Wildlife sightings in Shetland have included Bonaparte’s gull, kingfisher, mandarin duck, white-tailed eagle, marsh harrier, hen harrier...
The populations of great spotted woodpeckers which breed in northern parts of Europe are irruptive, migrating if food is scarce.
During the breeding season, the great spotted woodpecker feeds on insects, but it switches to foraging mainly on fruit, seeds and nuts during the autumn and winter.
Irruptions from northern Europe occur when, after a successful breeding season, there are food shortages in autumn. Poor crops of spruce and pine seeds in the northern boreal forests can force the less experienced juvenile birds to move elsewhere as they are unable to compete with the adults in finding scarce food.
During the breeding season, the great spotted woodpecker feeds on insects, but it switches to foraging mainly on fruit, seeds and nuts during the autumn and winter.
Irruptions from northern Europe occur when, after a successful breeding season, there are food shortages in autumn. Poor crops of spruce and pine seeds in the northern boreal forests can force the less experienced juvenile birds to move elsewhere as they are unable to compete with the adults in finding scarce food.