21st May 2026 Unst SW3 Partly overcast

Norwick: Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, 4 Woodpigeon, 5 Collared Dove, 5 Swallows, alba Wagtail, singing Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, singing Redwing, Redpoll h & Brambling.

Skaw: Pink-footed Goose, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Short-eared Owl, 5 Swallows, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler & Chaffinch.

Haroldswick: 9 Knot & Sedge Warbler.

Burravoe: 3 Swallows.

Common Whitethroat at Norwick

acredula Willow Warbler at Norwick

Short-eared Owl off Skaw

20th May 2026 Unst SE5 Rain clearing

It was back to work today, where I chanced upon a smart male Bluethroat. It was then a surprise that both Skaw and Norwick proved rather quiet.

Skaw: 2 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail, Black Redstart, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Snow Bunting.

Norwick: Marsh Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Brambling & 4 Tree Sparrow.

Male Bluethroat (red-spotted)

Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw

19th May 2026 Unst SE5 Overcast

Southeasterlies at last but a disappointing return for the day.

Skaw: House Martin & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: House Martin, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

Burrafirth: Common Sandpiper & 2 Chiffchaff.

Haroldswick: Marsh Harrier, 7 Knot & Sanderling.

NorthDale: Willow Warbler.

Knot at Haroldswick

Marsh Harrier at Haroldswick

18th May 2026 Unst S2 Partly overcast

Skaw: 2 Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Swallow, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Little Stint & 2 Knot.

Little Stint at Haroldswick

17th May 2026 Unst SW2 Partly cloudy

Norwick: Common Rosefinch.

Camb: singing Willow Warbler.

16th May 2026 Unst NW4 Showers

Norwick: 3Knot, White Wagtail, 2 Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Whimbrel, White Wagtail & Willow Warbler.

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657610818

15th May 2026 Unst NNW6 Rain

Norwick: Knot, Common Rosefinch & 4 Tree Sparrows.

Haroldswick: Knot.

14th May 2026 Unst N5 Partly overcast

Norwick: 15 Eider, Knot & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: White Wagtail.

2cy Common Rosefinch at Millfield

If my reading of Svensson is correct, the visible moult limit in the primaries ages it as a 2cy as the post-juvenile moult can include replacing 1-4 outer primaries.

13th May 2026 Unst Calm Occasional Showers

Skaw: Common Sandpiper, singing Sedge Warbler, Mealy Redpoll, Redpoll sp. & Snow Bunting.

Common Sandpiper at Skaw

Snow Bunting at Skaw

11th May 2026 Unst NW3 Overcast

Skaw: Short-eared Owl, Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & Snow Bunting.

Short-eared Owl at Skaw

Sedge Warbler at Skaw

Snow Bunting at Skaw

10th May 2026 Unst NW3 Wintry showers

Norwick: 21 Eider, 4 Woodpigeon, 2 Pied Wagtails, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff & 4 Tree Sparrows.

Sedge Warbler at Norwick

9th May 2026 Unst NW4 Showers

Norwick: 2 Arctic Terns, Chaffinch & 3 Tree Sparrows.

8th May 2026 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Arctic Tern & 4 Tree Sparrows.

7th May 2026 Unst SSE4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Whimbrel, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, Song Thrush & 2 Tree Sparrow.

6th May 2026 Unst W3 Showers

Another quiet day with the unfavourable winds and temperatures continuing. Robbie saved the day finding a redhead Smew on Belmont Loch - the first that we've seen on Unst.

Skaw: Arctic Skua, 2 Pied Wagtail & Redpoll.

Haroldswick: Black-tailed Godwit & Swallow.

Belmont: Smew.

Black-tailed Godwit at Haroldswick

the worn coverts and tertials point to it possibly being a 2cy individual

Smew at Belmont Loch

3rd May 2026 Unst WSW2 Overcast

Norwick: 2 Great Northern Diver, 8 Eider, Whimbrel, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

2nd May 2026 Unst NE4 Overcast

Norwick: Arctic Skua, Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

1st May 2026 Unst SW3 Light Cloud

Norwick: 17 Eider, 2 Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Whimbrel, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Siskin, Redpoll & Tree Sparrow.

Skaw: Great Northern Diver, Whimbrel, Pied Wagtail, White Wagtail, 2 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin, Chiffchaff & Chaffinch.

NorthDale: 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler

Burrafirth: White Wagtail, 3 Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

Pair of Shoveler at Norwick

Lesser Whitethroat at Norwick