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

Sculthorpe Moor - 14th September 2026

 A session with a real flavour of early autumn. Playing for departing summer migrants resulted in just singles of Reed Warbler and Blackcap. There were 10 Chiffchaffs and strangely 4 of these were adult birds, whereas other species captured tended to be weighted heavily towards many more young than adults.

Our nets connected with three roving feeding flocks, resulting in an awful lot of Blue Tits on the record sheet, the last flock being the largest with more than 40 birds! 

We were fortunate to have DW with us. Having achieved his C for Barn Owls at the start of the year, and helped with one of our seabird days in the summer, he now hopes to diversify and train to do passerines with us.

Cetti's Warbler

Treecreeper juvenile

Total: 66 (7)

Blackcap - 1
Blue Tit - 41 (4)
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 9 (1) 
Dunnock - 1
Great Tit - 7 (1)
Marsh Tit - 0 (1)
Reed Bunting - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Robin - 2
Treecreeper - 1
Wren - 1

Dersingham Bog - 12th September 2026

 We wanted an early start as the wind was due to get up by 11am, and despite struggles with a 3 panel net ( not one of our Merlin nets) bought about 13 years ago and never before used, that had one shelf string about four feet shorter than the others, that actually had two other broken lines already broken as it came fresh out of the bag, we soon got that back in the bag and used another net, then actually did quite well. 

Our main target was Stonechats, that we mark using red darvic rings with white print, and got seven. There were also a number of Linnets and Meadow Pipits.

Male Stonechat

Total: 23

Chiffchaff - 2
Linnet - 5
Meadow Pipit - 8
Robin - 1
Stonechat - 7

Morston - 10th September 2026

 There was very much a feeling that autumn is here as we set up the nets. The wind was low enough for netting, but there was a real chill to it as the wind strengthen towards the later part of the morning and circa 35 Pink-footed Geese heading along the coast confirmed the autumnal feel.

We got two full length doubles up, with an additional 18m and two 12m 2 panels over the stream. It turned into a morning of applying darvic rings with 9 Reed Buntings and 5 Stonechats marked for their respective schemes from the 34 captures.

Male Stonechat

Reed Bunting

Linnet

Willow Warbler

Total: 34

Blackcap - 5
Blue Tit - 5
Chiffchaff - 1
Dunnock - 3
Linnet - 1
Reed Bunting - 9
Robin - 1
Stonechat - 5
Whitethroat - 3
Willow Warbler - 1 

Morston - 7th September 2026

 A breezy morning, but the purpose was mainly to strim around a few rides after the farmer had cut the main areas with his heavy duty equipment. We got two doubles up with a single two panel over the ditch.

We ended on 23 birds of 8 species as we had singles of Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Swallow that we hadn't really expected. Leading species was Whitethroat followed by Dunnock.

Adult Whitethroat

Juvenile Swallow

View across to Blakeney Point

Total: 22 (1)

Blackcap - 3
Chiffchaff - 2
Dunnock - 5
Reed Bunting - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Swallow - 1
Whitethroat - 7 (1)
Wren - 2

Sculthorpe Moor - 6th September 2026

Only 16 birds for 6 hours on site, with the added factor of a couple of rain showers that we were able to work around, thanks to the radar feature on Ventusky. Nothing had been showing, on the same weather app, for precipitation. The wind had sufficiently strengthened to make us start taking down by 11am.

We didn't get the numbers of Chiffchaffs that we'd hoped for, but surprisingly got a juvenile Grasshopper Warbler with a lot of body feathers still in pin, and a Treecreeper from the middle of the reeds.

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler

Juvenile Treecreeper

Total: 14 (2)

Blackcap - 4
Blue Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - 6 (1)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Treecreeper - 1
Wren - 1 (1)

Salthouse Garden - 1st September 2026

A little breezier than we would have liked, but with the recent fall of migrants on the North Norfolk coast  how could a ringer not give it a go. Today we exceeded our total from two days ago finishing on 80 birds captured. That included a retrapped and new Pied Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler. Our sites rarely give us the opportunity to catch Garden Warbler so we are in the curious and rather unexpected position of having more Pied flycatchers in the records for 2026 than Garden Warblers. 

As is often the case at this site, there were rather too many Blue Tits, but the price we have to pay for the chance of migrants navigating the coast on their way south.

Juvenile Garden Warbler

Juvenile Pied Flycatcher

3M Blackcap

Age 3 Robin showing two rather nice OGCs

Total: 74 (6)

Blackcap - 13
Blue Tit - 33 (4)
Chiffchaff - 9
Coal Tit - 1
Dunnock - 2
Garden Warbler - 1
Great Tit - 7 (1)
Pied Flycatcher - 1 (1)
Robin - 5
Whitethroat - 2

Salthouse Garden - 30th August 2026

 A second try near the coast after autumn migrants had been seen, went rather better than the previous day and much better than we expected. We managed 56 birds, and rather too many were Blue Tits, but we were very pleased to capture 3 Pied Flycatchers. They each appeared in different nets and at least two of the three were certainly heading East. We saw a fourth un-ringed PIEFL as we packed up so it seemed that the birds seen further West over the past few days are steadily making their way along the coast, slightly inland.

The first Pied Flycatcher that's been caught at an Iceni BMG site.

We've not caught a Piedfly since we last ringed in Cyprus a few years ago, 

so the reference books were useful.

4M Pied Flycatcher

3F Pied Flycatcher

Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat

Total: 54 (2)

Blackcap - 10
Blue Tit - 27 (1)
Chiffchaff - 7
Great Tit - 2
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Pied Flycatcher - 3
Robin - 1 (1)
Wren - 2

Burnham Deepdale - 29th August 2026

 On a day when the window of opportunity before the rain was windier than forecast, the birds were somewhere else and we only reached 19 on the record sheet. 

For a while it looked as though captures were either Chiffchaffs or Blackcaps, but a few lat captures brought the species tally up to five.

Total: 18 (1)

Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 7
Great Tit - 1
Robin - 1 (1)
Whitethroat - 3

Sedge Warbler foreign captures from 16th May 2026.

 On the 16th of May this year we were ringing at Sculthorpe Moor with OHK and were rather surprised to extract two foreign Sedge Warblers from the same net. One had a ring with the Barcelona scheme address and the other was Moroccan.

We were particularly excited about the Moroccan ring as only 9 Sedge Warblers have been recorded with rings from Morocco up to the 2024 ringing report. The recoveries took a while to come through but we now know that both birds were actually ringed in Morocco, only a day apart but from the west and east of the country.

The Spanish ring, B131139, was used March 24th this year at the Yasmina Hotel, Merzouga, where Spanish ringers monitor birds during the  spring migration. The following day, BB02033 was used by Moroccan ringers at Oulad, Ghanem near the west coast. 

Sculthorpe Moor - 23rd August 2026

 Fifty one birds on the record sheet today, and the first session in the right kind of habitat when we didn't get any Sedge Warblers at all. Captures were mostly young birds, although 3 adult Chiffchaffs bucked that trend and there was also an adult Blackcap and Great Tit.

We connected with a tit flock in the middle of the morning, hence the figures showing rather too many tits for our liking, although that did draw along the two Nuthatches. We do try to focus on summer migrants while we have the chance.

Male Blackcap

Juvenile Whitethroat

3M Nuthatch

Total: 46 (5)

Blackcap - 6
Blue Tit - 13 (1)
Chiffchaff - 11 (2)
Great Tit - 4
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Reed Warbler - 4 (1)
Robin - 2
Nuthatch - 2
Whitethroat - 3
Wren - 0 (1)

Barn Owl ringing - 19th August 2026

 Today we ringed the last of our Barn Owls for the year. The three were a late brood in one of the barns on the Sandringham estate, bringing the total of Sandringham young ringed this year to 47. 

Including the other sites brings the pulli Barn Owl ringed figure up to 99. A very good year, although unlike most sites last year, Sandringham birds did quite well in 2025, bucking the national trend.

Sadly one of this year's cohort has already been reported as a road casualty just 17 days after ringing.

Oldest, P4 =56.6

Middle chick, P4 = 37.2

Youngest chick, P4= 25.2

And that's the last one safely back in the box.