Andrew Harrop
@ahjharrop.bsky.social
For sound recordings go to https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/HNYFHZLJOD
Here’s one at Marazion in ?1983, from a photo by the late Brian Field and found by Chris Heard (from memory). They were predictably regular then, but having said that it was still a bogey bird for Steve Madge at the time so not easy to see. #UKBirding
November 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Here’s one at Marazion in ?1983, from a photo by the late Brian Field and found by Chris Heard (from memory). They were predictably regular then, but having said that it was still a bogey bird for Steve Madge at the time so not easy to see. #UKBirding
Where are they now? More than 10 years on from the initial revelation, it still blows my mind that Shetland’s phalaropes winter in the Pacific (map from Brooke’s ‘Far From Land’). Yet they are short-distance migrants compared with Arctic Terns… #BirdingScotland
November 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Where are they now? More than 10 years on from the initial revelation, it still blows my mind that Shetland’s phalaropes winter in the Pacific (map from Brooke’s ‘Far From Land’). Yet they are short-distance migrants compared with Arctic Terns… #BirdingScotland
Here’s the adult male on Isle of May, 2nd October 1954, for comparison. #BirdingScotland
October 19, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Here’s the adult male on Isle of May, 2nd October 1954, for comparison. #BirdingScotland
Here it is again yesterday on Bressay at Kirkabister with Greylags. I'd like better views of head and bill, but note faint brown iron staining on head often shown by wild birds (see e.g. Reeber). #BirdingScotland
October 15, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Here it is again yesterday on Bressay at Kirkabister with Greylags. I'd like better views of head and bill, but note faint brown iron staining on head often shown by wild birds (see e.g. Reeber). #BirdingScotland
It occurred to me that I couldn't think of (m)any photos of Short-toed Larks with other species in the frame for size comparison. So here's one of the recent Yell bird (right) with a Meadow Pipit. #BirdingScotland
October 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It occurred to me that I couldn't think of (m)any photos of Short-toed Larks with other species in the frame for size comparison. So here's one of the recent Yell bird (right) with a Meadow Pipit. #BirdingScotland
Late September has brought the usual heady mix of brief rarities, misidentifications, and some scarce migrants. Numbers of many 'common' migrants have been low, the only real exceptions to date being Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit. #BirdingScotland
September 30, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Late September has brought the usual heady mix of brief rarities, misidentifications, and some scarce migrants. Numbers of many 'common' migrants have been low, the only real exceptions to date being Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit. #BirdingScotland
For those interested in these things, another variant, this time a ‘brown’ Starling near Cunningsburgh. Said to be quite a common variant, but perhaps overlooked. #BirdingScotland #ornithology
September 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
For those interested in these things, another variant, this time a ‘brown’ Starling near Cunningsburgh. Said to be quite a common variant, but perhaps overlooked. #BirdingScotland #ornithology
The last two days have brought a surge of migrants through south Mainland, Shetland. Personal highlights have included 124 Ruffs at Spiggie (the largest number I’ve seen for years), and a healthy scattering of Wrynecks like this one at Quendale. #BirdingScotland
September 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The last two days have brought a surge of migrants through south Mainland, Shetland. Personal highlights have included 124 Ruffs at Spiggie (the largest number I’ve seen for years), and a healthy scattering of Wrynecks like this one at Quendale. #BirdingScotland
A nice comparison between Black-throated (left) and Red-throated Divers at Quendale this morning. Black-throated has been regular in August at this site in recent years. #BirdingScotland
August 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
A nice comparison between Black-throated (left) and Red-throated Divers at Quendale this morning. Black-throated has been regular in August at this site in recent years. #BirdingScotland
July has mainly been about waders, but by far my most important discovery has been a breeding pair of Red-backed Shrikes in south Mainland (Shetland) which have now fledged young. You can listen to a recording here: xeno-canto.org/1019697 and others will follow in due course.
July 28, 2025 at 5:04 AM
July has mainly been about waders, but by far my most important discovery has been a breeding pair of Red-backed Shrikes in south Mainland (Shetland) which have now fledged young. You can listen to a recording here: xeno-canto.org/1019697 and others will follow in due course.
This white Starling which has been around Spiggie recently appears to be a true albino (most ‘white’ birds are leucistic). Albinos have poor eyesight, so it will be interesting to see how long it survives. #BirdingScotland #ornithology
July 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This white Starling which has been around Spiggie recently appears to be a true albino (most ‘white’ birds are leucistic). Albinos have poor eyesight, so it will be interesting to see how long it survives. #BirdingScotland #ornithology
The beginning and the end for two Arctic Terns at Scatness yesterday evening. The adult may have become prey for a Peregrine; if so it was unlucky, given how few Peregrines are in Shetland. #BirdingScotland
July 14, 2025 at 5:34 AM
The beginning and the end for two Arctic Terns at Scatness yesterday evening. The adult may have become prey for a Peregrine; if so it was unlucky, given how few Peregrines are in Shetland. #BirdingScotland
June: breeding bird surveys, which means mapping the impact of man and a paradoxical feeling of powerlessness. Also a few rare birds, though this one probably came by boat. #BirdingScotland
June 30, 2025 at 6:38 AM
June: breeding bird surveys, which means mapping the impact of man and a paradoxical feeling of powerlessness. Also a few rare birds, though this one probably came by boat. #BirdingScotland
Common Snipe plumage is variable, and some Shetland birds like this one on Out Skerries yesterday are quite heavily barred on the underparts. I’d be interested in how frequent similar birds are in Orkney and north mainland Scotland. #BirdingScotland
June 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Common Snipe plumage is variable, and some Shetland birds like this one on Out Skerries yesterday are quite heavily barred on the underparts. I’d be interested in how frequent similar birds are in Orkney and north mainland Scotland. #BirdingScotland
Oblivious to the taxonomic agonising of Homo sapiens, these Shetland Hooded Crows are getting on with living. Ground nesting is regular here, especially in heather. #BirdingScotland
June 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Oblivious to the taxonomic agonising of Homo sapiens, these Shetland Hooded Crows are getting on with living. Ground nesting is regular here, especially in heather. #BirdingScotland
After previously seeing birds in north Yell and central Mainland, today a group of three in south Mainland at Exnaboe included this ‘yellow’ male. #BirdingScotland
June 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
After previously seeing birds in north Yell and central Mainland, today a group of three in south Mainland at Exnaboe included this ‘yellow’ male. #BirdingScotland
I have doubts about some interpretations of Crossbill call types, but they offer a useful avenue of study. The current influx into Shetland (e.g. 25 at Kergord) have been giving N6 type calls which I last recorded here in June 2021. #BirdingScotland
June 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I have doubts about some interpretations of Crossbill call types, but they offer a useful avenue of study. The current influx into Shetland (e.g. 25 at Kergord) have been giving N6 type calls which I last recorded here in June 2021. #BirdingScotland
Despite the excitement elsewhere in Shetland, my walk round Clevigarth and back yesterday revealed nothing more unusual than Quail. A pair of Fulmars in a ruined croft allowed me to admire the curiously opaque quality of their egg. #BirdingScotland
June 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Despite the excitement elsewhere in Shetland, my walk round Clevigarth and back yesterday revealed nothing more unusual than Quail. A pair of Fulmars in a ruined croft allowed me to admire the curiously opaque quality of their egg. #BirdingScotland
Ground-nesting is new to me and merits documenting. I suppose you could argue that there are parallels with e.g. crows which do so widely in Shetland. Wood Pigeons now breed quite commonly in Shetland, and will be running out of sites like this typical English example.
May 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Ground-nesting is new to me and merits documenting. I suppose you could argue that there are parallels with e.g. crows which do so widely in Shetland. Wood Pigeons now breed quite commonly in Shetland, and will be running out of sites like this typical English example.
A visit to Poland as respite from cataloguing decline resulted in mixed feelings. Bialowieza, though dry, was wonderful and packed with birds. Biebrza is badly affected by drought, making some species difficult to find. We did enjoy two sightings of Wolf, as well as Elk and Bison.
May 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
A visit to Poland as respite from cataloguing decline resulted in mixed feelings. Bialowieza, though dry, was wonderful and packed with birds. Biebrza is badly affected by drought, making some species difficult to find. We did enjoy two sightings of Wolf, as well as Elk and Bison.
This Scaup x Tufted at Spiggie recently, apparently paired with a female Scaup, is presumably of Icelandic origin. Although F1 hybrids are relatively distinctive, any offspring may be more problematical. #BirdingScotland #BirdHybrid
April 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
This Scaup x Tufted at Spiggie recently, apparently paired with a female Scaup, is presumably of Icelandic origin. Although F1 hybrids are relatively distinctive, any offspring may be more problematical. #BirdingScotland #BirdHybrid
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the mild conditions, these Raven chicks in south Mainland Shetland are on the early side. The population here seems to benefit from sheep farming and numerous rabbits. #BirdingScotland
April 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the mild conditions, these Raven chicks in south Mainland Shetland are on the early side. The population here seems to benefit from sheep farming and numerous rabbits. #BirdingScotland
Spring Meadow Pipits can be colourful - they have been misidentified as Red-throated - and this bird at Scatness is a fine example. Whatever their colour, they must look out for their prime predator the Merlin. #BirdingScotland
April 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Spring Meadow Pipits can be colourful - they have been misidentified as Red-throated - and this bird at Scatness is a fine example. Whatever their colour, they must look out for their prime predator the Merlin. #BirdingScotland
Possibly worth flagging that I have recently discovered two dead Great Northerns. Of birds tested by Jen Clark and colleagues, we are still waiting on the results for one of these whilst Whooper and Puffin were both negative for HPAI. #BirdingScotland
April 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Possibly worth flagging that I have recently discovered two dead Great Northerns. Of birds tested by Jen Clark and colleagues, we are still waiting on the results for one of these whilst Whooper and Puffin were both negative for HPAI. #BirdingScotland
Always a highlight, Bluetails seem to benefit from warm springs, and this bird discovered by Roger Riddington in the magic garden at Grutness was my first in Britain in spring. #BirdingScotland
April 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Always a highlight, Bluetails seem to benefit from warm springs, and this bird discovered by Roger Riddington in the magic garden at Grutness was my first in Britain in spring. #BirdingScotland