Not a bad shopping day today. Started with a sum plum Black throated Diver, still scarce in Shetland, 2 Risso’s Dolphins then onto Lerwick where the Queen Eider was showing distantly then whilst stuffing my face and on the phone to Tracy I found an eclipse drake Ring necked Duck. #birdingshetland

Trip over to Fetlar today. Juvenile Ruddy Shelduck was the main target but a supporting cast of Red necked Phals, Red throated Divers (1 of which gave a close flyby) Carrion Crow, nest building Twite and Quail seen. #birdingshetland

The Bonaparte’s at Scatsta was still distant yesterday. Nice group of Common and Arctic terns at Gulberwick, including a 1st sum Arctic, portlandica. Red breasted Merganser would have been a good photo if I hadn’t buggered up the settings! #birdingshetland

Walking the hills in Yell this time of year everybody’s got something to say!#birdingshetland

Well that wasn’t what expected the way the day to go! Dipping a Bearded Seal, for the second time! Searching the local area around Sella Ness came across this 1st summer Bonaparte’s Gull, not a bad conciliation ! Always a bit distant but managed a few record shots. #birdingshetland

Midnight on the beach last night for the longest daylight day with Hazel for a BBQ and enjoying the simmer dim here in Yell, Shetland.

Two of our rescue boys saying hello!

Very few birds around today. So, went down to West Burrafirth, Papa Stour ferry terminal for this absolute stinker of a summer plumage White billed Diver. Also seen GN and 2 RT Divers, Razorbills, Guillemot and Black Guillemot. #birdingshetland

Right, you’re going to have to use your imagination or just believe me when I say this is a Hobby. I did see it in the bins coming towards me but the camera skills were too slow as went past me at mach 5! Still a scarce bird on Shetland and especially on Yell. #birdingshetland

I found a fem RB Shrike at Gutcher. Then onto ferry to Unst. Western Sub Alp, Icterine, 2 Quail, RN Phals, Whimbrels, 2 ad sum Little Stints, Pacific Diver, Spotted Fly were the best of a good day. #birdingshetland

Classic Shetland spring birds. A singing Red Spot Bluethroat, defending itself admirably against 2 male Wheatears and a cracking male Red backed Shrike. Last week in south mainland. #birdingshetland

This Carrion Crow showed well at Vatsetter, Yell today. So well it seemed to show some faint grey feathering around the thighs. #birdingshetland

The big Icelandic Redpoll still today in Mid Yell. Showing how important Dandelions are, with its face plastered in pollen. Best of the rest today, 3 Swallows, 5 Tree Sparrows, 2 White Wagtails and a couple of Whimbrel. #birdingshetland

Interesting Redpoll in the garden today. I’m leaning towards an Icelandic bird as it can’t be an Arctic. Also my first Shetland Bumblebee and Red Admiral of the year. #birdingshetland

Last week I had a day of birds on walls at Sumburgh Head, Shetland. #birdingshetland

A Canada Goose was a good bird at Gloup, Yell. Found by Jim Nangle. I thought I would go and check it out, glad I did as it turned out to be a good candidate for a Todd’s Canada. A genuine vagrant from America! #birdingshetland

Hawfinch, Goldfinchs,Chaffinchs,Bramblings,Siskins, Willow Warbler a few CC,Sparrowhawk,2cy Rook Woodpigeons & Collared Dove in the garden. Marsh Harrier, LEO & Arctic Tern around Mid Yell. I could have got better photos of the MH if my car hadn’t rolled past me, panic! HANDBRAKE #birdingshetland

3rd April back on Unst with a bit of a goose fest. 6 Taiga Bean geese at Ordaal with 6 Jackdaws in the same area. 3 Greenland Whitefronts at Buness, another single was seen at Uyeasound, single Pinkfoot at Buness as well.Migrant Song Thrush at Uyeasound & the LTD’s always good. #birdingshetland

A visit to Unst on the 28th March gave good views of this Black Redstart at Haroldswick, an Unst tick along with this Turkey at Valyie! #birdingshetland

Sunset looking west from Gloup Yell this evening.

Does anybody know who this Witches broom might belong to. It was found on today Boddam beach, Shetland? 😉 #shetlandbirding

Quite pleased with this juv Iceland gull flying through Mid Yell Voe this morning, as wingers have been very scarce this winter in Shetland. #birdingshetland

Cheeky little Tengmalm’s twitch this afternoon, over to Ollaberry. Inter island ferries played their usual part in lengthening a 3/4 hour journey into 3 1/2 hours! #birdingshetland

Great weather and a few miles covered in North Yell. 2 Pinkfeet, 1 looking more Likely to get back to the breeding grounds than the other! Lots of Skylarks back in the last couple of days. Best though was 4 Humpbacks heading west past Breckon, no photos 😢 #birdingshetland

Well after 4 days of trying I finally managed to see the Bonaparte’s Gull at Uyeasound, Unst. Flew in late afternoon for about 5 minutes. Also present was the 2nd winter Glaucous Gull and nearby 2 Tundra Bean geese. #birdingshetland

Spent the day on Unst. Didn’t see the Bonaparte’s Gull but did see some good birds on a driech day. 2 Tundra Bean geese, 2 Whitefronts, 2w Glaucous Gull, Kumlien’s/Thayers gull, White billed Diver plus 100’s of Long tailed Ducks. #birdingshetland

Also around North Yell this morning were a few Whoopers a nice adult Russian Whitefront and I got a slightly better photo of the Coot! #birdingshetland

The amazing variation of the 2 Mute Swans I saw today at Kirk Loch on Yell. A very dark 1st winter bird and a Polish type adult. #birdingshetland

Nice cold and calm day here on Yell. The sea had frozen and the tide gone out to leave some nice patterns. Bullfinch was new for the year along our road and with Ravens gathering nest material last week and Hoodies defending their empty nests, spring must be close, joke! 😂 #birdingshetland

Yesterday shopping run to Lerwick. Managed a 6 goose species day ( Taiga, Tundra Beans, Greylag, Whitefronts, Barnacle & Pinkfoot). Waxwing, 3 Greefinch and a superb Bittern reducing the Stickleback population at Spiggie. #birdingshetland

A very attentive mother with her cub in Mid Yell yesterday. The weather may have improved but the Yell Coot photos haven’t! #shetland

Weather back to normal today, although wind was calmer than the last 3 weeks! A 3rd w/4th cy Glaucous Gull and a flock of 9 wintering Jackdaws in Burravoe, Yell. Tried to get a photo of the Coot but it had done a bunk! 2 of the 34 TD’s showed some signs of Ring necked Duck. #birdingshetland

Beautiful day in Shetland yesterday. 6 Tundra Beans, same as Unst the other day, at Cullivoe. 2 Whitefronts at Sellafirth. But best of all was a Coot on Kirk Loch, no photo!, first on Yell since I’ve lived here. Always something to see when waiting for ferries as well! #birdingshetland

More pics of the Kumlien’s/Thayer’s gull on Unst yesterday. Hopefully get some better ones when the snow blizzard’s stop. #birdingshetland

A couple of posts on the Kumlien’s/Thayer’s gull currently on Unst. Here’s some photos of it from March 24 as a 1st w (2nd cy) March 25 as a 2nd w (3rd cy) and February 26 as a 3rd w (4th cy) #birdingshetland

Don’t think I’ve ever seen so much white in the wing of a Tundra Bean goose before. Very broad and seemingly unworn. #birdingshetland

come to the conclusion it is just not worth bothering; protected areas by the Humber, right managed by Lincs Trust; track to a sailing pit, apparently hedge prevents wind and stops sailing; also harbours insects that used to feed 1000 Swifts and hirundines in spring - disconnect with natural world

Also on Unst today at Uyeasound. The Kumlien’s/Thayer’s gull, 1st winter male Common Scoter and Woodcock along with c500 Long tailed Ducks, in the snow. The sound made the spectacle even better. #birdingshetland

Today on Unst managed 5 sp of geese, Tundra Bean, Whitefront, Pinkfoot, Barnacle and the ever present Greylag. To be continued.. #birdingshetland

Has anybody submitted anything!😂😂

These 2 Common Seals had the good idea to haul out today as 6 of the 27’s pod of Orcas were around! Great day for seeing them as well dead calm after 2 days of gales, not that you would have heard of that because it wasn’t in souther England! 😂 GWE mid winter in Shetland! #birdingshetland

Thick snow today, as in well over the top of my wellies! It does mean looking for Jack and Common Snipe easier. Over 120 Snipe in 1 flock was impressive. Whilst 8 Jacks with 4 Snipe in a roadside ditch was nice. 2 Jacks in the second photo. #shetlandbirding

408 miles from my house as the Azure Tit flies!

The scenery showed much better than the WBD’s! Out Skerries in the distance seen from Birrier, Yell. #shetlandbirding

Terrible video warning‼️ 2 Adult White Billed Divers in Colgrave Sound, Yell today. In one of the 2 regular wintering areas around Yell.

Peeling sprouts with my helper. I put 1 in he takes it out bites it and throws it away! 🦜 😂😂

A great present from Tracy, and so true! 😂😂😂

Lerwick yesterday was dull to say the least. Iceland Gull and 1 of at least 46 Purple Sands. The sky from the garden this evening was rather colourful! #shetlandbirding

Mainland Shetland today in mainly sunshine! King (Queen) Eider at Scalloway showed rather well, I had it all to myself, so had no crowd trouble! 😉 Sibe CC also in Scalloway. 4 Humpbacked Whales around Mousa. Red Necked & Little Grebe at Hillwell. Yank Wigeon at Spiggie. #shetlandbirding

Having not been seen since 18th Nov the Great White Egret was back in Mid Yell Voe this afternoon. After having gone back to Unst on at least one date. #shetlandbirding