30th August 2025 Pelagic NW of Fethaland, Shetland

Very many thanks to Will Miles and Phil Harris & Rebecca Nason (Shetland Seabird Tours) for organising and supplying equipment including Kite Optics image-stabilised binoculars for another very enjoyable pelagic trip off northwest Shetland.

Wilson's Petrel, c.30 Storm Petrels, Great Shearwater, c.6 Sooty Shearwaters, Puffin, c.15 Great Skuas, 5 Arctic Skuas & 2cy Little Gull.

Great Shearwater off Fethaland

Wilson's Petrel off Fethaland

Sooty Shearwater off Fethaland

28th August 2025 Unst SE4 Fog clearing

Skaw: Marsh Warbler & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: 7 Knot, 5 Swallows & Willow Warbler.

Marsh Warbler at Skaw

Calling frequently, it enabled me to obtain a recording of what's oft-described as the species 'alarm call'. To my mind, it's very similar to that of a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Here's a sonogram of the above recording with some comparison sonograms from xeno-canto:

Sonogram of calls of Marsh Warbler at Skaw

Sonogram of calls of a Marsh Warbler recorded in Ukraine

Sonogram of a call of a Blyth's Reed Warbler recorded in Finland

The very different, so-called 'tscheck' alarm call of a Reed Warbler recorded in Sweden.

12th May 2025 Unst N2 Overcast

After a run of clear skies with a south/south-easterly airflow, I was hopeful that awakening to overcast skies and a switch to a light northerly breeze might drop some migrants. A quick look around Norwick soon dashed those hopes, so nothing prepared me for then finding the UK's fourth Savannah Sparrow at Skaw!

Savannah Sparrow at Skaw

10th May 2025 Unst S2 Clear

Norwick: Sanderling, Tree Sparrow & Serin.

9th May 2025 Unst S3 Clear

Norwick: Common Whitethroat, male Common Crossbill & Serin.

Haroldswick: pale-bellied Brent Goose

Common Crossbill at Norwick

pale-bellied Brent Goose off Haroldswick

Male Serin at Millfield

8th May 2025 Unst W3 Overcast

I was fortunate to find a White-billed Diver that was close enough inshore off the Viking ship at Haroldswick to be seen whilst driving past.

Haroldswick: White-billed Diver.

White-billed Diver off Haroldswick

6th May 2025 Unst NW3 Overcast

Norwick: Common Sandpiper, 2 Swallows, 2 House Martins, Dunnock, 3 Chiffchaff, female Ring Ouzel, 4 Siskin, male Common Crossbill & singing Serin.

Dunnock at Norwick

Female Ring Ouzel at Norwick

Common Sandpiper at Norwick