23rd October 2018 Unst NW5 Overcast clearing

A 3 hour seawatch from Lamba Ness produced a Storm Petrel flying north at 10.20am, a Bonxie, 30 Guillemots and a single blue Fulmar among the several thousand Fulmars that flew north this morning. A party of 7 Snow Buntings were on the headland, several Redwings were seen at Skaw and a Whinchat was present at Braeview. An afternoon walk to Valyie added a Long-eared Owl and a single Chiffchaff.

Snow Buntings at Lamba Ness

Bonxie passing Lamba Ness

blue Fulmar passing Lamba Ness

Redwing at Skaw

21st October 2018 Unst SW5 Overcast

The westerly winds continue and not surprisingly it feels migration is at a complete standstill with a walk to Valyie producing a Long-eared Owl, a Robin, the Dunnock, a Song Thrush, 15 Redwings, 4 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, the Mealy Redpoll and a Chaffinch. Late this afternoon a Jackdaw flew past our house.

Long-eared Owl at Norwick

20th October 2018 Unst SW4 Overcast

Skaw proved incredibly quiet with just a Chaffinch seen. A walk to Valyie produced a Peregrine, a Merlin, 2 Robins, the Dunnock, a Song Thrush, 25 Redwings, a Fieldfare, 3 Blackcaps, the Barred Warbler, the Yellow-browed Warbler, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, a Mealy Redpoll, 3 Chaffinches and 20 Brambling.

Mealy Redpoll at Norwick

Peregrine & Merlin at Norwick

19th October 2018 Unst SW4-5 Clear

Light intensity remained poor until nearly 9am this morning so the days are shortening fast. A walk to Valyie and back produced a now familiar line-up of species as I saw a Long-eared Owl, 2 Robins, the Whinchat, 25 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 5 Blackcaps, the Barred Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Goldcrests, a Chaffinch and 55 Brambling. NorthDale added a Robin, Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinches and 15 Brambling. At Haroldswick I saw a Blackcap and 20 Brambling. Easter Loch was playing host to 31 Whooper Swans, a single Mute Swan and 15 Goldeneye.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Valyie

Whinchat at Norwick

18th October 2018 Unst W4 Clear

A less windy start to the day was an improvement albeit the wind remains from an unhelpful direction. A walk to Valyie and back produced a Merlin, a Long-eared Owl, 3 Robins, 3 Song Thrushes, 20 Redwings, 5 Fieldfares, the Barred Warbler, 5 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinches, 10 Chaffinches and 50 Bramblings. A look around Haroldswick added a Dunnock, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Yellowhammer.

Reed Bunting at Haroldswick

17th October 2018 Unst SW5 Clear

On stepping out of the front door it immediately felt both colder and windier than forecast. A walk to Valyie and back produced 18 Whooper Swans being a flock of 13 adults followed an hour and a quarter later by a family party of 5 arriving in off the sea, 2 Long-eared Owls, 2 Robins, the Whinchat, a Song Thrush, 50 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 15 Blackbirds, the Barred Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrest, 60 Brambling and 5 Chaffinches. All I saw at Skaw was a Robin, a Chiffchaff, a Brambling and a Chaffinch and at Lamba Ness just a Chiffchaff. Burrafirth added a Brambling. Setters Hill was playing host to 5 Goldcrest and a Jackdaw. A look around Uyeasound added a female Common Redstart.

Whooper Swans arriving in off the sea over Norwick

a fine sound and sight to start the day

Long-eared Owl at Norwick

Family of Whooper Swans arriving in off the sea at Norwick

16th October 2018 S6 Overcast

A walk around Valyie suggested there had been an overnight departure of migrants with just single Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest still present. Skaw played host to a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Goldcrest and there was a Yellow-browed Warbler at Braeview. Rain then stopped play but on returning home from the shop late afternoon coincided with the cloud clearing and a walk to Norwick produced a Waxwing and a Barred Warbler.

Barred Warbler at Norwick