SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Grey Phalarope fem. Summer plumage opposite Noss Junction at Loch of Spiggie.

 

EYEBROWED THRUSH still for fourth day! In garden at Gutcher crossroads, Yell.

Icterine Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.  

Common Rosefinch ad. male, Red-backed Shrike fem. on Out Skerries.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 3rd June

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Surf Scoter, off Southhouse at Heylor, NNW of Urafirth.

Quail singing at Swinister Burn, Hoswick.

Icterine Warbler in garden at animal sanctuary, Hillswick. 

 

EYEBROWED THRUSH still for third day in garden at Gutcher crossroads, Yell.

Golden Oriole, Icterine Warbler at Valyie, Unst. 

Common Rosefinch ad. male, Red-backed Shrike fem. on Out Skerries.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Atrocious weather for June, wherever you live. The rain was so loud on the office windows, it almost made us jump and the wind was howling. It was a nice evening though with lots of sunshine. Didn't go birding after work, felt too tired and fell asleep on the sofa.

 

Huge thanks to several people who have contacted me by email and commented on yesterday's post about me changing my settings on the blog so that anonymous people can't contact me. Thank you for your kind words and support. 🤗

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Red-backed Shrike male still at the Pool of Virkie.

Quail singing at Exnaboe.

Turtle Dove at Browns Road, Lerwick.

Surf Scoter, Nightjar off Southhouse at Heylor, NNW of Urafirth.

Slavonian Grebe off Scousburgh Sands.

Icterine Warbler male singing in last garden at Housetter. 

 

EYEBROWED THRUSH still for second day, and Icterine Warbler in garden at Gutcher crossroads, Yell.

Icterine Warbler at Skaw, Quail singing at Hamister, Isle of Whalsay. 

 

PALLAS'S REED BUNTING on Fair Isle. 

GREAT SNIPE on Papa Stour.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

New bird in the garden before I left for work this morning, a Hooded Crow underneath the feeders! They are everywhere here, but never seen one actually sitting in my garden before. Went birding after work. Tried to find the Turtle Dove in Lerwick – I'm pretty sure I found the right garden as I could see Collared Doves, Rock Dove and House Sparrows beneath a feeder at the very edge of a lawn, but no way of seeing the rest of the lawn from the roadside – my best wishes to the lady who posted on Facebook, how lovely to have a Turtle Dove in your garden, still living in hope to have one in mine.

Bog Cotton at Burn of Njugalswater, SW of Bridge of Fitch

 

 

Sat in the car gazing out at the large copse at Frakkafield, but only saw two Collared Doves flying over the golf course – not even a hint of green or long tail! Headed to the Burn of Njugalswater south of the Bridge of Fitch, really pretty here and the Bog Cotton is looking beautiful just now, but no birds here.  

 

One of three access points to Gallow Hill, Scalloway

 

 

Had a check around Scalloway and nothing of note, but found some very pretty gardens and roads I have not explored yet, I will have to return on foot. I also stumbled upon a proper official display board/sign and stile for "Gallow Hill", which has two more access points, one next to my house and the third is at Harley Street. I returned home to find that Northwards had attempted to deliver my new sideboards from Dunelm, so will need to get the re-delivery sorted out.

New Commenting Rules for the Blog!

I have changed the settings on my blog and its been long overdue. Any sarcastic or rude comments always comes from an "Anonymous" person hiding behind their keyboard! I more than often do publish the unpleasant comments and take great joy in responding, but its getting boring now. So you will now have to have a Google account to comment, so I can see the name of the person sending me lovely or not so lovely messages!

The final straw was a comment which I didn't publish, which said "What a load of bull shit penny" – this was to my post on Friday 30th May. I have absolutely no idea why they wrote that. They didn't even bother to type a capital "P" for Penny, how rude! 😉 By the way, bull shit is one word "bullshit".

The next one sent to me today has a name, since I have changed my settings and was sent by "Wildbirder" who said "So bascially you're just a twitcher?" I didn't publish this as didn't want to taint my Eyebrowed Thrush post, so will respond now: "basically", I'm basically a lot of things, a sister, a caring OT Therapy Assistant at my hospital where I'm proud to work, a naturalist, an artist, a photographer, a birder, twitcher when I want to be and a whole list of other things, so don't tar me with one label such as ".....just a twitcher". I presume you know the defination of a "Twitcher"?

If I was a serious Twitcher I would have gone for the Savannah Sparrow on Unst, slept in the car overnight and tried to make it to work on time the next morning, I would have driven all the way to see the Surf Scoter this evening after work at Ronas Voe, the list goes on. I will go and see a rarity if its something I want to see, but do I drop everything to twitch every bird going, no I don't. A hard core Twitcher will stop at nothing to see every bird they can get on their list and more often than not at the cost of their personal or/and professional life and their 'lists' are everything, county lists, patch lists, world lists, year lists and where they are in the ranking order etc etc.

If a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater turns up, then yes, there will be no stopping me. Maybe "Wildbirder" lives in an area where they don't see many good birds and there is a little bit of jealousy going on here?! Who knows! Note to self, need to get my lists done, I have no patch list, Norfolk list, Shetland list, World list or any list – oh I've lied, I did do a Norfolk year list once, just the once! 😆

Love and Peace to All 💖

MEGA! EYEBROWED THRUSH At Gutcher, Yell!

 EYEBROWED THRUSH

Garden at crossroads, Gutcher, Yell!

 

Found By Christian Melgar

 

8TH FOR SHETLAND, LIFER FOR ME!

 

 

News broke of an Eyebrowed Thrush at Gutcher, Yell. OMG! I've always wanted to see one of these!Booked ferry for 3pm and arrived at Toft ferry terminal at around 2.30pm. A birder called Dave Wege bagged a lift over in my car (he returned with someone else). On the ferry with several birders including Hugh H., Paul H., Roger R. et al. Drove to the north of Yell to the Gutcher crossroads.

 

Short walk around the side of the garden and peering over the stone wall at the very richly planted garden with a good selection of mature trees. I fixed my gaze on the same area it had been seen briefly earlier. 2 or 3 Blackbirds were feeding on the lawn, a Willow Warbler seen and singing and suddenly we were watching an Icterine Warbler whilst we waited patiently for the Eyebrowed Thrush! We waited and we waited. Suddenly I saw it drop in to the right of a very large conifer 'there it is' I said and it then appeared on the grass in all its glory! WOW, what a bird, so striking! This was at about 4pm and it showed for just over 2 minutes, just long enough for everyone to enjoy watching and photographing this cracking bird – it then retreated to the undergrowth of the dense border between the trees and the far stone wall from where it first appeared from. There was no more than about 15 people here: Hugh H., Paul H., Roger R., Adrian K., Anne E., Jim N., Andy J., James S., David W., Robert & his wife and two more people I didn't know. A few birders had been earlier from Unst including Rebecca N. The Eyebrowed Thrush reappeared again briefly in the same spot with bluebells for backdrop at 4.43pm. Everyone left to catch the next ferry which I think was 5.30pm.

 EYEBROWED THRUSH

 

Record shot of the Icterine Warbler in the same garden!

 

 

I was the only person left. I had booked the 7.20pm ferry and looking on the App, the earlier ferry was all booked up. It started to rain and the wind was quite strong. I was drenched, but stuck it out until I was so cold, that I had to return to the car to warm up and have a coffee. I walked back to stand and look over the garden wall again, but didn't see it any more. Drove to the ferry terminal and only just got there in time at 7.16pm! The ride back was a little rough! Drove home and arrived back at around 8.40pm.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Red-backed Shrike male at Pool of Virkie.

Icterine Warbler in gardens near beach at Levenwick.

Golden Oriole male at Helendale House & Helendale Terrace, Lerwick.

Icterine Warbler at Orca Country Inn, Hoswick.

Quail x 2 at Swinister Burn, Hoswick.

 

Common Rosefinch ad. male singing on Out Skerries.

Honey Buzzard flew over Hamnavoe, Yell. 

EYEBROWED THRUSH & Icterine Warbler in garden at Gutcher crossroads, Yell.

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail at Swinister Burn, Hoswick.

Marsh Warbler in garden of Millgates, Brindister, east of Norby.

Black-throated Diver at Scousburgh Sands.

 

Icterine Warbler still at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Icterine Warbler at Grindiscol, East Ham, Isle of Bressay.

Red-backed Shrike at Isbister, Isle of Whalsay. 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

A gloomy, rainy and very windy day and later on the rain was torrential. Someone came round at 8.30am to pick up a hexagon table I was selling on Facebook. Not long after this my new swivel (small) armchair turned up to place in the bay window of the living room, so I can watch the birds in comfort, rather than on my pouffe.

 

I don't think my bedding plants are going to survive being drowned out every day and its the same weather next week too. Did the Tesco run, had a look round Lerwick for birds, nothing of note. 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail in roses in garden at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse.

Red-backed Shrike at North Town, Exnaboe.

Grey-headed Wagtail in quarry at Sumburgh Head and Grutness.

Quail at Swinister Burn, Hoswick.

 

Icterine Warbler at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Bluethroat in garden at Millfield, Norwick, Unst.

Red-backed Shrike at Everland, Fetlar.

Common Rosefinch male at Skaw, Whalsay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

After submitting pictures to a birding mag that were requested, I had other important jobs to do, mostly telephone calls. Later on I went out to try and see the Grey-headed Wagtail at Grutness.

 

Arrived on site, which is difficult for parking as the building site seems to be extending further down the road and basically you can't park at Grutness at all currently, so had to drive past the 'garden' and park on the corner, just before the first quarry. Walked back to Grutness Pool, no birders here, no wagtails or Spotted Flycatcher, oh dear!

Ringed Plover at the Grutness Pool

 

 

Two lovely Ringed Plovers landed on the edge of the pool right in front of me and there were 2 Mallards on the pool. A Pied Wagtail was seen along with a fly over Bonxie, a Wood Pigeon and there were good numbers of Arctic Terns, Wheatears and Meadow Pipits. I was surprised the Arctic Terns had returned here with all the colossal building works going on. I spent a long time here, walking back up the road to view from the dry stone wall, back to the pool and so on. Had a lovely chat with a lady called Rosemary who was on a Shetland Wildlife Tour and she so wanted to see the Grey-headed Wagtail. I don't know why, but I presumed it would be on 'show' – I heard that it had been insanely difficult to see by many birders as it was moving around constantly.

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL

Distantly, but in beautiful evening light at Grutness Pool

 

Rosemary left and a little while later Roger Riddington joined me and not long after he stood here, he spotted it, diving down into a ditch to the right of the Grutness pool and then it flew left and was feeding for quite a while under and around the feet of two Shetland ponies, distantly behind the pool. I put the news out straight away at 21.14. A visiting birder called Bob joined us and got to see this stonking little wagtail just before it disappeared again at around 21.30 and vanished without us seeing we it had gone! A bit later I returned to the pool again and was harrassed by a black labrador and the male owner was not too bothered about this and took far too long to get his dog under control, it was jumping up at me – after the dog decided to bound towards me again and jump up at me again he finally put it on a lead. Luckily I had been holding my camera high up as otherwise there would have been dog dribble on my lens. This if the first incident I have had here with a dog jumping up at me.

 

Robert, another visiting birder, another two birders and also Rosemary returned but sadly they were too late and it did not show again. Whilst standing by the dry stone wall past the garden, all the Arctic Terns and gulls filled the sky and were obviously distressed about something – scanning with my bins, I could see the man I saw earlier walking over the stile, which states clearly no access between May and August and also it doesn't include an off leash black labrador either! He either can't read or doesn't give a hoot about disturbing breeding birds.

 

Its very dangerous birding here at this time of the year – I arrived home at 11pm!!! I hope you get to see the Grey-headed Wagtail before your flight home tomorrow Rosemary! 🤞😊

RBA Weekly Round-Up 23rd to 29th May!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_22.aspx?s_id=233920500

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Nightjar viewed from yellow buoy at north end of plantation at Lea Heugland, Trondra.

Golden Oriole still in garden NE of kirk at Gulberwick.

Wood Sandpiper flew over Sumburgh Head.

 

Turtle Dove in garden at South Ham, Isle of Bressay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail by 1st bridge at Swinister, Hoswick.

Quail still singing at Ocraquoy.

Golden Oriole still in garden NE of kirk at Gulberwick.

 

Long-tailed Skua at Isle of Mousa.

Honey Buzzard at Norwick, then flew towards Skaw, Unst.

Long-tailed Skua north of Funzie, Isle of Fetlar.

Red-backed Shrike at Isle of Foula.

Long-eared Owl at Skaw, Quail at Hamister, Whalsay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 27th May

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Black Kite flew over East Hill of Weisdale.

Red-backed Shrike at Scatness.

 

American Golden Plover at Isle of Foula.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

A day of sun and rain as forecast, chilly this evening. After work I laid all the pieces of one of the bookcases out onto the living room floor and tried to understand the very poor instruction leaflet, which labelled all the different sections of wood with letters eg A, B, C etc, but one problem, none of the pieces of wood had been labelled to correspond with the instruction leaflet! So helpful, not! All other flat packs I have completed (even though they have been a challenge) were at least labelled up. Nothing achieved this evening 😒

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Golden Oriole in garden near the kirk at Gulberwick.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Loch of Spiggie.

Quail by 1st bridge, Swinister, Hoswick.

Black-throated Diver offshore at Melby.

Quail singing at Geosetter.

Black-throated Diver at Easter Quarff.

 

American Golden Plover at Isle of Foula.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

This morning Norfolk birder Baz Scampion, found a Golden Oriole in the garden of a self catering house his partner Emma and he are staying at in Gulberwick! This happened whilst I was getting ready for work! Massive hail storm this afternoon, which took Catherine and I by surprise in the office!

 

Hearing news that the Golden Oriole was more than probably still around throughout the day, I headed to Gulberwick straight from work. I spent around 3 hours there and dipped out. Walked around and checked out all the trees in the area. There were a few people looking. Lovely male Siskin in the fir trees and a few Blackbirds around. Long story short, a couple of birders did see it while I was standing in the wrong area as it flew seemingly from the large garden at Wick House and back along the burn towards the Kirk, but no one saw where it landed. Prior to this it was heard calling at about 5.55pm from the fir trees in the garden of Wick House by a visiting birder, who apart from me was the only person left at this point and James didn't have a phone signal, so I put the news out for him and apologies to RBA and all, I typed West Hall (I have no idea why) when it was Wick House, sorry!

 

It was lovely to bump into Baz and Emma and had a good catch up as they stood in the driveway of their holiday self-catering house and gorgeous garden. It was a beautiful sunny evening. I gave up around 8pm and headed home, stopping birding on route but didn't see anything of note.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail in field between Swinister Burn and Brakefield, Hoswick.

Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch of Spiggie.

Quail still at Ocraquoy.

Blue Fulmar north past Sumburgh Head.

Northern Eider at Quendale Bay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Another day of rain, wind and cool temperatures, but the sun came out this evening with beautiful light. Spent ages writing and uploading pictures on various Shetland Classified for sale pages today. Went out for an evening drive to Trondra where I saw two Wood Pigeons, lots of Arctic Terns, Lapwing, Blackbirds, Curlew, Starlings and House Sparrows. Drove up to Uradale Farm, which potentially looks a good spot for migrants. At East Voe I had another three Wood Pigeons.

 

At Loch of Tingwall, there was no sign of the Little Gull. Headed to Lerwick to fill up with petrol, got a fish supper from "Fort". Stopped to see if the 2 Great White Egrets were still at Sandy Loch, south of Lerwick, but no sign from the roadside. Back to work tomorrow. South westerly winds, with mix of sun and rain next week. Switches SE again on Saturday and for the following week leading up to my next week of annual leave!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail at Hoswick Bridge.

Long-tailed Skuas x 2 from Good Shepherd, c3. miles east of Sumburgh Head.

 

Quail singing at Hamister, Isle of Whalsay.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

A rubbish day of rain, wind and fog. Lit the fire at 1pm, any excuse, love my stove! Power cut for the first time, but only for a short while and it affected most of the South mainland. 30+ soggy House Sparrows, along with Starlings, Blackbirds, Collared Doves and Rock Doves feeding in my garden.

 

Started to photograph and sort items to sell on Facebook. Had a catch up on the phone with Lucy, Vivien and Ray. Nothing else exciting going on I'm afraid.

 

News from Shetland:

 

Fjara goes up for sale!!!!! 

I don't think anyone can quite believe that Fjara is going up for sale!

 

Woman dies after falling from cliff at St Ninian's Isle 

How shocking and sad to hear this, my most sincere condolences to all her family and friends. 🕊

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail still at Ocraquoy.

Little Gull 1s again at Loch of Tingwall.

Quail at Hoswick Burn.

Quail half a mile east of Bridge of Walls, Walls.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Had fabulous views of the two Great White Egrets together at the south side of Sandy Loch, just south of Lerwick. Walked out to the broch at Clickimin Loch and spent a good while looking for the drake Garganey, but no sign. Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Mute Swans, Arctic Tern and Starlings seen here.

 

Went to look for yesterday's male Red-backed Shrike at Setter, Sandwick and was ages here standing, waiting, walking round the whole area three times, no sign, but saw two very striking beautiful tabby cats in a lush garden with hens. Loved the houses and gardens in this little area and realised I had never been to this Setter (there is more than one 'Setter' in Shetland).

 

Checked out the cliff top garden at Hoswick and The Orca Inn, but didn't find anything. Headed to Ocraquoy to listen to the Quail, but no joy there, mind you I wasn't 100% I was in the right spot, but found the best 'Quail' field I thought it should be in, which was silent! So pretty in this area, its been a while since I've been here. Drove through Fladdabister and then onto Tingwall Loch, where I didn't see the Little Gull! and returned home. Chilly again today. SE winds tomorrow!

RBA Weekly Round-Up 16th to 22nd May!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_21.aspx?s_id=24789752

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Garganey drk at south side of island at Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick.

Red-necked Phalarope by Shetland Museum, Lerwick.

Quail still at Ocraquoy.

Little Gull 1s again at Loch of Tingwall.

Quail at Hoswick Burn.

Red-backed Shrike male near road junction at Setter, north of Sandwick.

American Golden Plover still at Watsness.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

I had a terrible night's sleep, which meant that today did not go to plan, well half of it did. I weeded all the concrete slabs around the side of the house and mowed the grass before the rain and SE winds hit us on Saturday. After many day's hard work, the garden is finished and ready for the Summer! It was so cold this evening, I lit the fire which I wasn't expecting to do in May! Its forecast 50mph winds on Sunday afternoon/evening – I may have to put a few garden ornaments back in the shed temporarily.

 

I opened the instruction pamphlet for putting the bookcases together and then quickly closed it – it looks very complicated, but I will attempt to put one together on a wide awake day, but not this week. I will be out birding for the next three days! Norfolk birder Gary Elton is guiding here with Oriole Birding and he's bound to find something good – he has already found 2 Great White Egrets this morning whilst bagging the drake Garganey at Clickimin Loch!

 

Norfolk birder Sean Offord contacted me recently to ask advice about good spots to look for birds in Shetland – this was his first visit here. He sent me a message as he left Shetland this evening to say he had found a Red-necked Phalarope in the harbour by the Shetland Museum (obviously just arrived and passing through), so even though the winds were not in his favour this week, he still managed to find a good bird in an unexpected spot! Sean is famous for finding two county firsts for Norfolk, the Black Lark at Winterton on 29th April 2008 (I was doing a double shift at the hospital! This was two years prior to me starting my blog in 2010, so no link about me missing it) and a Blue Rock Thrush at Winterton on 20th October 2022 which I did see!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Wednesday 21st May

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Quail still at Ocraquoy.

Little Gull 1s at Loch of Tingwall.

Quail at Hoswick Burn.

Garganey drk at Loch of Clickimin, Lerwick.

Red-backed Shrike male near road junction at Setter, north of Sandwick.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

Woke up late today. Much chillier and the sun didn't come out until the afternoon. I won't have to advertise my table and chairs on Facebook, as Jill and Rob said they would like them – they popped over to mine this afternoon and I got the 4 chairs in my car and with a little bit of jiggling around, Jill and I just about managed to get the drop leaf table into the back of their car and we headed to Watsness. We checked out Tingwall Loch for the Little Gull seen this morning, but no luck at all. We stopped along the road near their house to try and find the American Golden Plover, no luck with that either, but 4 Golden Plover, Oystercatchers and Lapwings were seen on the hills. As we approached their house, the Isle of Foula looked magical in the stunning afternoon light. Jill and Rob have fabulous views below their house, the Loch of Watsness, the sea and the Isle of Foula.

 

As we unloaded the furniture from our cars, the hens and cats greeted us – a joyous and fun scene! I wanted to have hens and cats when I moved here, but there simply isn't the room to have hens in my tiny garden, but there is room for a cat one day when I get everything sorted out! Jill and Rob showed me all the latest work that has been carried out to their house – they have achieved so much since they purchased their home, the transformation is incredible. We had a lovely catch up with coffee, biscuits and cuddly cats. I left mid evening – scanned for the American Golden Plover on route, but no luck.

 

Jill congratulated me on my Oriental Turtle Dove photo, which was listed in the 'Notable Images' in Birdguides Photo of the Week article and I didn't even know until she told me. Jill had also had one of her cracking Savannah Sparrow photos listed in the Notable Images too! 

 

After hearing news of a drake Garganey at Clickimin Loch, I decided to head to Lerwick before heading home. I particularly love Gargarney, they are such a striking duck. Parked up by the loch at 8.40pm 'ish' and quickly realised it was a scope job. I scanned the loch several times with my scope – found Tufted Ducks, Mallards, a pair of Mute Swans, but no sign of the Garganey. Matt W. turned up and he couldn't find it either. I drove around to the opposite side of the loch and scanned again, nothing sadly. I then went to Pullar's Loch (near Tesco) to see if by any chance it had relocated there, but only a pair of Mallards seen. To be fair it was late and could have been hiding in the vegetation in the fading light, but it certainly wasn't on the loch itself. Did a small shop in Tesco and returned to Scalloway.

 

Back at home, which was around 10pm, I had to put all the aired washing away, get the next lot of washing off the lines and everything up to air. It was 10.30pm before I had any tea/supper! Watched 'First Dates' on Channel 4, which I always find very amusing! 😆

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Red-backed Shrike male near road junction at Setter, north of Sandwick.

Quail singing at Swinister, Sandwick.

Quail still at Ocraquoy.

Wood Sandpiper at Setter Marsh, Loch of Spiggie.

White-billed Diver viewed from Foula mail boat between mainland and Vaila at Burrastow.

 Quail at Hoswick Burn.

 

Shorelark briefly at Skaw, Unst.

 

https://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/latest-sightings.

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

 

This is the best run of good weather I can recall since I've been here. My electrician turned up just after 9.30am and put up my ceiling light and wall lights up in the living room and a ceiling light in the dining room – he also made a single socket into a double and then sorted out an unwanted wire in the boiler cupboard. Very luckily I choose well and the lights look absolutely amazing, so pleased. At the same time and without a prior requested telephone call, Streamline turned up to deliver my bookcases, which consisted of 12 boxes of which eight of them weighed extremely heavy and I would not be able to be even begin to lift them. I moved the table and four chairs (that I'm selling) into the kitchen to make room for the bookcases and the very nice delivery driver placed them all in the dining room for me. The driver should have had someone with him in my opinion, the large boxes were a two man job, far too heavy for the even the strongest man.

 

After everyone had left I felt asleep for a short while, I felt burnt out which is not how you are supposed to feel when you are on annual leave. Tidied up the mess and boxes that the lights came in. Several Red Admirals in the garden. Juvenile House Sparrows, along with their parents are emptying the feeders quicker than I can eat chocolate. Unpacked one bookcase just to check the colour/quality and then drove to the Refuse Tip to drop in loads of cardboard, gardening stuff etc. Spent the evening catching up with Lucy and Vivien, getting washing in off the line and putting more out – shattered.