Adrian Kettle
@akettle.bsky.social
Birder on Yell in Shetland.
Why can’t they give referees a points system and when a limit is reached they get suspended. Like a driving licence.
January 7, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Why can’t they give referees a points system and when a limit is reached they get suspended. Like a driving licence.
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
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
January 6, 2026 at 6:58 PM
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
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!
When one of your PhD students makes you very jealous… I believe the first Azure Tit for Norway this afternoon near Trondheim
January 5, 2026 at 4:48 PM
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
Out Skerries in the distance seen from Birrier, Yell. #shetlandbirding
December 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The scenery showed much better than the WBD’s!
Out Skerries in the distance seen from Birrier, Yell. #shetlandbirding
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.
2 Adult White Billed Divers in Colgrave Sound, Yell today. In one of the 2 regular wintering areas around Yell.
December 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Terrible video warning‼️
2 Adult White Billed Divers in Colgrave Sound, Yell today. In one of the 2 regular wintering areas around Yell.
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! 🦜 😂😂
December 25, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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! 😂😂😂
and so true! 😂😂😂
December 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
A great present from Tracy,
and so true! 😂😂😂
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
Iceland Gull and 1 of at least 46 Purple Sands.
The sky from the garden this evening was rather colourful! #shetlandbirding
December 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
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
Iceland Gull and 1 of at least 46 Purple Sands.
The sky from the garden this evening was rather colourful! #shetlandbirding
Amazing! When you see all those Turnstones walking around your feet by the pier feeding on donuts etc you would never think of their other life!
December 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Amazing! When you see all those Turnstones walking around your feet by the pier feeding on donuts etc you would never think of their other life!
It is. I was actually there when they were filming but used my stealth to avoid being caught on camera! 😂
December 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
It is. I was actually there when they were filming but used my stealth to avoid being caught on camera! 😂
Highlight of the year!
December 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Highlight of the year!
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
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
November 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
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
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
Try and slip a pic of a Badger in there! 😂
November 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Try and slip a pic of a Badger in there! 😂
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
November 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM
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
It’s been an amazing year on Yell for Greenfinchs, considering they have not even been annual since I’ve lived here. Today I saw another 2, taking our total to 11 birds, with another seen by Dougie Preston that takes this years total to 12 birds! #shetlandbirding
November 19, 2025 at 9:53 PM
It’s been an amazing year on Yell for Greenfinchs, considering they have not even been annual since I’ve lived here. Today I saw another 2, taking our total to 11 birds, with another seen by Dougie Preston that takes this years total to 12 birds! #shetlandbirding
Had to go over to Unst today to pick up my car that’s been there all autumn. Took the opportunity to go to look at 2 Long eared Owls, managed to find a third bird there as well!
Best I could do in dull light, the other 2 were even more obscured.#Shetlandbirding
Best I could do in dull light, the other 2 were even more obscured.#Shetlandbirding
November 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Had to go over to Unst today to pick up my car that’s been there all autumn. Took the opportunity to go to look at 2 Long eared Owls, managed to find a third bird there as well!
Best I could do in dull light, the other 2 were even more obscured.#Shetlandbirding
Best I could do in dull light, the other 2 were even more obscured.#Shetlandbirding
We have still got 3 Blue Tits knocking around Mid Yell. But even more of a surprise on freezing northerlies, hail and snow was a Great White Egret on Mid Yell voe. #shetlandbirding
November 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
We have still got 3 Blue Tits knocking around Mid Yell. But even more of a surprise on freezing northerlies, hail and snow was a Great White Egret on Mid Yell voe. #shetlandbirding
Nice find mate. Bit gaudy though aren’t they! 😂😂😂
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Nice find mate. Bit gaudy though aren’t they! 😂😂😂
Another shopping trip to Lerwick, Tesco was closed due to a power cut!
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
November 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Another shopping trip to Lerwick, Tesco was closed due to a power cut!
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
The last couple of weeks has seen good numbers of Siberian CC with a few Common CC mixed in.
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
November 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The last couple of weeks has seen good numbers of Siberian CC with a few Common CC mixed in.
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
Had a couple of hours birding late PM on Yell today.
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Had a couple of hours birding late PM on Yell today.
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding