18th June 2020 Yell & Unst NE1 Foggy

A long day at work on Yell where I heard and saw the singing Marsh Warbler that Brydon found at Hamnavoe a couple of days ago. Even better was to follow as he then laid-on a female-type Golden Oriole at Halligarth that I saw, albeit only in flight, on my commute home!

Marsh Warbler at Hamnavoe

16th June 2020 Unst E1 Clear

I headed straight to Lamba Ness where the highlight was a pod of 9+ cetaceans seen moving north past the tip. Looking into the early morning sun initially their identification proved tricky but their size and headshape reminded me of Risso's Dolphins and Brydon confirmed the identity based on their dorsal fin shape - furthermore, as they approached and passed the point, some of my images reveal the 'scarring' to their fins. Later in the day a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes on the sea proved a treat but migrant passerines appeared to be in short supply with just 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Blackcaps and 2 Mealy Redpolls seen.

Risso's Dolphins & Auks passing Lamba Ness

15th June 2020 Unst SE1 Clear

It's good to be working on Unst for a few days as it allows me to check a few sites for migrants before starting work for the day. A Willow Warbler in our garden was a promising start to the day. Skaw produced a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a Spotted Flycatcher and Northdale added a Common Whitethroat. As I walked up the road to Valyie I could hear a singing Marsh Warbler that was showing on and off. I also saw the Common Crane in the nearby mires, a Song Thrush, a Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Marsh Warbler at Valyie

14th June 2020 Unst E1 Overcast

A few late migrants were in evidence including 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, a Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warblers and 3 Spotted Flycatchers. 

Long-tailed Ducks off the Shore Station

13th June 2020 Unst NE2 Overcast

With flat calm seas it was an even nicer day for a boat trip and the White-billed Diver was still present distantly on the sea off Burrafirth. A quick check for migrants around Norwick produced a Redwing, 2 Garden Warblers, a Chiffchaff and an acredula-type Willow Warbler.

Our skipper navigating a trip through the Hellier's cave was an added bonus!

Brydon busy counting seabirds

 some of the north cliffs of Unst

White-billed Diver off Burrafirth

acredula-type Willow Warbler at Valyie

Crane with our house in the background

11th June 2020 Unst NE3

After a long day at work a quick stop at Halligarth produced nothing more than a Siskin.

Male Siskin at Halligarth

10th June 2020 Unst

A quick check for migrants produced just a late female Common Redstart - Brydon did rather better finding a Greenish Warbler at Halligarth that unfortunately I didn't have time to see as we had arranged a boat trip so we could visit and count the seabirds breeding along the north cliffs of Unst. However, we hadn't reckoned on chancing upon a near full summer-plumaged White-billed Diver off Burrafirth, that with some clever maneuvering of the boat by our skipper, we were able to approach quite closely - superb!

Female Common Redstart at Valyie

At the time I cursed that its tail wasn't blue. But with news of a Rufous Bushchat near Oslo the following day it wasn't its tail colour that was an issue after all!

blue Fulmar sat on the cliffs of Lamba Ness

leucistic Oystercatcher along the north cliffs of Saxa Vord

First seen on 13/5/17 and again last Spring at Skaw

White-billed Diver off Burrafirth