27th September 2023 Unst SW4 Clear

After all of yesterday's excitement it was unfortunately back to reality today. I was hoping that a drop in wind would encourage a few more migrants to reveal themselves but that wasn't the case. Eddie asked if I'd take a look at the latest near-monochrome Wagtail to grace Unst but that proved a rather frustrating experience. Clive saw it dropping into the cattle field but it then remained invisible in the long grass. It flew off again and took a while to return, but whilst then on view it remained distant and against the light! In the hour that I spent watching it I only heard it call the once. Eddie mentioned that thankfully Scott has obtained some good recordings, so the resultant sonograms will hopefully reveal from where in presumably the range of thunbergi/plexa/tschutschensis it has likely originated...

Norwick: 2 Grey Heron in off, 4 Knot, 4 Sanderling, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Robin, Wheatear, Common Redstart, Barred Warbler, 9 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, 5 Mealy Redpoll, 9 Siskin & 2 Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick:

26th September 2023 Unst & mainland S5 Clear

After seeing a familiar roll-call of species whilst walking around Norwick, I'd literally just left the 'black hole' of mobile coverage and arrived home, to receive a message very kindly sent by my parents to say there was a Blackburnian Warbler at Geosetter! We set off immediately and made the next ferry off Unst alongside Adrian & Rose Morgan and 2 hours later we were being treated to some superb 'Shetland fence-line views' at one of our favourite south mainland sites. We simply enjoyed the next couple of hours just soaking it in, attempting to photograph it and catching-up with plenty of friends.

Norwick: 6 Knot, 2 Sanderling, Collared Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 8 Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Brambling & 2 Common Rosefinch.

Geosetter: Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler at Geosetter

Geosetter

A nice relaxed twitch!

25th September 2023 Unst SW7 broken cloud

A selection of lingering migrants remain. A Barred Warbler was hopping around on our lawn. We last saw one here on the 17th September so presumably today's was a different individual but who knows?  

Norwick: Collared Dove, 6 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 3 Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Barred Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Little Bunting & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Grey Heron & Common Redstart.

Skaw: Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Goldcrest.

Little Bunting at Norwick

Barred Warbler in our garden

24th September 2023 Unst SSE5 Light rain

A wet and windy start to the day was enlivened by seeing my first Little Bunting of the Autumn. The heaviest of the rain eventually cleared through mid-afternoon but a subsequent walk around Skaw proved quiet.

Norwick: Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Robin, 2 Whinchat, 2 Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatcher & Little Bunting

Skaw: Redwing, Common Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & Siskin.

Little Bunting at Norwick

Redwing at Skaw

23rd September 2023 Unst NW4 Overcast

A switch to a cooler northwesterly airflow.

Norwick: Knot, 2 Sanderling, Kestrel, Collared Dove, 2 Robin, Whinchat, Wheatear, 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, 2 Common Rosefinch & Brambling.

Haroldswick: Robin & 2 Chaffinch.

Whinchat at Norwick

22nd September 2023 Unst SW5 Occasional light rain

Mainly lingerers but also my first Brambling and 3 Snow Buntings of the autumn.

Norwick: Grey Heron, Merlin, Kestrel, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Robin, 2 Common Redstart, 2 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Yellow-browed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Brambling, Siskin, 2 Common Rosefinch & Hawfinch.

Skaw: Knot, 5 Wheatear, Whinchat,  Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, Siskin & 3 Snow Bunting.

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

Snow Buntings at Skaw

21st September 2023 Unst S6 Light rain on & off

Having teamed-up with Chris & Geoff, I spent most of the day in complete awe of the events unfolding elsewhere in the British Isles as the unprecedented arrival of North American landbirds continued! In comparison, it's fair to say that our results were a little more modest!!

Norwick: Sparrowhawk, 11 Knot, 9 Sanderling, Water Rail, Swallow, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Robin, 6 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher & Chaffinch.

Holsens road: Whinchat, Sedge Warbler & 2 Willow Warbler.

Baltasound: Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Goldcrest.

acredula Willow Warbler along Holsens road