8th January 2023 Unst S4 Clear

A sunny morning with the wind soon picking-up to a strong southerly. It was a nice surprise to see the Stock Dove still present at Norwick. A drive around the island produced a selection of winter fare including a few white-winged Gulls.

Norwick: Whooper Swan & Stock Dove.

Haroldswick: Glaucous Gull & Iceland Gull.

Burrafirth: 7 European White-fronted Geese & Glaucous Gull. 

Uyeasound: 3 Whooper Swans, 2 Mute Swans, Pink-footed Goose, 100 Long-tailed Duck, Iceland Gull and the Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull.

Stock Dove and Rock Dove at Norwick

First-cycle Iceland Gull at Haroldswick

First-cycle Glaucous Gull at Haroldswick

First-cycle Iceland Gull at Uyeasound

First-cycle Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull at Uyeasound

Flight views were the order of the day again. Drawing a dividing line in the continuim that is presented by Kumlien's and Thayer's Gulls seems an impossible task at times. Here's a few first-cycle individuals labelled as Kumlien's or Thayer's Gulls that all (!) appear a close match to the Uyeasound bird:

Kumlien's Gull, Iowa, 12th December 2018 (Jay Gilliam)

Thayer's Gulls, California, 12th December 2011 (Oscar Johnson)

6th January 2023 Unst W5 Light rain

Unpleasant drizzly windy weather but a large swell on the sea in the wick attracted a gathering of Gulls that included 3 Iceland Gulls. The distance most of the Gulls kept, the poor light and the drizzle didn't help with photography.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver, 2 Moorhens, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper & 3 Iceland Gulls.

The three Iceland Gulls off Norwick

First-cycle (2cy) Iceland Gull off Norwick

Second-cycle (3cy) Iceland Gull off Norwick

Second-cycle (3cy) Iceland Gull off Norwick

The most interesting of the three as the outer primaries look marginally darker than the inners. Looking at the outer primaries themselves the outer webs, certainly basally, look darker than the inner webs. 

Oystercatcher at Millfield

It must be Spring! Whilst a few have wintered in the south of Unst in recent years I tend to think of them as usually the earliest-arriving Spring migrant up here!

3rd January 2023 Unst S3 Clear

After a very enjoyable Christmas in Sussex, a rather low-key start to the new year. This morning we completed the SOTEAG beached bird survey for both Norwick and Burrafirth. With some snow still laying on the hillsides and plenty of ice still on Loch of Cliff, generally there seemed very few birds around.  

Burrafirth: Goldeneye & adult Glaucous Gull.

Haroldswick: 2cy Glaucous Gull & Redwing.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Meadow Pipit & 2 Twite.

2cy Great Northern Diver off Norwick

12th December 2022 Unst NE2 Overcast

A 1cy Iceland Gull flew south across Norwick.

11th December 2022 Unst Calm Overcast

At last the wind had dropped tempting me to take a walk around Norwick.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver, Moorhen, Merlin, 2 Woodcock, 2 Redwing, Chiffchaff & 10 Chaffinch.

Great Northern Diver off Norwick

Common Chiffchaff at Norwick

5th December 2022 mainland Shetland N3 Overcast

Another day spent working on mainland where seeing a ringtail Hen Harrier was the highlight.

Hen Harrier near Toft

4th December 2022 Unst S3 Clear

After 3 consecutive days working on mainland it was nice to walk around Norwick seeing a Woodcock, 2 Meadow Pipits, a Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 2 or 3 Chiffchaffs and a Chaffinch.