SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Tingwall.

Curlew Sandpiper at Loch of Brindister, Gulberwick.

Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Geosetter.

Blue-winged Teal, Wryneck by cattle grid, Little Bunting north of cattle gird and east of road, Glossy Ibis at Loch of Hillwell.

Common Rosefinch in gardens at Brake, Loch of Hillwell. 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Silwick, Wester Skeld.

Sooty Shearwater flew past Boddam.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Dalsetter, Boddam.   

Common Rosefinch at Grutness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Sea Farms Carpark, Gremister, Lerwick.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler behind school at Clickimin Loch, Lerwick. 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Harley Street, Scalloway.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Michaelswood, Aith. 

Yellow-browed Warbler at Kergord.

Blue-winged Teal at Loch of Spiggie.

Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at Swinister Burn, Hoswick.

Glossy Ibis at Loch of Brow.

Wryneck at Quendale Mill.

Rustic Bunting on fence by road, Dusky Warbler at end of road at Maywick.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Reawick.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Pool of Virkie.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Ellister.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Bigton.

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Wester Quarff. 

BLACK-FACED BUNTING fem/1w.male (reported earlier at 17.23 as a Little Bunting) this evening at 18.57 then appeared to roost on sloping cliff at 19.15 between Sandness & Noness.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Stanydale, Bridge of Walls.

 

ISLANDS

Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler at North Aywick, Yellow-browed Warbler at Gutcher, Yellow-browed Warbler in garden near cemetery, Yell.

SUBALPINE WARLBER Sp. (probably eastern) at  in walled garden at Brough, Whalsay.

Hornemann's Redpoll at Valyie, Norwick, Citrine Wagtail, Common Rosefinch at Norwick, Snow Bunting at Westing, Yellow-browed Warbler at Ordale, Yellow-browed Warbler at Muckle Flugga Shore Station, Yellow-browed Warbler at Uyeasound, Unst. 

Little Bunting at Oddsta, Little Bunting at Everland, Barred Warbler in garden at Funzie, Bluethroat Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Tresta, Isle of Fetlar.

Siberian Stonechat (probably West Siberian Stonechat), Little Bunting, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 on Isle of Foula.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat on Out Skerries. 

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

After essential jobs this morning, I finally got out birding this afternoon! Lots of birds on offer, but wanted to try and find my own birds, which I did! Rain first thing and most of the morning, with little wind, but then sunshine for the rest of the day!

Nothing exciting at my bird feeders yet. In the Sunken Garden (as its known) in Lover's Lane, Scalloway I found at least 6+ Chaffinches including 2 males (not common here), a Robin and a Wren.

Goldcrest at Burn of Njugalswater

 

At Burn of Njugalswater, SW of Bridge of Fitch I found a female Blackcap and at least 5 Goldcrests feeding amongst the sycamore leaves which were a joy to watch – so lovely when I check this out regularly and often find nothing!

Checked out Wick House and the burn opposite the Kirk at Gulberwick and was surprised to find nothing at all apart from a Blackbird.

Redwing at Mossy Hill

 

Mossy Hill produced my first Redwings of the Autumn – three at the summit! I was hoping for Ring Ouzels as seen them here before. Nothing else of note but as always the views from up here are incredible!

Made my way to Geosetter, parked up and walked up to the top garden where someone had found a Bluethroat earlier today. A few birders here including Dan Pointon who was just leaving. I realised how shockingly unfit was I was walking up to the garden. Too much DIY and not enough exercise over the last few months, need to change that. Dan said the Bluethroat was showing well. I waited and waited and waited. Eventually it appeared for a nano second, popped out from the hedge, back in again, out again and flew straight across the lawn to the opposite hedge and that was that! Lucky and glad I saw it, but didn't get a chance to even lift the camera into action. All birders left and I stayed in hope that it would show again. It didn't. Suddenly MEGA news appeared on the Rare Birds WhatsApp group!

A Little Bunting which had been found earlier by someone else, had now been re-identified as a BLACK-FACED BUNTING by Dan Pointon!!! It was in the Noness area and the light was fading fast. I have never seen one of these anywhere ever! Got there as fast as I could safely. Parked up and amazingly there was quite a few birders here, approximately 15-20. I knew I had dipped when I could see people looking over the cliff edge. 2 minutes, yes 2 minutes I had missed it by I was told. It had been 'showing well' whilst feeding on the road, before descending down the cliff, presumably to roost! Gutted! Its seems to be a pattern when I book annual leave now, there is nearly always a mega bird on my last day before returning to work and usually I get to see it, my luck has run out! The question is, do I go for first light tomorrow? I start work at 9am.

Had to get the washing in off the line with my head torch when I got home! Busy bee!