Summer migrants move in as winter birds leave
Last week a steady trickle of summer migrants moved into the North Isles.The first day of April produced a stock dove and pied wagtail at…
READ FULL STORYStories tagged with Tag: Wildernews
Sweet song of spring skylark
It wasn’t very encouraging to be greeted by a whiteout on the day the clocks went onto summer time. And it wasn’t too good for…
READ FULL STORYAncient woodlands lie buried, but trees return
Shetland seems bare and bleak to many visitors. Glaciated sloping hills, exposed cliffs and miles of moorland contrast with familiar comfortable landscapes of tree lined…
READ FULL STORYOn the wing mallies return in numbers to take up residence in breeding season
Fulmars are around Shetland for much of the year, but now their numbers are starting to build up prior to the breeding season. Although a…
READ FULL STORYRain geese heard yodelling in firth
Spring certainly sprang last week – skylarks and wrens were singing, oystercatchers and lapwings displaying, and the first rain geese heard “yodelling” in the firth….
READ FULL STORYPink-footed visitor arrives to join Sandwick tundra resident
The tundra bean goose was still at Sandwick this week, along with a pink-footed goose. The darker head and neck, along with dark grey upper…
READ FULL STORYA convincing nest out of funny leaves
Readers may remember the “stick with legs” which neighbours’ children brought round a short while ago. The curiosity turned out to be a Caddis fly…
READ FULL STORYSigns of spring start to appear
Twite are attractive, restless finches, usually seen in small flocks feeding on seeds on arable and cultivated land. Closely related to the common linnet, the…
READ FULL STORYGarganey is earliest visitor
There was a really spring-like feel in the air at the end of last week, with a few migrants coming in to liven up the…
READ FULL STORYFeisty goings on in swan lochs
Last year a pair of mute swans spent a lot of time on the lochs at Uyeasound, Unst. They didn’t look to be fully mature…
READ FULL STORYGathering pebbles may be great fun, but never turn your back to the sea
The route across Muckle Roe to the Hams is a great favourite among Shetland’s best walks. I have been lucky enough to take the track…
READ FULL STORYReturn of mis-named oystercatcher
Oystercatchers are back in force now. They are one of my favourite waders – showy and extrovert, with their piebald plumage and ringing calls. We…
READ FULL STORYUp to 20,000 starlings across the isles
Most of the over 100 species of starlings are found in tropical Africa and South East Asia, but a few species breed in temperate regions,…
READ FULL STORYLearning about stick insects, masters of their niche in damp places
Sticks are sticks and legs are legs, but you don’t expect to find one growing out of the other. That is exactly what my visitors…
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