andrew
There have been a few rosy starlings around Shetland in the last eighteen months but somehow I have managed to miss all of them. So it was with quite a lot of relief that I finally saw the long(ish) staying one at Minn beach the other day. After all the missed birds, this one was incredibly easy –...
andrew
I’m a big fan of colour-ringing as it makes identification of individual birds easier in the field and can lead to more sightings and useful data on migration and movements. I found this colour-ringed Turnstone in Shetland in May and submitted the sighting. When the project owner got back to me it...
andrew
The last few days have seen south-easterly winds and low cloud and fog over Shetland. This has resulted in a good number of passage migrants finding themselves grounded until the weather improves. My garden sits on the side of a loch that runs North to South so I’ve been treated to a few...
andrew
Finally caught up with the Shetland magpie today. This particular individual has been spending time around Sandness, Shetland for a few weeks now. Magpie in Sandness, Shetland The post Magpie – A Shetland Rarity appeared first on Andrew Whitelee.
andrew
There are some days when work is a little more exciting than others. Today was a perfect example of that. I was out doing my usual daily ecology and environmental checks around site when I noticed several waders going crazy and alarm calling. Alarm calling waders isn’t untypical, especially when...
andrew
Nice little Christmas present today, good views of the green-winged teal at Tain, Highlands. ﾿ ﾿ Comparison of green-winged teal and common teal...
andrew
A trip over to Skye yesterday, which is always a nice place to visit. The bonus was we caught up with the long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs in Broadford Bay on our way through Skye. These North American birds typically breed in open woods and meadows interspersed with bog and marsh, but can be found...
andrew
This american wigeon (Mareca americana) is probably the closest rarity to my house that I have ever seen. A five minute walk down the Caledonian Canal to find this long-staying visitor in his winter plumage. ﾿ The post American Wigeon – Inverness appeared...
andrew
A Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) turned up in Cornwall in May 2016, when it was first seen over St Gothian Sands, Gwithian, on 7th May. It was still hanging around in August, so what makes more sense than when leaving the Rutland bird fair to turn left to Cornwall instead of right and home...
andrew
The middle of the Cairngorm National Park in June might not be the first place you’d think of to look for migrant warblers. However, a wildlife tour group that were stopping in Laggan the other day to use the public toilets reported an Icterine Warbler () singing in the park next to the toilets....
andrew
Sometimes rarities turn up in the strangest of places. Take for example, this ring-necked duck which is on a small lochan at the top of Cuilc Brae in Pitlochry at the moment. This guy should be in north America but for some reason he’s here in the middle of Scotland. He was first noticed during...
andrew
Rarities often turn up in nice coastal locations which sort of makes sense. Rare gulls can turn up in many different less glamorous locations such as pit tips and sewage works. Hoopoes have a habit of turning up in places with lovely lawns and grassland, so it was a surprise when one turned up in...