📖 Shetland 2025 Update 3

Monday, 6th October 2025, 🌨️ 15c ~ Wind W @ 22mph ~ With the gloomy morning weather and no reports of any species I hadn't already seen, I decided to start my day later and spend some time blogging and sorting my records. It also gave my ankle a chance to rest. Honestly, it's a bit frustrating not being able to cover my usual distances in search of birds, but oh well.

My first stop around mid-morning was a few miles north at the intriguingly named Twatt, where a Pectoral Sandpiper has been reported the last few days. When I arrived, a few other birders informed me that the bird, which had been feeding with a group of Lapwings, had been flushed behind the ridge by some sheep and out of sight. I hung around a short while watching a Wheatear before I decided, like the birds, to head south.

Northern Wheatear at Twatt.

I stopped at Sound in Lerwick and took a brief stroll along the burn, past the houses. There wasn't much to see, except for a group of about a dozen Siskins feeding on the pine cones. As I walked back to the car, a Kestrel flew overhead, but that was the highlight of my visit. I've never seen it so quiet!

It was a dry and bright afternoon, and after quickly checking my WhatsApp groups, I decided to head to Grutness for Common Rosefinch. I spent some time at the south end of the beach, watching a pair of Red-throated Divers exchanging fish, an interesting observation. Then, a Wheatear on the shore caught my attention. Along the water's edge, there were a few Sanderlings, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and a group of House Sparrows feeding on the seaweed. This seemed like a promising spot to look for the Rosefinch.

One of two Red-throated Divers.

I firmly believe in sitting quietly on occasions and letting the birds come to you, which feels like the perfect approach for my current situation. It proved worthwhile when, after a short wait, the Rosefinch appeared right in front of me amongst a group of House Sparrows. It stayed long enough for a few photos.

Common Rosefinch at Grutness.

Just as I was about to leave the beach, the boys from Warwickshire finally arrived, two days late. Andy Hale, Paul Cashmore, and David Cox had faced a challenging journey that included flight and ferry cancellations, as well as a stalled train ride from Coventry, all due to Storm Amy. Despite their epic trip, they seemed to be in great spirits.

I was planning to finish my day at Spiggie Loch before heading back north, so we teamed up for the last hour. As we drove away from Grutness, a Merlin flew across the road over the cars, and while making our way around the perimeter of the loch toward the hide, I stopped to take photos of my first Marsh Harrier sighting in Shetland. At another stop, we saw about fifty Barnacle Geese flying overhead. At the hide, the highlight was a Slavonian Grebe.

Marsh Harrier at Spiggie Loch.

After the boys left, I took a quick look at Scousburgh Sands before heading back north, where I found a Great Northern Diver to end my day.

Barnacle Geese over Spiggie.