High summer means hazy light at the Pool of Virkie, but this is the first time it's meant Glossy Ibis as well, albeit briefly. #birdingScotland

Grey Phalarope at Spiggie, #Shetland, found by @harris1975.bsky.social - surely one of the best-looking birds this spring, and the first I've ever seen in this plumage. #birdingScotland

Everything gleams in spring sunshine. Male Cuckoo in our garden at Virkie (pic through triple glazing!), Oriental Turtle Dove at Hillwell, both yesterday #birdingScotland

Two great rares in Shetland yesterday: Britain's 4th Savannah Sparrow from Dave Cooper in Unst, and a spring Oriental Turtle Dove in the Ness, courtesy of @hughharrop.bsky.social and Paul Harvey #BirdingScotland @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

A drake Mandarin is an eye-catching thing to find in a ditch. This is one of three that turned up in #Shetland yesterday, two in Unst and this one in the south mainland, today in Brow Marsh. #birdingScotland

Male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Scatness this morning - always a treat to find one in Britain. Already the 3rd subalp for #Shetland this spring. A typically fairly distinctive albistriata-type Eastern, with neat, brick-red bib, fat submoustachials and lots of white in R4-R6. #birdingScotland

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler on Whalsay, #Shetland, yesterday, another landmark find for John Lowrie Irvine. The 'chip' calls were the main ID feature but in addition it looked notably grey and dull, plumage a touch ragged, with almost blackish legs. #birdingScotland

Night Heron on East Burra, #Shetland, last week #birdingScotland

A cold, grey April morning in #Shetland was brightened up no end by a quivering blue tail in Grutness garden. Shetland's 5th spring Red-flanked Bluetail (I think) but my first. Looks like a first-summer female to me but comments on age/sex welcome. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

The first big scramble among Shetland birders this spring was a dazzling Purple Heron (seen mostly at Boddam but also dropping into roost at Durigarth), the first live record since 1981. #Shetland #birdingScotland

A fine day out on a SOTEAG survey last week (26/Feb): the wintering Ross's Goose at Toft before the first ferry; reassuringly good counts of Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks on the Bluemull survey route; and a lone Black-throated Diver off the south coast of Unst. #birdingScotland #Shetland

Magnificent skies at Gibraltar Point, my spiritual home. That and Hen Harrier, Merlin and Raven in the roost. Always a great day out with @skeggymariner.bsky.social

A few more pics from the Virkie 10K in 2024 #Shetland #birdingScotland

My 2024 yearlist in the Virkie 10K was 202, more or less on par with recent years, highlights including Pacific Swift over our house, Britain's second American Red-necked Grebe and the first Cackling Goose for #Shetland (all of them currently IC with BBRC). #birdingScotland

December beached bird surveys in recent days in #Shetland Notably few tideline corpses (just 15 on 27 beaches so far) - which on the face of it is good, although I suspect low population levels are an underlying factor. Enjoyed my first Grey Plover of the year though, at Tangwick. #birdingScotland

Green-winged Teal on a WeBS count in a largely ignored part of West Mainland, Loch of Semblister: a solstice treat. First record for #Shetland this autumn? It was virtually dark and the bird wasn't close; this record shot looks better than I expected. @btobirds.bsky.social #birdingScotland

Two shots of the Red-necked Grebe in Laxo Voe #Shetland today, found by @harris1975.bsky.social (and one of last winter's American RNG at Quendale for comparison). Two RNGs in a year is notable. As ever in December we are desperate for the days to start getting longer... #birdingScotland

Did my 1000th wordle today. Funny old game, retirement.

The last month of Shetland's autumn had a distinctly transatlantic theme - after Cackler and American Pipit in late October, late November brought Bufflehead to Foula and Shetland's second American Coot, on Loch of Spiggie. Still time for American Robin... #birdingScotland #rarebirdsuk

The new RSPB Lookout at Sumburgh has had a major impact on seawatching effort. Before 2024 I'd seen one Great Shear in Shetland in 30 years; now I've seen >150, including two today. The seawatching has compensated (a bit) for a dismal summer for local seabirds. #birdingScotland @rspb.bsky.social

As ever, autumn WeBS counts delivered a bonus ball today with this smart female Ring-necked Duck at Scatness #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk

Shetland isn't always rarity-filled. Highlights of a day out west this week were: a long-staying and large Canada Goose, one of the breeding Sandness Magpies (of disputed origin, but still magnificent) and a splendid Carrion x Hoodie hybrid. #birdingscotland

One of my favourite bird surveys is Shetland's monthly beached bird survey. In September 12, I was well chuffed to find a Buff-bellied Pipit on Rerwick beach. Today's repeat performance was just as special. #rarebirdsuk #birdingscotland 🪶

Could this be Shetland's American mega of the late autumn? Touring the Spiggie area with 13 Barnacle Geese today, found by @HughHarrop: plumage, head shape etc look ok for hutchinsii to me although it's maybe a tad large - ? #rarebirdsuk #birdingscotland 🪶

A locustella twitch in Shetland's peak autumn period is normally best avoided but this PG at Nesting yesterday was incredible #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk

First post in this new place, a couple of snaps from a quiet day on Shetland's west side with Paul Harvey, Rory Tallack and Dan Pointon on 3rd October 24. The day livened up mid afternoon when PVH clapped his bins on Scotland's first Eastern Crowned Warbler...

It's breezy here in Sumburgh this morning. Video by Ian Cowgill while I was making the porridge...