SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Wryneck still at Burn of Njugalswater, Bridge of Fitch.

Little Stint at Pool of Virkie.

Great Shearwater, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 52 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Pied Flycatcher at Wester Quarff.

Barred Warbler at Hoswick.

Pied Flycatcher Quendale Mill.

Pied Flycatcher at Hillwell.

 

Pied Flycatcher at Voehead, Isle of Bressay. 

 

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

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

 

Phoned Ray (as in Vivien and Ray) and sang Happy Birthday to him. Made a decision about the Aqua rug for the dining room and ordered this from Love-Rugs which gave me a huge discount as a first time customer! Ironed all the porch curtains and put the pole back up – Northern Lights themed porch is complete! Very pleased with my efforts.

Northern Lights themed front porch 

 

Alot of work went in to painting the ceiling with Crown "Into The Blue" and then tester pots of pinks and teals to add to the ceiling to create a galaxy and the walls with painted with "Murray Mint". I added stars and also stick on mirror stars and fixed up fairy lights to add to the round battery light (which I already had and represents the moon), but all worth it in the end, I feel anyway. Not to everyone's taste, but I like to be creative! I like a different story in every room and I have certainly achieved that so far!

 

My latest lights (from Dunelm) in the corridor (night sky in the hatch, which I created last year) with stained glass lightbulbs from Amazon

 

 

Almost gale force winds here – Scalloway harbour looked like the sea from my house! The twelve Shetland ponies on Gallow Hill have been replaced with sheep. Strimmed the front grass and started the driveway and as expected the battery died. I normally mow the driveway grass, but its got too long to do with my hand push mower. Filled all the bird feeders up, which I have left empty for ages, which means Jimmy next door must have had to spend a fortune on bird food! A ton of leaves to sort out when its far less windy.

 

After tea I did two more flat-packing jobs – a nest of two tables x 2 – a wood set for dining room and glass and silver metal for living room. It took longer to remove the labels from the metal, which involved using a hair dryer to heat the remainder of the label and white vinegar to remove! 

 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY!"

 

  65 TODAY!  

 

😊 ⚓ 🎉 🥳 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Wryneck at Burn of Njugalswater, Bridge of Fitch.

Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Helendale, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint at North end of Sandy Loch Reservoir, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpipers x 8 at Pool of Virkie. 

 

Arctic Warbler in No. 3 garden, Little Stint at Papil Water, Tresta, Fetlar. 

Red-backed Shrike at Skaw, Curlew Sandpipers x 3 at The Houb, Baltasound, Common Rosefinch at Norwick, Unst.

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

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

 

Hauled the undercounter freezer out of the house which has seen better days (was here when I moved in) and let it defrost outside in the sunshine. Hung up loads of washing. Went to Lerwick and made my final decision on colour etc for my 3 seater sofa, 1 armchair and a footstool from Muddy Bay – I was always going to have two armchairs, but when I measured I realised there would not be room. Then headed to George Robertson where I bought a Liebherr Fdi1624 undercounter frost free freezer which is 60cm (wider than the old one) and then went to GR's warehouse to pick this up. Returned home.

 

Took forever to get the freezer out of my car and wiggle it into the house, unpacked it and in place to plug in 24 hours later. So nice to not see any gaps either side, being as its 60cm wide. Put old freezer in car and took to COPE (charity shop).

 

WRYNECK

Very distantly and briefly at Burn of Njugalswater 

 

 

Went to Burn of Njugalswater and after much searching I found the Wryneck – it flew up from the ground (distantly) and perched briefly on a sycamore tree. I had only nano seconds to take a few distant shots before it flew down into the canopy and I didn't see it anymore and neither did anyone else joining me a little later. Not a posing Wryneck at all! Lovely to see though and I'm pretty sure this is a first in Shetland for me. Returned home and spent ages watering all my pots in the garden, which I have not done for ages and researching on line for a large aqua rug for the dining room – not found anything cheap enough yet.

 

50mph south easterly winds here tomorrow and the same on Monday with heavy rain! 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE

Friday 5th September

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Curlew Sandpiper at Isle of Noss.

Wood Warbler at Lunna.

Curlew Sandpiper at Laxo.

 

Red-backed Shrike at Out Skerries.

  

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

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

RBA Weekly Round-Up 29th to 4th September!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_36.aspx?s_id=282348584

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Ortolan Bunting by building WSW of The Independent Living Centre, Gremista, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpipers x 18 at Scatness.

Wood Warbler at Quendale.

Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Little Stint at Pool of Virkie.

Wood Warbler at Loch of Hillwell.

Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Orca Inn, Hoswick.

Wood Warbler at Maywick. 

 

Little Gull at Ulsta, Yell.

  

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Wednesday 3rd September

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Wryneck in garden at Helendale.

Wryneck, Curlew Sandpipers x 13 at Scatness.

Pied Flycatcher at Hoswick.

Barred Warbler at Swinister, Hoswick. 

Sooty Shearwaters x 12 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Wood Warbler, Curlew Sandpiper at Loch of Hillwell. 

 

Curlew Sandpiper at Baltasound, Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Valyie, Norwick, Unst.

Common Rosefinch at North Aywick, 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

Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 6 at sea from Northlink Ferry.

Wood Warbler at Toab.

Sooty Shearwaters x 2 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Pied Flycatcher at Helendale, Lerwick.

Wood Warbler at Law Lane, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpiper on beach at Sandwick.

 

Common Rosefinch at North Aywick, Yell.

Pied Flycatcher at Norwick, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper at Haroldswick, Unst.

  

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

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

 

The Northlink Ferry bookings are now open for January 2026, just booked my trip back to visit my sisters next year! Very hot here today, well hot for Shetland anyway! Ironing new curtains and hanging up in the dining room – I so love ironing! 😑

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Monday 1st September

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Great Shearwaters x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 19 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Curlew Sandpiper on beach at Sandwick.

Barred Warbler at Sand Lodge, Leebitten, north of Sandwick.

Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Hoswick.

 

Red-backed Shrike at Funzie, Fetlar.

Curlew Sandpiper juv at The Houb, Baltasound, Unst.

  

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

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

Alex came round and put the double doors on the bottom sections of the bookcases, it looks amazing, so pleased! It actually looks better than the bookcases on the living room side, well almost. Managed to squeeze in the remaining empty boxes into the car for another tip run tomorrow. Its such a wonderful feeling, knowing I won't ever have to pack or unpack boxes again! 🎉  Had a nap, which turned into a long sleep! 😂

Waiting for the pine door to arrive for dining room. I will be lucky to get Alex to do this job for me, as he has a big job coming up shortly, fingers crossed he can fit this in and before the serious birding commences!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Curlew Sandpiper juv still at Pool of Virkie.

Sooty Shearwaters x 16 flew past Sumburgh Head.

 

Wrynecks x 2, Red-backed Shrikes x 2, Common Rosefinches x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 2 on Out Skerries.

  

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

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

The bookcase situation started off very stressful indeed. The corner of the wall where the fourth one was supposed to fit in, was not at a 45 degree angle. Alex had to cut a section of the skirting out and sliver off the bottom trims on both sides of the bookcase – eventually it squeezed in! Alex did an excellent job and to be honest you wouldn't even know what had been done! Its fantastic to see them all in place. I have no mental energy left to fight with trying to put cupboard doors and hinges on, so Alex is coming back again tomorrow night to put these on for me.

I spent the rest of the day working extremely hard unpacking everything and I can't quite believe it, but I have unpacked ALL my boxes !!! 🎉 🥳 😲 It was exciting finding things I have not seen for years and also mother and father's trinkets and heirlooms. I have left two shelves clear, one for a record player and the other for a small TV – if I can sort out getting a signal to this room.

Tip run before work in the morning and then a second run on Tuesday morning. Good night! 😴

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Curlew Sandpiper juv still at Pool of Virkie.

Wryneck in ditch at Williamsetter, Bigton.

Pied Flycatcher in valley at Maywick.

Wilson's Petrel, Great Shearwater, Sooty Shearwaters x 20, Storm Petrel x 100, Blue Fulmar at sea NW of Fethaland. 

 

Greenish Warbler, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Wood Warbler in plantation, Skaw, Whalsay. 

  

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

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

The carpet was laid in the dining room yesterday. My new lights for corridor, kitchen and hall were put in today by my electrician – big clear up afterwards, all looking fabulous. My builder was coming out this morning to link the bookcases together in the dining room and install insulation boards, but has rescheduled for tomorrow. Had a lovely catch up on the phone with Malcolm W. (Heacham, Norfolk). Popped into Lerwick to go to the dump and messed up, forgot how early it closes on a Saturday. Went into Heima to look at sofas. Got fish n chips and then went to Burn of Njugalswater which is SW of Bridge of Fitch to see if I could find any migrants on the way home, nothing found.

Its been very difficult over the last few weeks as have not been birding for ages, but if I hadn't have focussed on getting my house done so its all unpacked, then it would have never have got done. I have pushed myself beyond to achieve what I have and obviously I'm at work too. I now have two lots of nests of tables to put together and my new dining room table – all flat pack AGAIN! My first birding holiday commences on Friday 19th September for a week and then I have the first two weeks of October and an odd two days at the end of October. By 19th September, everything in my house will be unpacked! I will then just be waiting on delivey of sofa, armchairs and a sofa bed, which I have not chosen and ordered yet! With the usual 8 week wait, I should get it all by Christmas! 😂 Any Norfolk birders visiting my house in Autumn, will have to sit in the dining room for their tea and cake!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Great Shearwaters x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 3 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Greenish Warbler at Halligarth, ENE of Baltasound, Unst. 

Barred Warbler at Pool of Virkie.

 

Common Rosefinch on Out Skerries. 

  

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

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

RBA Weekly Round-Up 22nd to 28th August!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_35.aspx?s_id=144881093 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Great Shearwaters x 5, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 7 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Curlew Sandpiper juv. at Pool of Virkie, then at Scatness.

Common Rosefinch at Scatness.

 

Marsh Warbler at Skaw, Unst. 

  

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Barred Warbler at Levenwick.

Curlew Sandpiper juv. at Pool of Virkie.

  

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Tuesday 26th August

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Great Shearwater, Sooty Shearwaters x 8 flew past Sumburgh Head.

Pied Flycatcher at Sumburgh. 

Wood Warbler still at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpiper juv. at Pool of Virkie.

  

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

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

 

Popped into Jewsons before work and ordered a pine door for the dining room. Pine wouldn't be my first choice, but all the other doors are pine and I can't really be spending money on exchanging them all for oak. My new Northern Lights curtains arrived from Amazon and will be put up when the carpet is laid. Had a lovely catch up with Hilary this evening! Had a break from doing bookcases, will crack on again tomorrow night.

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Curlew Sandpiper juv. at Pool of Virkie.

Great Shearwaters x 2, Pomarine Skua flew past The Lookout at Sumburgh Head.

Black-throated Divers x 2 at Quendale Bay. 

 

Sooty Shearwater flew past Isle of Mousa.

  

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

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

 

Since yesterday I have put together two more of the tall bookcases. On average it takes around 5.5 hours per bookcase to complete. Another two to do and then all finished and ready to be put into place when the carpet goes down, whenever that might be. I won't miss putting them together at all!

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Wood Warbler still at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

Curlew Sandpiper juv. at end of runway, Scatness.

 

Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at sea from boat off Funzie, Isle of Fetlar.

  

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

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

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Curlew Sandpiper at Pool of Virkie.

Barred Warbler at Toab.

 

Blue Fulmar at Vatsetter, Yell. 

  

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

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

 

Today was the first day I have left my house for seven days. Popped into Lerwick to get DIY stuff and more paint for the next project! Went to Teamore cafe/restaurent by the bus station and had one of their scrumptious veggie burgers with chips, salad, ginger beer and then lemon cake with ice-cream, lovely! I love this little cafe, its very relaxed and I have always had good food in there. I don't know where the day has disppeared to, but it just has!

 

Trying to organise a door for my dining room (its never had a door), but needs one to regulate and heat all the rooms efficiently, I should have got this done last Winter. Naturally it will be an odd size I need, nothing is standard width/size when you live in a old house! Jewsons getting me a price next week for a door which is the closest size to what I need.

 

Still fine tuning my northern lights themed porch. The ceiling looks amazing, even though I say so myself, but not to everyone's taste! Potential new carpet fitting date next Friday, but when I checked today, the new replacement (last one was faulty) hadn't arrived yet.

 

Had a surprise email from Octopus who have been monitoring my usage and cost compared to last year with the old metre and they are seeing a marked difference and are going to work out a refund for me! Fabuous, I guess this is their way of saying the old metre was not working correctly?!

 

Lots of other stuff going on, but you can't write everything on here! 

SHETLAND BIRD NEWS & MORE!

Rare  Bird  Alert  News

Wood Warbler still in garden at Sumburgh Hotel.

 

Pied Flycatcher still on Out Skerries.

 

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

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

 

Sunny again and a little warmer. Not had a good week as not been well and slept alot, but feeling alot better now thank goodness. Because of this I'm now way behind with lots of jobs, oh well, they will all get done eventually!

 

Had a WhatsApp video call with Vivien and Lucy. Vivien was visting Lucy for the day (saw her yesterday afternoon too), lovely to see them both together. 💕 Lucy has a new teal coloured chair from NEXT, very smart! South east winds forecast on Sunday and right through until 3rd September including a few NE winds, could be a good week for birds!

RBA Weekly Round-Up 15th to 21st August!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2025_34.aspx?s_id=1057032041