20th August 2026 Unst N4 Drizzle & Showers

Skaw: 2 Swallows, Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Merlin, 2 Knot, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher & Common Rosefinch.

Northdale: Willow Warbler.

Burrafirth: 2 Chiffchaff & 4 Willow Warblers.

Haroldswick: Willow Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

19th August 2026 Unst NE5 Showers

Unfortunately there was no competing with Fair Isle and south mainland Shetland today!

Skaw: 2 Swallows, White Wagtail & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Chiffchaff.

18th August 2026 Unst NE4 Overcast

Skaw: 3 Snipe, 5 Sanderling (3 juveniles), 2 Swallows, juvenile Stonechat & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: 2 Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Chiffchaff & 2 Willow Warblers.

17th August 2026 Unst W2 Overcast, drizzle

Skaw: 4 Snipe, 3 juvenile Sanderling, Swallow, Barred Warbler & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Merlin, Snipe, juvenile Stonechat, 2 Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

Swallow at Skaw

Juvenile Stonechat at Norwick

16th August 2026 Unst Calm Overcast

We were hopeful that a few migrants might arrive as the westerly wind slackened to calm overnight but during an early morning circuit of Norwick they remained decidedly thin on the ground. Subsequently finding a showy Barred Warbler at Skaw therefore nicely exceeded our expectations! I spent the afternoon birding with James W our highlight being catching-up with a leucistic Northern Wheatear that has been present at Lund for at least a couple of weeks.

Norwick: 2 Common Snipe & 1 Chiffchaff.

Skaw: 2 Common Snipe, 1cy Barred Warbler & 2 Willow Warblers.

Haroldswick: Willow Warbler.

Lund: leucistic Northern Wheatear.

Baltasound: Siskin.

1cy Barred Warbler at Skaw

Video here

leucistic Northern Wheatear at Lund

Video here

14th August 2026 Unst W3 Rain clearing

A walk around Norwick produced our first 2 Willow Warblers of the autumn.

Norwick: Merlin, juvenile Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers & Tree Sparrow.

First-winter Willow Warbler at Norwick

Snout at Norwick

Unknown to Unst 5+ years ago but now regular. A recent colonist of Shetland.

13th August 2026 Unst S1 Overcast

Skaw: 4 Sanderling (2 juveniles), 5 Swallows & juvenile Stonechat.

Norwick: 2 Siskin.