Adrian Kettle
@akettle.bsky.social
Birder on Yell in Shetland.
We have still got 3 Blue Tits knocking around Mid Yell. But even more of a surprise on freezing northerlies, hail and snow was a Great White Egret on Mid Yell voe. #shetlandbirding
November 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
We have still got 3 Blue Tits knocking around Mid Yell. But even more of a surprise on freezing northerlies, hail and snow was a Great White Egret on Mid Yell voe. #shetlandbirding
Another shopping trip to Lerwick, Tesco was closed due to a power cut!
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
November 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Another shopping trip to Lerwick, Tesco was closed due to a power cut!
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
Gave me a chance to look for the long staying Kingfisher. Which I saw briefly after a phone call to get directions for where its exact location might be.
Also 3 Siberian CC, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch & Water Rail #shetlandbirding
The last couple of weeks has seen good numbers of Siberian CC with a few Common CC mixed in.
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
November 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The last couple of weeks has seen good numbers of Siberian CC with a few Common CC mixed in.
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
This Sibe was photographed in Mid Yell yesterday. #shetlandbirding
Had a couple of hours birding late PM on Yell today.
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Had a couple of hours birding late PM on Yell today.
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
Managed 3 Blue Tits, 2 fem Northern Bullfinch, 5 Siberian & 1 CC, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk and a fem Common Scoter.
Then at last knockings found a Pallas’s Warbler, strangely scarce on Shetland, whilst checking a flock of 50+ Twite #shetlandbirding
2/2 After seeing the geese a quick trip down to Sandwick to see a Dusky Warbler, worked out well. #shetlandbirding
November 5, 2025 at 9:40 PM
2/2 After seeing the geese a quick trip down to Sandwick to see a Dusky Warbler, worked out well. #shetlandbirding
Another trip to Lerwick for supplies and at last managed to get some photos of the Taiga Bean goose on a sports field! with a Pinkfoot. 1/2 #shetlandbirding
November 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Another trip to Lerwick for supplies and at last managed to get some photos of the Taiga Bean goose on a sports field! with a Pinkfoot. 1/2 #shetlandbirding
Good day around central Yell yesterday. Best was Yells 2nd Firecrest in Mid Yell,2 Northern Bullfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 4 Siberian CC, 1 CC and 2 Water Rails. #shetlandbirding
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Good day around central Yell yesterday. Best was Yells 2nd Firecrest in Mid Yell,2 Northern Bullfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, 4 Siberian CC, 1 CC and 2 Water Rails. #shetlandbirding
To say the weather has been a bit challenging today is rather an understatement!
But the 3 Northern LTT still on Yell. Will they stay until we get a day with some daylight?
Love the yellow eyeshadow! #shetlandbirding
But the 3 Northern LTT still on Yell. Will they stay until we get a day with some daylight?
Love the yellow eyeshadow! #shetlandbirding
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
To say the weather has been a bit challenging today is rather an understatement!
But the 3 Northern LTT still on Yell. Will they stay until we get a day with some daylight?
Love the yellow eyeshadow! #shetlandbirding
But the 3 Northern LTT still on Yell. Will they stay until we get a day with some daylight?
Love the yellow eyeshadow! #shetlandbirding
Managed slightly better photos of the 3 Northern Long tailed Tits at Sound Yell today. Also saw another bird, without a tail, found by Dougie Preston at Camb. #shetlandbirding
October 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Managed slightly better photos of the 3 Northern Long tailed Tits at Sound Yell today. Also saw another bird, without a tail, found by Dougie Preston at Camb. #shetlandbirding
Other birds on Yell today included a surprise Great White Egret an expected Jack Snipe and a very pale Redpoll, doesn’t look like an Arctic to me. Another Moorhen today along with large numbers of thrushes kept the interest up. #shetlandbirding
October 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Other birds on Yell today included a surprise Great White Egret an expected Jack Snipe and a very pale Redpoll, doesn’t look like an Arctic to me. Another Moorhen today along with large numbers of thrushes kept the interest up. #shetlandbirding
Right, before you judge my photos, it was a last ditch attempt in near dark! Taken at 16000 iso, to be fair they are better than I was expecting! Found by a local resident outside his house on the road verge!
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Right, before you judge my photos, it was a last ditch attempt in near dark! Taken at 16000 iso, to be fair they are better than I was expecting! Found by a local resident outside his house on the road verge!
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
Yesterday there was an arrival of birds on Yell. Jackdaws, Moorhen (only 2nd I’ve seen on here) Bramblings, Blackcaps and Redwings were the main arrivals. But 2 Greenfinch (rare on here) YBW & juv Peregrine.
Then a quick trip to Brig o Fitch Black faced Bunting! #shetlandbirding
Then a quick trip to Brig o Fitch Black faced Bunting! #shetlandbirding
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Yesterday there was an arrival of birds on Yell. Jackdaws, Moorhen (only 2nd I’ve seen on here) Bramblings, Blackcaps and Redwings were the main arrivals. But 2 Greenfinch (rare on here) YBW & juv Peregrine.
Then a quick trip to Brig o Fitch Black faced Bunting! #shetlandbirding
Then a quick trip to Brig o Fitch Black faced Bunting! #shetlandbirding
Today started with 5 NW Redpolls at Windhouse and ended with a Rosefinch (found by Tracy) in our garden. With basically nothing in between despite trying, honest! #shetlandbirding
October 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Today started with 5 NW Redpolls at Windhouse and ended with a Rosefinch (found by Tracy) in our garden. With basically nothing in between despite trying, honest! #shetlandbirding
100’s of these By the wind Sailors on West Sandwick beach Yell today. #shetlandbirding
October 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
100’s of these By the wind Sailors on West Sandwick beach Yell today. #shetlandbirding
Of course there was also the Siberian Thrush that has taken up residence at Asta on mainland Shetland. #shetlandbirding
October 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Of course there was also the Siberian Thrush that has taken up residence at Asta on mainland Shetland. #shetlandbirding
Back on Unst Blackpoll Warbler and Glossy Ibis. A very vocal Red breasted Fly on Yell and a distant Western Sub-alpine Warbler on mainland Shetland. Just a few of many highlights so far this autumn.
October 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Back on Unst Blackpoll Warbler and Glossy Ibis. A very vocal Red breasted Fly on Yell and a distant Western Sub-alpine Warbler on mainland Shetland. Just a few of many highlights so far this autumn.
A couple of posts of birds photographed on Shetland this October so far. 7 Glossy Ibis , Hornemann’s Redpoll, Bluethroat and a roadside bunting that really should have been something rarer! All on Unst. #shetlandbirding
October 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A couple of posts of birds photographed on Shetland this October so far. 7 Glossy Ibis , Hornemann’s Redpoll, Bluethroat and a roadside bunting that really should have been something rarer! All on Unst. #shetlandbirding
Day on Unst yesterday. Citrine Wagtail, 2 Rosefinch with Brambling & Chaffinch arriving.
Also a ridiculously elusive Radde’s Warbler.
Mealy & Hornemann’s Redpoll.
Then the Glossy ibis, 1 flew from Haroldswick beach whilst relocating it another 6 flew in to make a flock of 7! #shetlandbirding
Also a ridiculously elusive Radde’s Warbler.
Mealy & Hornemann’s Redpoll.
Then the Glossy ibis, 1 flew from Haroldswick beach whilst relocating it another 6 flew in to make a flock of 7! #shetlandbirding
September 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Day on Unst yesterday. Citrine Wagtail, 2 Rosefinch with Brambling & Chaffinch arriving.
Also a ridiculously elusive Radde’s Warbler.
Mealy & Hornemann’s Redpoll.
Then the Glossy ibis, 1 flew from Haroldswick beach whilst relocating it another 6 flew in to make a flock of 7! #shetlandbirding
Also a ridiculously elusive Radde’s Warbler.
Mealy & Hornemann’s Redpoll.
Then the Glossy ibis, 1 flew from Haroldswick beach whilst relocating it another 6 flew in to make a flock of 7! #shetlandbirding
The Short toed Lark at Otterswick, Yell showed better today in the sun as well! #birdingshetland
September 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The Short toed Lark at Otterswick, Yell showed better today in the sun as well! #birdingshetland
Back on Unst today this time for an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler at Houlland. It showed very well but I unfortunately didn’t hear it call. Back on Yell a Short toed Lark, found by @rogerriddington.bsky.social was very flighty at Otterswick. #birdingshetland
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Back on Unst today this time for an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler at Houlland. It showed very well but I unfortunately didn’t hear it call. Back on Yell a Short toed Lark, found by @rogerriddington.bsky.social was very flighty at Otterswick. #birdingshetland
Bit of a strange day, started with a Ring necked Duck at Tingwall then a Med Gull at Gremista. Just heading home across Yell when a message of a PG Tips on Unst came through, would be rude not to!
A skulking bird as per type but showed ok with patience.
High iso shots. #birdingshetland
A skulking bird as per type but showed ok with patience.
High iso shots. #birdingshetland
September 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Bit of a strange day, started with a Ring necked Duck at Tingwall then a Med Gull at Gremista. Just heading home across Yell when a message of a PG Tips on Unst came through, would be rude not to!
A skulking bird as per type but showed ok with patience.
High iso shots. #birdingshetland
A skulking bird as per type but showed ok with patience.
High iso shots. #birdingshetland
A few migrants arrived overnight with Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (only the 2nd I’ve seen on Yell) and Pintail were year ticks. Other arrivals were 3 flighty White Wagtails and 17 Whoopers. #birdingshetland
September 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A few migrants arrived overnight with Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (only the 2nd I’ve seen on Yell) and Pintail were year ticks. Other arrivals were 3 flighty White Wagtails and 17 Whoopers. #birdingshetland
For the second time in 24hours I’ve had to evacuate the car rapidly with camera settings all wrong to grab some shots of a bird of prey. This juvenile Honey Buzzard at Windhouse, Yell this morning. Last seen mobbed by a Merlin! #birdingshetland
September 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
For the second time in 24hours I’ve had to evacuate the car rapidly with camera settings all wrong to grab some shots of a bird of prey. This juvenile Honey Buzzard at Windhouse, Yell this morning. Last seen mobbed by a Merlin! #birdingshetland
Managed to get onto this juvenile Red Kite at Graven north mainland as I was on the way home from a shopping tip! Info came out at just the right time despite directions being wrong! Originally found by Logan Johnson yesterday a few miles away. #birdingshetland
September 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Managed to get onto this juvenile Red Kite at Graven north mainland as I was on the way home from a shopping tip! Info came out at just the right time despite directions being wrong! Originally found by Logan Johnson yesterday a few miles away. #birdingshetland
A couple of random things from Yell.
A sheep x gazelle hybrid!
A four butterfly day, with Red Admiral, Large White, Painted Lady and a Shetland tick for me a Peacock! #birdingshetland
A sheep x gazelle hybrid!
A four butterfly day, with Red Admiral, Large White, Painted Lady and a Shetland tick for me a Peacock! #birdingshetland
September 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A couple of random things from Yell.
A sheep x gazelle hybrid!
A four butterfly day, with Red Admiral, Large White, Painted Lady and a Shetland tick for me a Peacock! #birdingshetland
A sheep x gazelle hybrid!
A four butterfly day, with Red Admiral, Large White, Painted Lady and a Shetland tick for me a Peacock! #birdingshetland