On the wing mallies return in numbers to take up residence in breeding season
Fulmars are around Shetland for much of the year, but now their numbers are starting to build up prior to the breeding season. Although a…
READ FULL STORYStories tagged with Tag: Joyce Garden
Pink-footed visitor arrives to join Sandwick tundra resident
The tundra bean goose was still at Sandwick this week, along with a pink-footed goose. The darker head and neck, along with dark grey upper…
READ FULL STORYSigns of spring start to appear
Twite are attractive, restless finches, usually seen in small flocks feeding on seeds on arable and cultivated land. Closely related to the common linnet, the…
READ FULL STORYReturn of mis-named oystercatcher
Oystercatchers are back in force now. They are one of my favourite waders – showy and extrovert, with their piebald plumage and ringing calls. We…
READ FULL STORYUp to 20,000 starlings across the isles
Most of the over 100 species of starlings are found in tropical Africa and South East Asia, but a few species breed in temperate regions,…
READ FULL STORYFamiliar, re-assuring sight of shag
The shag is one of the most familiar birds around the Shetland coastline during the winter months. The common name, shag, is derived from the…
READ FULL STORYRare winter visitors
Common snipe generally remain hidden in cover, their striped head and heavily streaked plumage providing excellent camouflage. During periods of snow, they become conspicuous in…
READ FULL STORYRed grouse comes down from usual habitat
An interesting sighting at the weekend was a red grouse in a garden in Toft, probably driven down from the hills by the severe wintry…
READ FULL STORYRegular wintering fowl joined by rarer Tundra bean geese
Waterfowl are prominent at this time of the year, when resident wintering duck and geese populations are increased by visitors from further north. Wintering freshwater…
READ FULL STORYWill sparrow top spotters’ league again?
The 30th RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch was held over the weekend. The aim is to record the highest number of each species of bird visiting…
READ FULL STORYBird club’s Atlantic Odyssey evening features stunning series of seabird shots
Although most records of Iceland gulls are of first winter birds, there have been a few recent records of adults. An adult Iceland resembles a…
READ FULL STORYStorms force kittiwakes in
Kittiwakes spend the winter months at sea, with the range of birds from Scottish colonies extending throughout the north Atlantic to Greenland and eastern Canada….
READ FULL STORYTysties show off their fine grey winter plumage
THE BLACK guillemot, or tystie, one of our most widespread and best known seabirds, appeared for the first time on the Shetland list in 1769….
READ FULL STORYSeasonal robins takes his bow
THE ROBIN is one of our best known and best loved birds. Adults are unmistakeable with their rusty-red bib which covers the entire breast and…
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