9th June 2020 Unst SE2 Clear

Completing the Common Bird Census produced another unseasonable Pink-footed Goose with a flock of Greylag Geese at Millfield, a Great Northern Diver, the Common Crane and a Sanderling at Norwick and the 3 Sedge Warblers at Haroldswick.

Pink-footed Goose at Millfield

Juvenile Raven

8th June 2020 Yell & Unst N3 Clear

A much nicer day than forecast seeing a Cuckoo dash across the road and disappear into a garden at Mid Yell and on my return home I heard Ali's Quail at Hamar and saw the Common Crane at Norwick.

7th June 2020 Yell N5 Overcast

A day at work on Yell when I became re-acquainted with a Pink-footed Goose that has been present at Ulsta since at least the 15th April and then a colour-ringed Herring Gull previously seen at Mid Yell on 28th June 2018 that was originally ringed at Pitsea on 12th March 2016. 

colour-ringed Herring Gull at Mid Yell

6th June 2020 Unst NW1 Overcast

With easterlies overnight and heavily overcast skies this morning it felt ideal conditions to produce a few late migrants. An early visit to Skaw produced a Lesser Whitethroat along Holsens road and 2 Barnacle Geese. Norwick added the lingering Common Crane, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, another Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs. Haroldswick was playing host to a Great Northern Diver, a Water Rail and the pair of Sedge Warblers. Burrafirth and NorthDale both held single Spotted Flycatchers. A tour around Baltasound produced a flock of c.20 Golden Plover (thanks Dick), the lingering Common Cuckoo, a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap and a Chiffcaff.

Barnacle Geese at Skaw

Male Common Cuckoo at Setters Hill

4th June 2020 Yell & Unst NE3 Overcast

A more eventful day than expected suffering a flat tyre whilst at work on Yell requiring the wheel to be changed before returning to the garage on Unst. At least getting home early meant I had time to check a few sites seeing 4 Spotted Flycatchers at Norwick and the lingering Reed Warbler at Skaw.

Reed Warbler at Skaw

With a wing length of just 64mm and all other biometrics supporting its identification as a Reed Warbler its appearance remains strikingly pallid and open-faced and it's bill deformity resulting in it never being truly closed makes it appear short and thick - hence Marsh Warbler-like. In many respects - cold-toned appearance, pale edges to its tertials, secondaries and tertials, primary wear and colour of its rump - it appears similar to the genetically-confirmed (and slightly longer-winged) Reed Warbler trapped at Falsterbo, Sweden in June 2013 featured here.

2nd June 2020 Unst NE4 Light rain

An heavily overcast start to the day before light rain set in for a while. On clearing it remained cool and breezy. Skaw produced a Reed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Our walk around Norwick added the Common Crane, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Song Thrush and a Lesser Whitethroat.

 

Reed Warbler at Skaw

Another Spring encounter with an interesting sandy-coloured Reed Warbler that appears to have a bill deformity in that it was never truly closed and rather thick at its base enhancing its peculiar appearance. Whilst the dark shadow on the underside of its lower mandible, its pale lores, rather plain tertials, heavily worn primaries and tail, lack of warmth to its rump and round-winged and short-winged appearance all might have suggested that it might be something rarer, a close inspection of its wing formula in a range of images obtained, consistently revealed that just a single primary appeared emarginated with the emargination falling beyond the tip of its secondaries - consistent with it being just a Reed Warbler. Once permission was obtained, Mike efficiently trapped, ringed and released it.

Common Crane at Norwick

1st June 2020 Unst S2 Clear

Another nice warm day with a gentle southerly breeze. Skaw produced nothing more than a female Kestrel. A look at Burrafirth was more productive seeing the Sand Martin, the 2 House Martins, a Common Whitethroat and a Spotted Flycatcher. I then saw the singing Sedge Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher at Haroldswick. Burrafirth was still playing host to a Spotted Flycatcher but there was no sign of the Lesser Grey Shrike. Our walk around Norwick added the Common Crane, the surprise of the day being the first Hobby that we've seen on Unst, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a singing Willow Warbler, 2 Mealy Redpolls and a Siskin.

Spotted Flycatcher at Burrafirth

First-summer Hobby at Norwick

the first that I've seen on Unst

Mealy Redpoll at Valyie