📖 Shetland 2026 : 08/10/26

Today, Thursday 8th, the unseasonably settled weather held strong again, giving Dazza and me the perfect excuse after breakfast to explore the South Mainland. Shetland autumn birding in calm conditions is hard to beat, and today certainly didn't disappoint.

Our main objective early on was the American Wigeon we had picked up yesterday. Returning to Loch of Spiggie, we were hoping the bird would linger, and it delivered. The drake was very obliging, showing remarkably well close to the hide and giving us a chance to secure a few record shots before moving off.

Drake American Wigeon on Loch Spiggie.

From there, we enjoyed a walk around Scatness, which is always one of Dazza’s favourite spots in Shetland. The highlight was a Great Northern Diver in near-summer plumage close inshore. The species has been surprisingly absent in any great numbers around the Shetland shores during our visit, making this view particularly rewarding.

Great Northern Diver at Scatness.

A short drive around Virkie produced the usual selection of waders working the mudflats. Among them Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and Bar-tailed Godwits, and we managed to spot a single Curlew Sandpiper, which posed long enough for a quick photo.

Curlew Sandpiper at Virkie.

News of a Bluethroat at Fleck tempted us over shortly after. Despite showing well prior to our arrival, the bird had decided to go AWOL, and we spent a pleasant hour searching the area. Eventually, we did manage to catch sight of the elusive target, though a Hedgehog actively feeding in the adjacent garden ended up commanding most of the attention while we waited.

This Bluethroat had suddenly decided to become a little elusive during our search at Fleck today.

This hedgehog kept us amused while we waited for the Bluethroat to show up.

Shetland always seems to throw up a mega during my October week, and early this evening proved no exception. A mega-alert had us driving down to Quendale Mill for a Black-faced Bunting. Although the bird was quite elusive, we managed several views in flight and a few fleeting glances when it appeared in the treetops, marking an exciting new lifer for us both. We finally left the mill just as dark was setting in.