23rd March 2025 Unst SSE5 Hazy

The ongoing south-easterlies finally produced a few hoped-for early-season Spring migrants that saw us see five species for the first time on Unst this year.

Holsens road: Woodpigeon, Black Redstart & Mistle Thrush,

Skaw: Stonechat, Robin, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Siskin.

Norwick: Woodpigeon, Black Redstart, Robin, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & 3 Chaffinch. 

Uyeasound: c.400 Long-tailed Duck, second-cycle Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull.

Caldback: Meadow Pipit & Carrion Crow.

Black Redstart along Holsens road

The earliest date in the year that I've recorded the species on Unst beating my previous earliest date of 30th March.

Mistle Thrush along Holsens road

Seen during March in three previous Springs with the 17th March being the earliest date in a year.

Chiffchaff at Skaw

Seen during March in all but one year since living on Unst with the earliest date in a year being the 17th March.

Goldcrest at Skaw

Male Black Redstart at Norwick

Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull at Uyeasound

Meadow Pipit at Caldback

22nd March 2025 Unst SSE7 Hazy with rain arriving

Whilst it's obviously still very early Spring in Shetland, considering the south-easterly airflow, it was a disappointment that we failed to see anything more than the lingering Stonechat at Skaw and Woodpigeon at Norwick before the forecast rain duly arrived. During the wet and windy conditions thereafter, we did see 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Norwick beach.

Male Stonechat at Skaw

21st March 2025 Unst SSE5 Hazy

With something of a south-easterly airflow we checked a few sites that produced a male Stonechat at Skaw and a Woodpigeon & 5 Chaffinches at Norwick.

Harry Britton has kindly forwarded the ringing details of the colour-ringed Twite seen at Valyie on the 15th March. It was ringed on Bressay on the 9th December 2024.

20th March 2025 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

A day spent gardening but the first Sparrowhawk I've seen on Unst this year and the first 2 Chaffinches we've seen in our garden this year hinted at a few new arrivals.

18th March 2025 Unst SW2 Clear

A visit to Uyeasound produced 1,000 Long-tailed Duck with 550 present on Easter Loch. The second-cycle Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull was still present.

Second-cylcle Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull at Uyeasound

17th March 2025 Lunna, mainland Shetland SW3 Clear

Completing a Great Northern Diver survey from Lunna revealed a mark decline in the numbers present compared to my previous visit on the 13th, but rather ironically, produced my first White-billed Diver of the year being an adult in transitional plumage.

15th March 2025 Unst W5 Overcast

Nicer weather than forecast, so we completed the Twite survey around Norwick that included a colour-ringed individual that has been seen by others over the last fortnight and a singing Goldcrest.

Singing male Goldcrest at Norwick

the earliest date in the year that I've seen the species on Unst.

Colour-ringed Twite at Norwick

The colour-combination appeared to be an orange ring above a pink ring on the left leg and a yellow/orange ring above a metal ring on its right leg. It was first seen by Frank Josephs on the 27th February.