18th September 2021 Unst SSW2 Overcast

This strangest of Autumn continues as overnight rain combined with a strong southeasterly airflow replaced by virtually calm dry conditions from dawn seemed about as good as you could possibly hope for... but, during a walk around Skaw and out to the headland I saw 2 Grey Herons arriving from the north and heard just a single overflying Siskin! Lamba Ness was still playing host to the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper but otherwise I only saw 2 Siskins there. A return along Holsens road then produced a surprise flock of 11 Chaffinches - the first I've seen this Autumn. Valyie had retained its Yellow-browed Warbler and whilst walking out a flock of 27 Chaffinches appeared. Next stop was NorthDale that produced my first Dunnock of the Autumn and a flock of 40 Chaffinches. With the weather window for passerine migrants soon set to close for a while perhaps they'll all arrive - I have my doubts, but we'll see...!

Skaw: 2 Grey Heron & Siskin heard.

Lamba Ness: juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper & 2 Siskin.

Holsens road: 11 Chaffinches.

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow-browed Warbler, Willow Warbler, 27 Chaffinches & 3 Siskin.

NorthDale: Dunnock, Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 40 Chaffinches & 4 Mealy Redpolls.

Burrafirth: Wigeon, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chaffinches.

Haroldswick: Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinches & Siskin.

Snipe sp. at Norwick

On flushing a Snipe at Norwick its flight call sounded significantly longer, purer and less grating than the typical abrupt flight call of a Common Snipe. I raised my bins but cognisant of recent events on North Ron quickly switched to the camera as it's underwings looked rather dark... The Snipe called another 10 times or so and the whole series of calls never varied. It flew c.500m crossed the deep wide burn and I decided not to go in pursuit. Looking at the resultant images (unaltered above) it's difficult to see any hint of a white trailing edge to its underwing and only narrow white tips to its greater underwing coverts. Identification of Wilson's and Common Snipe BB Vol 101 189-200 concluded there's no discernible difference in flight calls but the underwing pattern is intriguing...

Chaffinches at Norwick

Dunnock at NorthDale