Shetland 2025

Siberian Thrush: My annual visit to Shetland in October is one of the highlights of the year, this time I was in the company of Kris Wade, Patrick Earith and Rob Black. However, the trip didn't get off to the best start, with Loganair cancelling our flight from Inverness to Sumburgh and then catching a train to Aberdeen which broke down on the way! 

We eventually caught the over night ferry to Lerwick and after a tense night or worrying, with talk about the start bird, the Siberian thrush doing a bunk over night and disappearing just before we arrived.

This small, blue grey thrush is a very rare vagrant in the UK, meaning it is an accidental visitor from its native habitat in Eastern Asia. 

It has been recorded only a handful of times, with most sightings occurring in remote locations like the Northern Isles (especially Shetland) and the Isles of Scilly. 

Its s tricking bird, with dark slate-grey upperparts with a white lower belly and flanks. They have broad black and white bands on their underwings and white tips on their tail feathers, as well as a prominent white eyebrow. 

Blackpoll Warbler: We stayed up near Brae in a really nice holiday lodge. Really plush, with underfloor heating and a big American style fridge! Too plush for us lot. 

Shetland in Autumn is one of the birding highlights of the year, its a place where you can find something rare yourself and a place where anything could turn up.

A bird not even on my radar was this blackpoll warbler. This is a a rare North American vagrant and was a major birding highlight on the island of Unst, Shetland drawing birdwatchers for excellent views as it fed in gardens and along the shore, marking only the sixth Shetland record for this species. 

The bird showed incredibly well as it fed in a circuit up and down the strand line, feeding on the washed up seaweed belts that has ben washed to shore.

We enjoyed observing its distinct yellow Autumn plumage and orange. the bird was showing great behaviour despite being a long way from its usual boreal forest breeding grounds in North America.  

News of the bird first broke around October 8th or 9th, and it remained in the area for at least a week, offering good viewing opportunities for birders who travelled to see it.

Eastern Sub-alpine Warbler: This bird was first  ID'ed as an Western species, apparently the Id was clinched on call, but a few weeks later the DNA sample take from its droppings came back as the Eastern race.  

Gutting really as this would have been a new bird for me, so in the year when multiple birds have been recategorised and I've automatically lost a few bird heres another one gone. 

Little Bunting: Primarily a rare autumn passage migrant, often appearing after easterly winds, with records extending into winter. Similar to a female Reed Bunting but smaller, with a finer bill, distinct blackish crown stripes, and a prominent, often white-bordered, rufous-brown cheek patch.

Rustic Bunting: Small with chestnut cheeks, a white stripe behind the eye, white underparts with dark streaking, and a pale pink base to the bill. This bird gave us the run around and was a tricky bird to pin down as it remained grounded for long periods. 

Barred Warbler: These large grey winter warblers are regular, annual autumn migrants to Shetland, particularly during late August through October, with sightings often reported around coastal bushes, gardens, and urban areas.

Common Rosefinch: The barred warbler and this grotfinch was found in the same area, not far from the large lake in the centre of Lerwick. We visited this area a few times, especially towards the end of the trip when things started to quiet down.

Ortolan Bunting:  Another good bird we saw was this Ortolan, again this was a tricky bird to see, not only was the crowd large and viewing area small, but the bird remained grounded deep in the vegetation. 

Orca: We also got the chance to see my first ever orca.  These brilliant killer whales are regularly seen in Shetland, particularly along the northern and western coasts, with sightings possible at any time of year, though they are more commonly spotted during certain seasons.