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

 

 

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!