Pleasant day birding with Rob Fray on Thursday North Mainland, couple of decent discoveries. Picking up a Hornemann’s that we only found due to watching a Merlin chase starlings- flushing it from a field (!) was jammy plus drake Ring-necked Duck were both most splendid #RarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding

Taken very little time for birding this autumn, just too much work on, so not surprising not to find much other than Blyth’s Reed and Citrine over past month. Been nice to put in some time this week though, with Great Egret (also a house ✔️) & Firecrest with Mr P. #birdingshetland #birdingscotland

My first warbler of the autumn, and it’s a Greenish Warbler! Better still, from kitchen window (!) after coming in from Halligarth. The SE winds of late for us have just not come far enough this week to produce much, so this wee wing-barred wonder was a real treat.
#rarebirdsUK #birdingShetland

Not what I expected today when entering Halligarth! 🫨 Black-crowned Night Heron. And there was me hoping for my first warbler of the autumn….
Now on the garden list too, #227. Still a rare bird here in the isles, and probably the first August record.
#RareBirdsUK #ShetlandBirding

Hi folks! Just a reminder to tune in to BBC1 Ocean episode of the new Parenhood series, with David Attenborough. Massive honour to worked on the #otter shoot here on #shetland with my great mates Richard Shucksmith & Raymond Besant. 19:15 BBC1 tonight!

Crabbing with the kids in Baltasound cut short when hearing unfamiliar call. Picked up high overhead, but bins in pickup! Glad I pursued it north as to my surprise, this flew off Haroldswick beach 30min later, then settling briefly in cut field. American Golden Plover!! #rarebirdsuk #shetlandbirding

Shore birds, are the obvious focus for any hope of finding a good bird in the isles in July- that or Two-barred Crossbill! This adult summer plumage BAIRDS SANDPIPER on the Houb, Baltasound was a most welcome representative from across the Atlantic today!
#RarebirdsUK #BirdingShetland

Always very happy to receive a little bit of luck, if ever it flies across a field chasing Starlings while driving along on a tour… Downloaded the rather splendid 2nd calendar year male Pallid Harrier, from today at Westing, Unst.
#rarebirdsUK #shetland #birding #pallidharrier

Ooft. Ya beauty!! Out of context, particularly ‘guiding finds’ are always a bonus- and jammy as. This 2nd cal male Pallid fairly raised the pulse this morning on way home for breakfast with my photo-tour group,
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding

Amazing discovery today out surveying #Merlin for #Shetland Raptor Study Group - this magnificent 2 day old Short-eared Owlets! Only 5th confirmed record. Bizarrely, with somewhat flukey owl finding fortune, these are the 4th I’ve found. #fieldwork @btoscotland.bsky.social
@rspbscotland.bsky.social

The diminutive and delightful Lesser Twayblade. Usually little taller than an inch or two and with a flower that’s very well camouflaged amongst the heath, it’s little wonder it is one of Shetlands most under recorded Orchid. Recorded 5 new sites last week whilst out doing ecological surveys.

Returned home this week after co-leading our photo-tour with Kev Morgan’s and Jari Peltomaki to Finnish Lapland & Arctic Norway, in partnership with Finnature. Next years dates are all set, with an even more exciting program, and amazingly is already oversubscribed before we’ve not even launched!

A humble request for your vote over the weekend for WILD SHETLAND, which was shortlisted in the ScottishNature Photography Awards favourite book of 2024, which closes on Monday. All support hugely appreciated 👇🙏❤️
scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/bookvote/

The King and Queen of the Arctic. In less than two months I’ll be returning to Finnish Lapland and Arctic Norway. The floating hides in Batsfjord really are next level, not just for photography, but the experience to be so close to such an iconic sea duck.
#kingeider #birding #birdphotography

Birders lucky to visit #Fetlar btwn 1967- 1975 may remember this aged (rotting), flat-packed wooden structure? The remains of the @rspb.bsky.social observation hide, installed on Stackaberg, for the monumental British breeding record of Snowy Owl. 1/2
#shetlandbirding #ukbirding #scottishbirding

Enjoyed a fantastic couple hours at one of my favourite #Otter coastlines earlier this week. This was a sibling squabble that erupted as they tried to claim a Rockling from their mother’s jaws, as she raced for the shore.
#Shetland #UKmammals #nature #UKnature #wildlifephotography

Shetland mega- Ross’s Goose, Scatsta Just been sent these very happy Rob Fray, having just found a county first! With such remarkable supporting cast of High Arctic vagrants, surely never been a better time for the gorgeous wee goose to be the real deal? #ShetlandBirding #BirdingShetland #UKbirding

We see a wide range of Icelands that are convincingly pigeonholed as Kumlien’s but you rarely see one as good as this. Found by Dave Cooper (his pics) at Westing, Unst yesterday- the day after he found a well marked 2nd winter. Best one I’ve seen. Lovely #BirdingShetland #ShetlandBirding #UKBirding