Shetland - 26th September 2026 - 10th October 2026 Ringing totals

 

Shetland - 26th September 2026 - 10th October 2026 part 3

October 6th
Another windy day, nets were down but only 14 birds caught. Chris checked the garden, finding some of the birds ringed in previous days, then went back to the site where we tried for Arctic Warbler, now revised to a Greenish Warbler, but still didn't see it.

There wasn't much of note in the gardens we worked, but checks along the coast turned up Ringed Plover (5), Turnstone, Oystercatcher (1), Redshank (1) and Purple Sandpiper (2).

There was an Arctic Warbler at Fladdabister, that we managed to see quite well.

A quick walk at the end of the day, by Clickimin Loch turned up our own Barred Warbler.

Juvenile Barred Warbler

October 7th
The species captured provided hope that there were more birds around to find. Along with the usual House Sparrows, Starlings and Wrens we caught singles of Garden Warbler, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll and Blackcap today.

Juvenile Lesser Redpoll

Juvenile male Brambling 

Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Chris checked the garden, then we surveyed the Voe on our way out. We went back to Kergord to avoid the increasing numbers of birders now present on the island. There was nothing much new at upper Kergord, just a Goldcrest and Song Thrush, and being parked in the middle of nowhere, it was a worry when the car threw a bit of a wobbly and refused to do anything. The message on the dash said 'Place keycard on zone then press start'. However, the zone was not clear, or labelled and inconveniently there was no mobile signal. We got it going 15 minutes later, somehow.

Then, while driving we started getting a 'Low tyre pressure warning'.

We had a look around Da Gairdins where a Barn Owl had put in a brief appearance, staying only a day. Twelve Blackbirds were seen, and three Goldcrests but other than a Yellow-browed Warbler there were no other migrants apparent in this very promising location.

8th October
We put in a short ringing session but closed before long as the Blackcap in the garden had been caught and the numbers of House Sparrows being captured was getting a bit tiresome. It's great to catch them, but the fat pellets that they'd been eating make a bit of a mess. 

The tyre warning was still coming up so we went to Lerwick in the later morning, and found the pressure to be worryingly low. Chris found a tyre place that could take a look and thankfully they were able to patch a hole caused by a roofing tack. That only cost us an hour and £34.00 - but we were at last able to get out and look for birds after all the dreadful weather.

First stop was Clickimin Loch for an elusive Olive-backed Pipit and we managed to see it. Then we headed to Sumburgh Farm. A Lancelated Warbler had flown in to a porch at the hotel and a local ringer hand caught, ringed and released it. It had since been giving views along a dry stone wall. 

We watched the wall for a while and were surprised at how many birds, mainly Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff, were attracted to it. The crop field had drawn the Lancy away, but Chris managed a very brief view, straight along the bottom of the wall. It wasn't seen by anyone else and I was denied a view by a cabbage leaf. If only I had been standing to Chris' left I may have had a chance, but the bird wasn't seen again. At Fleck we didn't have to wait long to see the Bluethroat, then at Skelberry we managed views of  the Western Bonelli's Warbler.

At Loch Spiggie there were swans, both Whooper and Mute, in greater numbers. A Red-backed Shrike was seen on an adjacent fence and Chris found a Common Rosefinch while I sheltered from the rain in the car. Species on the water included Moorhen, Scaup, Shoveler and Slav Grebe We failed to find the American Wigeon known to be in in Wigeon flock.

9th October
It was raining in the morning, with reports of large numbers of thrushes arriving. We had many birds passing overhead with some dropping in to feed on the grassy areas around the house. When the rain stopped just before 11am I decided to open a couple of nets, hoping to encourage some in. We caught 17 in an hour, despite less than optimal wind conditions. We knew they had been forced over from Scandinavia, and what looked almost like Blueberry juice that they were excreting appeared to bear that out. They could not have eaten blueberries on Shetland or the surrounding islands.

One of 17 Redwings on the day.

Heading out, at Aith Chris joined a friend looking for Quail in an extremely wet field. They knew there were two birds and one even came out on the road for a while. Chris also saw a bird that looked good for Lanceolated Warbler, but that  could not be tied down despite our best efforts.

Quail at Aith

At Fleck it was possible to single out the American Golden Plover in a Golden Plover flock also joined by two Dunlin, a Ruff and a Knot, then at Gruntness two Long-tailed Ducks were out on the water. Finishing off at Loch Spiggie we located the Wigeon flock, grazing out on a near by pasture, and also found the American Wigeon.

10th October
Birds were pretty thin on the ground on the last morning. Only 4 birds were caught but that did include a fourth Yellow-browed Warbler and another Redwing.

Our fourth Yellow-browed Warbler

We were all packed up and ready to go by 11am and had a last look at the Voe where four Otters were seen. We made our way south so as to be closer to Lerwick for reaching the ferry in the evening. At Cunningsburgh we spent time looking through the birds out on the fields, finding a Wheatear and Fieldfare amongst the busily feeding Redwing (C250) and Blackbird (C20). There were also Golden Plover and it looked like a good chance for something especially interesting but we didn't find an interesting eastern thrush, although a Black-throated Thrush was reported from the Sumburgh hotel garden, staying about 10 minutes the previous day.

Our last visit was to Easter Quarff, somewhere that we'd never visited and intended to check out earlier on, but got drawn away by someone else's find at another location. We really liked the muddy track with a row of willows, along one edge and water from the recent rain pouring through them. On the way up we had seen two Blackcaps in the trees and looked at the Blackbirds and Redwings feeding across on the grass, but now it was time to get to the ferry port and we turned to head back.

We had not yet reached the end of the track when Chris noticed something further up the track. It flew into the grass under the willows and at first sight he thought it may have been a Robin. Having got closer I saw it on the far side of the fast flowing stream and directed Chris to the location. It was partially obscured and we began working on identification. Robin was disregarded, too large, Nightingale was considered briefly than it hopped up and we knew we had one of the American thrushes. Chris began working through the possible species and I tried to capture a record shot not focused on any twigs or grass in front of the bird. Veery, Wood and Hermit thrush were ruled out but we weren't 100% certain exactly what it was. We had only seen it in shade and partly obscured. but we had less than an hour to get to the boat and hopefully get others there to avoid the bird being lost. We hadn't had good views, certainly not as good as those that saw it the following day and got terrific photos, but with time so short we put it out anyway, after all, some of those leaving on our ferry may get a chance to see it and it was getting towards the end of the day with the light failing. It was put out as a probable Swainson's thrush and then we set about relocating it as it had flown upstream. 

The track at Easter Quarff

Viewing was not good with the sun directly behind the willows

We couldn't seem to get a view of the entire bird

It seemed like a long time waiting for the first birders and as they arrived there were quite a lot of them. We were checking the time and hoping the parking would be sensible and not stop us getting away. A few people managed to get on to the bird and Grey-cheeked Thrush was suggested. At about that time we had to leave with people still arriving. 

Later, while on the ferry, it seemed that a few people had managed a glimpse, with the last sighting being about 18:10. On getting a chance to review my photos with photographic ID guides we also agreed that it was a Grey-cheeked Thrush, so not new for our UK list as we'd seen one on Scillies in the 80s. This became the 12 record for Shetland, with over half of those having been seen on Fair Isle.

The ferry trip back provided a second unexpected memory of that date as the Northern Lights known on Shetland as the 'Mirrie Dancers' came out to see us off with one of the best displays for many months.

Shetland - 26th September 2026 - 10th October 2026 part 2

1st October
The rain had only just finished as nets were lowered and it seemed to have been a tough night for the birds as House Sparrows and Starlings flocked to the food in the garden. A couple of captured Robins seemed to have moved in very recently and Chris noticed a few newly arrived Yellow-browed Warblers in the garden sycamores. As the morning progressed he worked out their usual routes around the garden and two additional nets went up. One at the back of the house where the building would provide some respite from winds coming from the south and another over by the vegetable plot. By the time we packed up at 11am, we had colour ringed our first Yellow-browed Warbler as well as 39 other birds, albeit mainly Starlings and Sparrows.

Adult YBW

O,O  V,M

There were two Whooper Swans on the local loch that morning. We were just leaving as the news of a Siberian Blue Robin at Hillwell broke. There were warnings about the area being sensitive with regard to parking and everyone would be trying for that one, so ended up having to walk in from the church. Sadly, that walk cost us the bird. We were already in the garden when the bird was seen near the house under a hedge, but a shrub was blocking our view, and that was the last time it was seen.

Siberian Blue Robin juvenile male

The image is by Hugh Harrop. We missed the bird, 5th record for the U.K. and only 7th for Europe, but did spend a lot of time looking at that grass mulch and some tyres that also featured heavily in subsequent images. 

Chris walked back to the car and we hadn't gone far when news of a Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Quendale Mill, a short distance from the Sib Robin garden came out. We had already seen one of those before so declined to return somewhere with a lot of people and very little parking.

Over the course of the day at Hestingott and Hoswick there was a good smattering of passerines. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher, YBW, Blackcap, Barred Warbler, Robin, Redpoll, Brambling and Chaffinch were all seen. A flock of C30 Twite flew over and there were also a few Redwing and Song Thrush.

2nd October
We had the nets down again, getting only 13 new birds. But two were Yellow-broweds, sadly there was only a colour-ring combination for one of them. Chris encouraged a Hooded Crow into the net.

Hooded Crow

YBW 2, R,R  V,M

Second Yellow-browed Warbler, juvenile

Third YBW ringed this trip. No colour code sadly.

Chris worked the garden in the morning seeing 4 YBWs in total. There was also a Spotted Flycatcher and two Blackcaps.

There was a Wheatear by the voeside as we went out prospecting for birds. On the rocky shore numbers of Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Ringed Plover numbers were up.

At Strand there were Redwing, Starlings, Chaffinches and Brambling feeding up on berries until a Sparrowhawk went through and disturbed them all. At Hoswick, we were able to find a Barred Warbler that had been reported and find a Willow Warbler and YBW. There was a Grey Wagtail near the Orca hotel. We went to Levenwick where a Stonechat had been showing, and saw that along with a single remaining Swallow.

Finishing with Loch Spiggie, the light wasn't good, looking from the hide. Some Whooper family groups had come in to join the Shovelor, Wigeon and Teal already there. Scaup and Slavonian Grebe were also present.

One of c30 Snipe seen.

Snipe

3rd October
I got the nets down by 6:30am, having to wait until the last of the rain had passed through. Chris went out to check the surrounding vegetation once light enough, and there were definitely newcomers in the trees. Chris saw three Yellow-broweds and I confirmed a field sighting of the YBW we had colour ringed on the 1st of October. There was a spindly Willow near the net around the back and birds often spend a good deal of time there picking at the foliage. This, all viewable from a downstairs window.  A Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat that were seen later found their way into the nets amongst the 17 new birds ringed that day. There were 2 new Robins, with another three recaptured, showing that the birds ringed over the previous two days were still about.

Lesser Whitethroat

The rest of the day was another run around, punctuated with YBWs and increasing numbers of Brambling, Siskin and Redwing. Chris surprised a Polecat while checking a small stand of trees.

4th October
Very strong winds, heavy rain and ringing was not possible. We didn't even bother looking for birds as most had taken cover and there wasn't really anything much to see. We got a field observation of  one of the YBWs through a rear window.

5th October

Pied Fly, Upper Kergord

Too windy for ringing, and with sporadic heavy showers, we decided to head north  and check out Kergord for birds forced down by the bad weather. 

At upper Kergord we found a Pied Flycatcher, several Robins, Goldcrest and heard a Yellow-browed Warbler. Redwings stopped off in the tall trees while we were there. 

At Kergord the list comprised of Blackbird, Redwing, Robin, YBW, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest and we finished up there during a heavy shower. 

Managed to see a Red-breasted Flycatcher in a hotel garden at Busta.

 We continued to a site where an Arctic Warbler had been reported. The bird didn't show while we were there, braving the showers.

There were rainbows seen on several days.

Shetland - 26th September 2026 - 10th October 2026 part 1

 26th September
After a night crossing, we were off the boat by 7:30am. We had driven up, rather than hire a car and were fortunate to be able to get into the rented house straight away as there had been no occupants the previous week, so drove straight to Wadbister and dropped off the luggage. The house is at the very end of the access road and no distance at all from the banks of the Voe. The garden looked just like it did two years before and we knew exactly where we'd be placing the nets.

As it was a bit windy we left the nets for now and set off out. From our first stop, a small pier in Wadbister we saw our first otter, Red-breasted Mergansers and a flock of roughly 40 Eider out by the fish farm. There were Gannets hunting in the Voe, with some Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes and a Red-throated Diver.

On then to Lerwick Harbour where saw the female King Eider but narrowly missed a Surf Scoter. Other observations included 21 Black Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Shag and Rock Pipits. We also luckily met the local ringer, Phil Harris, who had some colour-ring combinations for Yellow-browed Warbler for us, just in case although he thought chances of catching any of those had already passed.

Moving on to Quendale we missed the Citrine Wagtail, but got our first Ravens. In the bay there, a number of marine and coastal species were seen including 3 Great-northern Diver, a Red Throated Diver and 11 Guillemots. There were a number of Eider, Black Guillies, Kittiwake, Shag and Turnstone. These were frequently seen around the coast and will not be mentioned specifically every time they're seen.

A Merlin flashed past the car as we drove through Hillwell and was probably the same one seen at Fleck when we stopped to check through the flocks of Golden Plover and geese. We also saw Pink-footed Geese, Snipe (14) and Hooded Crow. The final stop at Gulberwick gave us Turnstone (21), Ringed Plover (18), Redshank (3), Oystercatcher (1), Rock Pipit (1), Black Guillemot (5), Shag, Gannet and Guillemot (2).

Back then to Lerwick and a quick tour of Tesco's for food shopping before returning to Wadbister.

27th September
A windy and wet morning, we headed North hoping to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It turned out to be a bad call, since Eshaness Lighthouse was busy with non-birding visitors and there was no sign of it. A single Knot on the pool that it usually frequented was seen with Curlew (3), Turnstone (3) and Bar-tailed Godwit (2). A Lapland Bunting a short distance from the lighthouse, where other visitors tended not to walk was seen.

At Olna Firth we found Goosander (20), Red-breasted Merganser (17) and Grey Heron (3). At Voe there was a Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Robin and Blackbird.

We got back to the house with enough light to get three nets up in the front garden.

28th September
Nets were dropped before first light by D, in time to catch five of an arrival of Blackbirds. Three Starlings were caught, as several had found the fat block that we'd put out. We also got the first two Wrens of the stay then closed at 8am.

First birding stop of the day was Quendale where the Citrine Wagtail again eluded us. Sightings were Raven (3), Swallow (1), Sand Martin (1), Blackbird (2) and Rock Pipit (1). This was our last proper visit here as some birders left the gate to the field open and the farmer turned his cows and a very large bull out after this and another incident where a gate was left open by people looking for cetaceans near the beach. 

Juvenile male Redstart

At Sumburgh (Southern broch or fortified place) Quarry a rather showy Redstart was present with Fulmars on the cliff face, also Raven, Rock Dove, Blackbird and White Wagtail. There were Black-tailed Godwits in the  adjacent field.

A return to Fleck and the Buff breasted Sandpiper was seen distantly in the field with many Golden Plover, Turnstone (6), Redshank (2) and several Curlew and Lapwing.

We worked Hoswick (meaning bay of houses) gardens, the Orca hotel and the burn with only a few Blackbirds, three Grey Wagtails and a Goldcrest for our efforts. Then at Levenwick (Leven's Bay) we had a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Blackcap in willows of the gardens. There were Swallows (10) feeding and a couple of Blackbirds in the fields.

Continental Blackbird

29th September
Nets were dropped for 6:10am and it seemed the word had gone round that food was available as House Sparrows arrived soon after it was light, followed by Starlings. Wrens (4) were finding the nets and there seemed to be quite a few for one garden. Perhaps they travel in from the surrounding moorland. There was also a single Blackbird and Collared Dove. Red Grouse could be heard from the moorland behind the house with several sightings throughout our stay.

Collared Dove

Chris worked the local area before we went out, finding the usual suspects out on the Voe and a couple of Pied Flycatchers in the garden.

Starlings

We worked the gardens at Strand finding the first Yellow-browed Warbler of our own and eight Mute Swans on the loch. Then Veensgarth (Vikings garden) had nothing in terms of passerines but there was a Barnacle goose in with the Greylag geese.

30th September
Between the rain and wind we only got nets down for a brief spell in the morning, just getting a House Sparrow and two more Wrens.  While birding around the garden, Chris had Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling flying over. 

Morston - 22nd September 2026

 A morning at Morston with PWL confirmed that we have said goodbye to the vast majority of our summer migrants. Despite playing for Whitethroat and Chiffchaff, not a single one was captured, and just three Blackcaps were the only summer migrants. 

Unusually, Robins outnumbered Wrens and Reed Buntings, while there were singles of new Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Sparrowhawk. The resident Kestrel was found sitting on the net pole a couple of times and probably helped to keep the number of captures down, but not until after we had caught a lot of Blue Tits, mostly what we describe as non regular feeder visitors, with weights between 9.1g and 9.8g.

3M Sparrowhawk

Total: 46 (2)

Blackcap - 3
Blue Tit - 20
Dunnock - 5
Linnet - 2
Reed Bunting - 4
Robin - 5 (1)
Sparrowhawk - 1
Stonechat - 1 (1)
Wren - 4

Dersingham Bog - 21st September 2026

 A session intended to catch Stonechats, but that just wasn't happening. Over seven hours out in the field and none of the target species on the record sheet.

Meadow Pipit

We ended up with Meadow Pipit being the leading species.

Total: 15

Blackcap - 1
Goldfinch - 2
Greenfinch - 1
Meadow Pipit - 9
Reed Bunting - 1

Mute Swan ringing - 19th September 2026

This morning we visited the swan family at Baconsthorpe Castle to catch up and darvic mark as many as possible. The brood of 5 has reduced to 4 since we were last there in May while searching for dragonflies.

Two youngsters were captured and the remainder of the family will have to wait for another attempt.

Total: Mute Swan - 2