30th March 2025 Unst N5 Overcast clearing

The day brightened and the northerly wind dropped in strength at around lunchtime so we completed the monthly beached bird survey. Our highlights were our first Pied Wagtail of the year and a couple of smart nominate nivalis Snow Buntings on Haroldswick beach. Meanwhile, Matt & Anne had seen a White Wagtail at Norwick that we subsequently caught-up with whilst walking the beach there.

Snow Buntings of the nominate form nivalis at Haroldswick

Pied Wagtail at Haroldswick

White Wagtail at Norwick

29th March 2025 Lunna SW2 Partly overcast

I spent the morning working at Lunna where the White-billed Diver was still present and whilst distant, prolonged scope views in nice light revealed it is a 2cy.

2cy White-billed Diver off Outrabister, Lunna

The detail that can be captured in a cropped DSLR image from even a very distant (c.1.5km) subject never ceases to amaze me!

28th March 2025 Unst SW7 Overcast

A walk around Norwick produced 3 Chiffchaff (one in song), a Goldcrest and our first Redpoll of the year that appeared to be a straightforward male Lesser.

Male Lesser Redpoll at Norwick

23rd March 2025 Unst SSE5 Hazy

The ongoing south-easterlies finally produced a few hoped-for early-season Spring migrants that saw us see five species for the first time on Unst this year.

Holsens road: Woodpigeon, Black Redstart & Mistle Thrush,

Skaw: Stonechat, Robin, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Siskin.

Norwick: Woodpigeon, Black Redstart, Robin, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & 3 Chaffinch. 

Uyeasound: c.400 Long-tailed Duck, second-cycle Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull.

Caldback: Meadow Pipit & Carrion Crow.

Black Redstart along Holsens road

The earliest date in the year that I've recorded the species on Unst beating my previous earliest date of 30th March.

Mistle Thrush along Holsens road

Seen during March in three previous Springs with the 17th March being the earliest date in a year.

Chiffchaff at Skaw

Seen during March in all but one year since living on Unst with the earliest date in a year being the 17th March.

Goldcrest at Skaw

Male Black Redstart at Norwick

Kumlien's/Thayer's Gull at Uyeasound

Meadow Pipit at Caldback

22nd March 2025 Unst SSE7 Hazy with rain arriving

Whilst it's obviously still very early Spring in Shetland, considering the south-easterly airflow, it was a disappointment that we failed to see anything more than the lingering Stonechat at Skaw and Woodpigeon at Norwick before the forecast rain duly arrived. During the wet and windy conditions thereafter, we did see 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Norwick beach.

Male Stonechat at Skaw

21st March 2025 Unst SSE5 Hazy

With something of a south-easterly airflow we checked a few sites that produced a male Stonechat at Skaw and a Woodpigeon & 5 Chaffinches at Norwick.

Harry Britton has kindly forwarded the ringing details of the colour-ringed Twite seen at Valyie on the 15th March. It was ringed on Bressay on the 9th December 2024.

20th March 2025 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

A day spent gardening but the first Sparrowhawk I've seen on Unst this year and the first 2 Chaffinches we've seen in our garden this year hinted at a few new arrivals.