21st October 2024 Unst SW7 Heavy showers

The strong wind and frequent heavy showers hampered birding today! The highlight of the day was hearing back from Stavanger to say Friday's Yellow-browed Warbler had been ringed on Utsira, Norway.

Norwick: Long-tailed Duck, alba Wagtail, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, 11 Redwing, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch & 5 Brambling.

Map showing all recoveries to/from Norway of Yellow-browed Warblers

20th October 2024 Unst SE5 broken high cloud

Skaw: Wheatear, 2 Blackcap, Song Thrush, 15 Redwing & Brambling.

Norwick: Sanderling, Wood Pigeon, 5 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Song Thrush, 7 Redwing, Greenland Redpoll, 30 Twite & 4 Brambling

NorthDale: 2 Blackcap & Redwing.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick

19th October 2024 Unst S3 Overcast

Norwick: 25 Snipe, Wood Pigeon, 7 Robin, 7 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Siberian Chiffchaff, Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler (unringed), 6 Goldcrest, 11 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, Hawfinch, 8 Northwestern Redpoll & 9 Brambling.

Haroldswick: 2 Blackcap.

Greenish Warbler at Norwick

Originally found on the 9th, Mike kindly let me know that it's the latest Greenish Warbler to have been found on Shetland by four days. Its now also the latest ever, as a previous individual with the record stay lingered 18 days until the 13th October.

Garden Warbler at Norwick

Hawfinch at Norwick

18th October 2024 Unst S4 Overcast

Norwick: Whinchat, 4 Robin, 8 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest, 4 Redwing, Tree Sparrow, 25 Brambling & 4 Redpoll.

Skaw: Merlin, 2 Blackcap & 8 Redwing.

Greenish Warbler at Norwick

A sound recording of it calling here.

Yellow-browed Warbler bearing a Norwegian ring

From the back of the camera I could read NOR. Glen Tyler very kindly messaged me to say he'd recently caught a Goldcrest with a Stavanger, Norway ring. That enabled me to also read VANG.

The BTO website suggests only seven foreign ringed Yellow-browed Warblers have been subsequently recorded in the UK, four of them from Norway.

17th October 2024 Unst S4 Heavy rain clearing at midday

Norwick: Woodcock, 3 Robin, Paddyfield Warbler, 6 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 3 Siberian Chiffchaff, Greenish Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 70 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Little Bunting & 25 Brambling.

Skaw: 4 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Redwing & Brambling.

Woodcock sheltering from the rain in our garden

Greenish Warbler at Norwick

Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick

Little Bunting at Norwick

16th October 2024 Unst S6 Overcast

Norwick: Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, Song Thrush & 16 Brambling.

Skaw: Brambling.

Song Thrush in our garden

15th October 2024 Unst S5 Scattered cloud

The Bluethroat and Greenish Warbler remained but the highlight of the day was finding a Little Bunting.

Norwick: Stonechat, 3 Robin, Bluethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, Greenish Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, Ring Ouzel, 20 Blackbird, 35 Redwing, Little Bunting & 2 Brambling.

Skaw: Wheatear, 3 Redwing & Tree Sparrow.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick

Bluethroat at Norwick

Little Bunting at Norwick