November19 | Nature in Shetland

Cetacean News: 2 Humpback Whales first seen off Stead of Aithsness, Vementry before moving into Aith Voe to south of Papa Little, then headed northwards.

23rd November 2019

South Mainland: Redstart at Sumburgh Farm. Siberian Chiffchaff at Scatness. Siberian Chiffchaff at Bakkasetter. Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Sanderlings at Grutness.

Whalsay: Siberian Chiffchaff at Skaw. Bar-tailed Godwit at Brough.

Unst: Long-eared Owl, Siberian Chiffchaff and Tree Sparrow at Norwick. Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound. Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth.

22nd November 2019

Unst: Goshawk at Baltasound; also Little Grebe at Baltasound. Dunnock at Ungirsta.

Yell: unconfirmed report of a White-tailed Eagle at Kirkhouse. Glaucous Gull at Breckon.

Whalsay: Glaucous Gull and Woodcock at Skaw. 5 Snow Buntings at Brough.

South Mainland: 33 Little Auks past Sumburgh Head.

21st November 2019

Central Mainland: 3 Waxwings at Law Lane, Lerwick.

Whalsay: Siberian Chiffchaff at Symbister.

20th November 2019

Unst: Goshawk and Peregrine at Baltasound.

Central Mainland: 2 Grey Wagtails at Mulla, Voe. Waxwing and 2 Blackcaps at Law Lane, Lerwick.

19th November 2019

Unst: Little Auk and 10 'blue' Fulmars past Lamba Ness. Siberian Chiffchaff, Glaucous Gull and 25 Snow Buntings at Norwick.

Central Mainland: 3 Goosanders at East Voe of Scalloway. Waxwing, Blackcap and Dunnock at Law Lane Lerwick. Brambling at Mulla, Voe.

Bressay: Water Rail and 3 Blackcaps at Crueton.

West Mainland: Woodcock and Sparrowhawk at Sand.

Cetaceans: 6 Orcas past Strandburgh Ness, Fetlar. 2 Humpback Whales off Haroldswick, Unst. 2 Humpback Whales near Haaf Gruney, seen from Fetlar. 2 Humpback Whales off Moul of Eswick, South Nesting. Minke Whale east of Sumburgh Head. 10+ Risso's Dolphins 1 mile south of Sumburgh Head.

18th November 2019

Whalsay: Pomarine Skua north past Skaw Taing; also Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Snow Buntings there.

Central Mainland: Siberian Chiffchaff at Mulla, Voe. Waxwing and Blackcap at Law Lane, Lerwick.

Unst: Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound. Long-eared Owl, Siberian Chiffchaff and Goldcrest at Norwick.

Cetaceans: 4+ Orcas south past Balta Isle. 4 Humpback Whales between Uyea Isle and Fetlar. 2 Humpback Whales off Dale of Walls.

17th November 2019

South Mainland: Little Bunting at Scatness. Northern Wheatear at West Voe of Sumburgh. Siberian Chiffchaff at Hoswick. Siberian Chiffchaff at Setter, Sandwick. Woodcock and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Swinister Burn.

Unst: Waxwing at Baltasound. Puffin, Iceland Gull, 2 Glaucous Gulls and 3 Snow Buntings at Burrafirth. Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick. 25 Snow Buntings at Haroldswick.

Yell: Glaucous Gull at Breckon. Bar-tailed Godwit at Cullivoe.

Central Mainland: Dunnock at North Road, Lerwick. Waxwing at Law Lane, Lerwick. 12 Common Redpolls at Mulla, Voe.

Cetaceans: at least 3 Humpback Whales off Unst/Yell (2 off Haroldswick, to Balta Isle, and Muness, Unst; 2 off Otterswick, Yell; 3 in Colgrave Sound, between Brough Lodge and Hascosay). Minke Whale off Odsta, Fetlar. Minke Whale east of Muness., Unst.

16th November 2019

Foula: Desert Wheatear.

South Mainland: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest and 2 Siskins at Hoswick. Siberian Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and 2 Woodcocks at Swinister Burn. 7 Snow Buntings at Grutness.

Unst: Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound. Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick.

Central Mainland: Waxwing at Stendaal, South Nesting.

Yell: Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit at Cullivoe.

Mammals: Bearded Seal at Bridge End, Burra.

Cetaceans: 2 Humpback Whales at Hamnavoe, Yell, moving to Aywick, then Vatsetter heading north. Humpback Whale(s) between Fetlar and Hascosay.

15th November 2019

Unst: Goshawk at Baltasound and Baliasta. Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound Iceland Gull at Uyeasound.

Central Mainland: Waxwing at Vidlin. Waxwing at Stendaal, South Nesting. Hen Harrier at Sand Water. Siberian Chiffchaff and Blackcap at Burn of Sound, Lerwick.

13th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Houlland. Siberian Chiffchaff and Blackcap at Scalloway.

Unst: Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick. Black-tailed Godwit at Baltasound.

Yell: Glaucous Gull at Breckon. Knot at Cullivoe.

South Mainland: Short-eared Owl at Ringasta. 22 Snow Buntings at Bakkasetter.

Foula: Little Auk.

West Mainland: Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff at Michael's Wood, Aith. 4 Woodcocks and 4 Slavonian Grebes at Sand.

Cetaceans: 2 Humpback Whales off Fetlar. Large pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins off Papa Stour.

14th November 2019

Unst: Goshawk at Baltasound and Baliasta. Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick. Dunnock and Goldcrest at Baltasound.

Central Mainland: Waxwing at Stendaal, South Nesting. Waxwing Cockatoo Brae, Lerwick. Jack Snipe and Siberian Chiffchaff at Burn of Sound, Lerwick. Dunnock at North Road, Lerwick.

South Mainland: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Culsetter. Siberian Chiffchaff and 11 Snow Buntings at Bakkasetter.

Foula: Glaucous Gull.

Mammals: Bearded Seal at Bridge End, Burra.

Cetaceans: Orca pods between Fetlar and Out Skerries from Mackerel boats.

12th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Freester. 2 Barnacle Geese at Garth, South Nesting.

Unst: 4 Little Auks, 6 Glaucous Gullsand a 'blue' Fulmar past Lamba Ness; also 25 Snow Buntings there. Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick. 5 Pink-footed Geese at Haroldswick. Sparrowhawk at Burrafirth. Little Grebe at Baltasound. Glaucous Gull at Uyeasound. Carrion Crow at Ungirsta.

Cetaceans: Humpback Whale south past Sumburgh Head. Pod of Orca north past Lamba Ness, Unst.

11th November 2019

Yell: Hen Harrier at West Sandwick.

Unst: Waxwing, Long-eared Owl and 2 Woodcocks at Norwick. Waxwing at Baltasound. Jack Snipe and 12 Snow Buntings at Hagdale.

South Mainland: Siberian Chiffchaff and Snow Bunting at Bakkasetter.

West Mainland: Little Grebe at Bridge of Walls.

Central Mainland: 2 Slavonian Grebes at Whiteness Voe.

10th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Houlland, South Nesting.

Unst: 5 Waxwings at Norwick. Waxwing and Little Grebe at Baltasound. Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth.

South Mainland: Waxwing, Snow Bunting and 4 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Bakkasetter. Iceland Gull at Scord. Blackcap and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Hoswick. 20 Snow Buntings at Grutness.

Yell: Glaucous Gull at Breckon.

9th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck still at Loch of Houlland, South Nesting.

Unst: Black-throated Diver and Little Gull at Easting. Waxwing and Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound. Iceland Gull at Uyeasound. Lapland Bunting and Siberian Chiffchaff at Haroldswick. 'Blue' Fulmar, 7 Snow Buntings and 2 Jack Snipes at Lamba Ness. Glaucous Gull and 5 Snow Buntings at Burrafirth. Knot at Norwick.

South Mainland: Lesser Whitethroat, Common Redpoll and 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Bakkasetter. Northern Wheatear at West Voe of Sumburgh.

Cetaceans: 2 Humpback Whales off The Knab, Lerwick.

7th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Houlland, South Nesting. Waxwing at Scalloway. Waxwing at Law Lane, Lerwick.

Unst: Common Rosefinch, Waxwing, Long-eared Owl and 2 Woodcocks at Norwick. 5 Little Auks and 12 'blue' Fulmars past Lamba Ness. Siberian Chiffchaff at Baltasound. 6 Snow Buntings at Skaw.

West Mainland: Waxwing at Aith. 7 Goosanders at Tresta Voe.

North Mainland: Ring Ouzel at Ollaberry.

South Mainland: Siberian Chiffchaff at Bakkasetter.

Yell: Knot, Jack Snipe and Blackcap at Cullivoe.

Cetaceans: 2 Humpback Whales and 6 Risso's Dolphins off Compass Head. Minke Whale off Horse of Burravoe, Yell.

8th November 2019

North Mainland: Snowy Owl between Collafirth Hill and Midfield.

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Houlland, South Nesting.

Unst: Waxwing and Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick. Siberian Chiffchaff at Northdale. Siberian Chiffchaff and Water Rail at Haroldswick. Common Redpoll and 6 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Baltasound. 2 Woodcocks at Ungirsta. Scaup and Pintail at Uyeasound.

South Mainland: 5 Snow Buntings at Grutness. Siberian Chiffchaff at Bakkasetter.

Cetaceans: 2 Humpback Whales moved south from Levenwick to Sumburgh Head.

6th November 2019

Central Mainland: Ring-necked Duck at Loch of Houlland, South Nesting. Barnacle Goose and 2 Pintails at Garth, South Nesting. Yellow-browed Warbler and 5 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Vidlin. Waxwing at Laxo. 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Eswick. 6 Waxwings at North Road, Lerwick. Waxwing at Banksbroo, Lerwick. Siberian Chiffchaff at Law Lane, Lerwick. Siberian Chiffchaff at Sound, Lerwick. Siberian Chiffchaff and 7 Waxwings at Scalloway.

Unst: Waxwing, Blackcap, Brambling, 6 Woodcocks, 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs and 23 Snow Buntings at Norwick. Waxwing and Dunnock at Baltasound. Peregrine and Blackcap at Uyeasound. Common Scoter at Haroldswick.

South Mainland: Siberian Chiffchaff and Woodcock at Maywick. 10 Siskins at Geosetter. 10 Siskins at Channerwick. Long-eared Owl at Hillwell.

5th November 2019

Yell: 3 Glaucous Gull at Breckon. Woodcock at Culivoe. 2 Waxwings at North-a-Voe.

Central Mainland: 15 Waxwings at Scalloway. 'North-wwestern' Common Redpoll and 2 Waxwings at Sound, Lerwick. Waxwing and Siberian Chiffchaff at Helendale, Lerwick. Waxwing at Law Lane, Lerwick. 3 Waxwings and 4 Bramblings at North Road, Lerwick. Woodcock at Loch of Voe.

West Mainland: 5 Waxwings at Aith. Sparrowhawk at Sand.

South Mainland: Waxwing at Bigton. 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Culsetter.

Unst: Waxwing at Baltasound. Waxwing and Carrion Crow at Norwick. Great Skua at Lamba Ness.

4th November 2019

Burra: Pallas's Warbler found in a polytunnel on Trondra.

Central Mainland: Common Scoter at Shetland Catch, Lerwick. 5 Waxwings at North Road, Lerwick. 12 Waxwings at Helendale, Lerwick. Waxwing at Mulla, Voe. 2 Waxwings at Kalliness, Weisdale.

South Mainland: Waxwing at Cunningsburgh. 4 Common Redpolls at Wester Quarff. Woodcock at Swinister Burn. Common Redpoll and Grey Wagtail at Bakkasetter.

Unst: 5 Waxwings at Baltasound.

Yell: 6 Waxwings at Mid Yell. Common Redpoll at Sellafirth.

3rd November 2019

Unst: 5 Glaucous Gulls at Skaw. Waxwing at Baltasound. Snow Bunting and Knot at Norwick. Common Redpoll at Lamba Ness.

Whalsay: 4 Waxwings at Marrister.

Central Mainland: Siberian Chiffchaff and 9 Waxwings at Scalloway. Up to 15 Waxwings in Lerwick, including 11 at Law Lane.

West Mainland: Common Redpoll at West Burrafirth. 25 Siskins at Sand.

South Mainland: 12 Goldfinches at Sumburgh Head. Snow Bunting and Siskin at Bakkasetter.

2nd November 2019

South Mainland: Pallas's Warbler at Hoswick. Long-eared Owl at Maywick. 5 Waxwings at Dalsetter. 7 Waxwings at Bakkasetter.

Unst: Yellow-browed Warbler, Dunnock, 20 Snow Buntings and 2 Long-eared Owls at Baltasound.

Yell: 2 Bramblings at Cullivoe.

Central Mainland: 15 Siskins at Sound, Lerwick. 21 Siskins at Mulla, Voe.

For information - bird from September

Based on current knowledge, the DNA from the shrike at Levenwick is most likely to be Turkestan Shrike

1st November 2019

South Mainland: Pallas's Warbler at Hoswick.

Unst: Lapland Bunting and Jack Snipe at Skaw. Waxwing, Woodcock and 2 Common Redpolls at Baltasound. Siberian Chiffchff and Shoveler at Lamba Ness. Velvet Scoter, Woodcock, Knot and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs at Norwick.

Yell: Arctic Tern at Breckon. Brambling at Cullivoe.

West Mainland: Black Redstart Melby. 2 Waxwings at Aith.

Central Mainland: Waxwing at Hillhead, Lerwick. Waxwing at Kergord. 9 Snow Buntings at Outrabister.

Out Skerries: Black Redstart.

For information - birds from October 2019:

DNA confirmed the Eastern Stonechat at Westing, Unst was a Stejneger's Stonechat - a Shetland first.

DNA confirmed the Eastern Stonechat at Brake was a Siberian Stonechat

DNA confirmed the Western Subalpine Warbler at Hillwell