Nature in Shetland
30th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
​Yell: American Golden Plover at Cullivoe. Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Mid Yell.
Unst: Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Haroldswick. Reed Warbler at Norwick. Juvenile Little Gull and 12 Ruff at Uyeasound.
Whalsay: Icterine Warbler at sandwick. Barred Warbler at Isbister.
Out Skerries: Common Rosefinch and Common Whitethroat.
South Mainland: Arctic Warbler at Setter, Spiggie. Marsh Warbler and Water Rail at Quendale. Knot and 2 Grey Wagtail at Ireland. Redpoll spp. at Geosetter. First calendar year Mediterranean Gull at Cunningsburgh. Wood Warbler at Grutness. 2 Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. Common Swift at Scatness. Arctic Tern at Hoswick. Blyth's Reed Warbler at Rerwick.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Unst: 20 White-beaked Dolphin in Bluemull Sound. 6 Minke Whale off Tonga Stack. 8 Killer Whale (unidentified pod) south of Muckle Flugga. 10 Pilot Whale west of Muckle Flugga.
Bressay: 2 Risso's Dolphin off Isle of Noss.
​
Fish Sightings:
South Mainland: Basking Shark off Compass Head.
​
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland: Small Tortoishell at Clickimin.
South Mainland: Bedstraw Hawkmoth at Dalsetter.
29th August 2020
​
Bird Sightings:
​Yell: American Golden Plover and 3 Knot at Cullivoe. Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Mid Yell.
Unst: 6 Tree Sparrow and 2 Willow Warbler at Haroldswick.4 Knot at Skaw.
South Mainland: Barred Warbler and Green Sandpiper at Virkie. Wood Warbler at Quendale.
Central Mainland: 4 Siskin at Catfirth.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Central Mainland: 20 Risso's Dolphin in Busta Voe, Brae. Minke Whale in Yell Sound and later off Mossbank.
​
Fish Sightings:
Central Mainland: Basking Shark in Yell Sound near Bigga.
​
28th August 2020
​
Bird Sightings:
​Yell: 4 Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit at Cullivoe. 6 Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwit at Gossaborough.
Unst: Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Haroldswick.
Out Skerries: Wood Warbler.
South Mainland: Wood Warbler at Virkie 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Knot at Pool of Virkie.. Sand Martin and Barred Warbler at Hestingott.
West Mainland : Sedge Warbler at West Burrafirth.
Central Mainland: Slavonian Grebe at Weisdale Voe.
​
​Insect Sightings:
West Mainland: Pink-barred Sallow trapped at West Burrafirth
Unst: Common Wainscot trapped at Baltasound.
​
​
27th August 2020
​
Bird Sightings:
​Yell: Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 6 Sanderling at Gossabrough. 2 Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at Otterswick. 2 Willow Warbler and Siskin at Windhouse. Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Mid Yell. Adult Long-tailed Skua at Setter. Great Spotted Woodpecker at Mid Yell.
Unst: Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Cuckoo and Pied Flycatcher at Haroldswick. Sooty Shearwater at Muckle Flugga. 9 Ruff at Ordaal. Cuckoo at Stove. Marsh Warbler and Wood Warbler at Halligarth.
Foula: Barred Warbler at Ham.
South Mainland: 29 Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie. Barred Warbler at Sumburgh Head. Wryneck at Virkie. Tree Sparrow at Sumburgh Farm.
Central Mainland: 22 Knot at the Sletts, Lerwick.
​
​Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Bakkasetter. Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Sandwick. Pink-barred Sallow trapped at Wiltrow.
Central Mainland: Convolvulus Hawkmoth in Lerwick.
West Mainland: Pink-barred Sallow trapped at West Burrafirth.
Yell: Minke Whale at Burravoe.
​
Fish Sightings:
South Mainland: 2 Basking Shark off Fladdabister.
Central Mainland: Basking Shark at Toft.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Yell: 2 Minke Whale at Gossaborough
​
25th August 2020
​
Bird Sightings:
​
Unst: Greensih Warbler at Burrafirth
Yell: Greenish Warbler at Otterswick.
South Mainland: Lesser Whitethroat at Toab. 2 Curlew Sandpiper at Scatness.6 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Ruff at Hillwell. Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler at Quendale.
Central Mainland: 8 Wood Pigeon at Voe.
West Mainland: Sedge Warbler and 8 Common redpoll at West Burrafirth.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Setaceous Hebrew Character trapped at Boddam.
West Mainland: 2 Pink-barred Sallow trapped at West Burrafirth.
Bressay: Convolvulus Hawkmoth trapped at Voehead.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: 3 Minke Whale in Levenwick/Dalsetter area. 5 Dolphin sp. (possibly Risso's Dolphin) off Levenwick Cliffs.
Yell: Minke Whale off Cullivoe.
​
26th August 2020
​
Bird Sightings:
​Yell: 4 Ruff at Cullivoe
Unst: Little Gull at Buness. Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Haroldswick.
South Mainland: Green Sandpiper at Boddam. 18 Black-tailed Godwit at Pool of Virkie. Icterine Warbler at Hestingot. Red-backed Shrike at Swinister Burn. 2 Wood Warbler at Quendale.
​
​Insect Sightings:
West Mainland: Setaceous Hebrew Character trapped at West Burrafirth.
​
Fish Sightings:
South Mainland: Basking Shark off Levenwick.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Levenwick. 3 Dolphin sp. off Levenwick.
​
​
24th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
Unst: Greenish warbler, Barred Warbler and Garden Warbler at Burrafirth. Fieldfare, Wood Warbler and Willow Warbler at Halligarth. 9 Ruff at Ordaal.
Foula: Red-backed Shrike, Marsh Warbler and Wood Warbler
Whalsay: Grey Plover at Houb.
Yell: 4 Ruff and Garden Warbler at Cullivoe. Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Pied Flycatcher at Mid Yell. Greenish Warbler Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Barred Warbler at Otterswick.
South Mainland: 2 Common Crane at Jarlshoff, later seen flying over Boddam. 3 Canada Goose, Curlew sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper at Scatness. Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. 2 Common Cossbill at Bakkasetter. Wood Warbler at Longfield near Loch of Brow.
Central Mainland: 2 Willow Warbler at Mulla.
​
​Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: 2 Minke Whale in Mousa Sound, later seen off Levenwick. Minke Whale off Sumburgh Head.
Bressay: 10 Risso's Dolphin off Bressay Lighthouse.
Yell: Minke Whale of Burravoe. 30 Risso's Dolphin off Hamnavoe.
​
Fish Sightings:
Bressay: Basking Shark off Bressay Lighthouse
South Mainland: Basking Shark off Mousa.
​
​
23rd August 2020
Bird Sightings:
Unst: Greenish warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler at Valyie. Greenish Warbler at Haroldswick. Greenish Warbler, Barred Warbler and Willow Warbler at Burrafirth.
Foula: Arctic Warbler at the Manse.
Whalsay: Greenish Warbler at Skaw. Greenish Warbler at Isbister.
Yell: 4 Ruff and Lesser Whitethroat at Cullivoe.
South Mainland: Barred Warbler at Sumburgh Head. Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. Red-backed Shrike at Toab. 3 Canada Goose, Little Stint and 4 Curlew Sandpiper at Scatness. Little Stint and19 Black-tailed Godwit at Virkie. Wood Warbler at Quendale. 22 Black-tailed Godwit at Hillwell.
Central Mainland: Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler at South Nesting. 3 Spotted Flycatcher at Scatsta Farm. Robin at Wadbister.
West Mainland: Ruff and Whimbrel at Bixter. 6 Knot at Effirth Voe. Willow Warbler at Da Gairdins O' Sand.
North Mainland: Sabine's Gull, 8 Sooty Shearwater and Great Northern Diver at Eshaness.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Ear sp., Dark Swordgrass and Acleris effractana trapped at Boddam. Painted Lady at Scatness.
Central Mainland: 2 Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Voe. Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea agg. ) at Brae.
West Mainland: Convolulus Hawkmoth at Skeld.
Bressay: 2 Acleris effractana trapped at Voehead.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: Minke Whale and 2 Killer Whale ('Knot' and 'Hulk') off Sumburgh Head.
​
​
22nd August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Sooty Shearwater 1 mile south of Sumburgh Head, Manx Shearwater 8 miles south of Sumburgh Head.. 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Sand martin, 2 Whinchat, Wood Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 50 Wheatear at Sumburgh. Peregrine, Common Swift, 19 Black-tailed Godwit and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Virkie. 18 Black-tailed Godwit (presumably same as Virkie) , Red-backed Shrike, 2 Common Swift, Barred Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher at Toab. Barred Warbler, Reed Warbler and Wood Warbler at Quendale. Wood Warbler at Bigton. Pied Flycatcher at Geosetter.
Central Mainland: Kingfisher at Loch of Hellister. 5 Goosander and Common Sandpiper at Weisdale Voe. Garden Warbler at Law lane, Lerwick. Reed Warbler at The Sletts.
West Mainland: Water Rail at West Burrafirth.
Trondra: 10 Common Redpoll.
Whalsay: 3 Ruff at Symbister.
Yell: Pied Flycatcher at Mid Yell.
Fetlar: Melodious Warbler at Gord. 2 Red-backed Shrike, Reed Warbler and Pied Flycatcher.
Unst: 9 Sooty Shearwater, 52Storm Petrel and Blue Fulmar north of Muckle Flugga. Cuckoo at Uyeasound. Greenish warbler and Wood Warbler at Haroldswick. Barred Warbler at Burrafirth.
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character and 2 Dark Swordgrass trapped at Boddam.
Central Mainland: Turnip Moth trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick.
Bressay: Garden Rose Tortrix trapped at Voehead.
Fish Sightings:
Central Mainland: Basking Shark off The Knab, Lerwick.
Yell: 3-Spined Stickleback at West Sandwick.
Cetacean Sightings:
Unst: 2 Minke Whale off Woodwick.
Yell: Minke Whale off Cullivoe.
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Noness. Minke Whale off Sumburgh Head.
​
​
21st August 2020
Bird Sightings:
West Mainland: 3 Arctic Tern at West Burrafirth.
South Mainland: Greenish Warbler and Barred Warbler at Boddam. Wryneck at Virkie and later at West Voe of Sumburgh. Wood Warbler at Bigton. Whinchat at Grutness.
Central Mainland:Juvenile Hobby at Vidlin. Wood Warbler at Quoys Road, Lerwick. Wood Warbler at Scalloway.
Unst: Greenish Warbler at Haroldswick. Barred Warbler at Burrafirth. Wood Warbler and Garden Warbler at Valyie. Long-tailed Duck and Moorhen at Norwick. Sooty Shearwater off Burrafirth. .
Whalsay: Greenish Warbler at Isbister. Barred Warbler at Skaw. Wood Warbler at Marrister.
Fetlar: Willow Warbler at Funzie.
​
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland:Straw-barred Perl (Pyrausta despicata) trapped at Stendaal, Rose Tortrix trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick.
South Mainland: Painted Lady at Sumburgh. Setaceous Hebrew Character trapped at Scousburgh.
​
Fish Sightings:
South Mainland: Basking Shark of Cunningsburgh Cliffs.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Yell: Minke Whale off Cullivoe.
Unst: Minke Whale off Hermaness.
​
​
20th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Kestrel, Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler at Sumburgh Head. Greenish Warbler at Boddam. Wood Warbler and Reed Warbler at Quendale. Wood Warbler and Willow Warbler at Cunningsburgh. Common Sandpiper at Sandwick.
Central Mainland: Common Crossbill at Upper Kergord. 2 Sparrowhawk at Brae.
Unst: Ruff, 3 Knot and Blyth's Reed Warbler at Skaw. Citrine Wagtail at the Houb. 14 Knot at Ordaal. Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler at Valyie.
Yell: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Gutcher.
Whalsay: Greenish Warbler and Wood Warbler at Isbister.
​
Insect Sightings:
Unst: Great Brocade and Ear sp. trapped at Baltasound.
Central Mainland: Diamond-spot Sable (Loxostege sticticalis) trapped at Stendaal, South Nesting.
South Mainland: Chevron trapped at Boddam. Dark Spinach and Dark Swordgrass trapped at Scatness.
​
​
19th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: 9 Ruff at Hillwell. Green Sandpiper at Bakkasetter. Barred Warbler and Whitethroat at Quendale. Red-backed Shrike at Hoswick. Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter.
Central Mainland: 10 Siskin at Mulla. Immature Long-tailed Skua at Toft.
West Mainland: 6 Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel at Bixter.
Unst: Blyth's Reed Warbler at Skaw. 4 Knot at Ordaal. Wood Warbler at Valyie. Greenish Warbler, Barred Warbler and Wood Warbler at Halligarth. Long-tailed Duck, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler and Barred Warbler at Norwick. Kestrel, Barred Warbler and Garden Warbler at Burrafirth.
Yell: Garden Warbler and Siskin at Mid-Yell.
Whalsay: Common Rosefinch at Isbister. 5 Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Reed Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler at Skaw. Red-backed Shrike at Hammister. Grey Plover at Houb.
Bressay: Willow Warbler at Voehead.
​
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland: Blood-vein trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick. Pink-barred Sallow trapped at North Hamarsland, Tingwall. 10-spot Ladybird at Brae.
Fish Sightings:
​North Mainland: Basking Shark off Eshaness at Steness.
South Mainland: Basking Shark at Channerwick.
Central Mainland: Basking Shark off Mossbank.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Unst: 2 Minke Whale at Haroldswick, also 6 Porpoise there. Minke Whale at Lamba Ness.
North Mainland: Minke Whale off Steness.
Whalsay: 5 Risso's Dolphin off Skaw.
​
​
18th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Lesser Whitethroat at Toab. Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler at Quendale. Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff at Hillwell. Sooty Shearwater 2 nm off Sumburgh Head.
Central Mainland: 2 Grey Wagtail at Catfirth.
West Mainland: 2 Willow Warbler at Da Gairdins O' Sand.
Unst: Citrine Wagtail at Baltasound. Barred Warbler, Willow Warbler and 2 Peregrine at Burrafirth. Blyth's Reed Warbler at Skaw. Kestrel and Sedge Warbler at Haroldswick.
Yell: 5 Black-tailed Godwit at Cullivoe.
Whalsay: 2 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, and Reed Warbler at Skaw. Greenshank and Wood Warbler at Sandwick. Chiffchaff at Symbister. Goldeneye and Grey Plover at Houb.
​
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland: Lesser Yellow Underwing trapped at Law Lane, lerwick.'.
Fish Sightings:
​North Mainland: 3 Basking Shark off Eshaness.
​
​
17th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: 5 Black-tailed Godwit at Clumlie
Central Mainland: Ruff at Nesting. 14 Black-tailed Godwit at Stromfirth.
Unst: 7 Sooty Shearwater and 1 Storm Petrel at Lamba Ness. Sedge Warbler at Haroldswick feeding 2 fledged young. Barred Warbler at Burrafirth.
​
Insect Sightings:
Central Mainland:Great Brocade trapped at Law Lane, lerwick. Lesser Willow Sawfly (new for Shetland) photographed at Law Lane 'last week'.
South Mainland: Crescent trapped at Bakkasetter and Loxostege sticticalis trapped there on 15th. Crescent trapped at Wiltrow, Boddam.
​
Fish Sightings:
​South Mainland: Basking Shark off Sandsayre, Sandwick.
Yell: Basking Shark at Cullivoe.
​
​
16th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Common Crossbill at Geosetter. Wood Warbler at Toab. 5 Common Crossbill at Sumburgh Farm. Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, and Common Swift at Sumburgh. 45 White Wagtail at Scatness. 8 Knot at Pool of Virkie. Red-backed Shrike at Hoswick.
West Mainland: Barred Warbler at Norby.
Unst: Great Shearwater with Sooty Shearwater off Skaw Unst, later seen off Haroldswick.
Yell: Sooty Shearwater at south end of Yell Sound.
Bressay: 4 Willow Warbler at Voehead.
​
Insect Sightings:
West Mainland: Tree Bumblebee (new for Shetland) found dead at Whitesness. Great Brocade trapped at West Burrafirth.
Central Mainland: Rose Tortix trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick.
South Mainland: Agriphilla tristella trapped at Scatness.
​​Cetacean Sightings:
South Mainland: 20 Long-finned Pilot Whale 4nm off Boddam.
Yell: 4 Risso's Dolphin off Hascosay. Minke Whale at West Sandwick.
Unst: Minke Whale off Skaw.
​
​
15th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
West Mainland: Sedge Warbler at Fogrigarth, West Burrafirth.
Central Mainland: Second calendar year White-billed Diver at South Nesting Bay.
South Mainland: Common Sandpiper at Boddam. 2 Wood Warbler at Cunningsburgh. Wood Warbler and Citrine Wagtail at Sumburgh Hotel. Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter.
Out Skerries: Wood Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Barred Warbler.
​
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Lime-speck Pug trapped at Boddam.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Bressay: 8 Risso's Dolphin off Skaw Point.
Unst: Minke Whale and 10 Rissos' Dolphin off Skaw. Minke Whale off Haroldswick.
South Mainland: Minke Whale at Mousa Sound.
North Mainland: Basking Shark off Fethaland
​
​
14th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. Wood Warbler at Bakkasetter. Wood Warbler at Bigton. Citrine Wagtail at Boddam. Female Hawfinch at Ocraquoy.
​Central Mainland: 2 Common Crossbill at Girlsta.
​Unst: Red-backed Shrike and Whinchat at Skaw. Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler at Halligarth.
Whalsay: Red-backed Shrike at Hamister.
Foula: Common Rosefinch.
Fetlar: red-backed Shrike at Aithness. Female Common Rosefinch at Funzie.
Yell: Willow Warbler at Gloup. 2 Common Crossbill at Gutcher.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: 3 Seatceous Hebrew Character trapped at Boddam. Setaceous Hebrew Character, Great Brocade and Lime-speck Pug trapped at Sandwick.
Bressay: Bedstraw Hawkmoth trapped at Voehead.
West Mainland: 2 Nutmeg trapped at Fogrigarth.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Bressay: 8 Risso's Dolphin off Noss.
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Dalsetter.
​
​
13th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. Wood Warbler at Bakkasetter. 4 Ruff at Spiggie. Female Hawfinch at Ocraquoy.
​Central Mainland: 3 Common Crossbill at North Hamarsland, Gott. Icterine Warbler at Law Lane, Lerwick.
Yell: 2 Common Crossbill at Gutcher.
​Unst: 5 Shoveler at Skio Taing. Water Rail at Haroldswick Pool. Tree Sparrow at Valyie. Whinchat at Skaw. 9 Common Scoter at Easting.
Whalsay: Red-backed Shrike at Hamister.
Foula: Red-backed Shrike and Reed Warbler at Ham.
Fetlar: red-backed Shrike at Aithness.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Crescent trapped at Boddam overnight.
Central Mainland: Manchester Treble Bar and Scarce Silver Y trapped at North Hamarsland overnight. Great Brocade trapped at Law Lane, Lerwick, overnight.
Bressay: Great Brocade trapped at Voehead overnight.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Unst: 6 Risso's Dolphin of Lambaness and Minke Whale there. Two Minke Whale off Haroldswick.
Burra: Minke Whale off West Burra.
South Mainland: Minke Whale off Boddam.
​
​
12th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Female Hawfinch at Ocraquoy. Pied Flycatcher at Geosetter. 2 Common Crossbill at Bakkasetter. Wood Warbler at Sumburgh Hotel. Icterine Warbler on Mousa. Citrine Wagtail at Virkie. Wood Warbler at Culsetter.
​Central Mainland: 3 Common Crossbill at North Hamarsland, Gott. Icterine Warbler at Law Lane, Lerwick.
​Unst: Barred Warbler at Northdale. Reed Warbler at Haroldswick.Kestrel at Burrafirth. Long-tailed Skua at Hill of Caldbeck.
Whalsay: Reed Warbler at Skaw.
Foula: Red-backed Shrike and Greenshank.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: 6-striped Rustic and Great Brocade trapped at Boddam overnight. Scarce Silver Y and Great Brocade trapped at Sandwick overnight. Setaceous Hebrew Character trapped at Scatness overnight.
​
Flora Sightings:
Central Mainland: Harebell in flower near Scalloway.
​
​
11th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. Hawfinch at Ocraquoy.
​Central Mainland: Greenshank at Grunna Water, South Nesting.
​Unst: Icterine Warbler at Northdale. Greenshank at Muness.
Whalsay: Greenshank at Challiser Ness.Black-throated Diver at Skaw.
​
Insect Sightings:
South Mainland: Lime-speck Pug trapped at Scatness overnight.
​
​
10th August 2020
Bird Sightings:
South Mainland: Adult Long-tailed Skua at Dalsetter. 9 Common Crossbill at Sumburgh Head.
North Mainland: Sooty Shearwater off Ramna Stacks.
Unst: Barred Warbler at Northdale.
Central Mainland: Second calendar year White-billed Diver at South Nesting Bay.
Offshore: 2 Wilson's Petrel and 2 Sooty Shearwater 36 nautical miles NNW of Ramna Stacks.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
North Mainland: Minke Whale at Eshaness.
Fetlar: Minke at East Wick of Aith.
​
Fish Sightings:
North Mainland: Basking Shark at Eshaness.
​
Insect Sightings::
Bressay: Dotted Clay trapped at Voehead overnight.
​
9th August 2020
​
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua back at Dalsetter. Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler at Geosetter. Willow Warbler at Spiggie. Common Redpoll at Bakkasetter. Common Crossbill at Sumburgh Head. Kestrel at Cunningsburgh.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Small groups of Risso's Dolphins seen feeding throughout the day from Aith-Ness, Bressay over to South Nesting Bay. At least 17 seen from Noss tour boat.
2 Minke Whales in South Nesting Bay, and 2 off Levenwick, with singles at Turvalds Head, Mavis Grind, south of Whalsay, and Burraland.
50+ White-sided Dolphins seen off Levenwick early morning.
Porpoise reported from South Nesting Bay, and Whalsay.
​
​
8th August 2020
​
Southerly migration of breeding birds underway
​
Bressay: 6 Whimbrel over Voe Head.
​
West Mainland: 2 Common Cranes near cemetery, west of Bixter. Juvenile Crossbill near Park Hall.
​
Unst: Knot and 5 Sanderling at Skaw. Juvenile Moorhen at Norwick.
​
Central Mainland: Ten Whimbrel over Scalloway.
​
South Mainland: 12 Whimbrel over Boddam. 2 Swifts near Boddam. Crossbill at Sandwick.
​
​
7th August 2020
​
Yell: Merlin at Mid Yell.
​
North Mainland: 21 Red-breasted Mergansers at Sellaness. Adult and 2 juveniles Tufted Duck on Loch of Urafirth.
​
Central Mainland: 3 Crossbill at Stromfirth. Female Shoverler at Pullars Loch, Lerwick.
​
South Mainland: Common Sandpiper at Grutness. Crossbill at Sumburgh Hotel.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Minke Whale south of Muckla Skerry seen from ferry.
​
​
6th August 2020
​
Unst: Adult Rosy Starling at Skaw.
​
South Mainland: Goldeneye and Scaup at Spiggie Loch. Swift and 4 Crossbill at Sumburgh Head. 30 Whimbrel flying south over Dunrossness.
​
North Mainland: Green Sandpiper at North Roe.
​
Insects: 20+ Early Bumblebees near Clickimin loch. White-line Dart moth trapped at Scatness.
​
​
5th August 2020
​
West Mainland: Merlin at West Burrafirth.
​
Central Mainland: 3 juvenile Barn Swallow at Tingwall Loch.
​
​
4th August 2020
​
No news today
​
3rd August 2020
​
South Mainland: Long-tailed Skua still present at Dalsetter.
​
Central Mainland: Common Sandpiper at Laxo.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Minke Whale heading south off Skea, North Mainland.
Dolphins seen from departing Hjaltland ferry.
Harbour porpoise off Cunningsburgh.
​
Insects: Manchester Treble-bars moth trapped in West Burrafirth last night.
​
​
2nd August 2020
​
South Mainland: Sooty Shearwater south off Sumburgh. Long-tailed Skua still at Dalsetter.
​
Cetacean Sightings:
Minke Whale off Dalsetter heading south, with another off No Ness, Sandwick.
40 Atlantic White-sided dolphin of Compass Head, Sumburgh.
22 Risso's dolphins between Fetlar, Unst and Bluemull sound.
Harbour porpoise in Yell Sound.
​
​
1st August 2020
​
Whalsay: Juvenile Hawfinch at Murrister.
​
Cetacean Sighting:
A group of about 20 Harbour Porpoise between Lamb Hoga, and Yell.
​
​