12th August 2022 Unst S1 Overcast

We were anticipating that Andy Graham would be visiting today to see the Harlequin Duck, so it was a real shame, that after its week-long stay, I couldn't find any sign of it from soon after dawn. A walk around Skaw produced a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit at Skaw

Norwick Taing and the would-be Harlequin admirers

Today's 'negative news' hasn't dissuaded some travelling from as far away as Somerset to visit tomorrow 

Patrick Lanaway kindly sent me an image of the very first issue of Twitching with Richard Millington's portrayal of the 1987 Sullom Voe Harlequin on its front cover. I didn't subscribe until April so unfortunately haven't got the first three issues - donations very welcome!!

6th August 2022 Unst

Britain's 18th, Shetland's 4th and Unst's first record of Harlequin Duck remained in situ. A day spent working on Unst and Yell with 4 White Wagtails seen on the former.

Drake Harlequin at Norwick

5th August 2022 Unst W4 Sunny spells

After a very busy couple of months both guiding and surveying without much time spent 'proper' birding at last I had a day off. The downside was the near-constant westerly, northwesterly airflow looked unpromising to produce any passerine migrants. I decided to walk to Valyie and back just in case... as I approached Norwick beach it was obvious the tide was out and the exposed green weed had attracted a gathering of Black-headed Gulls. I scanned through them ever-hopeful that last year's Bonaparte's Gull might still make a late return. No such luck with just a 'dark' Mallard among them that I scrutinised after the events earlier this year (Brydon's Black Duck). As I lowered my bins another more distant Duck caught my eye... it looked like a drake Harlequin, but on lifting my bins I anticipated it being an abhorrent hybrid Mallard... it wasn't!!

Drake Harlequin Duck at Norwick

Forever an iconic rarity for those of us of a certain generation, a superb sea-duck that, if I recall correctly, graced the cover of the first issue of Twitching depicting the first-winter drake present in Sullom Voe in 1987. I had to wait another 4 years before seeing the female on the river at Wick. Subsequently I've been fortunate to see many hundreds in Alaska, Japan and Kamchatka including plenty of drakes, but the species has never lost its appeal. To find a drake in the UK... very occasionally dreams do come true!

31st July 2022 Unst W3 Overcast

A walk around Norwick produced a Willow Warbler and a look at NorthDale added a Short-eared Owl. In the afternoon Dante saw a large pod (c.80-100) of Dolphins moving north off Haroldswick that I saw distantly off Norwick and Skaw.

Short-eared Owl at NorthDale

part of the pod of Dolphins moving north past Norwick

29th July 2022 Unst SSE3 Clear

A visit to Skaw produced a Knot, 10 Sanderling and 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails. 

8th July 2022 Linga, Bluemull W4 Overcast

In what will be one of the greatest surprises of the year I saw a Leach's Petrel flying around in broad daylight just north of North Booth, Linga from the Gutcher to Belmont ferry whilst guiding a couple from Switzerland for Shetland Nature. 

4th July 2022 Toft W5 Overcast

Whilst I was working near Toft there was news of a pod of Orcas travelling south in Yell Sound that passed me mid-afternoon a fair way offshore.

Orcas in Yell Sound