SHETLAND TRIP REPORT 2009.
JOHN & DOREEN COOPER
Doreen and myself decided to visit the Shetland Islands in both Spring and Autumn during 2009, and the following are trip reports covering both trips. I have included in the first section of this article, many pictures of views taken on the Shetlands.
Spring: 15th May to 28th May: Stayed in a croft along Eastshore, Virkie, visting sites around Sumburgh with other visits to North of Lerwick and to Scalloway wood. From the 28 May to 1st June we stayed on Out Skerries.
Arriving at Lerwick after the long drive to Aberdeen and catch the overnight ferry to Lerwick.
An evening view of the Pool of Virkie taken from our croft.
Sumburgh Head & Lighthouse, an area we visited daily.
Two views looking North from Sumburgh Head.
The Croft House at Boddam.
Sumburgh to Lerwick main road.
Looking from Scatness across to Quendale Mill.
Seal near Lerwick.
Looking North from Nestling.
28th May to 1st June: Stayed on Out Skerries with our good friends Edwin & Marina Tait.
Arriving on the ferry to Out Skerries.
Passing the Out Skerries Lighthouse on the ferry.
A choppy arrival to Out Skerries harbour entrance.
At least the Out Skerries harbour was nice and calm.
Edwin’s & Marina’s house (left hand), on Out
Skerries.
Doreen with our good friends Marina & Edwin on Out Skerries
East Isle Bay, Out Skerries.
Two views looking from East Isle to West Isle, Out Skerries.
The Long wall of Skerries with Meoness in the background.
Doreen watching the ferry leaving for Lerwick.
Doreen on Meoness, Out Skerries.
JFC on Meoness.
Painted Lady (one of 25 present) on Out Skerries.
Departing from Out Skerries.
2nd June to 8th June. Returned to the croft along Eastshore, Virkie and generally visited sites near Virkie with occasional visits to some sites near Lerwick.
View of Scalloway & the historic castle.
View looking down on of Lavenwick, Mainland, Shetland.
Looking North near
Geosetter.
The beach near Geosetter.
Looking North from Lunna House.
View at Western
Quarf.
The Causeway leading to St. Ninians Isle.
Looking North on Western Burra with Shetland ponies.
Autumn Visit 2009.
1st September to 2nd October.
1st September: Arrived on overnight ferry from Aberdeen. Picked up food etc in Lerwick and then drove to Virkie. Saw Rob Fray for the latest bird information and then moved into a cottage on shores of Pool of Virkie. After settling in, went birding at the usual sites locally and also checked 3 vegetable fields. In the early evening, birded the Pool of Virkie and then visited a large crop field nearby and also briefly visited Exanboe.
Part of the walled garden at Grutness, Sept 09.
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse.
2nd September: Early morning birding around Sumburgh/ Toab area but just 3 Willow Warblers & 2 Whinchats. After a snack, we drove to Geosetter and then onto Eastern & Western Quarff before returning to Virkie via Clumlie.
3rd September: Spent 4 hrs birding usual sites around Sumburgh/Toab including 5 crop fields. We then drove to Quendale Mill and then returned to one of the crop fields at Virkie. Heavy rain during the afternoon but in the early evening visited the wader pools behind Virkie and also drove along Pool of Virkie shore.
John birding in the Sumburgh Head Hotel & Garden.
4th September:
Early morning visit to Sumburgh Head area, but the almost gale force NE wind made watching difficult. Returned back to the cottage for a coffee. Because of the strong winds, we decided to visit Scalloway wood, but no migrants could be found here. After lunch we visited Grutness garden and crop field, Scatness, Toab and one of the crop fields.
Looking South from Sumburgh towards Fair Isle.
5th September: Early morning visits to the usual sites and crop fields in the Sumburgh/Toab area. Highlights being a Barred Warbler & Grasshopper Warbler in the Glutness garden. After coffee, we decided to visit several sites north of Lerwick including Loch Bentson, Catfirth (where we had our 2nd Barred Warbler of the day), Grutness and Veensgarth where we had some close views of a juv. Crossbill. Returned back to Virkie when it started to rain.
6th September: Stong SW wind today hampered birding. Vistied sites and crop fields in the Sumburgh/Scatness area, but very few migrants present on the ground. After coffee, visited Toab and the 3 crop fields, and then visited Quendale Mill but again little of interest. Toured around Spiggie Loch, 2 Whooper Swans being the best. Two Grey Herons flew in and landed on the Pool of Virkie at dusk.
7th September: Heavy rain and gale force W.winds. Did a short sea-watch from Sumburgh Airport and visited Grutness garden, but wind made birding impossible. In the afternoon, visited Scatness and walked the Headland but very few waders seen. Migrants seen: 10 Wheatears, 3 White Wagtails.
8th September: Heavy rain, misty, with gale force 9 SW winds. Did over an hours sea-watch from Sumburgh Airport. Large numbers of Fulmars & Gannets, all moving into the wind. With an incoming tide, drove along the Pool of Virkie, very few waders seen but a party of 12 Wigeon.
9th September: Early morning visit to several sites around Sumburgh, but SW gale still blowing and very little seen. Drove North to Veensgarth, Catfirth, Swinnings & Vidlin and returned South via Fladdabister.
10th September: Early morning visit to all the sites in the Sumburgh/Toab area including 3 crop fields and a walk down Scatness Headland for waders. Then visited the wader pools behind Pool of Virkie. After lunch checked out 2 crop fields and visited Geosetter.
11th September: Now moved to Unst for a 11 day stay at Northdale. Arrived around mid-day and spent the afternoon exploring the area and also visited Lamba Ness.
Northdale Croft, Unst, our home for the next 11 days.
12 September: Early sea-watch for an hour at Lamba Ness and returned to Northdale for breakfast and birded the local area. Visited the garden and crop fields at Norwick for an hour or so, and then onto the walled wood at Helligarth. Visted the trees at the Leisure Centre at Baltasound and then drove to the Little Crake stream at Burrafirth. Returned back to Northdale for late lunch. We then visited several sites around Baltasound & Haroldswick.
Norwick Bay, Unst, Sept 09.
Looking towards the sea-watch site at Lamba Ness, Unst from Norwick Bay, Sept 09.
Shetland Ponies at Northdale, Unst Sept 09.
13th September: Early morning visit to Skaw, and walked to the end looking for any waders etc. Returned to Northdale and birded the area and then moved to Norwick and birded the garden and crop plots. Drove to Baltasound and birded Helligrath and other areas. Late afternoon visit to Norwick garden but little change from earlier.
Doreen with Shetland Pony at Baltasound, Sept 09.
Stubble field with Stooks at Northdale Sept 09.
14th September: Early morning birding around Northdale, drove south to Uyeasound and spent 3 hours checking out gardens, crop field and beaches. Returned to Baltasound and birded Helligarth and then returned to Northdale where we found a Barred Warbler. Checked out Norwick, Freda’s garden and crop fields and then visited Skaw. Returned to Northdale late afternoon but no further sign of the Barred Warbler.
Standing Stone at Uyeasound.
Looking back towards Uyeasound, Sept 09.
Looking from above Norwick towards Hermaness.
Two Views of Muckle Flugga.
Doreen with Muckle Flugga in the background.
Northdale Croft where we were staying.
View taken on Lamba Ness
View taken at Norwick Bay.
Skaw Bay, Unst.
Sitting Scarecrows at Skaw.
15th September: Birded Northdale and then visited Skaw, and then walked to the pools. Returned to Northdale and then visited the garden and crop plots at Norwick. In the afternoon visited Helligarth and the Leisure Centre clump and then onto Burrafirth.
16th September: Woke to a breezy NW wind which kept blowing all morning, but wind dropped in the afternoon, and became warm & sunny. After birding Northdale, drove south to Westing and then onto Uyeasound. After several hours, returned to Baltasound and visited the Pool clump and Helligarth. Returned back to Northdale for lunch and then visited Norwick Beach and then spent nearly 2 hours birding in Freda’s garden in nice conditions.
Doreen being mugged by the Ponies on Unst.
Two views taken near Westing.
Westing Bay, Unst.
Doreen with the Standing Stone near Westing
17th September: A grey & breezy morning with the wind veering to the SW force 5. After looking in the bushes at North Dale, we went and did a sea-watch for an hour at Lamba Ness. Onto Skaw and checked the area and beach. We moved onto Baltasound and looked at Helligarth and the Pool clump. Checked the beach at Haroldswick and then returned to North Dale. We then drove to Norwick but 2 birders were just leaving Freda’s garden and had just seen what we had yesterday ie Barred Warbler & Pied Fly. Checked the beach for waders and then went for another sea-watch from Lamba Ness. Good numbers of Gannets & Bonxies and a few Kittiwakes. A Dunlin was on the pool on Lamba Ness.
18th September: After doing Northdale, moved onto Skaw and checked the beach and around the croft. A brief stop at Norwick to check the beach and some gardens before moving to Baltasound. Checked out the bushes around Clingra, and the Leisure Centre Pool clump. Moved onto Helligarth and then returned to Northdale for lunch. In the afternoon checked out Burrafirth including the plot crop and the Little Crake stream. Spent an hour birding in Freda’s garden at Norwick when we heard about a Woodchat at Skaw which we quickly went to see. Returned to Norwick late afternoon.
19th September: Woke to a strong SW wind which increased as the day progressed. After birding Northdale, we visited Skaw but no sign of the Woodchat, so we walked the headland. A quick visit to Baltasound but little seen and with a near gale force wind decided to head to Lamba Ness for a sea-watch. After lunch visited Norwick garden and crop plots and also visited crop plot near Burrafirth. With the strong wind we decided to call it a day.
Stooks at Burrafirth.
20th September: After an early look at Northdale, made our way to Haroldswick to look for yesterdays Citerine Wagtail which as we pulled up in a lay-by, Doreen picked it out in a ditch only 10ft.from the car. Superb views, as I went to photograph it, a van and lorry came along and flushed it away. Went onto Skaw and did around the croft and we then moved to Norwick & birded Freda’s garden and crop plots. Returned back to Northdale for lunch and then checked out the Citerine Wagtail site but no further views, we drove onto Baltasound and visited Helligarth, Leisure Centre tree patch and Post Office track, but no migrants seen in this area. Returned to Northdale via Haroldswick but no birders looking for the Wagtail.
One of the most northerly house in the UK at Skaw, Unst.
The smallest cinema in the World at Baltasound,Unst.
View of Haroldswick, Unst.
21st September: Windy today, with showers. Quick stop at Haroldswick to look for the Citerine Wagtail. We were travelling south today back to Mainland Shetland, but on our way to the ferry, we heard that a Arctic Warbler had been seen the previous evening at Lund near Westing, so we quickly visited the site but were unable to locate it and we just made the ferry by 1 minute. On our way south, we visited Voe, Vidlin, and Seafield. After settling in at Virkie, we visited Grutness, Sumburgh Hotel garden and quarry and Scatness.
22nd September: Woke to a severe SW gale force 9 with heavy showers. First visited Quendale to have a look for yesterdays Citerine Wagtail but still no sign. Heavy showers, and went back to Virkie for a coffee. We then visited Scalloway wood and had some good views of an Arctic Warbler. We drove onto Veensgarth and called in again to Scalloway wood but no further sign of the Arctic Warbler. Late afternoon visit to Quendale.
23rd September: Another strong SW wind day. After an early look around Toab, we moved onto Hoswick which was well sheltered. We then went into Lerwick for some shopping and then onto Scalloway wood, the Arctic had been seen earlier, but didn’t show for us or respond to the tape. Returned back to Virke for a meal and then prepare for my trip to Orkney on the Ferry this evening.
24th September: Went on the overnight ferry to Orkney with Dan Houghton, and slept on the southern end of South Ronaldsay at Burwick. First light toured the area looking for the Sandhill Crane and located it in a stubble field. Obtained excellent views through the telescope. Checked out several areas locally and then went to Skiall before returning for another overnight crossing back to Shetland.
25 September: Arrived back from Orkney on the ferry, and drove back to Virkie. Heavy drizzle with gale force SW winds. Stayed in during the morning and went out around Sumburgh area in afternoon, but birding almost impossible in the wind. Had brief views of 2 warblers in a crop patch, but couldn’t flush them again.
26 September: Still very windy & cool. First birded Virkie & the willows. Then checked out Sumburgh Hotel garden and Glutness garden & crop field. Also visited Scatness and walked to the wader pools and also Toab gardens. After lunch visited Hillwell to look for the Buff Breasted Sandpiper but with no joy. Then visited Hoswick and heard the Yellow Browed Warbler and photographed some Crossbills. Returned to Hillwell but still no sign of the Buff Breasted.
27 September: Lighter West winds but drizzle nearly all day. After birding Virkie willows, we visited Hillwell and connected with the Buff Breasted. Moved onto Scalloway wood and then the gardens by Tingwall loch and onto Veensgarth. Checked Pool of Virkie on the way back. After lunch walked 2 crop fields and then visited Spiggie and Geosetter. Final visit of the day to Sumburgh Hotel garden.
28 September: First, visited Hillwell for further views of the Buff Breast. Onto Scalloway wood where we spent an hour before driving out to Hillswick stopping briefly at Voe, & Clickminton Loch. In the afternoon, we birded the Sumburgh area as well as the Pool of Virkie.
29 September: Early start in much better weather. Did the whole of the Sumburgh Head area, including Scatness & Toab. After coffee, drove to Hoswick and then north to Swinnings, Vidlin, Lunna, & Glutness area.
30 September: Woke to strong winds with heavy showers which lasted all day. First visited the Virkie willows, and then on to Sumburgh including crop fields. Returned for coffee during heavy shower and then went to Toab and second crop field and also Virkie willows to try to photograph the Mealy Redpolls. After lunch went to Hoswick.
1 October: Our last day and will be catching the Ferry tonight. Covered all the usual areas and crop fields in the Sunburgh/Toab area but virtually no migrants seen, After packing and clearing up made our way to Scaloway wood, but no sign of any migrants. As we were waiting to drive onto the ferry, mega went off with a Veery on Foula.
Nordagerdi at Virkie.
FLOWERS
English Stonecrop on Out Skerries.
Primroses at Geosetter.
Red Campion on Out Skerries.
Sea Thrift on Out Skerries.
Squill on Out
Skerries.
Heath Spotted Orchids.
Northern Marsh Orchids at Virkie.
Autumn Crocus found at Norwick.
Devils Bit Scabis, Baltasound.
SYSTEMATIC BIRD LIST.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Spring
Small numbers seen on several lochs with a pair breeding at Loch Spiggie.
Autumn
Upto 15 seen on Spiggie Loch on the 6th Sept, with small numbers on some of the other lochs.
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Spring
6 seen on Spiggie on the 15th and up to 7 seen with 3 present on Scatness Loch during the whole of our stay. Odd birds also seen on Loch Hillwell and also lochs North of Lerwick.
Scatness Loch where we saw the Whooper Swans.
Whooper Swans flying at Scatness loch.
Autumn
Two seen on Spiggie Loch on the 6th Sept, with 12 there on the 27th. 8 seen on Clickminton on the 28th. 7 seen in the Vidlin area on the 29th.
Whooper Swans near Loch Bentson
Pink-Footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
Autumn
3 seen flying over Virkie on the 23rd. (Orkney) 200 + seen feeding in the fields around Burwick, South Ronaldsay on the 24th Sept. Several parties flying over Southern Mainland totalling 120 on the 26th. Approx 500 seen on the 27th with several large skeins flying high over South. 200 seen flying over Mainland on the 28th. Good numbers seen on other dates on Mainland.
Pinkfeet migrating over Sumburgh Head.
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Spring
Seen on a number of lochs including Spiggie & Hillwell but never more than 30 on a day.
Autumn
A skein of 60 flew high over Sumburgh on the 3rd Sept. A party of 70 in the fields at Tingwall. 37 seen feeding in a field near Haroldswick, Unst on the 11th Sept. Fair numbers could be seen in small parties feeding in the fields on Unst ie 70 on the 13th Sept. (Orkney) Probably 500 were seen feeding and in flight on South Ronaldsay and connecting Islands on the 24th Sept.
Part of the skein of
60 which flew over Sumburgh on the 3rd Sept, heading south.
Grey Heron at Lunna.
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Spring: Small numbers seen on Virkie and a pair with 9 young was present at Boddam.
Shelduck with young at Boddam.
Wigeon Anas Penelope
Spring
Just odd birds seen on a few dates at various lochs.
Autumn
60 present on Loch Bentson on the 5th Sept. 12 present on the Pool of Virkie during stormy weather on the 8th Sept. 5 seen on Vidlin loch on the 9th Sept. 5 seen at Baltasound on the 13th. 6 seen at Uyeasound on the 14th. 16 seen at Uyeasound on the 16th. 8 seen at Baltasound on the 18th. 40 seen on Southern Mainland on the 28th. Smaller numbers seen at other lochs during our stay.
Common Teal Anas crecca
Autumn
Two seen on Spiggie Loch on the 6th Sept. One at Glutness on the 9th Sept. One seen at Baltasound on the 13th, with 3 there on the 18th. Small numbers seen on both Unst and Mainland on other dates.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Spring
Small numbers seen throughout our stay on Mainland and odd birds were always present on the loch at Scatness.
Autumn
Small numbers seen on both Mainland & Unst.
Mallard x Pintail hybred.
Spring
A male seen on a number of dates on the loch at Scatness.
Pintail Anas acuta
Spring
A pair present on a fresh water pool on the Headland behind Virkie on the 24th.
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Spring
A fine drake was seen in the marshy area on the South side of Loch Spiggie during the evenings of the 15th & 16th.
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Spring
Small numbers seen at various lochs on Mainland including Bentson, Spiggie, Hillwell and a pair flew around a sea loch on the Out Skerries on the 29th.
Autumn
Small numbers present on various loch on both Mainland & Unst. 20 were seen on Spiggie on the 27th. 100 were seen on the 28th.
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Spring
A female was present on Loch Bentson on the 17th.
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Spring
A fine darke was present on Loch Bentson on the 17th.
Drake Lesser Scaup on
Autumn: Just small numbers seen at various sites on both Mainland & Unst.
Drake Eider at Grutness.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Spring:
3 seen from the car ferry as we approached Lerwick Harbour on the 15th, and a pair were present in Grutness Voe on the 5th.
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Autumn:
Two female types present on Loch Bentson on the 5th Sept.
Red Breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Spring
Birds seen on a few dates chiefly North of Lerwick. Party of 9 were seen near Loch Bentson and a party of 5 flew around Virkie.
Nine Red Breasted Mergansers near Loch Bentson.
Autumn:
6 seen on the 5th Sept. including a family party of 4 (a female with 4 full grown young) on a loch near Catfirth. These were again seen on the 9th Sept. One seen at Skaw on the 13th. Six seen near Westing on the 16th. (Orkney) 115 seen from the causeway connecting South Ronaldsay on the 24th Sept. 15 seen on the Pool of Virkie on several dates.
A family party of Red Breasted Mergansers at Catfirth.
Goosander Mergus merganser
Spring:
A drake was seen resting on an island in Loch of Clickmin on the 21st.
Red Throated Diver Gavia stellata
Spring:
Odd birds seen on several lochs North of Lerwick, and other birds seen in flight in the Sumburgh area.
Autumn:
One still in summer plumage on the sea at Norwick Bay on the 16th Sept.
Red Throated Diver in Norwick Bay.
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Spring: Three were seen in
Great Northern Diver at Boddam
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Autumn: (Orkney) One seen on a small loch near the causeway leading to South Ronaldsay on the 24th Sept.
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus Autumn: One seen at Vidlin loch on the 21st Sept. (Orkney) Two were seen on the connecting causeway to South Ronaldsay on the 24th Sept.
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Spring: Very common on both Mainland & Out Skerries. In rough weather on the 3rd, huge numbers could be seen passing out to sea from our croft all day. Many thousands past most were moving N. Autumn: Still present in large numbers around Mainland and several still in the Quarry Sumburgh. Large numbers moving South (all the normal colour phase) flying into the SW wind in stormy weather on the 8th Sept past Sumburgh Airport. Large numbers seen moving North past Lamba Ness, Unst in stormy weather on the 12th.
Fulmars on Out Skerries.
Gannet Morus bassanusast Spring: Large numbers seen around Mainland. Autumn: Good numbers seen around Mainland. Large numbers mainly adults, moving south into the wind past Sumburgh Airport in the stormy weather on the 8th Sept. Large numbers seen passing North past Lamba Ness in stormy weather on the 12th.Large numbers were fishing in Skaw Bay on the 13th. Large numbers passing Lamba Ness on the two sea-watches and large numbers feeding in Skaw Bay on the 17th.
Gannets in Sumburgh harbour.
Cormorant Autumn: Fair numbers seen on both Mainland & Unst. No real counts made.
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Spring: Fair numbers breeding around Sumburgh Head, but only odd pairs seen on Out Skerries. I was of the impression that there had been a large decline of this species on Out Skerries, and in the Eastern Bay where previous good numbers could be seen on the rocks, only odd birds were seen. Autumn: Large numbers present in some of the bays & out to sea, often seen in tight rafts, on Mainland and larger numbers also present on Unst.
Shag on Out Skerries.
Shags in Grutness harbour.
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Autumn: (Orkney) Excellent view of 2 different ring-tailed Hen Harriers hunting the stubble fields in the Burwick. South Ronaldsay area on the 24th Sept.
Sparrow Hawk Accipiter nisus
Autumn: (Orkney) One seen near Burwick, South Ronaldsay on the 24th.
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Autumn: 1 flew over the entrance road to Sumburgh Airfield on the 4th Sept.
Merlin Falco columbarius
Autumn: One flew over Sumburgh Hotel garden on the 3rd Sept. A large female flew over the fields at Toab on the 5th Sept. One chasing Pipits near the wader pools behind Virkie on the 10th Sept. A male seen at Northdale, Unst on the 11th Sept, also on the 13th. A female/immature seen at Lamba Ness on the 15th. A female/immature seen at Helligarth on the 18th. Female/immature at Haroldswick on the 20th Sept. One near Sandwick on the 22nd, and 1 near Virkie on the 23rd, & 26th. Three seen during the day on Mainland on the 28th. One seen on Sumburgh Head on the 1st Oct.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
Autumn:
One seen on the 28th Sept in the Central Mainland near Brae.
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Spring:
Odd birds seen on Mainland, and a pair with young were seen in the marshy area on Spiggie.
Sandhill Crane Grus Canadensis
Autumn:
(Orkney) Day twitched the adult or near adult feeding in stubble fields near Burwick on the southern end of South Ronaldsay on the 24th Sept and watched it from several hours with excellent views through the telescope.
Sandhill Crane on Orkney.
Distant record shots of the Sandhill Crane at South Ronaldsay, Orkney.
Sandhill Crane at South Ronaldsay, Orkney.
Water Rail
Autumn: One flushed from a ditch at Northdale on the 15th.
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Spring: Very common breeding species on both Mainland & Out Skerries. Autumn: Small parties seen at various locations on Mainland,
but not recorded on Unst.
Oystercatcher on Out Skerries.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Spring: Up to 10 present at Virkie and odd pairs found breeding on Mainland, but just 1-2 pairs found breeding on Out Skerries. Autumn: During early September, good numbers could be seen on the Pool of Virkie (up to 50) and smaller numbers at other sites. 70 seen on Virkie on the 9th Sept. Only small numbers seen on Unst. 11 seen in various Bays on Unst on the 16th. 22 present on Virkie on the 26th Sept.
Ringed Plover on Out Skerries.
Ringed Plover on Pool of Virkie.
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
Autumn: (Orkney) Two fine adults still in partial summer plumage were seen well at Skiall, near Kirkwall on the 24th September.
Adult American Golden Plover, Orkney.
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Spring: Just odd birds seen on 3 days on Mainland, with 2 showing well at Vidlin. Autumn: Flock of 150-200 flew over fields near Virkie on the 3rd Sept. Two seen on Scatness Headland on the 10th Sept. Good numbers seen on Unst with several large flocks totalling up to 500 birds.
Golden Plover at Vidlin. in the Spring.
Golden Plover at Northdale, Sept 09.
Lapwing Spring: Fairly common breeding species on Mainland and several pairs also breeding on Out Skerries. Autumn: Only small numbers seen at a few sites around Mainland. Several small flocks seen on Unst.
Lapwing at Sumburgh Head.
Knot Calidris canutus Spring: Odd birds present on Virkie during the first few days of our trip and a fine summer plumage bird was present at Scatness on the 4th. Autumn: Three present in the Sumburgh/Virkie area on several days in early September. One on Scatness Headland on the 10th Sept.
Knot in summer plumage at Scatness.
Sanderling Calidris alba Spring: Good numbers present in the Virkie/Scatness area with upto 120 being seen on a day during the early part of our trip. Just odd birds were seen in June with 1 on Virkie on the 8th. Many were in almost full summer plumage. Autumn: Up to 10 present on the beaches around Sumburgh in early September. Two seen at Norwick on the 13th Sept.,with 1 on the 16th. 7 seen on Unst on the 19th.
Sanderling in summer plumage on Scatness beach during the Spring.
Sanderling in winter plumage with Ringed Plover on Virkie, Sept 09.
Dunlin Calidris alpine Spring: Up to 10 seen in the Virkie/Scatness area, and none seen on Out Skerries. Autumn: 40 present on the Pool of Virkie with smaller numbers elsewhere in early Septmber but most had moved off by the 6th Sept. 15 seen on Virkie on the 9th . Just odd birds seen on Unst. A single bird present on a pool on Lamba Ness in windy conditions on the 17th. 5 seen in the Virkie area on the 25th & 26th Sept.
Dunlin at Grutness.
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Spring: Birds seen drumming on Central Mainland, and up to 5 birds drumming on Out Skerries. Autumn: Flock of 23 flew south over Toab on the 3rd Sept. 3 seen on the 10th Sept. Small numbers seen on Unst, with 12 seen on the 16th.
Snipe at Tingwell.
Black Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Autumn: Three seen in the Loch of Hillswell area on the 26th Sept.
Bar Tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Spring: One seen on Virkie on the 18th. Autumn: Three present on the Pool of Virkie on several dates in early September. One seen on Virkie on the 26th.
Appears to have only one leg.
Bar Tailed Godwits with two legs at Virkie Sept 09.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Spring: Just odd birds seen on Mainland.
Curlew Numenius arquata Spring: Common breeding species on Mainland, with odd birds on Out Skerries. Autumn: Large numbers could be seen on Mainland in early September with often up to 80 flying over our cottage at high tide. Smallish numbers seen on Unst.
Curlews on Sumburgh Head.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Spring: One seen at Virkie on the 21st.
Greenshank Tringa nebularia Spring: One seen on Virkie on the on the 19th, and probably the same bird on the 20th on the freshwater pool behind Exaboe. Autumn: One on a small pool near Burrafirth on the 12th & 18th Sept.
Greenshank at Burrafirth, Unst, Sept 09.
Redshank Tringa tetanus
Spring:
Odd birds seen on Mainland mainly on Virkie, but none seen on Out Skerries.
Autumn:
Up to 50 present on the Pool of Virkie in early September with fair numbers being seen at other sites on Mainland ie 30 at Scatness. Fair numbers seen on Unst.
Redshanks on Virkie Sept 09.
Buff Breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
Autumn:
One present in a grassy field near Loch of Hillwell on the 27th and 28th September.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Autumn: Party of 5 flew south over Toab on the 3rd Sept. 4 were present on the Pool of Virkie on the 9th Sept.
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Spring: Odd birds seen in the Virkie/Scatness area with 1 still present on the 8th.
Autumn: Just small numbers seen around the Sumburgh area in early September,and small numbers seen on Unst. 12 seen on Unst on the 16th. 25 present at the far end of Loch Spiggie at high tide on the 27th Sept.
Turnstone at Virkie Sept 09.
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
Spring: Fairly common on Mainland but just the odd bird seen flying over Out Skerries.
Autumn: Just 2 adults seen during our first 8 days in September around Sumburgh.
Light Phase Arctic Skua near Virkie.
Beach at Sumburgh, a favourite for Arctic
Skuas waiting for terns to come past.
Dark Phase Arctic Skua at Scatness.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
Spring: Large numbers seen on Mainland with Spiggie usually having up to 50 birds bathing in the loch and 30+ birds loafing in the fields. In the rough weather on the 3rd, good numbers were seen passing E from our croft, with the passage lasting all day. Probably several hundred flew by. Just odd birds were seen flying over Out Skerries.
Autumn: Good numbers still present on Mainland during early September, including 30 loafing on the water on Spiggie and good numbers also seen on sea-watches in stormy weather from Sumburgh Airport. Large numbers present on Unst with up to 50+ on a day being seen. Large numbers seen on the two sea-watches from Lamba Ness including 8 birds all chasing a single Gannet. Majority had left Unst by the time we left there with 3 on Mainland on the 30th Sept.
Bonxie on Out Skerries.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Spring: Large numbers present and many were collecting nesting material at Scatness.
Autumn: Fair numbers present during early September with a number of juvenile birds being seen, not present on Unst and none seen on the sea-watch off Lamba Ness on the 12th. 8 seen on a sea-watch from Lamba Ness on the 17th.
Black Headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Spring: Fair numbers seen on Mainland.
Autumn: Small numbers present on Mainland.
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
Spring: A 2nd Summer bird in full summer plumage was first seen at Boddam on the 18th and was then seen at various sites around Virkie/Scatness area until the 25th.
Adult summer plumage Laughing Gull at Virke.
Little Gull Larus minutus
Autumn: One winter plumage adult seen in Grutness Bay on the 21st Sept.
Common Gull Larus canus
Spring: Common breeding species on Mainland and small numbers were seen on Out Skerries
Autumn: Only low numbers, chiefly immatures, seen on Mainland and Unst during September.
Lesser Black Backed Gull Larus fuscus
Spring: A number of pairs seen breeding on Mainland, but only the odd pair found on Out Skerries. My impression was that the number of pairs on Skerries had declined from my previous visits.
Autumn: Not recorded
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Spring: Very common
Autumn: Very common.
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
Spring: A 1st Summer bird was seen resting in the fields in the Boddam/Virkie area from the 17th. It was last seen on the 27th. A near adult with a grey back, pale eye was found on Virkie on the 6th and later seen in a field near Virkie, but then flew off high to the SW.
Iceland Gull near Boddam
Great Black Backed Gull Larus marinus
Spring: Fair numbers seen breeding on Mainland with several also breeding on Skerries.
Autumn: Fair numbers seen around Mainland during early September. Several large flocks totalling 300 birds seen around Scatness area. Smaller numbers seen on Unst.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Spring: Only identified for certain on Out Skerries where up to 2 pairs were present.
Common Tern on Out
Skerries
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Spring: Very common breeding specie on Mainland. Two colonies were found on Out Skerries, but numbers were down from my previous visits, and on a beach, where a good colony was previously present was now completely deserted.
Autumn: When we arrived on the 1st Sept, there were still fair numbers around the Sumburgh area, but by the 6th, numbers had decreased rapidly with just odd birds being seen. Five were seen on the sea-watch in stormy weather on the 8th Sept. 6 were seen in the Virkie area on the 9th Sept. 12 present at Haroldswick in the Bay on the 12th, with 1 juv. there on the 18th. An adult feeding in Grutness harbour during windy weather on the 30th Sept.
Arctic Tern on Verkie.
Arctic Tern nesting at Nestling.
Adult Arctic Tern Haroldswick, Unst, Sept 09.
Juvenile Arctic Terns at Haroldswick, Unst. Sept 09.
Guillemot Uria aaige
Spring: Large breeding colonies seen at Sumburgh Head, and good numbers seen from the ferry to Out Skerries, but only a few seen around Out Skerries.
Autumn: Just odd birds seen out to sea
Guillemots at Sumburgh Head.
Guillemot Rock, Sumburgh Head.
Razorbill Alca torda
Spring: Far fewer seen than the Guillemots.
Autumn: Several birds were seen on the sea in stormy weather on the 8th Sept from Sumburgh Airport. One present at Skaw n the 13th Sept, and several seen on Orkney.
Black Guillemot Cepphus grille
Spring: Good numbers seen on both the Mainland & Out Skerries but only a few seen sat on the cliffs.
Autumn: Two were seen in Lerwick Harbour on the 5th Sept. and a party of 10 was seen on the sea-watches in stormy weather from Sumburgh Airport on the 7th & 8th Sept. Full winter plumage birds seen at Lerwick at the end of September
Black Guillemot on
Out Skerries.
Puffin Fratercula arctica
Spring: Large breeding colony seen on the cliffs at Sumburgh Head, good numbers seen from the ferry to Out Skerries, and fair numbers seen on the sea off the cliffs on the North facing side on Out Skerries.
Puffins on Sumburgh
Rock Dove Columba livia
Spring: Very large numbers seen on Mainland especially around Hillwell and other recently ploughed fields. On Out Skerries also good numbers seen and from my impression numbers have increased since my last visits.
Autumn: Large numbers were seen around Sumburgh in early September ie up to 80 in the fields at Sumburgh, & 40 at Quarff. Fair numbers seen on Unst with a flock of around 40 birds feeding in stubble at Northdale
Rock Doves on Out Skerries.
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Spring: Just a single bird seen sat in the middle of Scatness road on the 23rd.
Autumn: One at Helligarth wood on the 12th & 14th Sept.
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Spring: Just small numbers seen on Mainland with several always present at Quendale. 2 were seen on Out Skerries on the 30th.
Autumn: In early September, just odd birds were seen on Mainland. Up to 3 seen around Baltasound, Unst during our stay.
Turtle Dove
Autumn: A fine plumage bird showed well at Norwick on the 20th Sept.
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Spring: One seen very well in the Sumburgh Quarry on the 17th.
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Spring: Good numbers present on Mainland. Around 5 pairs seen on Out Skerries where on previous visits I have seen very few birds.
Autumn: Just small numbers seen around the crop fields around South Mainland. 10 South with the Meadow Pipit movement on the 10th Sept. 6 seen at Northdale on the 13th Sept. 15 seen on Unst on the 14th, & the 16th. 40 seen in the crop fields on Southern Mainland on the 30th.
Skylark having a dust bath at Northdale.
Swift
Autumn: One flew over Haroldswick on the 20th Sept. After a careful look it proved just to be a Common Swift.
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Spring: Small numbers present on Mainland during the first part of our stay but only odd birds seen during the last week. On Out Skerries up to 5 birds seen.
Autumn: In early September, small numbers, up to 8 on a day seen
around Southern Mainland. 14 seen on the 9th Sept. 10 seen on the
Orkneys on the 24th Sept. 15 seen at Hoswick on the 26th.
Migrant Swallow on
our washing line at Virkie.
Sand Martin
Autumn: One flew North on a sea watch in gale force winds from Lamba Ness on the 12th Sept.
House Martin Delichon urbicum
Spring: Just a few seen during our first part of our stay on Mainland and 2 were present on Out Skerries on the 30th and 1 on the 31st.
Migrant House Martin on our washing line at Virkie
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Spring: Just a single bird seen in Strand Lodge, Sandwick on the 17th.
Autumn: Two flew low over our cottage at Virkie on the 3rd September. One was seen opposite Loch Tingwall in the bushes on the 27th Sept.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Spring: Very common breeding species on both Mainland & Out Skerries.
Autumn: Arrival noticed on the 3rd when in excess of 100 were seen, majority were now in the crop fields. Numbers decreased after this to around 40 on a day during early September on Mainland. Good passage during the early morning of the 10th Sept with 300 South. Up to 70 seen on Unst on the 13th Sept.