Sightings archive: 2025 (February to July)
26th – 31st July 2025
A busy few days of isle events, with an island wedding, the first hill caa of the year, and the first music night to take place in the new Obs building. Between this, further end-of-season seabird monitoring took place, and a trickle of wader and tern movement was evident, though numbers remain very low with the settled pleasant weather meaning birds have little need to stop on their journeys southwards.
Arctic Skua chicks are now fledging, with this adult keeping a watchful eye (Alex Penn)
A night of music in the Obs lounge enjoyed by residents and visitors alike (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: male still at Shirva on 26th
Sightings of note (high counts through the period): 4 Greylag Goose, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 14 Lapwing, 3 Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 20 Turnstone, 2 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 13 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 41 Redshank, 2 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 5 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 4 Redpoll sp., 1 Crossbill
Other wildlife: 1 Large White, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 4 Peacock, 1 Silver Y, 4 Shetland Bee, 3 Green Lacewing, 1 Minke Whale
Year list: 161
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15th – 25th July 2025
As seabird season begins to wind down for another year, jobs are being ticked off and thoughts begin to turn to autumn. The cliffs will be empty of auks soon, with Razorbills now all but gone, and the last Guillemots running the gauntlet of skuas and gulls as they race to get their chicks to the safety of open water. The first Bonxie chicks have taken to the air, and Arctic Skuas are not far behind – heartening to see some Skootie chicks reaching fledging size after last year’s washout breeding season. Another visit from Orca - this time the bachelor bull duo of Hulk and Nott - was very welcome, and they put on a good show as they hunted close inshore along the east coast.
The last few tags have been deployed on Guillemot this week (Alex Penn)
Patchy haar making for dramatic scenes around Sheep Rock (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: male still at Shirva intermittently
Our few Arctic Skua chicks are growing up (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note (high counts through the period): 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 1 Swift, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 55 Oystercatcher, 12 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 25 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 27 Turnstone, 2 Knot, 12 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 41 Redshank, 8 Black-headed Gull, 96 Common Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 172 Storm Petrel, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 13 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Linnet, 3 Redpoll sp., 1 Crossbill
Other wildlife: 25 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 7 Silver Y, thousands of Diamondback Moth, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, 1 Shetland Bee, 6 Green Lacewing, 2 Orca
Year list: 160
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8th – 14th July 2025
A varied period of work and wildlife, with seabird monitoring work comprising lots of Bonxie chick ringing, Guillemot tagging as part of the Aukestra project, ringing of Arctic Tern chicks, and the first Storm Petrel catching sessions of the year. It’s been an exciting few days of other wildlife too, with the remains of an Emperor dragonfly found on 11th (Fair Isle’s third confirmed Odonata sp., with a total of just eight dragonfly records), an invasion of Bird-cherry Ermine on 14th which saw hundreds floating off the sea and up the cliffs at Roskillie, and a visit from some of the 27s pod of Orca on 10th, putting on a brilliant evening show as they hunted around Buness before meandering south along the isle’s east coast.
Bull 034 from the 27s pod as they passed Buness (Alex Penn)
Stormie sessions are a highlight of the ringing year (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: male still at Shirva intermittently
Quail: one at Quoy on 10th
One of hundreds of Bird-cherry Ermine at Roskillie – previously there had been just one record of this attractive micromoth (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 3 Greylag Goose, 4 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Swift, 4 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 9 Purple Sandpiper, 27 Redshank, 1 Great Northern Diver, 86 Storm Petrel, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Linnet, 6 Mealy Redpoll, 18 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Large White, 2 Red Admiral, hundreds of Diamondback Moth, 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, 11 Magpie Moth, 2 Shetland Bee, 2 Green Lacewing, 6 Orca
Year list: 160
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29th June – 7th July 2025
A busy few days of seabird work, with the more settled weather allowing us to get a good number of jobs done. Several trips in the boat to east coast geos were undertaken, allowing GLS tags to be retrieved and deployed on Razorbill, as well as for good numbers of auks and Shags to be ringed, in what seems to be a reasonable year of productivity – great to see busy and healthy colonies. The boat-based west coast sections of whole-island counts were also completed, and a calm morning for Puffin food sampling showed that birds this year are bringing in a mixture of sizeable gadoids, rockling and some small, glassy sandeels.
Away from the seabirds, Dunlin have again bred in the isle, with a brood of three chicks ringed on Vatnagard, and Moorhen have also bred at Da Water, with four small chicks seen. At least one Great Reed Warbler remains, with an unringed bird confirmed at the Haa on 5th, and the male Eastern Subalpine Warbler popped up again.
A better year for the Shags, with several broods now colour-ringed along the east coast (Alex Penn)
Very calm sea conditions allowed for a rare visit through the caves of Sheep Rock – a place few are lucky enough to have been! (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT REED WARBLER: at least one still present to 6th
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: male seen again on 1st and 6th
Marsh Warbler: up to two at Chalet throughout
The second year in a row that Dunlin have hatched young in the isle (Jonnie Fisk)
Sightings of note: 6 Greylag Goose, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Swift, 2 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 50 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 4 Black-headed Gull, 38 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Stonechat, 2 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp., 14 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Painted Lady, 1 Silver Y, 7 Magpie Moth, 3 Shetland Bee
Year list: 160
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22nd – 28th June 2025
An unsettled period punctuated by days of rain and strong winds has meant that any seabird work has had to be crammed into breaks in the weather. Despite this, the team have been busy, with Bonxie nest-mapping now completed (showing an encouraging small rise again on last year’s total), further visits to Arctic Skua territories and our Razorbill productivity plot, and boat-based whole-island counts along the isle’s east and north coasts. Though migration has now slowed to little more than a trickle, a couple of new Marsh Warbler and a late Icterine Warbler were welcome new arrivals, as well as an unseasonal Glaucous Gull on 26th. Common migrants have included a Goosander flying north on 22nd, a male Stonechat on 28th and continuing small numbers of Crossbill. Fine weather on 26th also saw our first Hummingbird Hawkmoths of the year recorded, amongst a small influx of butterflies.
Counting Gannets on the backs of the north coast stacks (Alex Penn)
Many transient Marsh Warblers stop to sing for short periods, with this bird reeling off at least 13 species amongst its impressions (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT REED WARBLER: ringed bird still resident at Schoolton throughout
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: male seen at Shirva again on 22nd
Glaucous Gull: an immature over Buness on 26th
Marsh Warbler: a singing bird at Chalet from 22nd to at least 27th, with another trapped at Shirva on 25th
Icterine Warbler: one trapped in Plantation on 25th
Sightings of note: 4 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Goosander, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Swift, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 3 Black-headed Gull, 60 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Linnet, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 19 Crossbill, 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 10 Red Admiral, 11 Painted Lady, 4 Silver Y, 1 Diamondback Moth, 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, 3 Shetland Bee
Year list: 160
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18th – 21st June 2025
A busy period of mostly seabird work, playing catch up after a start to June that has been dominated by poorer weather. The land-based elements of all our whole-island counts have now been completed, along with the bulk of the annual Gannet count. Guillemot plot counts have been finished, Arctic Skua nests have been mapped, and further progress has been made on the long task that is Bonxie nest-mapping. A calm afternoon on 20th allowed us to get out in the boat to some east coast geos in search of Razorbills, to retrieve tags that were deployed on adults in 2024 and to redeploy more. It's great to see the auk colonies looking much healthier than last year, with chicks appearing in good numbers in the last week or so.
With fluffy chicks appearing in nests across the heather now, the Bonxies are at their most aggressive stage (Alex Penn)
Away from seabird work, the Peregrines have successfully fledged four chicks, fed mostly on a diet of Puffin! The ringed Great Reed Warbler continues its residence, and the long-staying Nightjar was trapped in the Gully on 19th. Our third Osprey of the spring was seen over Wirvie on 19th, and a Quail was flushed from beside the Obs building on 21st.
After playing cat-and-mouse for several days around the Gully trap, the female Nightjar was finally caught and ringed (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT REED WARBLER: ringed bird still at Schoolton or Shirva throughout
Quail: one flushed at the Obs on 21st
Nightjar: female trapped in Gully on 19th, with presumably the same bird seen hunting around the Shirva moth trap overnight on 18th and 20th
Osprey: one drifted north over Wirvie on 19th
An oddity amongst the flock of non-breeding Oystercatchers on 18th with this beautiful pure white bird (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 23 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Swift, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 7 Black-headed Gull, 24 Common Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 6 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 9 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 14 Crossbill
Other wildlife: 8 Red Admiral, 7 Painted Lady, 5 Silver Y, 4 Shetland Bee, 1 Green Lacewing, 1 Harbour Porpoise
Year list: 159
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13th – 17th June 2025
Weather: Mixed, though mostly breezy with extended periods of damp and fog.
A few days dominated by poorer weather, with seabird jobs slotted into any breaks in the weather. Good progress has been made on Bonxie mapping and Arctic Tern nest counts despite the breezier conditions, and the more unsuitable points for seabird work have been put to good use covering odd jobs, such as the creation of an Obs compost! Though numbers of migrant birds around the isle remain very low, there have been some excellent highlights, headlined by the fourth Subalpine Warbler of the year – a fine male Eastern at Shirva on 17th. A Greenish Warbler in the Gully on 13th was a pleasant surprise, and a Great Reed Warbler at the Haa on 16th was amazingly unringed – a very useful straightforward way to prove it as a new arrival, with the previous bird having been trapped at the Obs.
The first spring Greenish Warbler since 2020 (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT REED WARBLER: one still at the Obs to 14th, with an unringed bird at the Haa and Schoolton on 16th-17th
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: a male at Shirva on 17th
Greenish Warbler: one trapped in the Gully on 13th remained until the next day (63rd isle record, 13th in spring)
Marsh Warbler: two, at Lower Leogh and Chalet on 17th
Icterine Warbler: one at Schoolton on 16th-17th
Nightjar: female again at Gully on 16th
Sightings of note: 1 Barnacle Goose, 6 Greylag Goose, 1 Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 4 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 18 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Linnet, 7 Crossbill, 4 Siskin
Other wildlife: 21 Red Admiral, 14 Painted Lady, 11 Silver Y, 15 Diamond-backed Moth, 8 Shetland Bee, 1 Green Lacewing
Year list: 159
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10th – 12th June 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with a strengthening breeze swinging south-easterly.
A mixed few days of seabird work, marred by the team battling a particularly potent strain of lurgy as it works its way through all the Obs staff! The birding highlight was undoubtedly a Great Reed Warbler in the Obs garden on 12th – the 16th island record and first since 2021. Though skulking low in the blustery conditions, the bird showed well on occasions. What was presumed to be the same female Nightjar was also seen again around the Gully area on 10th and 12th.
The Great Reed Warbler showed well intermittently to a small crowd in the Obs lounge (Carla Hill)
HIGHLIGHTS
GREAT REED WARBLER: one at the Obs on 12th (16th island record)
Nightjar: female again around Gully on 10th and 12th
Bluethroat: female still at Lower Stoneybrek on 10th
Common Rosefinch: one singing at Schoolton on 11th
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 1 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 3 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp, 4 Crossbill
Year list: 158
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9th June 2025
Weather: Calm and sunny, with rain in the late afternoon. F3-5 SW.
Another busy day of seabird work for the team, with Fulmar and Guillemot plot visits followed by an afternoon of Bonxie catching. There were a handful of new migrants in on the calm conditions, with a Ranger walk to Ward Hill rewarded with a surprise Quail at the summit, and singles of Bluethroat and Red-backed Shrike also new in.
A showy Bluethroat at Lower Stoneybrek (Ian Cowgill)
HIGHLIGHTS
Quail: one at the top of Ward Hill
Red-backed Shrike: female around Double Dyke
Bluethroat: female at Lower Stoneybrek
Blyth’s Reed Warbler: one still at the Obs
Sightings of note: 4 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Blue Fulmar, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 flava Wagtail ssp, 2 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp, 7 Crossbill
Other wildlife: 1 Shetland Bee
Year list: 157
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6th – 8th June 2025
Weather: Mostly calm and sunny, breezier on 8th.
A quiet few days migrant-wise, with the team focussed mostly on seabird work, catching up after the breezy start to June delayed monitoring efforts. Guillemot and Fulmar population plot visits have begun, as well as a first visit to the Easter Lother productivity plot for Razorbill, where a good number of nest sites were occupied. With several FIBOT directors in over the weekend, the extra eyes have been put to good use in carrying out sections of various whole-island counts that need to be undertaken this year – much appreciated help in what is a very busy part of the season. Work catching Bonxies for blood sampling work is also underway, with several breeding birds sampled over the last couple of afternoons. Though migrants have been thin on the ground, the 8th produced a couple of quality birds ringed - a female Nightjar trapped in Gully (the second record of the spring) and a Blyth’s Reed Warbler in the Obs nets in the evening.
EDIT: After publishing the website, a walk southwards in the calm of the evening proved well worth it, with Fair Isle’s third SCOPS OWL trapped in the Gully! Another June mega bird appearing out of the blue, with the previous records being in 2003 and 2006, making it an island tick for many and drawing a very appreciative crowd.
The scene after a surprise capture in the Gully (Alex Penn)
All three records have been found in the trapping areas - a treat to see such an amazing species close-up (Tom Wright)
Just the 10th Nightjar to be ringed in the isle (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
SCOPS OWL: one trapped in Gully on evening of 8th (third Fair Isle record)
Mute Swan: one still to 6th
Nightjar: female trapped in Gully on 8th
Turtle Dove: one still around Chalet to 6th
Blyth’s Reed Warbler: one trapped at the Obs on 8th
Sightings of note: 11 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 109 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 53 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 2 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 2 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 1 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Linnet, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 16 Crossbill, 3 Siskin, 1 Snow Bunting
Other wildlife: 1 Red Admiral, 1 Silver Y, 8 Shetland Bee
Year list: 157
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5th June 2025
Weather: Sunny with occasional showers. F6-7 SW.
A rather quiet census today, with little in the way of new arrivals, as spring begins to come to a close. The Crossbill flock at Wirvie continued to slowly grow, and the Turtle Dove remained around Chalet. As the wind dropped through the afternoon, time was spent carrying out checks of the Kittiwake, Guillemot and Shag plots, with the first chicks of the year seen in the latter.
Several streaky juveniles are amongst the roving Crossbill flock in the Wirvie heather (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: one still
Turtle Dove: one still around Chalet
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 109 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 53 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 6 Dunlin, 24 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 2 Black-headed Gull, 47 Common Gull, 29 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 109 Skylark, 18 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 146 Wheatear, 7 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 162 Meadow Pipit, 62 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 20 Twite, 2 Linnet, 19 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Silver Y, 5 Shetland Bee
Year list: 155
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4th June 2025
Weather: Light rain for much of the morning, clearing later. F10-6 SW.
Gale-force winds made census impossible this morning, but the team got out where they could, with a mixture of birding the areas that were safe to do so, and some chilly and rather unproductive seawatching. Another search for the Pallas’s Reed Bunting came up blank, despite Wirvie being relatively sheltered this afternoon. The first Curlew chicks of the year were seen, and the first of this year's Lapwing chicks took to the air, with fledged young seen at Da Water.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: one still
Sightings of note: 68 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 31 Ringed Plover, 10 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 2 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 3 Black-headed Gull, 34 Common Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Carrion Crow, 7 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 15 Twite, 15 Crossbill, 1 Siskin
Year list: 155
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3rd June 2025
Weather: Sunny for most of the day, with a strong breeze. F6-8 SSW.
There was no sign of yesterday’s star bird today, though conditions were much more difficult to bird, with most small passerines keeping their heads down out of the strong winds. Tomorrow looks set to be similarly wild, with winds touching force 10 in the early morning.
Yesterday saw the beginning of the mass Starling fledging, with more broods appearing around the isle today (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: one still
Turtle Dove: one still around Chalet
Common Rosefinch: the reddish male still around Leogh
Sightings of note: 7 Greylag Goose, 1 Moorhen, 64 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 3 Golden Plover, 41 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 24 Snipe, 8 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 87 Common Gull, 32 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Blue Fulmar, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 73 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 29 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 116 Wheatear, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 170 Meadow Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 18 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp., 16 Crossbill, 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Red Admiral, 1 Shetland Bee
Year list: 155
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2nd June 2025
Weather: Sunny spells. F4-7 W swinging to SSE.
Today was really only about one bird, with a stunning male Pallas’s Reed Bunting discovered early into a north census at Wirvie. Elusive and wary for much of the time, and ranging over a wide area between the Pietron cliffs and the upper Wirvie Burn, it took some time to relocate after a fleeting initial view. Happily, through the remainder of the day, most folk on the isle managed good views as it fed amongst the bracken and heather. Elsewhere, a handful of scarcities from recent days remained around the crofts, and a pod of dolphins were seen from a departing plane.
The third isle record of Pallas’s Reed Bunting, with previous birds in 1976 and 1981 (Alex Penn)
A vision in monochrome along Wirvie Burn (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
PALLAS’S REED BUNTING: a stunning male at Wirvie (5th for Britain, 3rd for Fair Isle)
Mute Swan: one still
Turtle Dove: one still around Chalet
Marsh Warbler: one singing at Schoolton
Icterine Warbler: one singing at Burkle
Common Rosefinch: the reddish male still around Leogh
Sightings of note: 11 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 101 Oystercatcher, 27 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 63 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 9 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 28 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 8 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Blue Fulmar, 2 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 89 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 46 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 142 Wheatear, 7 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 173 Meadow Pipit, 55 Rock Pipit, 12 Twite, 2 Linnet, 12 Crossbill, 1 Siskin, 1 Reed Bunting
Other wildlife: 1 Red Admiral, 9 Shetland Bee, 3+ Dolphin sp.
Year list: 155
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1st June 2025
Weather: Sunny spells between heavy showers. F5-6 SW.
A day spent dodging heavy downpours, with several lingering scarcities as reward, as well as a handful of new birds including a male Rosefinch. A Nightjar was reported from the cruise ship Hondius in the early morning, flying over the sea around 5.5 miles southwest of the isle. The vast majority of yesterday’s Crossbill had apparently moved straight through, with just a handful seen today.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: one still
Nightjar: one seen from MV Hondius 5.5 miles off the southwest of the isle early in the morning
Turtle Dove: one still around Chalet
Marsh Warbler: two: one at Wirvie and a singing bird still at Schoolton
Icterine Warbler: two: at Schoolton and Chalet
Common Rosefinch: a mobile reddish male initially at Chalet
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Swift, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 1 Moorhen, 73 Oystercatcher, 20 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 62 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 22 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 3 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Carrion Crow, 112 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 30 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 104 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 169 Meadow Pipit, 34 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 14 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 5 Crossbill, 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 4 Shetland Bee
Year list: 154
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31st May 2025
Weather: Overcast and breezy, with heavy rain in the evening. F5-6 SE.
Many of yesterday’s arrivals remained today, though birding was decidedly more difficult in the strong breeze. Crossbill were on the move, with an impressive minimum of 63 roving around the southwest of the isle, mainly around the cliffs. Though a regularly irruptive species, this is the highest count since 2009, and earlier than usual for birds to be moving in numbers, with peaks usually in late June or July. A good view of a male Golden Oriole was reported at Brecks by an isle resident, though sadly it was not relocated later in the day. The first two Reed Warbler of the year were also recorded today, and a fine male Bluethroat was trapped.
Few birds can beat a spring male Bluethroat (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: female still at the Obs
Mute Swan: one still
Turtle Dove: one still at Chalet
Golden Oriole: a male seen at Brecks by a resident sadly did not reappear for the masses
Marsh Warbler: three: birds at Utra, Charlie’s Trees and Schoolton
Icterine Warbler: one at Schoolton, then the Haa
Bluethroat: male trapped in Plantation
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 7 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Swift, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 67 Oystercatcher, 33 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 38 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Curlew, 5 Dunlin, 49 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Blue Fulmar, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 126 Skylark, 19 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 127 Wheatear, 4 Pied Wagtail, 178 Meadow Pipit, 45 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 13 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 63 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 4 Shetland Bee
Year list: 153
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30th May 2025
Weather: Calm and sunny. F2-3 W.
A beautiful day after yesterday’s rain, and one that became birdier as the day went on, with birds dropping in through the afternoon. By the end of the day, a light scattering of Bluethroat, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher was evident across the isle – much appreciated after what has been a long, quiet spring thus far. Other new-in highlights included a Quail at Schoolton, Turtle Dove around Chalet, Red-backed Shrike at Leogh and a White-tailed Eagle that drifted south. Yesterday’s Subalpine Warbler sp. also remained and proved to be a little more obliging today, as well as being heard to call briefly. It was trapped at Chalet in the afternoon, and deemed to be a Western.
Significantly better views today! (Carla Hill)
A particularly showy Bluethroat at the Obs (Steve Arlow)
HIGHLIGHTS
WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: yesterday’s female was trapped at Chalet
Quail: one at Schoolton
Mute Swan: one still
Turtle Dove: one at Chalet
White-tailed Eagle: one seen soaring over the Obs then glided south
Red-backed Shrike: a female at Lower Leogh
Marsh Warbler: three: birds at Utra, Burkle and Schoolton
Icterine Warbler: two: at Schoolton and Burkle
Bluethroat: three: birds at Obs, Burkle and Gilsetter
Common Rosefinch: one at Upper Stoneybrek
Sightings of note: 9 Greylag Goose, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 1 Moorhen, 78 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 3 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 126 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 44 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 8 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 11 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 9 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Whinchat, 148 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 116 Meadow Pipit, 48 Rock Pipit, 14 Twite, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 3 Crossbill, 3 Siskin
Other wildlife: 7 Red Admiral, 9 Shetland Bee, 1 White-tailed Bumblebee
Year list: 151
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29th May 2025
Weather: Continuous light rain from mid-morning, becoming wetter and foggier through the day before finally clearing in the evening. F5-6 SE.
Damp conditions hampered birding for much of the day, though most of the isle was covered before census had to be abandoned as the weather worsened. There was an early shout of Orca, seen from the Good Shepherd as it left past Wirvie, though sadly they appeared not to have stuck around long and could not be relocated. A 2cy Little Gull was a highlight of a foreshortened census, flying east from Smirri Geo towards South Harbour before relocating to Da Water, as was a singing Rosefinch at Quoy. Bird of the day however had to wait until the evening, with the discovery of a skulky female Subalpine Warbler at Shirva – hopefully it remains until tomorrow when weather conditions will allow for easier viewing.
Crossbill are an unusual capture here, so catching three males together is quite a treat (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
SUBALPINE WARBLER SP.: A female at Shirva in the evening
Canada Goose: Two still
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Little Gull: A 2cy at Smirri Geo (40th isle record, and just the sixth in spring)
Common Rosefinch: One singing at Quoy
Little Gull dwarfed by its Black-headed cousins at Da Water (Carla Hill)
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 79 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 38 Ringed Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 4 Dunlin, 24 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 6 Black-headed Gull, 21 Common Gull, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 27 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Dunnock, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtail, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 8 Twite, 5 Crossbill, 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Shetland Bee, 4+ Orca
Year list: 149
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28th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny with scattered showers. F5-6 W.
A good start to the day saw a female-type Red-breasted Flycatcher trapped in Plantation, which then went on to spend most of the rest of the day being remarkably elusive around the Obs garden. Other highlights included our second Sandwich Tern of the spring heard flying over Quoy, a male Hen Harrier past South Light, and a late Woodcock at Troila Geo.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in the hand (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Two still
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Sandwich Tern: One over Quoy
Red-breasted Flycatcher: A female-type trapped in Plantation
Sightings of note: 2 Barnacle Goose, 16 Greylag Goose, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Moorhen, 110 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 44 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 1 Woodcock, 29 Snipe, 6 Redshank, 38 Kittiwake, 24 Black-headed Gull, 33 Common Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 200 Arctic Tern, 24 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 113 Skylark, 6 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 101 Wheatear, 1 flava Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 148 Meadow Pipit, 39 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 11 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 2 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 7 Red Admiral, 13 Shetland Bee
Year list: 147
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27th May 2025
Weather: Sunny spells between heavy showers. F4-6 SW.
A showery census yielded a few new migrant warblers in the crofts, as well as the first Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover chicks being seen. A Hawfinch dropped into the Obs garden before flying south, later being seen again at Chalet. The first Crossbill of the year was also seen briefly in the Obs garden, bringing the yearlist up to 146, a far cry from the 164 we were at this time last year!
A colour-ringed Starling seen at Schoolton was first ringed as a chick in 2017, making it 8 years old, with this being its first resighting - always surprising how many birds slip through unnoticed. The two Moorhen continue at Da Water, today showing signs of courting, raising the possibility of a late breeding attempt. Much of the afternoon was spent fencing off part of the Meadow Burn, to allow the existing reed-grass cover there chance to expand.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Hawfinch: One briefly at the Obs before moving south
A flying visit to the Obs garden by this smart male Crossbill (Steve Arlow)
Sightings of note: 18 Greylag Goose, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Woodpigeon, 2 Moorhen, 84 Oystercatcher, 21 Lapwing, 52 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 4 Dunlin, 34 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Redshank, 241 Kittiwake, 6 Black-headed Gull, 22 Common Gull, 33 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Arctic Tern, 19 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 4 Carrion Crow, 110 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 22 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 106 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 164 Meadow Pipit, 51 Rock Pipit, 16 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Crossbill, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 2 Shetland Bee
Year list: 146
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26th May 2025
Weather: Sunny spells. F5-6 SW.
Today’s census was much the same, with very little new in even after the promising drop in winds and better weather. The day was not without a highlight though, with our first Whinchat being seen around Setter. It seems amazing that we have had to wait so long for our first, but it’s a welcome addition to the year list. There were also some encouraging signs in the seabirds, with multiple Guillemot eggs now in our productivity plot and the Kittiwakes have started gathering nesting material from Utra Scrape, a behaviour they only seem to do after some rain.
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Two still around Meoness
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Sightings of note: 10 Greylag Goose, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 94 Oystercatcher, 29 Lapwing, 31 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 12 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 42 Kittiwake, 6 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 31 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 250+ Arctic Tern, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 4 Carrion Crow, 74 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 17 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Whinchat, 89 Wheatear, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 112 Meadow Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 22 Twite, 1 Linnet, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 5 Shetland Bee
Year list: 145
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24th-25th May 2025
Weather: A mix of fog and heavy rain showers for much of the period. F3-4 SE becoming F7-8 SW.
Inclement weather scuppered census for the 24th and 25th with thick fog, heavy rain showers and high winds making birding hard work. All was not lost however as some seawatching in SW winds produced our first Manx Shearwaters of the year, with four being seen from South Light. It also allowed us some much-needed time to catch up on paperwork, this revealing that we have seen our 25th colour-ringed Great Skua of the year so far. This is more than was seen during the whole of last year, hopefully early signs of a post bird flu recovery.
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Two still around Meoness
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
One of our colour-ringed Bonxies, 2H64 being a 2020 chick (Luke Marriner)
Sightings of note: 13 Greylag Goose, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Collared Dove, 84 Oystercatcher, 29 Lapwing, 31 Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 12 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 32 Kittiwake, 5 Common Gull, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 84 Arctic Tern, 18 Arctic Skua, 4 Manx Shearwater, 1 Cormorant, 1 Peregrine, 4 Carrion Crow, 126 Skylark, 13 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 7 Twite
Year list: 144
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23rd May 2025
Weather: Cloudy start, clearing to sun. F3-4 N turning F1-2 SE.
A quiet start to the day with little uncovered in the way of new birds on the morning census then turned into a day for raptors, with six species being seen across the isle. Much of the afternoon was spent helping to plant the sacrificial crop strips, ready for the autumn. The raptor bonanza began at Setter, with an Osprey drifting north, followed by a cream-crown Marsh Harrier being picked up on the way to the Skadan crop. No more than 10 minutes later, an adult White-tailed Eagle glided through, harassing the Arctic Terns and Oystercatcher, whilst later in the afternoon, an adult male Hen Harrier and two Sparrowhawks were seen enjoying the thermals over the south of the isle. With our resident pair of Peregrines also zipping around, it was not a day to be a small bird!
Crop strips offer a valuable source of food and shelter for migrants in the autumn months (Deryk Shaw)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Two still
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Osprey: One flew north over Setter
White-tailed Eagle: An adult over Skadan, the second of the year
Marsh Harrier: A cream-crown over Utra
Sightings of note: 11 Barnacle Goose, 13 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Collared Dove, 54 Oystercatcher, 16 Lapwing, 24 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 24 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 37 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 24 Arctic Tern, 16 Arctic Skua, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 126 Skylark, 42 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 116 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail ssp, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 154 Meadow Pipit, 29 Rock Pipit, 5 Twite, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Goldfinch
Other wildlife: 4 Red Admiral, 7 Shetland Bee
Year list: 143
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22nd May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, still with a strong breeze. F5-7 N.
New birds today could be counted on one hand, but when one of them is a spring male Rustic Bunting, a quiet census can be forgiven! A very smart individual was found mid-afternoon in the ditches between Upper Stoneybrek and the coast, being mobile around this area for the next couple of hours. Also new in today were a young male Hen Harrier, a Garden Warbler and a Mealy Redpoll.
The fifth consecutive spring to produce a Rustic Bunting record (Steve Arlow)
HIGHLIGHTS
RUSTIC BUNTING: A very smart male bouncing around ditches between Stoneybrek and Chalet
Canada Goose: Two still
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Sightings of note: 8 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Collared Dove, 64 Oystercatcher, 20 Lapwing, 23 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 5 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 19 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Arctic Tern, 29 Arctic Skua, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Carrion Crow, 99 Skylark, 3 Swallow, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Black Redstart, 139 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 199 Meadow Pipit, 30 Rock Pipit, 25 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Goldfinch
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 1 Shetland Bee
Year list: 143
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21st May 2025
Weather: Partly sunny, with a brisk breeze. F5-6 N.
A day of little change, with yesterday’s singing Quail and the two Canada Geese still present. With the next couple of days looking to be dominated by stronger northerly winds, we may have to wait until the wind switches at the weekend for much excitement.
HIGHLIGHTS
Quail: One still intermittently singing at Pund
Canada Goose: Two still
Mute Swan: One still happy at Da Water
Sightings of note: 11 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 64 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 30 Ringed Plover, 7 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 22 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 6 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 16 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 36 Arctic Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Carrion Crow, 115 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 166 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 209 Meadow Pipit, 36 Rock Pipit, 23 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 3 Shetland Bee
Year list: 142
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20th May 2025
Weather: Another sunny day, clouding over slightly later in the afternoon. F4-6 N.
A handful of new birds were evident this morning, with the calmer conditions overnight having encouraged some movement despite the continued northerly. A singing Quail was at Pund, and two Canada Geese flew north, before joining the now resident Mute Swan on Da Water, giving the place more of a feel of an urban park than a quiet Shetland pool! A scattering of Sedge Warbler amongst a small increase in other warblers was the best of the rest through the crofts and gardens.
HIGHLIGHTS
Quail: One singing at Pund
Canada Goose: Two flew up the east coast before settling on Da Water
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Sightings of note: 4 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 67 Oystercatcher, 26 Lapwing, 29 Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Curlew, 21 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 38 Kittiwake, 4 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, 24 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 99 Skylark, 3 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 9 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Black Redstart, 163 Wheatear, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 181 Meadow Pipit, 41 Rock Pipit, 12 Twite, 1 Linnet
Other wildlife: 13 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Diamondback Moth, 9 Shetland Bee
Year list: 142
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19th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with a light breeze. F3-4 NNE.
Another quiet day of census, with a Goldfinch one of few new birds in. In the fine weather, time was spent dedicated to seabirds as monitoring begins to ramp up, with checks of Gannet plots carried out and the Guillemot plots getting underway.
In a quiet spring for Goldfinch, this is just the second of the year (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Dunlin have been singing on higher ground, raising hopes of another breeding attempt (Luke Marriner)
Sightings of note: 4 Greylag Goose, 2 Collared Dove, 52 Oystercatcher, 24 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 37 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 21 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 39 Kittiwake, 12 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 41 Arctic Tern, 25 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Peregrine, 4 Carrion Crow, 122 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 152 Wheatear, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 205 Meadow Pipit, 36 Rock Pipit, 12 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch
Other wildlife: 1 Painted Lady, 3 Shetland Bee
Year list: 142
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18th May 2025
Weather: Overcast for most of the day, with a bitter northerly breeze. F5-7 NNE.
After such a prolonged spell of good weather, it was a bit of a shock today to step out on a very chilly census. Birds were unsurprisingly thin on the ground, with new arrivals limited to a Black Redstart at South Raeva, and singles of Grey Wagtail and Ring Ouzel around the traps.
Black Redstart finding some shelter in South Raeva (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
RED-THROATED PIPIT:Still around Wirvie
Mute Swan: One still, at Da Water
Sightings of note: 7 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 56 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 37 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 26 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 16 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Arctic Tern, 22 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 107 Skylark, 9 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Black Restart, 140 Wheatear, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 177 Meadow Pipit, 30 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 11 Twite
Other wildlife: 3 Red Admiral, 1 Diamondback Moth, 1 Shetland Bee
Year list: 142
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17th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with some low cloud around the north. F4-5 N.
With a continuing northerly airflow, it was another rather quiet day in the isle, though the first Red-backed Shrike of the year was mobile around the south-east, and there were reappearances from the Red-throated Pipit at Wirvie, and a Wood Sandpiper at Da Water.
A confiding Wood Sandpiper at Da Water (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
RED-THROATED PIPIT:Again on the heathery hillside around Wirvie
Mute Swan: Still at Utra Scrape
Wood Sandpiper: One at Da Water
Red-backed Shrike: A female at Schoolton was then mobile
Sightings of note: 5 Greylag Goose, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 69 Oystercatcher, 37 Lapwing, 35 Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 26 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 18 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Arctic Tern, 24 Arctic Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 119 Skylark, 3 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackbird, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Robin, 155 Wheatear, 2 White Wagtail, 214 Meadow Pipit, 34 Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 17 Twite, 1 Linnet, 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 26 Red Admiral, 1 Diamondback Moth, 6 Shetland Bee
Year list: 142
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15th – 16th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with a light northerly airflow. F5 N.
A quieter couple of days, with the northerly breeze reducing migration to a trickle, though the continuing endless sunny weather kept census enjoyable. The Red-throated Pipit remained for a second day, though there was sadly no further sign of the Red-rumped Swallow.
Ringed Plover keeping a close eye at North Light (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
RED-THROATED PIPIT: Still around Wirvie on 15th
Mute Swan: Still comfortable at Utra Scrape on both days
Wood Sandpiper: One still at Utra Scrape on 15th
Sightings of note: 1 Barnacle Goose, 34 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 68 Oystercatcher, 34 Lapwing, 38 Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 3 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 23 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 10 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 16 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 1 Jackdaw, 7 Carrion Crow, 107 Skylark, 5 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 3 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Robin, 1 Redstart, 141 Wheatear, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 174 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 45 Rock Pipit, 19 Twite
Other wildlife: 29 Red Admiral, 3 Painted Lady, 4 Diamondback Moth, 16 Shetland Bee
Year list: 141
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14th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with a chillier breeze. F4-5 NNE.
Another day of quality over quantity, with a bright male Red-throated Pipit around Wirvie discovered on census, and a Red-rumped Swallow found in the evening around Walli Burn, though sadly the latter did not hang around for others to catch up with. Also new in were a Wood Sandpiper, our second Canada Goose of the year, and a new Quail at Pund. Insect numbers remained high, with the bulk of the Red Admirals today concentrated in the southwest of the isle.
Red-throated Pipits don’t come much redder-throated than this! (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
RED-THROATED PIPIT: A very smart male was around Wirvie for much of the day (100th Fair Isle record, first since 2022)
Quail: One at Pund
Canada Goose: One flew south over Schoolton
Mute Swan: Still at Utra Scrape
Wood Sandpiper: One at Utra Scrape
Red-rumped Swallow: One around the Walli Burn in the evening could not be relocated (16th isle record, first since 2022)
Sightings of note: 1 Barnacle Goose, 7 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Teal, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 71 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 37 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 15 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 14 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Arctic Tern, 19 Arctic Skua, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 98 Skylark, 3 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Robin, 159 Wheatear, 6 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 155 Meadow Pipit, 34 Rock Pipit, 14 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp., 7 Siskin
Other wildlife: 62 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Silver Y, 3 Diamondback Moth, 16 Shetland Bee
Year list: 141
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13th May 2025
Weather: Overcast, clearing to a sunny afternoon. F4 N.
Yesterday’s fog had fortunately lifted by this morning, as the light breeze swung to the north. Two species were added to the yearlist, with a handsome breeding-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper an all-too-brief visitor to Da Water before disappearing north, and the first Quail of the year flushed from Homisdale. Insect migration was evident today, with an influx of Red Admiral in particular, with butterflies fluttering around every clifftop. Between some less glamorous jobs, part of this afternoon’s sunshine was put to good use ringing some of the isle’s first broods of Lapwing chicks.
The isle's first Curlew Sandpiper since 2020 (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Quail: One flushed from Homisdale
Mute Swan: Still at Utra Scrape
Curlew Sandpiper: A fine ‘red’ individual briefly at Da Water
Bee-eater: Still for its third day, around Springfield and the Walli Burn
As today’s Curlew Sand heads to its Arctic breeding grounds, our Lapwings are well underway already (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 17 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 7 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 78 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 50 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 21 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 36 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 80 Arctic Tern, 20 Arctic Skua, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Jackdaw, 44 Carrion Crow, 2 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 144 Wheatear, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 181 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 28 Rock Pipit, 12 Twite, 7 Siskin
Other wildlife: 63 Red Admiral, 16 Painted Lady, 6 Diamondback Moth, 11 Shetland Bee
Year list: 139
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12th May 2025
Weather: Fog for much of the day, lifting across the south for part of the afternoon. F3 SE.
Warmth and SE winds tend to make fog an inevitability here, and so it arrived today, blanketing the isle for most of the day. A delayed census after a job-filled morning revealed little change on yesterday, and despite Shetland scoring two new megas, pickings were slim here. The Bee-eater remained for a second day however, being mobile again across much of the southern half of the isle, and was seen to catch and dispatch several unfortunate Shetland Bees.
The Bee-eater is impressively aerobatic on its rapid sallies out for prey (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Still at Utra Scrape
Bee-eater: One still touring the isle’s fence-lines
Sightings of note: 1 Barnacle Goose, 5 Greylag Goose, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 76 Oystercatcher, 31 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 26 Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 18 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 13 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 18 Common Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 13 Arctic Tern, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jackdaw, 6 Carrion Crow, 3 Sand Martin, 27 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Sedge Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Robin, 29 Twite, 5 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 5 Diamondback Moth, 23 Shetland Bee
Year list: 137
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11th May 2025
Weather: The sun continues to shine, with a stronger breeze today. F4-5 S.
The seemingly endless spell of good weather continues, and with the breeze across the North Sea swinging SE, expectations were elevated today. Census however revealed little change, with migrant numbers generally similar to yesterday. The day was saved by an afternoon call from the Riddifords, reporting that Fair Isle’s 11th record of Bee-eater was showing well around the Hall junction, and though typically mobile, the bird was watched for the next few hours as it moved from fence-line to fence-line across much of the south. Sallying out to catch insects between bouts of being mobbed by somewhat confused Meadow Pipits, it showed well to its appreciative onlookers, with even the most avian-ambivalent unable to resist a look at such a gaudy visitor!
The 11th Fair Isle record of Bee-eater, and the earliest arrival date (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Adult still at Utra Scrape
Bee-eater: One initially around the Hall junction was then mobile across much of the south through the afternoon (11th Fair Isle record)
Hawfinch: A female still
Peregrine are again breeding in the isle, and with chicks to feed now, sightings are becoming more frequent (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 17 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 1 Cuckoo, 47 Woodpigeon, 5 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 64 Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwing, 7 Golden Plover, 39 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 14 Curlew, 16 Turnstone, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 3 Purple Sandpiper, 26 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 9 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 16 Common Gull, 21 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 7 Arctic Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 1 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 7 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 114 Skylark, 5 Sand Martin, 33 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Robin, 166 Wheatear, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 195 Meadow Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 15 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Diamondback Moth, 24 Shetland Bee
Year list: 137
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10th May 2025
Weather: Another calm, sunny day. F2-4 S.
A hot day in the isle, with the team returning from census a shade pinker than when we left! New birds were relatively thin on the ground, though two additions to the yearlist came from the north, with a Ruff at Easter Lother Water, and a male Pied Flycatcher at Troila.
Sedge Warbler occasionally breeds in the isle (most recently in 2022) and several males have been singing in the recent sunshine (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Adult still at Utra Scrape
Hawfinch: One still
A rather late appearance by our first Pied Flycatcher of the year (Luke Marriner)
Sightings of note: 7 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 16 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 83 Oystercatcher, 20 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 25 Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 27 Turnstone, 1 Ruff, 1 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 3 Purple Sandpiper, 19 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 5 Kittiwake, 14 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 39 Arctic Tern, 101 Great Skua, 19 Arctic Skua, 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jackdaw, 8 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 148 Skylark, 13 Sand Martin, 42 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 5 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 126 Wheatear, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 180 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 32 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 10 Twite, 3 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 4 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Painted Lady, 10 Shetland Bee
Year list: 136
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9th May 2025
Weather: Calm and sunny all day. F2-3 S.
Another warm and sunny day, and with good conditions overnight, most of yesterday’s birds had moved on. The two Hawfinch remained, along with the Mute Swan and long-staying Short-toed Lark, and two Sandwich Tern put in a brief appearance over South Harbour – a welcome addition to the yearlist. Sandwich Tern are less than annual visitors to the isle, and often difficult to catch up with here. A scattering of Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were also new, along with our first Painted Lady and Red Admiral of the spring.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Adult still
Sandwich Tern: Two briefly over South Harbour late morning
Short-toed Lark: One still at Skadan
Wood Warbler: Singles at Steensi Geo and Hjukni Geo
Hawfinch: A pair still
Sightings of note: 15 Greylag Goose, 1 Teal, 14 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 80 Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwing, 11 Golden Plover, 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 18 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 10 Redshank, 17 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 35 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, 141 Great Skua, 19 Arctic Skua, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 8 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 132 Skylark, 7 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 10 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 18 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 193 Wheatear, 1 Tree Sparrow, 7 Pied Wagtail, 9 White Wagtail, 200 Meadow Pipit, 25 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 19 Twite, 2 Linnet, 3 Redpoll sp., 2 Siskin
Other wildlife: 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 6 Shetland Bee
Year list: 134
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8th May 2025
Weather: Calm and sunny all day. F2-3 SW.
An exciting day of drift conditions today, with birds dropping in through the morning. Though numbers were relatively small, it was another case of quality over quantity, headlined by a male Western Subalpine Warbler found at Burkle, where it gave regular bursts of song in the sunshine. A new male Hawfinch was at Field (later trapped in Gully), a Grey-headed Wagtail at Utra Scrape, and a Wood Warbler at Steensi quickly followed. The first record of Common Buzzard for the isle since 2020 was next, moving north through the isle whilst trying to shrug off the attention of the resident Ravens. A Turtle Dove appeared at Gully in the early afternoon, and the day was rounded off with the sound of a Cuckoo floating over to the Obs from Finnequoy.
The second Subalpine Warbler species of the spring – Moltoni’s next? (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: A singing male at Burkle was later trapped
Mute Swan: Adult still roaming
Turtle Dove: One flushed from Gully, later around Setter
Common Buzzard: One flew north over Gunnawark (first since 2020)
Short-toed Lark: One now at Meoness
Wood Warbler: One at Steensi Geo
Yellow Wagtail: Male still commuting between Da Water and South Green
Grey-headed Wagtail: A male at Utra Scrape
Hawfinch: The ringed female was joined by a new male
A rare close view of a Turtle Dove, taking grit along the road at Setter (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 25 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Teal, 1 Cuckoo, 23 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 79 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 16 Golden Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 19 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 26 Turnstone, 25 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 10 Kittiwake, 6 Black-headed Gull, 19 Common Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 155 Great Skua, 12 Arctic Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 5 Carrion Crow, 126 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 31 Swallow, 13 Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 223 Wheatear, 5 Tree Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail, 9 White Wagtail, 228 Meadow Pipit, 40 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 10 Twite, 1 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 6 Redpoll sp., 1 Siskin
Other wildlife: 1 Diamond-backed Moth, 5 Shetland Bee
Year list: 133
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7th May 2025
Weather: Calm and mostly sunny again. F3 W.
A decidedly quieter day, with an obvious clearout of the majority of yesterday’s arrivals overnight, with the exception of the Hawfinch. The settled and warm conditions encouraged a few more insects onto the wing, including a Small Tortoiseshell - our first butterfly of the year. A bright male ‘British’ Yellow Wagtail was the best of the scant new arrivals, appearing at Da Water in the late afternoon.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Still roaming the isle
Short-toed Lark: One still at Skadan
Yellow Wagtail: A male at Da Water
Hawfinch: The ringed female still
Sightings of note: 12 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Teal, 6 Woodpigeon, 75 Oystercatcher, 24 Lapwing, 11 Golden Plover, 65 Ringed Plover, 16 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 41 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 7 Purple Sandpiper, 20 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 16 Kittiwake, 6 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 87 Great Skua, 6 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Carrion Crow, 124 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 14 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Redwing, 215 Wheatear, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 165 Meadow Pipit, 45 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 17 Twite
Other wildlife: 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Shetland Bee
Year list: 128
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6th May 2025
Weather: Calm and mostly sunny. F3-4 NW.
A drop in the wind made for very calm conditions today, and we rose to a birdier isle, finishing the day with several yearticks. A good start pre-census saw a Spotted Flycatcher flitting around the traps, and a Wood Warbler caught in the Obs garden. Out around the isle, a Greenshank at Muckle Uri Geo was also our first of the year, as was a fine male Bluethroat in the Walli Burn. A female Hawfinch spent much of the day exploring the isle, and there were increases in Ring Ouzel and Wheatear, with a particularly impressive flock of 50 of the latter on Meoness.
Bluethroat playing hide-and-seek in the Walli Burn irises (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: One still roaming the isle
Short-toed Lark: One still at Skadan
Wood Warbler: One trapped at the Obs
Bluethroat: A red-spotted male in Walli Burn
Hawfinch: A female bouncing around the isle was trapped at Plantation
Hawfinches in the hand present a mixture of pleasure and pain! (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 26 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Teal, 17 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 66 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 14 Golden Plover, 57 Ringed Plover, 29 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 14 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 34 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 14 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 36 Kittiwake, 4 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 88 Great Skua, 8 Arctic Skua, 2 Red-throated Diver, 4 Cormorant, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 6 Carrion Crow, 103 Skylark, 15 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 21 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 11 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 221 Wheatear, 2 Tree Sparrow, 4 Pied Wagtail, 17 White Wagtail, 247 Meadow Pipit, 44 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 15 Twite, 3 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Lesser Redpoll
Year list: 128
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5th May 2025
Weather: Partly sunny, clearing further in the afternoon. F5-6 NW.
A slight drop in the wind and a swing to NW produced a handful of new birds, with a Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff, a party of Redpoll and a Grey Wagtail new in. Bonxie numbers tipped over 100 birds for the first time this year, as birds gradually begin to settle properly back on territories.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: One still at Da Water
Short-toed Lark: One again at Skadan
Sightings of note: 38 Greylag Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Teal, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 75 Oystercatcher, 21 Lapwing, 9 Golden Plover, 59 Ringed Plover, 18 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, 9 Turnstone, 5 Dunlin, 39 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Redshank, 17 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 108 Great Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 109 Skylark, 11 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 141 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtail, 16 White Wagtail, 178 Meadow Pipit, 41 Rock Pipit, 2 Brambling, 16 Twite, 5 Mealy Redpoll, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 5 Siskin
Year list: 124
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4th May 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny, with occasional wintry showers. F7-5 N.
Spring seems to have taken a step back for now, with the bitter wind continuing, today accompanied by the odd snow shower. Quite a different day to the same date last year, when we were inundated with Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Wood Warbler and Bluethroat! Unsurprisingly, today’s census produced little of note, though the Mute Swan remained for a second day, relocating to Da Water.
Whimbrel continue to be a regular sight around census (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: One still, now at Da Water
Sightings of note: 13 Greylag Goose, 3 Teal, 8 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 55 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 51 Ringed Plover, 17 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 6 Dunlin, 6 Purple Sandpiper, 27 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 5 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 17 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 77 Great Skua, 14 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Peregrine, 99 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Blackbird, 167 Wheatear, 4 Pied Wagtail, 16 White Wagtail, 207 Meadow Pipit, 37 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 16 Twite, 1 Linnet
Year list: 124
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3rd May 2025
Weather: Sunny spells, though with regular showers between, and a bitter northerly wind. F6-8 N.
Strong northerly winds made birding difficult today, with most birds sensibly keeping low and finding what shelter they could. Bird of the day went to Fair Isle’s 15th record of Mute Swan, with an adult found in Kirki Geo. Otherwise there was little to report, with a Grasshopper Warbler and a couple of Ring Ouzel the best of the rest.
A high percentage of Shetland-breeding Mute Swans are of the Polish morph, so it's likely this individual has not come far (Alex Penn)
Arctic Skua numbers are steadily increasing as birds return to breeding territories (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Mute Swan: Adult in Kirki Geo (15th Fair Isle record)
Short-toed Lark: Still at Skadan
Sightings of note: 18 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 5 Woodpigeon, 27 Oystercatcher, 26 Lapwing, 16 Golden Plover, 49 Ringed Plover, 29 Whimbrel, 13 Curlew, 27 Turnstone, 2 Knot, 8 Dunlin, 8 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 10 Redshank, 16 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 18 Common Gull, 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 91 Great Skua, 23 Arctic Skua, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 13 Carrion Crow, 116 Skylark, 10 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Blackbird, 141 Wheatear, 6 Pied Wagtail, 12 White Wagtail, 162 Meadow Pipit, 26 Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 20 Twite, 1 Siskin, 2 Reed Bunting
Year list: 124
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2nd May 2025
Weather: Mostly cloudy, with occasional drizzly showers. F5-7 W.
The strong westerly wind today meant it was no surprise that movement was somewhat limited. Knot was new for the yearlist however, there was an influx of Carrion Crow, with 32 birds logged, and a flyover Shelduck in the afternoon added to an already strong spring showing for this species.
Knot must be one of the smartest of breeding waders, in a hotly-contested field (Tom Wright)
This first-summer male Kestrel had little fear of humans (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Still at Skadan
Sightings of note: 17 Greylag Goose, 1 Shelduck, 5 Teal, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 47 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 14 Golden Plover, 61 Ringed Plover, 39 Whimbrel, 18 Curlew, 60 Turnstone, 2 Knot, 13 Dunlin, 17 Purple Sandpiper, 25 Snipe, 19 Redshank, 29 Kittiwake, 12 Black-headed Gull, 13 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 89 Great Skua, 13 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 4 Rook, 32 Carrion Crow, 2 hybrid crow, 99 Skylark, 12 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 157 Wheatear, 12 Pied Wagtail, 18 White Wagtail, 209 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 50 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 16 Twite, 2 Linnet, 14 Siskin
Year list: 123
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1st May 2025
Weather: Mostly overcast, clearing in the afternoon F4-7 W.
A chilly and generally uninspiring start to May, with a cool westerly breeze that strengthened through the day. The Wood Sandpiper was seen again, along with a Green Sandpiper new in on Skadan Pool, and the Short-toed Lark remained, now for its 22nd day in residence. The first cruise ship of the year brought just shy of 140 folk to the island this morning, with the Puffins around the Holms obliging by putting on a good show, and much of the afternoon was spent refreshing and digging out the Obs Scrape.
Sedge Warbler along the wall at Setter (Alex Penn)
A much-needed refresh of the Obs Scrape (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
Wood Sandpiper: One flew south over Shirva
Short-toed Lark: Still at Skadan
Sightings of note: 14 Greylag Goose, 5 Teal, 13 Woodpigeon, 7 Collared Dove, 2 Moorhen, 53 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 14 Golden Plover, 41 Ringed Plover, 38 Whimbrel, 22 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 31 Turnstone, 8 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 27 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 2 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 25 Common Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 94 Great Skua, 17 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 2 Rook, 12 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 128 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 27 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 7 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 176 Wheatear, 11 Pied Wagtail, 17 White Wagtail, 206 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 36 Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 20 Twite, 2 Linnet, 3 Siskin, 6 Snow Bunting
Year list: 122
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30th April 2025
Weather: Sunny and warm, with a breeze gradually picking up through the day. F3-4 SW.
Settled conditions saw a fair bit of movement through the isle today, and four species added to the yearlist. A very early Swift over Hill Dyke was followed by a duo of Wood Sandpiper and Moorhen on Da Water, and a rich orange Bar-tailed Godwit on Meoness. Woodpigeon were on the move, with an excellent final count of 32 birds, the highest spring count since 2017. Even more impressive was a count of 43 Whimbrel, the highest since 1999. To round off the day, a Spanish-ringed Willow Warbler was trapped at the Obs in the evening.
Some clear wader passage today, including this lovely Wood Sandpiper (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Wood Sandpiper: One at Da Water was the earliest spring arrival since 2011
Short-toed Lark: Still at Skadan
Sightings of note: 57 Greylag Goose, 6 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Swift, 32 Woodpigeon, 6 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 1 Moorhen, 70 Oystercatcher, 32 Lapwing, 8 Golden Plover, 66 Ringed Plover, 43 Whimbrel, 25 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Turnstone, 14 Dunlin, 18 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 17 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 70 Common Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 93 Great Skua, 7 Arctic Skua, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 20 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid crow, 171 Skylark, 16 Sand Martin, 38 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 4 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Black Redstart, 172 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 16 Pied Wagtail, 23 White Wagtail, 214 Meadow Pipit, 2 Tree Pipit, 29 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 21 Twite, 3 Linnet, 1 Siskin
Year list: 122
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29th April 2025
Weather: Partly sunny, clearing more in the afternoon, before low cloud rolled in early evening. F5-2 W.
A persistent westerly breeze for much of the day made birding the cliffs tricky, though there was little change to be noted on the birding front. The first Arctic Tern of the year flew through the Haven in the afternoon, and the Short-toed Lark remains. Two colour-ringed Twite were seen, likely from a project currently running in the Northern Isles, and a Mealy Redpoll was trapped at the Obs that had been ringed two days prior in Finstown, Orkney by an previous Assistant Warden!
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Still at Skadan
Sightings of note: 20 Greylag Goose, 5 Teal, 3 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 66 Oystercatcher, 20 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 53 Ringed Plover, 24 Whimbrel, 21 Curlew, 53 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 12 Purple Sandpiper, 51 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 38 Kittiwake, 6 Black-headed Gull, 20 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Arctic Tern, 83 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 2 Carrion Crow, 125 Skylark, 18 Sand Martin, 18 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 149 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 8 Pied Wagtail, 23 White Wagtail, 169 Meadow Pipit, 37 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 29 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 2 Reed Bunting
Year list: 118
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28th April 2025
Weather: A warm and sunny day for most of the isle, with low cloud being slow to clear from higher ground. F5-2 W.
A warm and pleasant census in the south today contrasted with a fog-ridden north, with the breeze dropping quickly to nothing through the day. The settled weather encouraged some movement, with notable passage of White Wagtail and Whimbrel, as well as some afternoon hirundine movement. This was headlined by a joint spring record count of Sand Martin, with 28 birds recorded, including 20 in a single flock. The Short-toed Lark also put in another appearance, keeping up its habit of going missing for a couple of days at a time.
A handful of Wheatear were spring-trapped in the afternoon (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: One again at Skadan
Sightings of note: 26 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 5 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 58 Oystercatcher, 23 Lapwing, 9 Golden Plover, 46 Ringed Plover, 22 Whimbrel, 15 Curlew, 37 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 32 Snipe, 6 Redshank, 39 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 23 Common Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 60 Great Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, 8 Carrion Crow, 100 Skylark, 28 Sand Martin, 16 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 6 Willow Warbler, 30 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 5 Blackbird, 51 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 157 Wheatear, 6 Pied Wagtail, 27 White Wagtail, 178 Meadow Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 5 Brambling, 10 Twite, 4 Linnet, 3 Siskin, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 117
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27th April 2025
Weather: Partly sunny through the morning, with rain dominating the afternoon. F5-7 SSW.
A swing in the breeze dropped a few new birds, with the team just about managing to get a full census in before continuous rain began in the early afternoon. A cream-crown Marsh Harrier was a good start, seen over Byerwalls on the 09:00 trap round, with a female Hawfinch at Schoolton another welcome year tick. Carrion Crow increased to an impressive 27, while three Grasshopper Warbler was the best count of the spring thus far, with one individual later heard ‘reeling’ at Schoolton, though numbers of common migrants generally remain very low.
Always a pleasure to see one of these brutes (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Marsh Harrier: One over Byerwalls in the morning was not seen subsequently
Hawfinch: A vocal female at Schoolton
Marsh Harrier is a rare migrant through the isle, just about annual in recent years (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 31 Greylag Goose, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Teal, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 34 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 16 Golden Plover, 39 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 14 Curlew, 66 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 24 Purple Sandpiper, 31 Snipe, 5 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 13 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 45 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Peregrine, 27 Carrion Crow, 2 hybrid Crow, 149 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 6 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Ring Ouzel, 6 Blackbird, 57 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 121 Wheatear, 7 Pied Wagtail, 13 White Wagtail, 159 Meadow Pipit, 36 Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 23 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp., 1 Siskin, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 117
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26th April 2025
Weather: Overcast with a strong southerly breeze. F5-7 SSE.
A breezier day, but a productive one, with four species added to the yearlist, and an afternoon cetacean encounter. The first returning Arctic Skua were seen in the Parks, followed by the year’s first Dunlin in the north, a cooperative Long-eared Owl at Burkle, and a Lesser Whitethroat along the wall at Double Dyke. An afternoon check of Buness was fortuitous in picking up a pod of Risso’s Dolphin, with at least seven animals spending a few minutes fishing in Furse, before moving off northwards.
A typically grumpy-looking Long-eared Owl (Luke Marriner)
The pod of Risso’s included a couple of well-marked pale individuals (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 40 Greylag Goose, 5 Teal, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 70 Oystercatcher, 32 Lapwing, 7 Golden Plover, 63 Ringed Plover, 10 Whimbrel, 14 Curlew, 66 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 18 Purple Sandpiper, 30 Snipe, 10 Redshank, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 62 Great Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Rook, 10 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid Crow, 91 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 12 Blackbird, 84 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 123 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 8 Pied Wagtail, 9 White Wagtail, 208 Meadow Pipit, 38 Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 5 Brambling, 19 Twite, 5 Siskin, 1 Reed Bunting
Other wildlife: 7 Risso’s Dolphin
Year list: 115
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25th April 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny all day. F4-5 SE.
A further reduction in birds today, though the sun and SE breeze encouraged some light passage of Whimbrel, White Wagtail and Carrion Crow, and a yeartick was unearthed in the form of a female Common Scoter in Furse. The Short-toed Lark reappeared once more after another two-day break in sightings, a flock of Barnacle Goose flew through.
Whimbrel passage is beginning to pick up, with several 'seven-whistlers' moving through the isle today (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: One back at Skadan
This smart male Ring Ouzel allowed closer approach than most (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 6 Barnacle Goose, 41 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 43 Oystercatcher, 17 Lapwing, 7 Golden Plover, 37 Ringed Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 32 Turnstone, 32 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Jack Snipe, 53 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 6 Kittiwake, 5 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 64 Great Skua, 1 Blue Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 1 Rook, 11 Carrion Crow, 2 hybrid Crow, 145 Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Ring Ouzel, 15 Blackbird, 116 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 18 Song Thrush, 9 Robin, 2 Redstart, 116 Wheatear, 10 Pied Wagtail, 11 White Wagtail, 1 alba Wagtail, 168 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 32 Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 19 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Siskin, 1 Reed Bunting
Other wildlife: 1 Shetland Bee
Year list: 111
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24th April 2025
Weather: Sunny all day, though with a cool edge to the breeze. F3-5 E.
Clear skies overnight meant it was no surprise that census felt distinctly quieter today, with many birds having departed by this morning, including yesterday’s Eastern Subalpine Warbler. There were still a handful of additions, including a couple of Redstart, and new Grasshopper Warbler and Whitethroat.
A male Redstart is a sight sure to brighten anyone’s day (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: One still
Grasshopper Warbler skulking at Charlie’s Trees (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 14 Greylag Goose, 2 Teal, 7 Woodpigeon, 74 Oystercatcher, 36 Lapwing, 16 Golden Plover, 58 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 11 Curlew, 46 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 41 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 13 Redshank, 10 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50 Great Skua, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 1 hybrid Crow, 142 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 12 Willow Warbler, 21 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 9 Blackbird, 152 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 35 Song Thrush, 15 Robin, 3 Black Redstart, 2 Redstart, 138 Wheatear, 3 Grey Wagtail, 21 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 211 Meadow Pipit, 41 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 34 Twite, 2 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 110
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23rd April 2025
Weather: Overcast with some low cloud, clearing in the late afternoon. F3-5 ENE.
We were beginning to feel left out here with Subalpine Warblers popping up around the country over the last few days, but all was forgiven today with the discovery of a fine male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Schoolton. It joined a good scattering of migrants fresh in across the isle, including the first Whitethroat of the spring, an increase in Song Thrush and Chiffchaff, and new-in Redstart and Common Sandpiper. With winds set to continue from the east for the remainder of the week, hopes are high for the next few days.
The undisputed bird of the day gave good views between bouts of skulking in the Schoolton Rosa (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER: A very smart male at Schoolton
Canada Goose: Still touring the south
Sightings of note: 71 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 17 Teal, 2 Goldeneye, 8 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 117 Oystercatcher, 20 Lapwing, 34 Golden Plover, 46 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 18 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 42 Turnstone, 29 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 32 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 17 Redshank, 10 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 23 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 60 Great Skua, 2 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Rook, 1 Carrion Crow, 136 Skylark, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 16 Willow Warbler, 29 Chiffchaff, 19 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Ring Ouzel, 15 Blackbird, 226 Fieldfare, 41 Redwing, 51 Song Thrush, 11 Robin, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 155 Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail, 16 Pied Wagtail, 6 White Wagtail, 313 Meadow Pipit, 3 Tree Pipit, 45 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 9 Brambling, 29 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 2 Reed Bunting
Year list: 110
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22nd April 2025
Weather: Overcast and damp for much of the day, with continuous light rain eventually clearing in the late afternoon. F4 SE.
The early trap round and Obs nets showed we’d had an overnight arrival of common migrants, though numbers on census were lower than expected after this early promise. The Blue-headed Wagtail was pinned down and found to be ringed, and after some perseverance and a lot of photos, the ring sequence was read, showing it to be one of a brood of chicks that were raised in mainland Shetland in 2022 – a remarkable recovery. Late news came in of a White-tailed Eagle that flew south in the afternoon - presumably a different bird to the one four days prior.
Shetland-raised Blue-headed Wagtail showing well around the Walli Burn (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Still with Greylag at Burkle
Iceland Gull: Adult again at Meadow Burn
White-tailed Eagle: One flew south in the afternoon
Short-toed Lark: One still, back at the Puffinn
Blue-headed Wagtail: Yesterday’s ringed male was around the Walli Burn
A scattering of Willow Warbler included this strikingly grey ‘acredula-type’ at Setter (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 33 Greylag Goose, 3 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 58 Oystercatcher, 15 Lapwing, 28 Golden Plover, 40 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 15 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 55 Snipe, 9 Redshank, 7 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 31 Common Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 41 Great Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Short-eared Owl, 114 Skylark, 5 Sand Martin, 7 Swallow, 6 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 19 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 3 Ring Ouzel, 7 Blackbird, 181 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 19 Song Thrush, 8 Robin, 159 Wheatear, 7 Pied Wagtail, 6 White Wagtail, 186 Meadow Pipit, 21 Rock Pipit, 15 Twite, 3 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 3 Siskin
Year list: 108
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21st April 2025
Weather: A chilly and overcast start soon cleared to another sunny and warm afternoon. F5-6 SE.
The switch to stronger SE winds did the trick, with a shake-up of migrants present today. There was a clear increase in thrushes, with 13 Ring Ouzel the highlight, as well as the first Yellow Wagtail of the spring, with a fine male Blue-headed Wagtail briefly at Burkle.
Two Ring Ouzel graced the traps today (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Still with Greylag
Iceland Gull: Adult again at Stackhoull
Short-toed Lark: Reappeared, now at South Green
Blue-headed Wagtail: A smart male at Burkle then flew north
Sightings of note: 106 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Water Rail, 59 Oystercatcher, 31 Lapwing, 37 Golden Plover, 95 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 14 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 71 Turnstone, 25 Snipe, 14 Redshank, 4 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 70 Common Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 48 Great Skua, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 130 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 38 Willow Warbler, 21 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 13 Ring Ouzel, 9 Blackbird, 56 Fieldfare, 33 Redwing, 54 Song Thrush, 6 Robin, 140 Wheatear, 11 Pied Wagtail, 5 White Wagtail, 212 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 28 Rock Pipit, 3 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 3 Brambling, 15 Twite, 3 Linnet, 2 Siskin
Year list: 108
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20th April 2025
Weather: Overcast morning clearing to sun, with light N winds dropping to nothing through the afternoon. F3-2 N.
A very calm day made for beautiful conditions for the morning’s census, with increases in Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff noted, though little other change, and the news group remained quiet. With winds switching to a stronger SE flow from tomorrow, the team are hoping for more to come from early this week.
A good start to the day, with an adult male Sparrowhawk on the early trap round (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Still present, today with Greylag around Quoy
Two smart Black-tailed Godwit continue to add a splash of colour to SW census (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 113 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 11 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 48 Oystercatcher, 32 Lapwing, 51 Golden Plover, 71 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 82 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 69 Turnstone, 25 Purple Sandpiper, 25 Snipe, 17 Redshank, 15 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 20 Common Gull, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 45 Great Skua, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 139 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 31 Willow Warbler, 24 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 4 Blackbird, 4 Fieldfare, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Robin, 117 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 10 Pied Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail, 199 Meadow Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 21 Twite, 3 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll
Year list: 107
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19th April 2025
Weather: Sunny throughout, with light NNE winds. F4-5 NNE.
The extended spell of pleasant weather continues, with sunny skies all day, though the northerly-based breeze kept temperatures cooler today. It also seemed to discourage much in the way of migration, with a quieter feel to proceedings, and little in the way of new birds.
A warning Raven at Gunnawark, one of the two pairs that breed in the isle (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Still present, today with Greylag around Quoy
An unusual seawatch sighting from North Light, in the form of a German submarine! (Luke Marriner)
Sightings of note: 125 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 23 Oystercatcher, 21 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover, 83 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 26 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Turnstone, 27 Snipe, 9 Redshank, 20 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 78 Great Skua, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 151 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 8 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 107 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 8 Pied Wagtail, 171 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 28 Rock Pipit, 2 Brambling, 19 Twite, 3 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 2 Redpoll sp.
Year list: 107
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18th April 2025
Weather: Gloriously sunny and warm, with very light winds. F2-4 N.
A beautiful day in the isle, with the Ornithology team enjoying a very pleasant census whilst Jonnie showed Carla around the Gannet plots of the north. Yesterday’s raptors put in further appearances, with an early morning fly-through of the Obs by the Osprey, and brief reappearance of the White-tailed Eagle at Wester Lother. The Canada Goose also reappeared on Meoness after a day’s absence, whilst the Short-toed Lark remains faithful to its favoured area around the Puffinn. There was one addition to the yearlist, with a fine male Redstart around the Obs in the early morning.
Golden Plover have been passing through in good numbers in recent days, many now in perfect breeding plumage (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: One again with Greylag on Meoness
Iceland Gull: Adult bird again at Lericum
Osprey: One flew north over the Obs
White-tailed Eagle: Adult again at Wester Lother
Short-toed Lark: Still around the Puffinn
Sightings of note: 93 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 7 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 27 Oystercatcher, 33 Lapwing, 55 Golden Plover, 51 Ringed Plover, 19 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 54 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 34 Snipe, 15 Redshank, 32 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 59 Great Skua, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 3 Carrion Crow, 133 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 13 Swallow, 9 Willow Warbler, 18 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 12 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Blackbird, 14 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 130 Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 8 Pied Wagtail, 197 Meadow Pipit, 31 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 25 Twite, 3 Linnet, 1 Redpoll sp., 5 Snow Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 107
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17th April 2025
Weather: Partly sunny all day, with occasional showers and light westerly winds. F3-5 W.
A day for raptor movement, with both White-tailed Eagle and Osprey added to the yearlist, and the former in particular putting on an extended show as it toured the isle, always with a party of angry gulls and Bonxies in tow. On the passerine front, a small increase in Blackcap was noted, and two Ring Ouzel were new in, one of which was trapped and ringed.
A more regular sight in recent years, but no less impressive for it, when a White-tailed Eagle pays a visit (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Iceland Gull: The lingering adult bird appeared at Bergaroo
Osprey: One over South Harbour in the afternoon before drifting north
White-tailed Eagle: A fine adult appeared over Guidicum and then toured the island, much to the displeasure of almost every bird present!
Short-toed Lark: Still around the Puffinn
Always a pleasure to catch a Ring Ouzel (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 131 Greylag Goose, 3 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 9 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 36 Oystercatcher, 29 Lapwing, 59 Golden Plover, 121 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 16 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 68 Turnstone, 49 Purple Sandpiper, 35 Snipe, 13 Redshank, 37 Kittiwake, 13 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 73 Great Skua, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 1 Carrion Crow, 157 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 13 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 11 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 117 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 211 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit, 42 Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 18 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll
Year list: 106
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16th April 2025
Weather: A decidedly mixed day, with a mostly overcast census, clearing to warm sunshine in sheltered spots, before rain showers and murk descended later on. F5-7 N.
A relatively quiet census, with numbers of most species similar to yesterday, though the yearlist did receive a boost with the spring’s first Tree Pipit, House Martin and Sedge Warbler recorded today. The Short-toed Lark continues its stay, and a Grasshopper Warbler was new at Stackhoull.
The Short-toed Lark can be quite approachable at times, apparently happy on Skadan’s short-cropped grass (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Still around the Puffinn and Skadan
Canada Goose: Still touring the isle’s fields, today around Midway
Twite are pleasingly tame, with small groups ‘chortling’ away around sheep feeders in the south (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 101 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 51 Oystercatcher, 27 Lapwing, 46 Golden Plover, 66 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 13 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 48 Turnstone, 10 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Jack Snipe, 38 Snipe, 8 Redshank, 29 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 40 Great Skua, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 1 Carrion Crow, 111 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 11 Willow Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 9 Blackbird, 44 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 117 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 2 Dunnock, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 3 alba Wagtail, 155 Meadow Pipit, 2 Tree Pipit, 36 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 13 Twite, 1 Linnet
Year list: 104
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15th April 2025
Weather: Sunny through the morning, with rain coming in from lunchtime, and breeze dropping away through the day. F2-5 S.
Another day that began with a relatively quiet census, before the dropping breeze delivered some birds later in the day. A Ring Ouzel was new around the Obs, with a Kestrel, Whimbrel, Collared Dove, increase in Fieldfare and a scattering of warblers also newly arrived around the isle. Numbers of Bonxies rose significantly, with more birds settled back on territories, including a Darvic-ringed bird from elsewhere.
Snipe are in full display mode now, with ‘drumming’ birds a constant presence (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Again around the Puffinn
Canada Goose: Still, wandering to Meoness
This Grasshopper Warbler has found a northern burn to its liking for the last few days (Tom Wright)
Sightings of note: 86 Greylag Goose, 3 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 7 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 35 Oystercatcher, 33 Lapwing, 19 Golden Plover, 97 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 21 Curlew, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 57 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe, 42 Snipe, 13 Redshank, 11 Kittiwake, 7 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 44 Great Skua, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 107 Skylark, 1 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 16 Willow Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Blackbird, 54 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 134 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 16 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 177 Meadow Pipit, 37 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 24 Twite, 6 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redpoll sp., 2 Siskin
Year list: 101
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14th April 2025
Weather: Mostly sunny with some showers through the middle of the day, and a strong southerly breeze. F5-7 S.
A quieter day, with the strong and surprisingly chilly breeze making birding tricky at times. The Short-toed Lark reappeared at Skadan after a two-day absence, though there was little other change on yesterday to note. Two Sparrowhawk were around the traps, and though a ‘blue’ male continues to evade capture, a large female was trapped in Vaadal this morning, fresh off the remains of a Jack Snipe kill.
A huge female Sparrowhawk ringed this morning (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Reappeared a short distance away at Skadan
Canada Goose: Remained for a third day, moving as far as Stackhoull
Sightings of note: 127 Greylag Goose, 3 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 2 Woodpigeon, 63 Oystercatcher, 14 Lapwing, 31 Golden Plover, 114 Ringed Plover, 21 Curlew, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 59 Turnstone, 12 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Jack Snipe, 35 Snipe, 17 Redshank, 29 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 146 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 5 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Blackbird, 7 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 128 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtail, 191 Meadow Pipit, 41 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 2 Brambling, 17 Twite, 2 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll
Year list: 101
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13th April 2025
Weather: A cool and damp start to the day, clearing to a sunny and warmer afternoon. F4-6 WNW.
A 180-degree swing in the wind overnight saw much reduced numbers of birds around the isle today, with the chilly westerly breeze putting the brakes on migration after an overnight clear-out. The scale of the clear-out was best illustrated by today’s Wheatear total – almost 200 birds fewer than yesterday. Once the morning rain had cleared, a warmer afternoon encouraged a trickle of movement, evidenced by a small number of hirundines and a vocal Whimbrel passing over the Obs noted between jobs in the afternoon, and a flock of 7 Black-tailed Godwit appearing at Shirva at sunset.
This smart Great Northern Diver has been lingering off the south of the isle for several days now (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canada Goose: Still with a small group of Greylag between Hoini and Setter
Two Black Redstart reappeared around Stackhoull (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 127 Greylag Goose, 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 3 Woodpigeon, 52 Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwing, 29 Golden Plover, 88 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 20 Curlew, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 47 Turnstone, 55 Snipe, 15 Redshank, 27 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 11 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 23 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Short-eared Owl, 3 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 112 Skylark, 8 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 5 Blackbird, 10 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 2 Black Redstart, 47 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 7 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 196 Meadow Pipit, 41 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 4 Brambling, 7 Twite, 4 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Lesser Redpoll
Year list: 101
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12th April 2025
Weather: Gloriously sunny and warm, with a strengthening SE breeze. F4-6 SE.
South-easterlies and sun made for their usual magic combination, with a very pleasant day’s birding being the result. Wheatears were the main event, with our first triple figure count of the spring sitting at an impressive 246 birds, mainly around the N and W coasts. Another impressive count came in the form of Ringed Plover, with 136 logged today constituting the highest ever spring count for the isle. The yearlist also hit 100 species, with additions of Jackdaw (touring the island with 3 Rook), Canada Goose (a feral-type bird around the base of Hoini) and Grasshopper Warbler (an afternoon discovery at Wirvie Brecks).
Two Ring Ouzel graced the cliffs of North today (Tom Wright)
HIGHLIGHTS
Iceland Gull: The adult bird re-appeared in South Harbour
Canada Goose: A feral-type bird spent the day between Hoini and Setter
The highlight of SW census (Luke Marriner)
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 74 Greylag Goose, 5 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Teal, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 40 Oystercatcher, 28 Lapwing, 28 Golden Plover, 136 Ringed Plover, 17 Curlew, 60 Turnstone, 1 Woodcock, 45 Snipe, 19 Redshank, 22 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 17 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 18 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Merlin, 1 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, 5 Carrion Crow, 130 Skylark, 10 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 16 Willow Warbler, 31 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 14 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 55 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 10 Robin, 1 Stonechat, 246 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 9 Pied Wagtail, 5 White Wagtail, 3 alba Wagtail, 218 Meadow Pipit, 37 Rock Pipit, 2 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 16 Twite, 7 Linnet, 2 Redpoll sp., 2 Siskin, 13 Snow Bunting
Year list: 100
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11th April 2025
Weather: Mostly overcast, with a fresh westerly wind, becoming damp through the afternoon. F5-6 W.
A general clear-out of birds was evident today, though birding was not easy in the stronger breeze. The Short-toed Lark remained present, and the first Whimbrel of the year flew through Gilsetter.
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: Yesterday’s bird remained around the Puffinn.
Wheatear numbers continue to grow, with a mix of clear migrant groups dotted around the isle, and others back defending territories (Carla Hill)
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 118 Greylag Goose, 5 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Teal, 4 Woodpigeon, 53 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 67 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 26 Curlew, 93 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 24 Redshank, 28 Kittiwake, 1 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 2 Carrion Crow, 172 Skylark, 2 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 15 Blackbird, 42 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 11 Robin, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Stonechat, 64 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 10 Pied Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtail, 194 Meadow Pipit, 19 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 4 Twite, 3 Linnet, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 97
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9th – 10th April 2025
Weather: Light winds on 9th, freshening westerly on 10th.
An uneventful census on 9th in light northerlies was followed on 10th by a small arrival of birds as the wind swung westerly, the highlight of which was a fine Short-toed Lark around the Puffinn, an excellent pickup by our new Ranger, Carla. The bird showed well for the remainder of the day, allowing the rest of the team to catch up with it too. Short-toed Lark manages to be remarkably regular here whilst never being common - at least one in every year between 1963 and 2016, and 2020-22. Common migrants included a clear increase in Wheatear and small arrival of thrushes and Phylloscs, and our first Ring Ouzel and Common Sandpiper of the year.
Short-toed Lark at Utra (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
Short-toed Lark: One at the Puffinn remained local to the area for the rest of the day, wandering as far as Utra.
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 124 Greylag Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 45 Oystercatcher, 27 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 119 Ringed Plover, 29 Curlew, 50 Turnstone, 60 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 37 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 25 Redshank, 47 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 67 Common Gull, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 17 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 1 Carrion Crow, 141 Skylark, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Willow Warbler, 23 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Ring Ouzel, 27 Blackbird, 60 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 12 Robin, 3 Black Redstart, 2 Stonechat, 87 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 11 Pied Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, 2 alba Wagtail, 209 Meadow Pipit, 31 Rock Pipit, 4 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 25 Twite, 3 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll, 6 Snow Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting
Year list: 96
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7th - 8th April 2025
Weather: Calm and pleasant, with light mostly SE-based breeze. F1-4 SE.
The past couple of days of calm conditions have seen continued movement of some early common migrants, with 8th in particular bringing a small arrival of Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Sand Martin and Woodpigeon. Taking advantage of the calm seas on 8th, the team carried out an early morning Tystie count along the east coast, producing a total of 203 adults. Numbers of Tysties on Fair Isle have been remarkably stable over the last few decades, and this is a typical count for the east coast plot.
Black Redstarts were at the School, North Light and Puffinn on 8th (Luke Marriner)
This smart ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit appears to be holding territory at Gunnawark (Alex Penn)
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 121 Greylag Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 2 Long-tailed Duck, 28 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 47 Oystercatcher, 37 Lapwing, 5 Golden Plover, 76 Ringed Plover, 25 Curlew, 50 Turnstone, 75 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe, 41 Snipe, 18 Redshank, 20 Kittiwake, 3 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Great Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 ‘Blue’ Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 139 Skylark, 12 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 19 Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 15 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 44 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 16 Robin, 3 Black Redstart, 4 Stonechat, 46 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 2 Grey Wagtail, 19 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 199 Meadow Pipit, 51 Rock Pipit, 1 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 18 Twite, 4 Linnet, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 1 Snow Bunting
Year List: 93
25th March – 6th April 2025
The days are flying by, in another busy period that has seen the seasonal hospitality and ornithology staff arrive into the isle, settle into their new roles and move into our brand new Observatory building. The finishing touches are still to be made to the Obs, but we hope to be able to open bookings and welcome visitors back very soon.
The arrival of our seasonal ornithology team (Luke Marriner and Tom Wright as AWs, and Carla Hill as our Ranger) has meant some improved coverage of the isle, as they tour the census routes and explore the island. This combined with a very pleasant start to April, with sunny skies and calm winds, has seen the yearlist jump over the last few days, with some light passage evident. Long-distance migrants have been represented by our first Swallow (1st) and Willow Warbler (3rd) of the year, and the first returning Bonxies were seen over the hills on 3rd. Puffin numbers are building quickly, with birds ashore for the first time at Wirvie on 1st.
Wheatear are slowly building in number, welcome additions to the isle’s many stone dykes (Alex Penn)
A small number of Barnacle Goose have been a feature of recent days (Luke Marriner)
HIGHLIGHTS
Iceland Gull: Adult again on 28th March and 5th April.
Sightings of note: 4 Barnacle Goose, 72 Greylag Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Whooper Swan, 2 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 13 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Stock Dove (3rd), 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Water Rail, 42 Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwing, 25 Golden Plover, 71 Ringed Plover, 19 Curlew, 82 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 40 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 30 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 24 Redshank, 1 Kittiwake, 7 Black-headed Gull, 18 Common Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Great Skua, 394 Puffin, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Blue Fulmar, 4 Cormorant, 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 156 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 28 Blackbird, 7 Fieldfare, 21 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush, 14 Robin, 2 Black Redstart (23rd), 4 Stonechat, 14 Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 190 Meadow Pipit, 35 Rock Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 21 Twite, 4 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 6 Snow Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting
Year List: 92
8th - 24th March 2025
It’s been a busy couple of weeks here in the isle, with much of it taken up with work at the Obs site. An exciting day on 19th saw a huge delivery of furniture arrive for the Obs, with many of the isle’s residents coming out to lend a hand in unloading the endless trailer-loads of beds, mattresses, and bedroom and dining furniture. We can’t thank them enough for their support, and it made for an enjoyable morning of the community pulling together to get everything safely into the new building. That in turn has given Jonnie and I plenty to do, in unboxing and assembling as much as we can manage in the days since.
A busy but satisfying day of furniture moving (Alex Penn)
Though there hasn't been much time for birding for us, other eyes around the isle have picked up on some steadily growing passage, as spring begins to increase in pace. This has been headlined by the always-momentous occasion of the first Wheatear of the spring, with a female at Single Dyke on 23rd being the earliest arrival since 2005. Other early spring additions to the yearlist have included Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Rook and Yellowhammer, adding a splash of variety to proceedings. Some strong passage of Stonechat peaked with an impressive 11 birds on 9th, the highest count since 1977. The adult Iceland Gull remains, at least two Blue Fulmar are visiting cliff ledges, and a pair of Black Redstart on 23rd added to the scarcities.
The first Goldcrest of the year found some shelter in the Burkle garden (Alex Penn)
Two Blue Fulmar have been seen returning to ledges used last year, this one kicking off an intruding pale bird at Lericum (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Iceland Gull: An adult bird remains, being seen infrequently (11th and 23rd) around the south of the isle.
Sightings of note: 2 Pink-footed Goose, 9 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 3 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Water Rail, 10 Golden Plover, 85 Ringed Plover, 45 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 4 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Blue Fulmar, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 2 Merlin, 1 Rook, 150 Skylark, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Robin, 2 Black Redstart (23rd), 11 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, 4 Twite, 1 Linnet, 1 Siskin, 14 Snow Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed Bunting
Year List: 76
17th February - 7th March 2025
We're back! Mid-February saw the return of Alex Penn and Jonnie Fisk to Fair Isle, into our respective new roles as Head of Ornithology and Hospitality Manager. Thanks to the generosity of Hollie and Deryk Shaw, we'll be based down the island at Burkle whilst the final stages of the Obs rebuild are carried out, allowing us to be on site and busy with preparations for seasonal staff arrivals and fitting out the new building as it nears completion.
The isle retains a wintry feel, with migration yet to properly kick into gear, though there have been signs of a trickle of movement beginning on some of the brighter days in late February and early March. The first Mistle Thrush, Black Redstart, Woodpigeon and Stonechat of the year have all been logged, along with other typical early movers including Siskin, Reed Bunting and Hen Harrier, bringing the yearlist up to 67.
Scarcities have included two Russian White-fronted Geese with the wintering Greylags, and intermittent sightings of at least one adult Iceland Gull.
One of the two Russian Whitefronts which were a welcome sight amongst the Greylags on our return (Alex Penn)
HIGHLIGHTS
Russian White-fronted Goose: Three birds arrived on 26th January, dropping to two by 4th February, which then lingered to 24th February.
Iceland Gull: Scattered sightings of an adult bird in South Harbour through late February, with another or the same bird at Stackhoull on 5th March.
Sightings of note: 171 Greylag Goose (including GPS and Darvic-collared birds from Iceland and Norway), 2 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Whooper Swan (27th), 14 Wigeon, 32 Teal, 2 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 24 Oystercatcher, 38 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 95 Ringed Plover, 250 Turnstone, 34 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hen Harrier (6th-7th), 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 2 Carrion Crow, 80 Skylark, 18 Blackbird, 30 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush (24th), 2 Robin, 1 Black Redstart (26th), 2 Stonechat, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Twite, 1 Siskin, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting (26th)
Year List: 67