Great photos. Difficult birds. In terms of size/structure/jizz pretty much the same; but otherwise really quite a lot of differences. I assume two juveniles, one much more worn/advanced, which explains some of the differences? Informed comments v welcome
The Shetland bird was yesterday afternoon - 7 June. Never settled, seen in four different places but over a period of only about 45 mins, mid afternoon. Guess it could conceivably have gone back to N Ron, but that's quite a day trip...
High summer means hazy light at the Pool of Virkie, but this is the first time it's meant Glossy Ibis as well, albeit briefly. #birdingScotland
Grey Phalarope at Spiggie, #Shetland, found by @harris1975.bsky.social - surely one of the best-looking birds this spring, and the first I've ever seen in this plumage. #birdingScotland
Everything gleams in spring sunshine. Male Cuckoo in our garden at Virkie (pic through triple glazing!), Oriental Turtle Dove at Hillwell, both yesterday #birdingScotland
Two great rares in Shetland yesterday: Britain's 4th Savannah Sparrow from Dave Cooper in Unst, and a spring Oriental Turtle Dove in the Ness, courtesy of @hughharrop.bsky.social and Paul Harvey #BirdingScotland @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
A drake Mandarin is an eye-catching thing to find in a ditch. This is one of three that turned up in #Shetland yesterday, two in Unst and this one in the south mainland, today in Brow Marsh. #birdingScotland
Male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Scatness this morning - always a treat to find one in Britain. Already the 3rd subalp for #Shetland this spring. A typically fairly distinctive albistriata-type Eastern, with neat, brick-red bib, fat submoustachials and lots of white in R4-R6. #birdingScotland
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler on Whalsay, #Shetland, yesterday, another landmark find for John Lowrie Irvine. The 'chip' calls were the main ID feature but in addition it looked notably grey and dull, plumage a touch ragged, with almost blackish legs. #birdingScotland
I agree, could possibly be a male. Although some are more advanced there are clearly some duller 2cy males as well. Thanks!
Night Heron on East Burra, #Shetland, last week #birdingScotland
A cold, grey April morning in #Shetland was brightened up no end by a quivering blue tail in Grutness garden. Shetland's 5th spring Red-flanked Bluetail (I think) but my first. Looks like a first-summer female to me but comments on age/sex welcome. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
The first big scramble among Shetland birders this spring was a dazzling Purple Heron (seen mostly at Boddam but also dropping into roost at Durigarth), the first live record since 1981. #Shetland #birdingScotland
Ross's Goose, Toft, Mainland Shetland, 26 Feb 25.
Common Eiders of Hascosay, Shetland, 26 Feb 25. The grey-headed female was striking, potentially a borealis-type female (and no I'm not volunteering to write that one up for BOURC).
Adult Black-throated Diver off Holm of Heogland, Unst, 26 Feb 26.
Looking southeast towards Fetlar, 26 Feb 25.
A fine day out on a SOTEAG survey last week (26/Feb): the wintering Ross's Goose at Toft before the first ferry; reassuringly good counts of Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks on the Bluemull survey route; and a lone Black-throated Diver off the south coast of Unst. #birdingScotland #Shetland
Magnificent skies at Gibraltar Point, my spiritual home. That and Hen Harrier, Merlin and Raven in the roost. Always a great day out with @skeggymariner.bsky.social
That sounds about right. At least some things haven’t changed!
Great day out! We all look overdressed for June on Scilly. Presumably it was chilly on the Scillonian. I reckon Aulikki will be the only one of the team who remains hirsute.
Little Bittern, Brow Marsh, May
Honey-buzzard, Sumburgh, June
Gull-billed Tern, Scatness, July
Pechora Pipit, Quendale, September
A few more pics from the Virkie 10K in 2024 #Shetland #birdingScotland
American Red-necked Grebe, Quendale, February
Pacific Swift, Virkie, July
Cackling Goose, Spiggie, October
My 2024 yearlist in the Virkie 10K was 202, more or less on par with recent years, highlights including Pacific Swift over our house, Britain's second American Red-necked Grebe and the first Cackling Goose for #Shetland (all of them currently IC with BBRC). #birdingScotland
December beached bird surveys in recent days in #Shetland Notably few tideline corpses (just 15 on 27 beaches so far) - which on the face of it is good, although I suspect low population levels are an underlying factor. Enjoyed my first Grey Plover of the year though, at Tangwick. #birdingScotland
Green-winged Teal on a WeBS count in a largely ignored part of West Mainland, Loch of Semblister: a solstice treat. First record for #Shetland this autumn? It was virtually dark and the bird wasn't close; this record shot looks better than I expected. @btobirds.bsky.social #birdingScotland
Two shots of the Red-necked Grebe in Laxo Voe #Shetland today, found by @harris1975.bsky.social (and one of last winter's American RNG at Quendale for comparison). Two RNGs in a year is notable. As ever in December we are desperate for the days to start getting longer... #birdingScotland
Sedges, rushes AND grasses from memory! Still can’t see J effusus without the taking the pith gag. Although sadly much of the rest is ancient history. Time you came back north, Sarah…
Did my 1000th wordle today. Funny old game, retirement.
The last month of Shetland's autumn had a distinctly transatlantic theme - after Cackler and American Pipit in late October, late November brought Bufflehead to Foula and Shetland's second American Coot, on Loch of Spiggie. Still time for American Robin... #birdingScotland #rarebirdsuk
The new RSPB Lookout at Sumburgh has had a major impact on seawatching effort. Before 2024 I'd seen one Great Shear in Shetland in 30 years; now I've seen >150, including two today. The seawatching has compensated (a bit) for a dismal summer for local seabirds. #birdingScotland @rspb.bsky.social
As ever, autumn WeBS counts delivered a bonus ball today with this smart female Ring-necked Duck at Scatness #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
A 2cy turned up at in June in June 22 with apparently snipped primaries (see Shetland Bird Report 22), while another appeared in Lerwick in summer 23, maybe on a boat, maybe under its own steam, eventually made its way to Sandness and there was a breeding attempt in spring 24.
Shetland isn't always rarity-filled. Highlights of a day out west this week were: a long-staying and large Canada Goose, one of the breeding Sandness Magpies (of disputed origin, but still magnificent) and a splendid Carrion x Hoodie hybrid. #birdingscotland
One of my favourite bird surveys is Shetland's monthly beached bird survey. In September 12, I was well chuffed to find a Buff-bellied Pipit on Rerwick beach. Today's repeat performance was just as special. #rarebirdsuk #birdingscotland 🪶
