Purple Sandpiper in the Shetland sunshine. Widely scattered around our coast small groups can be seen at many locations.
#BirdingShetland

The closing date for applications for FIBO Assistant Warden and Ranger is Saturday 4th January

Great Northern Diver, or Immer gos (goose) in local dialect, is a widespread winter visitor in Shetland. They are impressive close to. The sheer size and dagger-like shape of the bill makes them appear formidable and they are a big bird. #birdingShetland

Possibly one of the last Chiffchaff I'll see this year. It's not a full Siberian (it didn't call) but it has some eastern flavour to it. Whatever they are lovely to see but I start to worry a bit for them now gales and snow are in the forecast. #birdingShetland

Birding becoming more and more winter bird focussed but still a few migrants hanging on. This young female Hawfinch visited the garden for a few days earlier in the week, along with Brambling and Chaffinch.
#birdingShetland

Any experts on #spiders #arachnids here?
This little jumping spider found on Fair Isle, Shetland. Looks to be a male Hasarius adansonia which is associated with horticultural hothouses in UK, native in Africa. Is identification correct?

Small warbler on a bare branch

Decent widespread arrival of Yellow-browed Warbler in #Shetland today, after just a couple of Fair Isle before now. #BirdingScotland

Colour-rings applied?

A small brown bird hiding in a bush

One of the 2 Blyth's Reed Warbler that have been at Valyie on Unst in recent days. More showy than the picture suggests. A seawatch at Skaw produced 6 Sooty Shearwater, a feeding frenzy by 4 Minke Whale and the highlight of a flyby breeding plumage White-billed Diver. #BirdingScotland

A new species for the garden yesterday, Wryneck. Every sighting of this species is a pleasure, but seeing one perched up in trees I'd planted was a just a bit more special. #BirdingShetland #BirdingScotland

That does help. Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Females (larger than males) very partial to a pigeon.

Amount of feathering on the leg looks ok for Harris Hawk but I don't think that is what it is. Not easy to see colour, but I'd expect some red 'shoulders' on Harris Hawk. Where was this taken? Aside from the seemingly dark head this could be a Sparrowhawk I feel.

Also see this figure from Bancroft 1929 in the SanDiego natural history society transactions

Heads of two birds to compare bill shape

Looks quite long billed, with less sharp gonal angle in your image Scott. Compared to one I photographed in Shetland in July. Possibly aranea rather than nilotica?

Hydrozoan float washed up on sand with seaweed and feather

A bit of beachcombing today on Shetland following the recent SW winds. Delighted to find a few By-the-wind Sailors washed ashore. The blue colouration around the rim of the larger one is the remains of the hydrozoan colony that lives under the 'sail'. #MarineLife

That one is a black-headed gull Selv. Note the black in the primaries that an adult Mediterranean Gull would not have

Bottle-nosed Dolphin have only been recorded once in Shetland before this pod arrived two days ago. A pod of around 25 animals it contained several youngsters and was seen off Unst on 21st, then in a Voe in north Mainland on 22nd. #MarineLife

Absolute unit of a Basking Shark cruising the foamline this afternoon off Sandwick, Shetland.

Lesser Grey Shrike found nearby this evening on Shetland. Hopefully will stay around for better views later. Something just over 50 records for Shetland now. #BirdingScotland

I think you are correct and that's a personal account. As far as I know Fair Isle doesn't have one (yet).

Screen grab from a bit of phone video taken from the house 2 nights ago. One of the regular pods of Orca seen around Shetland.

Juvenile Barred Warbler in the garden yesterday. Regular autumn migrant on Shetland, the next few weeks should see plenty more of these big ol' lumps arriving.

Male hybrid House x Tree Sparrow in the garden this evening, Shetland. Good mix of characters of both parents. #Scottishbirding

Summer migrants starting to penetrate the far north of the UK with Barn Swallow, Arctic Tern and Eurasian Blackcap all recorded in Shetland over the weekend. Arctic Tern were the earliest recorded ever.

Ruins on an island covered in snow

Mousa Broch, Shetland. February 2024.
The Broch was built in the iron age around 2000 years before present. It is the most complete example of a broch remaining in Scotland.

Two wading birds on the tideline

Purple Sandpiper and Sanderling, Shetland, February 2024

Close up of herring gull head

Herring Gull with dark eye. Similar both sides but looks like enlarged pupil. Looked to be a good adult but still to complete primary moult.