Rare Bird Alert News
Another very warm day here. DIY plans not going to plan! Behind Schedule.
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Little Stint at Aithsetter, north of Aith.
Sooty Shearwaters x 2 from FPSO, west of Isle of Foula.
The more DIY I do, the more I detest it! I feel like "Challenge Anneka" this week (only the older generation will undertand this). There is a positive though, I hated flat packing, but after sanding pine skirtings and door frames, wood staining, sugar soaping the dining room ceiling, cleaning the wallpaper, filling in floor gaps and top of skirting with wood filler – flat-packing seems a much nicer choice! In fact I am looking forward to putting the last four bookcases together, didn't think I would ever say that! First coat on the ceiling tomorrow night, a bit more wood filling and second coat on ceiling on Thursday evening. Long days and nights!
Monday, 28 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-backed Shrikes x 7 (2 ads. + 5 juvs) recently at Aith Meadows SSSI (view only from road), east of Cunningsburgh.
News of juvenile Red-backed Shrikes is utterly fabulous! I can't wait to see these when I get some spare time, which will be Friday afternoon at the earliest, fingers crossed. Four more nights of DIY to get the dining room ready for the carpet being laid on Friday! Another lovely day here, but with a few rain showers. Midges this evening are at their worst!
Sunday, 27 July 2025
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Sooty Shearwater 3 miles of Foula Ferry.
Wilson's Petrel & Pomarine Skua (on 22nd July) from boat at sea NW of Featherland.
Quails x 2 singing at Northdale and south of Northdale/Saxa Vord Road, Unst.
Its been gorgeous weather all weekend, but I have been indoors doing DIY.
Well done to the Lionesses – what an incredible win! 🔥 🎉 🥳 👏
Saturday, 26 July 2025
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Rare Bird Alert News
Quail singing still at Bakkasetter.
Quail singing at Nordabrake, Haroldswick, Quail singing at Northdale, Unst.
Little Gull 1s at Papa Stour.
Friday, 25 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Quail singing still at Bakkasetter.
Quail at Valsgarth, SW of Norwick, Unst.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Thursday 24th July
Rare Bird Alert News
Quail still singing at Saxa Ford, Unst.
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
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Quail singing at Saxa Ford, Unst.
Second night of going to the dump after work – all exciting stuff going on here. Last night I managed to 'waddle' all four remaining heavy flat-packed bookcases into my bedroom (the only room where the weight of them won't ruin a floor) – its amazing what you can move yourself when you have to!
This evening I unpacked my boxes of camping gear for the first time in many, many years and everything seems to be in good condition still, moved this all into the shed. I now have 14 boxes left in the dining room to squeeze into the kitchen tomorrow evening and then the dining room will be completely empty! Will be starting work on this room in full force on Friday. Still muggy hot in the hospital with "hot" nurses! 😳 🔥
Tuesday, 22 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Quail at Bakkasetter.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER still at The Houb, Baltasound, Unst.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Monday 21st July
Rare Bird Alert News
Quail singing at Toab.
Quail singing at Keen of Hamar, Baltasound, Unst.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at The Houb, Baltasound, Unst.
Hot and muggy at work today – my fan helped alot though when I was in the office. Dug a Willow cutting into the ground and also some small Hebe cuttings in the driveway area this evening. I have not had to ask anyone to lift anything for me since I have lived in this house, but I asked my neighbour Murray if he could kindly lift my lamb statue from the front garden to under the large sycamore in the driveway – he picked it up like it was a piece of paper – he's in his 20's, that will be something to do with it! Its made of concrete and weighs a ton! Thanks Murray! I lifted it out of the car when I bought it, but it just about killed me, plus this time it needed lifting up onto a high piece of ground, which I knew I couldn't do this time. The lamb looks so much better in its new home. Its being replaced with something new in the front garden. Put my flat-packed new dining room chairs together, which simply involved putting the legs on and then temporarily storing them in the office.
Sunday, 20 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-necked Grebe ad near road at Wadbister Voe, SE of Girlsta.
Quail at Brow Marsh, Loch of Spiggie.
Finally finished arranging the office/studio!!! 10 more boxes and other stuff to go down the dump after work tomorrow. I didn't realise how much of it was my parent's possessions until I unpacked it all. Photographs and slides dominate a good half of the shelving system. I only have 16 boxes left to unpack now and everything in these boxes will go in the 4 bookcases in the dining room. I don't think anyone who saw my boxes stacked up to the ceiling in the dining room, quite believed it would all fit it in – I was hoping it would! Very pleased with what I have achieved this weekend.
My new dining table arrived from Dunelm today – it took two men to bring it in, very heavy and flat-packed! It will have to live in the kitchen for now. Very hot here today, I was planning to go for a beach walk this evening, but time ran out and had to water my pots and garden as have not done this for three days. I found a 2017 NOA report, but still missing 1996.
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Saturday 19th July
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-necked Grebe ad still in SW corner at Wadbister Voe, SE of Girlsta.
Arranging the office/studio ALL day!
Octopus emailed me an estimated bill – you couldn't make it up! 😩
If anyone has NOA reports 1996 or/and 2017 they don't want anymore or have a extra one, I would be very grateful. I didn't realise I hadn't got the complete set. Please email me on: [pennyclarke@talktalk.net] and I can sort out postage with you. Thank you very much. 😊
Friday, 18 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
I was very pleased to find that the person changing the metre was someone from a local firm here. It took about an hour and a half to do and I was told that the commissioning was successful so I don't have to read the metre anymore. I will still be taking a note of the readings monthly, just in case! I've re-arranged the carpet fitting date to the following week on Friday 1st August, as I realised that I'm not going to be ready on time.
Mixed day of weather here, but cooler thank goodness. The Shetland ponies adjacent to my garden do enjoy a piece of organic apple – I cut one up into four pieces, I was very popular with four of them, the others didn't get there quick enough! 🍎🐴 The sheep were not the slightest bit interested 🐑. I feel so lucky having ponies and sheep next to my garden, such a lovely scene. 😊
Puffin at Sumburgh Head, 25th June 2025.
Thursday, 17 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Another hot day here! Even though the temperature outside was lower than yesterday, our office felt hotter today than yesterday, it was more of a muggy heat today. Didn't hear anymore from the lady who was supposed to be meeting me to buy my fireplace mirror, so whatever reason that door is closed I think. Didn't water my plants this evening as trying to do this alternate days, so the midges would have been highly disappointed they couldn't feast on me this evening.
Fell asleep when I got in from work. Then later on I started work in the dining room. Sealed up all the joins and air gaps on the backs of the 4 bookcases that are in the living room with foil insulation tape. The electric metres are being changed tomorrow morning. All of my time this weekend will be preparing the dining room for the carpet being laid next Friday. This will involve filling in large gaps in the floor boards by the windows, filling in the gaps in the skirting boards as they don't meet the walls properly in places, getting as much stuff in the office/studio as possible and also arrange that room properly which I never finished properly arranging. Also aiming to put together the 4 bookcases for the dining room and then squeeze these somewhere else in the house temporarily until the carpet is laid. Just before next Friday I need to remove all the remaining boxes out of dining room into kitchen. I need to order insulation board which will be put between the two lots of 4 bookcases and fixed in place by my builder and he will also join all 4 bookcases together for me as he did for the living room ones.
I detest painting ceilings, but now would be a good time to give the dining room ceiling a fresh coat of white paint, I don't know when it was last painted, but its looking very dull – it will be a miracle if I get that done too. The new dining room chairs arrived a couple of weeks ago, not opened them yet, but better check them soon to make sure they are all ok, they are currently in the shed as no room in the house. New table arriving soon too. DFS sofas etc will be arriving late August 'ish'. It will be fabulous to have everything unpacked finally!
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-backed Shrike at Calback Ness, Sullom Voe.
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly (first for Shetland!) by lighthouse at Sumburgh Head.
Another very hot day and a whopping 24°C!! Exceptionally busy at work. Rushed home to meet someone at my house at 5.30pm to buy my fireplace mirror, they never turned up and no message to say why – messaged them several times and no response, maybe I will hear why tomorrow and maybe I won't.
Some of the tarmac on the roads is melting with the heat it was reported yesterday in Shetland News. Just went out to water the pots and midge season has now begun! Sprayed my face with Avon "Oh So Soft" which worked apart from the fact that I sprayed some in my eyes and now they sting like hell and can't see clearly! Washed my fringe to get rid of all the stuck in midges. Not one of my best day's this week! 😒 😂
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Very hot and muggy here today, even more so in the hospital – never thought it would like that here. This evening one of my neighbours Margaret (who was born here) said she had never known it as hot as this. Obviously its a wonderful treat for those that love the heat, but not for those that don't. I didn't see many patients or staff that looked overjoyed about it today! Before I moved here I nearly got rid of my fans, but decided to keep them just in case the temperatures rose in Shetland, I'm so glad I did as I took one to work for our office last week and its been a joy!
Fell asleep as soon as I got home from work – I'm very lucky as my house is pretty cool and that's with leaving the curtains open all day. If I had been in Norfolk the curtains would have to remain closed 24 hours and for every day that the heat continued. There is no rain forecast until Sunday.
I heard some shocking news today that two tradesmen who have carried out work in my house have passed away within the last few weeks, I couldn't believe what I had heard, even more so when they were both younger than me! I won't say who they are as don't feel its appropriate, but my sincerest condolences go out to both of their families – Rest in peace 🕊 🕊
Monday, 14 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-backed Shrike fem. at Northdale, Fetlar.
Looking at everyone's fabulous pictures this evening, I feel very sad that the Greater Sand Plover flew off on Thursday morning – I was looking forward to seeing that and it would have been a new bird for me. I had booked the first ferries for Friday which was the earliest I could have gone with being at work on Thursday. Oh well, you win some, you lose some!
Very hot here again today. Had a rest, did some jobs including ringing Octopus about my forthcoming metre change this Friday. Watered my pots and newly planted shrubs, which you don't often have to do here! Its going to be hot at work tomorrow and for the next couple of weeks looking at the forecast.
Sunday, 13 July 2025
Culswick Circular Walk, West Mainland of Shetland
Panoramic photo – view from the broch
Jill very kindly asked if I would like to do a trek with her to Culswick Broch, which is based on the West Coast of Shetland. It was forecast to be another unsually hot day so we started out early morning. Culswick Broch starting point is just over 26 miles from my house and a 45 minute scenic drive. Rob had also decided to come, but sat in the car chilling and enjoying the scenery whilst we walked to the broch.
"This is one of the finest walks on Shetland's West Side. The Culswick road branches off the single track road between Skeld and Bridge of Walls, then forks, the left route leading to Crogran on the east side of the valley. Take the right fork into Culswick and enjoy spectacular views of the dramatic valley here, which narrows, the hills rising as they reach the cliffs. The valley floor was once a sea loch, now blocked by a shingle bar, creating a fine fresh water loch."
The light was truly stunning first thing and the walk was spectacular to say the least. It was boggy in places, but dry enough to pick your way carefully without getting a wet shoe or boot! I'm glad I brought my walking pole as it really helped me in a few dodgy places such as walking over the causeway below the broch.
The very steep climb up from the causeway to the broch is not funny when you are not at your fittest, but I did my usual thing of not looking up and pretending I was walking on flat ground.
Sitting next to the broch was amazing and the views from here are stupendous. A Bonxie and an Arctic Skua flew below us whilst sitting here! Other birds seen were Meadow Pipits, Wheatears, Guillemots, Gannets and Fulmars. The biggest and most unexpected surprise was finding two Frogs by the cliff edge, a medium, large and then a miniature one a little further along next to one of the many bogs. It looks like the perfect habitat for damselflies, but none seen and I believe they are extremely rare here, although I recall that some have been seen here this year, via some of the Shetland Facebook pages.
Ragged Robin, Bird's Foot Trefoil were in abundance and remains of orchids were seen and I found some Amphibious Bistort in a small bog as we walked back. The first time I ever found this was on one of my trips to Fair Isle.
We were very hot by the time we got back to the car. I got my fold up picnic table out and we all sat and had a bite to eat and a drink which was a lovely end to our walk. At this point we all departed. I stopped on route home several times to check several flocks of waders I had seen on route earlier, but nothing of particular note seen and less birds seen than earlier this morning. Lovely drive back home. Had no choice but to have a cool shower and then sat and chilled with an ice-cream watching the Wimbledon final. One of the best days out this year! Thanks Jill! 😊
All pictures taken with iphone apart from the frogs and Amphibious Bistort
Isle of Foula
Bog
Amphibious Bistort
One of three Frogs seen
Here are some links to more information about this fabulous walk:
https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/outdoors/walk/culswick-circular
https://shetlandwithlaurie.com/the-blog/culswick-broch-walk-shetlands-west-mainland
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/shetland/culswick-broch.shtml
https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/shetland-blog/culswick-broch-in-shetland/
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Red-necked Grebe ad. still at Wadbister Voe, SE of Girlsta.
Quail singing at Rerwick.
Very hot here again today. Went for a fabulous walk with Jill today, see seperate post.
As expected the final between 'Sinner' and 'Alcaraz' was an exciting battle!
Saturday, 12 July 2025
SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!
Rare Bird Alert News
Black-winged Pratincole at Bakkasetter and then NW of Loch of Hillwell at Brake
Very hot here today and almost too hot to go out! I strimmed the front lawn and mowed the driveway grass. I was very disappointed to find that someone had allowed their dog to crap in my driveway this morning – glad I noticed it before the strimmer caught it! All dog crap should be bagged up and taken home, but no dog should be allowed to crap in someone's driveway and to then not clear it up is disgraceful! Hope it doesn't happen again, otherwise I will have to put a notice up – I shouldn't presume, but guess its a tourist and hopefully not someone local.
Decided to wash the 'dry clean only' Laura Ashley, very heavy velvet curtains that were aleady in my bedroom before I bought the house and it was so hot they were dry by the end of the day and back up on the curtain rails!
Very sad to watch the ladies Wimbledon final. I'm sure the men's match tomorrow between 'Sinner' and 'Alcaraz' will be an exciting battle to watch! I won't ever forget Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon in 1977, I can remember my mother, sisters and I almost jumping up and down with excitement!
My garden is looking very summery – still several plants to come into flower though. I decided to fill a entire pot with Livingstone Daisies – its looking fab so far!
PATIO/BACK GARDEN
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