wagtail. Starlings and House Sparrows in the walled garden and lots of cute lambs skipping around in the lush green grass.

 

The roses by the lighthouse at Sumburgh Head

 

Guillemots at Sumburgh Head 

 

 Puffins at Sumburgh Head 

 

 

Sumburgh Head was alive with seabirds and it was almost warm sitting on the grass by the roses. Watched a Wren and a Chiffchaff feeding in the roses. No Puffins on view from the usual viewing platform at the top, but there were two were showing well just before the main entrance with the model Orca – my first Puffin sightings this year! Lovely to meet and chat with visitors including a couple who were seeing their first ever Puffins! Lovely afternoon out!