31st August 2025 Unst SE3 Fog

A Barred Warbler in our garden.

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

29th August 2025 Unst SE3 Fog clearing

Skaw: Merlin, Marsh Warbler & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Goldeneye, Swallow & Willow Warbler.

Marsh Warbler at Skaw

a recording of a series of calls here

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.

27th August 2025 Unst SW4 Overcast

Skaw: Marsh Warbler.

5th August 2025 Unst NW6 Overcast

As storm Floris had made landfall overnight I sea-watched for a couple of hours.

Skaw: Storm Petrel c.20N

Storm Petrel & Gannet flying north past Skaw

Black Guillemot & Storm Petrel off Skaw