8th June 2026 Unst SW3 Rain clearing

A flock of 4 Goosander flying south at Skaw were a pleasant surprise being the first I've seen this year. Flushing a Quail twice was also notable being a species I've seldom seen.

Skaw: 4 Goodsander, Quail, Sedge Warbler & Chiffchaff.

Goosanders flying south at Skaw

Quail at Skaw

7th June 2026 Unst SSE3 Fog clearing

It was nice to find my first Marsh Warbler of the year.

Skaw: Marsh Warbler.

Norwick: Pied Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff & 2 Tree Sparrow.

Marsh Warbler at Skaw

6th June 2026 Unst

I was pleased to hear a Golden Oriole both calling and singing whilst taking a look at Norwick this morning. A sound recording here.

5th June 2026 Unst

A short video of Louis's Red-throated Pipit at Norwick beach here.

Red-throated Pipit at Norwick

4th June 2026 SSE3 Fog

Norwick: Swallow, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Tree Sparrow & 2 Redpoll.

3rd June 2026 Unst SW2 Fog

Skaw: Swallow, 3 House Martin & Spotted Flycatcher.

Norwick: 5 Sanderling, Blackcap , 2 Chiffchaff & Redwing.

NorthDale: Quail h.

Burrafirth: Osprey, Common Sandpiper & Chiffchaff.

1st June 2026 Unst SW2 Fog

Skaw: 2 Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Pacific Diver, 13 Collared Doves, female Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher & 3 Tree Sparrow.

Haroldswick: Knot, 2 Little Stints, 2 Sedge Warblers & Western Subalpine Warbler.

Male Western Subalpine Warbler at Haroldswick

Reassuringly short, bunched primary projection

Sound recording of it calling here. Comparison of sonograms of calls of Haroldswick, Troswick and a genetically confirmed Western Subalpine Warbler recorded at Quendale by Andrew Harrop. Some differences between the calls of the various taxa discussed here.

31st May 2026 Unst S2 Rain clearing

After the rain cleared a walk round Norwick produced a female Red-backed Shrike. As as the light rain commenced late afternoon we found a male Western Subalpine Warbler in Haroldswick.

Female Red-backed Shrike at Norwick

Male Western Subalpine Warbler at Haroldswick

30th May 2026 Unst W3 Fog

Norwick: Pacific Diver.

Baliasta Loch of Cliff: Great Crested Grebe.

29th May 2026 Unst W3 Partly cloudy

Skaw: Lesser Whitethroat & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Pacific Diver, Quail h, Sanderling, Icterine Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

NorthDale: Willow Warbler. Painted Lady.

Burrafirth: Common Sandpiper.

Pacific Diver off Norwick

28th May 2026 Unst SSE3 Partly overcast

Norwick: Pacific Diver, 9 Collared Dove, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler & 2 Tree Sparrow.

27th May 2026 Unst W3 Partly overcast clearing

Relocated the Pacific Diver off Skaw from where is swam/drifted in the direction of Lamba Ness before again appearing off Norwick.

Skaw: Pacific Diver (same below), 6 Swallows & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Pacific Diver (same above), 2 Sandwich Terns, Grey Wagtail,  Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff.

Pacific Diver off Norwick.

26th May 2026 Unst W5 Partly overcast

Norwick: Pacific Diver, 7 Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Linnet, 4 Siskin & 2 Tree Sparrow.

Pacific Diver off Norwick

An interesting Diver seen distantly off Norwick this evening. Watched for 7 minutes swimming east towards open water it showed features consistent with Pacific Diver. Namely the bill size and shape, pale nape, something of a dark vent strap and the lack of a white flank patch...

24th May 2026 Unst WSW3 Partly overcast

Norwick: 2cy Continental Cormorant, Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff & 3 Redpoll.

Skaw: Great Northern Diver, Swallow & Garden Warbler.

Haroldswick: Little Egret.

Common Redstart at Norwick

2cy Continental Cormorant at Norwick

23rd May 2026 Unst SW3 Overcast

Norwick: Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 7 Collared Doves, Swallow, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (one singing), Willow Warbler & 2 Tree Sparrows.

Haroldswick: Kestrel, Swallow, Sand Martin, singing Sedge Warbler, Ring Ouzel, 2 Icelandic Redwing & 2 Redpoll.

Burrafirth: 2 Osprey, Kestrel, 2cy Cuckoo & Chiffchaff.

Female Ring Ouzel at Haroldswick

Icelandic Redwing at Haroldswick

Redpoll at Haroldswick

Ospreys at Burrafirth

2cy Common Cuckoo at Burrafirth

Little Egret at Norwick

22nd May 2026 Unst SSE2 Rain clearing

Skaw: 5 Swallows, 4 House Martins, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler

Norwick: Sparrowhawk, 6 Collared Doves, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Siskin & Brambling

NorthDale: Chiffchaff.

Burrafirth: Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, 3 Swallows, 

Haroldswick: 2 Common Sandpipers, Garden Warbler, singing Icterine Warbler, Siskin & 3 Redpoll.

Female Common Kestrel at Burrafirth

Icterine Warbler at Haroldswick

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