Whilst standing outside our house at Bakkasetter during the evening of 17th September 2020, I noticed a bird with a bounding flight approaching, which then landed on a big telegraph pole close to our front door. I was delighted/stunned/ bewildered (delete as applicable) to see it was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. It quickly flew off in the direction of Loch of Spiggie, and a search of the immediate area drew a blank. Next day, however, it was back, and after investigating the big wooden post at the bottom of our garden, it found the peanut feeders and stayed until 22nd September. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are scarce birds in Shetland, with no sightings at all during some years. It is always strange seeing them here, particularly when they end up in areas like Bakkasetter, where there are no big trees.
