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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

The weather beat me today but I managed to come across this stunning Long eared Owl before I headed home.

Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Yellow-browed Warbler numbers have been relatively poor this Autumn and most of them have been quite elusive. This one put on a show today at Leagarth.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Found this Olive-backed Pipit at Funzie Willows this afternoon

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Managed to see 3 Merlins today… and a few thousand Redwings!

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Hummingbird hawk-moth at Funzie this morning

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Peregrine is still a scarce bird on the patch, this one found between Tresta and Northdale today

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Better weather and better views of the RBFly today

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A combination of seriously strong winds and a very elusive bird meant it took me an hour to get a few brief glimpses of this Red-breasted Flycatcher, at Tresta, today (found late afternoon yesterday by John Sweeney)

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Originally found on Tuesday (by Andy Cook) this Turtle Dove has been extremely elusive since. I’d seen it twice but only from distance and, more often than not, in flight, until today. I re-found it among a flock of c30 Rock Doves on Houbie beach.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Merlin and a couple of Ruff were the best I could find today

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Pied Flycatcher at Northdale and a distant Grey Plover at Funzie (quite possibly the regular returning bird)

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Barred Warbler at Funzie and a Spot Fly in my garden.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

A young juvenile Stonechat at Northdale mires, this afternoon.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Great Northern Diver, off Brough jetty, today.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Almost forgot, found a Snipe nest too

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

A more than decent day. Two Quails (the island is jumping with them) Water Rail, Redpoll, RTDivers, RNPhals, dozens of recently fledged Wheatears and the Ruddy Shelduck which was back after going AWOL for a couple of days.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

None of it standing, other than in long grass but this shows the underwing

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Ruddy Shelduck this afternoon (found by Simon Roddis) It took a long time to relocate it. I’m told it’s the second record for Shetland.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Rosy Starling found yesterday (on Lambhoga) by Tom Rosas and (presumably the same bird) relocated today by Calum Scott @aberladybirder.bsky.social The light was poor at 8pm when I finally found it (and it was distant) but it’s a very smart bird.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Lovely to see this Short-eared Owl hunting today before perching up to dry out.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

In the absence of any scarce birds a trio of Otters entertained me. Within a minute of entering the sea they were all out again with various prey items.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The Shrike remained in the same area today, somewhat less flighty than yesterday.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Female RBShrike today (found by Nat) near the Island Hall, it made its way to my garden before heading back to the original location.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Found a Rosefinch this afternoon at Tresta

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I don't encounter Otters every day so this one was a welcome sight at low tide

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Walking back to my car I heard a familiar “pik-pik” call and these two dropped onto the loch, right in front of me.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Red Necked Phalarope numbers are on the increase, including my first males of the year.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

It’s taken me 10 years to see this behaviour! A pair of Red-throated Divers mating on the shore of a small lochan.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

My first Phal of the season, brightening up a rainy day.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

This belter is still in the Funzie area, hopefully it will be leaving soon for its breeding grounds. The American Wigeon continued its stay, on Papil Water today.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Whimbrel calling from almost every corner of the island now, these were just outside my garden

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

A real treat today, seeing (and hearing) Dunlin displaying, on the mires

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The American Wigeon was mobile today, seen at Houbie Mires and occasionally on Papil Water.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Nice American Wigeon on Houbie Mires this afternoon.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Great Northern Divers are starting to look very smart

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Watched these Snipe for ages today, fabulous birds

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

The Grey Plover is looking stunning now, still in the Funzie area.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Always distant but the long staying (since Oct 19th) Grey Plover is on the cusp of breeding plumage. It’s going to be a stunner (heavily cropped pics from ~350m away)

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Thanks, it was there again today but still quite distant.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

The Hen Harrier was at Dullens again today, unfortunately always fairly distant.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

A distant Hen Harrier at Dullens today, in less than optimal conditions. Presumably the same bird I found there on 19 Feb.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

19 Barnacle Geese at Funzie this afternoon

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Always special to see an Otter. The Octopus put up a fight, but not for long!

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The Grey Plover is still hanging on at Funzie, been present since October.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Finally got in on the ‘White-front’ action at Aith today. The long staying Grey Plover continues to move around the Funzie area with the Goldie flock.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Not a lot to get excited about locally but this Grey Plover has been hanging around the Funzie area, since October.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

It was barely light, hence the terrible pic, but a Water Rail in the garden was a nice start to the day.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

This Long-eared Owl left the area some time ago. Here's a shot of it perched.

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Paul Macklam @colonelbirder.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Two Tree Sparrows at Tresta were a surprise find today. Patch gold!

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