SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinches x 2 in the Jubilee Flower Garden, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Another long night's sleep because of Oramorph! I have a physio appointment at the hospital on Friday 30th January. One of my prescribed exercises is fairly easy, two are tolerable and two are not! Very sleepy with medication. First birthday card arrived today from Vivien. Robin in the garden again. Gales here and heavy rain. The ferry I should have been on tonight was cancelled and the next couple of days are under review, so I wouldn't have been going to Norfolk anyway! I doubt the Black-winged Kite will hang on for my rescheduled trip.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

White-billed Diver 2.5 miles NE of Vidlin, north of Lunning, from Whalsay Ferry.

Glaucous Gull juv. at South Collafirth.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Had a full night's sleep last night, thank goodness for Oramorph! Had a physio appointment at 9.30am and given exercises to do four times a day and am being referred 'urgently' to out patient physio team at the hospital (I think the physios in the practices here only see people as an emergency and then refer you on to the main physio team at the hospital. It was too painful to do a couple of the exercises and the physio could see the pain was too much and said that when the pain has improved I should be able to do these a bit better. Had another GP telephone appt. today to discuss pain relief as I had to stop taken the Naproxen last night due to side effects. Now back to taking the Codeine Phosphate, along with Ibuprofen and Paracetemol. Very sleepy on/off throughout the day.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

Ring-necked Duck drk at Loch of Housetter.

Iceland Gull at Loch of Spiggie.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Exnaboe.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Terrible night's sleep due to pain and couldn't get comfortable. Phoned the surgery dead on 8.30am, engaged as expected and pressed the call back repeat button continuously for 25 mintues – got through to a receptionist at 8.55am and the emergency physio appointment had been taken!!! VERY frustrating. Was given a physio appointment for next week. Booked another GP appointment, which I got for 11.15am today. Was prescribed Oramorph to take at night time, so I can hopefully get some sleep. The GP agreed to stop taking the Codeine Phosphate as not making any difference and to just continue with Naproxen and Paracetemol. The GP also got me a sooner physio appointment for tomorrow morning! Updated work as is expected etc.

 

My electric bills are going to much higher, being as I'm at home, but nothing I can do about that. Robin in the garden again, sunny here today, but poor weather on the way again this week.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

King Eider drk at North Shore, Loch of Brow.

American Wigeon ad.drk at Setter, Loch of Spiggie.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 still at Virkie.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Having to type this with left hand, so won't be typing too much. Had to cancel my Norfolk trip next week as sadly there is no way I can drive all that way back, even with me staying half way. Re-booked the trip, which cost me several hundred pounds more! It even hurts to lift a cup of tea up. Can't get comfortable at night because of the pain, so poor night's sleep each night. Phoning surgery to get the last (as they suggested) emergency physio appointment tomorrow and will also be requesting Oramorph as the prescribed medication of Naproxen, Codeine Phosphate and Paracetemol is doing nothing for me at all. The only thing that help a bit is hot water bottles around neck and shoulder. 

 

Its two years to the date since I bought my house here! Good night.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

King Eider drk at North Shore, Loch of Brow.

Northern Bullfinches x 5 at Helendale, Lerwick.

Northern Long-tailed Tit in plantation near Strand Loch, Tingwall.

Iceland Gull at Loch of Spiggie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

King Eider 1w.fem at Bay of Quendale.

White-billed Diver on sea between Sound Gruney and Linga, Bluemull Sound.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Gorgeous sunny day here. Indoors and dosed up on high pain relief all day.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MALCOLM!

😊 🦋 🦔 🐸 🐞 🐛 🐝  

RBA Weekly Round-Up 9th to 15th January!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2026_02.aspx?s_id=218649676 

RBA Review of the Year 2025: Part Two

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Review_of_The_Year_2025_Part_2.aspx?s_id=218649676

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Thursday 15th January

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Glaucous Gull from boat off Sumburgh Head.

King Eider 1w.fem at Bay of Quendale.

Bullfinches x 3 at Sound, Lerwick.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 between Fleck & Boddam, then at Pool of Virkie. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Poor night's sleep through pain, which became excruitating at around 5am – couldn't lay down after that. Went to get a battery for my Tens machine, which didn't really do much for me. Phoned GP, had telephone appointment at 11.15am and was prescribed a higher dosage of one of yesterday's medications. Not able to go to work as would not have even been able to do any 'light duties' today. I was told to keep back, shoulder and neck warm. Had to fill in a DATEX form over the phone with a colleague, being as it was work related. Dosed up with heavy pain relief all day.

 

Received my copy of the Shetland Bird Report 2024 today and was shocked and disappointed to see that my photograph of the Eastern Crowned Warbler at Turriefield on the 3rd October has been captioned incorrectly, as being taken by Tom Hines!!! (Page 166).

Here is the link to my photograph: 

https://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2024/10/mega-eastern-crowned-warbler-first-for.html 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Iceland Gull juv. at Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Went to work today, but I was in agony. Had GP appointment at 11am and was prescribed better pain relief than you can get over the counter and have to ring on Monday for an emergency Physio appointment, fingers crossed. Bought some BOOTS Freeze Spray to put on shoulder. I have Voltarol gel but can't apply this myself, as not a contortionist! The spray gave me a temporary light relief, expensive but worth it. Very sunny here today and this is a Black Redstart showing well at Leebitten, wouldn't mind seeing that at the weekend.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

King Eider 1w.fem still at Bay of Quendale.

Russian White-fronted Goose alt Quendale.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Didn't love my bus rides to work and felt travel sick, especially on the one home this evening, which is normal for me. My bill for the garage was £192 for "stripping/cleaning rear brakes, removed both rear wheel bearings and cleaned large deposits from ABS rings. ABS sensor reading perfectly at present although was badly contaminated. If ABS warning returns it will require a replacement sensor." In some ways I was lucky as although this was not a bill I was expecting, if the brake drums had needed replacing the bill would have much higher. The garage seem to think it will be ok now. I can already tell the difference as the handbrake holds the car on the hill without having to leave it in gear, which I can never do normally, but I have still left it in gear to be on the safe side. The real test will be when I next leave the car stationary in my drive for a couple of days. Hopefully it has been resolved.

Very painful shoulder, arm and back issues over last couple of days and at its worst this evening, I'm pretty sure its a pulled muscle and is work related. Feeling travel sick all evening and trying to do stretching exercises and use pieces of equipment I have (from previous issues) to relieve the pain has not made for a fun evening.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Monday 12th January

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

No news.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Gale Force winds and lashing rain continued all day again. There has been so much continuous heavy rain and last night was incredibly stressful with the front stable door leaking much more than normal and the water had reached the edge of my new wool dining room carpet – I could have cried. After lots of drying the floor with old towels, I managed to duct tape the entire bottom door up to the floor, which took far longer than I thought and then used almost an entire roll of Gorilla tape on top of that. Basically I won't ever be able to open this door again until its been replaced. I have had this looked at by two different tradesmen previously and they don't understand why it leaks, neither do I!!!

On top of that, the car has issues. I paid to have it checked out in my local garage on Friday and all was fine. This morning (and this has happened several times) I started the car and tried to start driving. I have to leave the car in gear as my drive is on a steep slope. If I don't drive the car for a few days, then something gets stuck seemingly. The clattering noise as I tried to drive has got even louder, basically I can't get into any gear at all and when the car almost reaches the T-junction at the bottom, the noise stops and the car starts driving normally, but this morning it came up with all kinds of error messages and none of them would disappear. Long story short, the car has to go to the garage tomorrow morning and I will have to catch the bus to work and back home again later. I hate catching the bus as it makes me travel sick, but not much choice I'm afraid. The owner of the garage thinks the brake drums either need cleaning out or replacing, more expense.

RBA Review of The Year 2025: Part One

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Review_of_The_Year_2025_Part1.aspx 

RBA Weekly Round-Up 24th to 8th January 2026

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2026_01.aspx?s_id=437224584 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Little Auks x 2 flew past The Lookout at Sumburgh Head.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Awful weather, no chance of getting out in lashing rain and Gale Force winds from early morning to now and beyond. All ferries and planes cancelled. Four Bramblings and one male Chaffinch feeding again in my garden today. Found plenty of jobs to do indoors!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Saturday 10th January

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

King Eider 1w.fem still at Bay of Quendale.

Amercian Wigeon still at Setter, Loch of Spiggie.

Northern Long-tailed Tit in plantation near Strand Loch, Tingwall. 

 

ISLANDS 

Glaucous Gull juv. at Loch of Littlester, Yell.

 

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Friday 9th January

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Black Redstart fem/1w.male at Sandsayre, Leebitten, north of Sandwick.

Amercian Wigeon still at Setter, Loch of Spiggie.

Northern Long-tailed Tit in gardens by Upper Strand, Tingwall. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Took my car to the garage for 8am and then went home and back to bed, I felt SO tired. Collected car later and everything is good, no issues with the car at all. 6mm tread on all my Winter tyres, all levels topped up and tyre pressures correct. Four Bramblings feeding in my garden today! Watched the brilliant firework display for the Scalloway Fire Festival from my house!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Little Auk flew past The Lookout, Sumburgh Head.

Black Redstart fem/1w.male at Sandsayre, Leebitten, north of Sandwick. 

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Very strong winds with rain, sleet, snow and hail – had everything but sun here today!

 

I was in the hairdressers from 5pm until 8.15pm, much longer than it normally takes as we did something different colour wise, which I'm very pleased about. The drive home was horrendous. My lovely hairdresser Aimee and I were both worried about our journeys home and we both checked that each other got safely back. Car in the garage tomorrow for a check over etc.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Wednesday 7th January 

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 in crop field SE of Bruce Memorial Hall at Toab.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Roads better than yesterday, but there has been so much snow, its going to take a while to melt. Hairdressers after work tomorrow, which is way overdue!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinch fem. still at St Olaf Street, Lerwick.

Northern Bullfinch male at Orca Country Inn, Hoswick.

Little Auks x 9 on sea from MV Good Shepherd, south of Sumburgh Head.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Pool of Virkie

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Got to work today, but it wasn't a fun journey at all – didn't do much more than 30mph at any time. There was still alot of snow on all the roads around Scalloway. The scenery on route to work was magnificent, if I had had time, it would have been great to stop and take some pictures, but to be honest there wasn't anywhere to stop safely because of stacked snow either side of the roads, including the main road into Lerwick. The Scord was passable but tyre tracks were orange with grit, certainly not black (road) showing yet. Any pull over spots or viewing areas are currently non existant!

 

I was surprised that the hospital carpark had not been fully gritted as many spaces were thick with snow so very limited parking available, but then there will be many staff who still won't be able to get to work yet. Beautiful sunrise – see picture. We were allowed to leave a bit earlier than normal (after all essential work was done) as the ice forecast was not looking good. It wasn't great trying to reverse back up my drive, but I did it and the grit I scattered yesterday obviously helped this situation.

 

Open this link to Shetland News to see the incredible igloo built by children in Upper Sound, Lerwick, extremely impressive! https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/01/06/snowy-shetland-photo-gallery/

Looking towards the Knab, Lerwick

Taken from the Gilbert Bain Hospital Carpark

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

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MAINLAND

Tundra Bean Goose (probable) at Pool of Virkie.

Black Redstart fem/1w. male at Sandsayre, Leebitten, north of Sandwick.

Taiga Bean Geese x 3 in crop field SE of Bruce Memorial Hall at Toab.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

Heavy snow overnight again and the driveway was now really deep and I couldn't see my staggered steps down to the drive at all, which is a dangerous situation! Planned to catch the bus to work but, long story short I was told the first bus out of Scalloway would be at lunchtime when I rang up, so was going to catch that and then all services from/to Scalloway were cancelled as were most bus journeys today. Schools closed today and tomorrow too.

 

I spent three hours digging out and clearing snow from the drive and also an area of the road, which was really hard work. Jimmy next door was doing the same, so it was nice to have some company. I then went to the grit bin and spread this over the drive. Took forever to get all the snow off the car. Both my shed doors blocked with snow again, its getting tedious now. With car tracks now visible in Ladysmith Road down to the harbour, I should get out in the morning, fingers crossed. The top half of Ladysmith Road is still covered in snow (from my house upwards) and Jimmy said that was because the gritter lorry couldn't get up there. Because I have to leave my car in gear (sloped driveway), I'm mostly worried about my handbrake, as this stays stuck nearly all the way down to the T-junction at the harbour, after the car has not moved for a few days and trying to release this whilst driving over snow is going to be scary!

 

Someone saw the Kingfisher at Clickimin Loch today, so lovely to know its still around and surviving. Same birds in my garden including Chaffinches, Robin, Brambling, Blackbirds and so on. Was totally shocked to see two young lads sleighing down Gallow Hill and I heard one of them shout to his friend "I can't stop" – this hill is insanely steep and at the bottom is a drystone wall!!! They were very lucky they didn't end up in hospital! I'm going to pray for the usual Shetland weather of gales and heavy rain, PLEASE?! But looking at the forecast ahead this arctic spell is going on for far much longer than any of us would like!!! There are still many people who can't leave their house yet with high drifts of snow blocking access roads. The snow is forecast to continue to Saturday and then we have heavy rain and strong windows on Sunday, hurrah!!!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Northern Bullfinch in St Olaf Street, Lerwick.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

More snow since yesterday. Don't know why I bothered clearing my drive (which killed me to do) as it had completely filled in again overnight.  Icicles still all around the house and one which had dripped down to a shrub in a pot and then split into a double icicle and ended on my ornamental chicks (see picture) which was really 'cool' to see!

Cool Icicle by my front door!

 

 

It took me over two hours to Karcher all my windows and all the same outside jobs as yesterday. I put extra food out for the birds today including finely chopped (a few months out of date) dried apricots which went down a treat. I couldn't defrost any of the ponds today, so got a large plastic rectangular plant tray from the shed and half filled this, which the birds instantly used to drink from and bathe in.

 

Taken through my window

 

 

I didn't see the Chiffchaff today, I hope it survived. I had four Chaffinches today (2 males, 2 females) and also a very smart male Brambling along with my Robin, 5 Blackbirds, around 6 Collared Doves and tons of House Sparrows and Starlings. I don't know if the Hooded Crow perched in the fir trees opposite was eyeing up the apricots or just checking out what I had on offer! Windchill reported -8°c.

My tame Blackbird (taken with phone) enjoying the apricots

 

The Toucan is not impressed with the weather!

 

Ladysmith House 

 

 

Took some pictures from Gallow Hill behind my house and was intending on going for a walk around Scalloway to check out the roads for work tomorrow, but a huge snow storm started and didn't stop until dark. We are on an Amber warning now with more snow forecast. If the buses are running, I think I will choose that option rather than attempt to drive down my very steep hill with the harbour at the bottom! Even if I did take the car I will no doubt have to clear the drive again just to get out! The snow novelty has worn off now! An update from the bus service to say there will be no buses first thing and they will be reviewed at 9.30am.

 Scenes from Gallow Hill, Scalloway

 

There are a good number of people in Shetland completely blocked in now with huge snow drifts and requesting help from tractors etc to clear minor roads. Contact was made by a very high up person at work today to try and find out who was going to be in tomorrow out of the three in our OT team, I don't think any of us know for sure until the morning!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Little Auk on sea at Lingness.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 

Icicles from my roof

 

 Good job I bought the snow shovel!

 

Birds in the garden

 

View from the inside of the office/studio!

 

Front Garden

 

 

The snow is very deep today. Icicles hanging from my guttering all around the house and also the same with other houses along the road. Tons of birds feeding in my garden after I put more food out including two male Chaffinches and I was also flabbergasted to see a Chiffchaff flicking around in a desperate search for food in my hebe plant under my living room window! Windchill reported -10°c.

 

I was shocked when I opened the door to find the snow a good quarter way up the door! I had to spend a long time shovelling snow away from the door, windowsills, from both sheds, gates and attempted to clear the snow in front of the car. Went for a short walk – the scenery was breathtaking and the snow on the hills gives the impression of mountains! More snow forecast.

Where the Pechora Pipit was in the Autumn

 

Views from the top of Ladysmith Road of Scalloway Harbour and East Voe

Views from Gallow Hill behind my house

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

American Wigeon at Setter, Iceland Gull juv. at Loch of Spiggie.

Velvet Scoters x 2 off Rerwick Head, Sumburgh.

Northern Long-tailed Tit near Strand Loch, Tingwall.

 

ISLANDS 

No news.

 

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

 This morning from my garden

 

 

The snow is serious here now. Sunny morning with glistening white snow. Put my YakTrax snow grips on my walking shoes, which enabled me to walk outside. Looked after my birds and spent ages knocking ice out of the ponds, re-filling with water from the kettle and topped all the feeders up. A male Blackbird is particularly tame and will often feed around me as I'm putting the food out. There was a Robin in the garden again today which was nice. Had a brief chat with Murray next door and my other neighbour Jimmy. Cleared snow and ice from the car and was intended to go out for a very short drive to take some scenery pictures, but the skies turned white with snow and it turned into a serious blizzard – I couldn't see the loch, castle or hills from my house!

 This afternoon from my garden 

NEW YEAR'S DAY, SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Thursday 1st January

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

MAINLAND

Glaucous Gulls x 2, Iceland Gull at Scatness.

Iceland Gull at duck farm, Swinister, Sandwick.

Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Hillwell.

American Wigeon at Setter, Glaucous Gull at Loch of Spiggie.

 

ISLANDS 

Glaucous Gull at Haroldswick, Little Auk at Setters Hill Estate and then released at Uyeasound, Unst.

 

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

Taken through the window before the snow started to fall

 

 

Bitterly cold, the coldest outside since I've been here. A local news station here reported -8°c in the wind. Sunshine in the morning and then snow commenced, only a sprinkling, but now late evening its falling seriously. Lots of House Sparrows, Starlings, Collared Doves and a few Blackbirds in the garden today. Toasty warm in my house with the wood burner – life would not be fun if I only had the radiators to rely on.

My driveway, late afternoon – almost the same picture as last year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SHETLAND!

Lerwick, Shetland (webcam) – 2.35am 1st January 2026 

 

"  H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R  "

 

🎉  🎉 🎉

 

To all My Readers, Friends, Family & Work Colleagues

Wishing You all Good Health, Peace, Light,

Love & Happiness in 2026

 

💖 💖 💖

 

HAPPY BIRDING 2026!