I had been hoping for easterlies, but my disappointment was mitigated when I noticed a Buff-breasted Sandpiper flying over Exnaboe. Happily it landed and enabled me to get ‘proof’ (with Ruff in second image). Just 46 years since the last one I found in Shetland! #BirdingScotland

The RSPB bumblebird crop on Out Skerries today. Few migrants, but a Quail which presumably summered, Snipe still displaying so probably on second broods, and a Minke Whale on the crossing. #BirdingScotland

A productive day in Northumberland included eclipse male Mallard x Eider at Seahouses, ageing Caspian Gull at Amble, and Roseate Terns at Coquet where they have had a successful breeding season (155 pairs). #UKBirding

The Long-tailed Shrike at Eastleach was showing well this morning. Many thanks to the locals, whose management of parking was exemplary. #UKBirding

My daylight encounters with Tawny Owl are few and far between, so this one at Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire, was a rare treat. #UKBirding

Kinoulton church, south Notts, home to one of several successful Swift projects in the UK. If a fraction of what some people invest in fantasies of life on Mars were redirected to conserving life on Earth, we would be in a much better place. #UKBirding

An Arran Brown recently in Norway. Named following its claimed discovery on Arran in 1804, it is one of several butterflies for which there are historical records which lack any confirmed modern equivalent. See Salmon’s ’Aurelian Legacy’ and Eeles’ online ‘History of British Butterflies’.

Roof-nesting Kittiwakes in Tromsø, Norway, where they arrived as recently as 2015 and despite initial controversy have been accommodated partly by building Kittiwake hotels. Not enough to compensate for losses of former big colonies, but something. Also of interest to #UKBirding

Since seeing my first in Rutland in 2016, Purple Emperors have increased and are no longer difficult to find - here two of at least four at Pickworth Great Wood today. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

After a spring notable for low numbers of migrants, early June has brought a sprinkling of Marsh and Icterine Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes, including this male which graced our garden. #BirdingScotland

It is likely that we are overlooking Wilson’s Snipe in Scotland. Here’s a page of sonograms from Pieplow 2017 - something comparable for Europe would be really useful. #BirdingScotland

Nightjars are increasing in Shetland. For example in 2024 there were 13, mainly May-June but also one in October. This male at Grutness today wasn’t well-concealed and moved its position twice for no obvious reason. #BirdingScotland

Oystercatchers in Shetland quite often nest on posts, presumably to avoid sheep and some ground predators. Meanwhile in Venice, 7% of the population now use poles to avoid flooding (Avocetta 48: 2024). One for wadertales? #BirdingScotland #ornithology

Questions, questions. Thanks to Tim Birkhead we know that a pale Merlin egg in a 2023 clutch will have been laid after the others. But what about the browner egg in this Snipe clutch today? #BirdingScotland #ornithology

While some of our later migrants are still arriving, earlier breeders already have young: here Greylag (left) and Pied Wagtail. #BirdingScotland

My walk this morning began in 4 degrees and sleet, which must be a challenge for migrants and breeders alike. Nonetheless they are getting on with it: here are clutches of Greylag (left) and Snipe. #BirdingScotland

The closing days of April have brought a light passage of Whimbrel, which are now back on territory. Numbers of most passerine migrants have been low, but there have been some scarce migrants including Stone-curlew on Skerries (24th) and Great Egret at Brow (28th). #BirdingScotland

Hen Harriers and other raptors still being persecuted in the Yorkshire Dales (from current Craven Herald). You can sign a petition against this persecution at friendsofthedales.org.uk #UKBirding

Two examples from Scandinavia: a summer bird in Oslo, Norway (left) and a winter bird in Uppsala, Sweden (right). Most birds in Shetland during the recent influx more closely resembled the latter, though they may have come from further east. #BirdingScotland

Some reference material on Jackdaws before they disperse, from my paper in Birding World 13: 290-295. Differences between taxa are clinal; it was noted as long ago as The Handbook that some nominate are indistinguishable from British birds. #BirdingScotland

Despite sometimes being described as silent, Spoonbills have a variety of vocalisations including the 'ook' call which I recorded yesterday at Abberton Reservoir (sonogram below). A discussion about the use of this call can be found at www.globalflywaynetwork.org/gfn/wp-conte... #UKBirding

Highlights from Unst y’day included this elusive Bonaparte’s G (left bird both images), WB Diver, hearing and recording the deep grunts of Tundra Bean Goose, 400+ vocal LT Ducks, and Glaucous G (just my third this year). #BirdingScotland

Aesthetically at least, the stars of the show in recent days have been Russian White-fronts. The majority have been in south and central Mainland Shetland, but I’ve also seen them north to Aith and west to Walls. #BirdingScotland

There’s this if you haven’t seen it, though not everyone agreed with their findings.

Another Tundra Bean Goose, this time in the snow at Tingwall. For problems in distinguishing between Tundra Bean Goose subspecies from photographs, see Solovyeva et al. 2022 in Wildfowl (72: 152-163) which is accessible online. #BirdingScotland

This shy and elusive Tundra Bean Goose has been around Dunrossness for five weeks, though I’ve only seen it three times. Sometimes it looks quite long-billed, but here the comparison with Greylag is reasonably true. #BirdingScotland

This Canada Goose which I first saw on Out Skerries on 16 Jan may have come from the Norwegian feral population, which has proven exchanges with Shetland. Yesterday I discovered its corpse, which showed signs of predation by Otter. #BirdingScotland

The persistent easterlies and bitter cold of early February have brought a few new arrivals, including Mistle Thrush and a flurry of White-fronts. It’s always encouraging to see family groups, like this one at Exnaboe. #BirdingScotland

Tens of wintering Jackdaws currently in Shetland are likely to be northeastern birds. Note how the pale ‘half collar’ varies from prominent to absent. The underparts of many of these birds look quite dark. #BirdingScotland

Paul Bloomer’s exhibition at Shetland Museum has been extended to 28 February - well worth a look if you’re passing through for Up Helly Aa. #BirdingScotland