22nd September 2026 Unst SW3 Showers

On leaving home I heard the wistful call of an American Golden Plover being frequently repeated. A single Golden Plover was quickly seen flying towards me. I managed a recording of a couple of calls and a few very poor images before it landed atop a ridge on East Hill.  

Norwick: Pale-bellied Brent Goose, American Golden Plover, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 4 Pied Wagtails, Wheatear, Barred Warbler, 2 Blackcaps & 2 Chiffchaff.

Westing: Merlin, 4 Snipe, Wheatear.

Lund: 8 juvenile Sanderling.

Adult American Golden Plover at East Hill

Sonograms re calls of AGP (left) / East Hill / Pacific Golden Plover

The above has been quickly hashed together and will require further refinement/research. Calls of both species are variable but note the similarity of the frequency range and oft-described bell-shaped pattern of AGP rather than the inflected upward-sloping line of PGP.

21st September 2026 Unst SW3 Partly Overcast

Norwick: Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Merlin, 9 Snipe, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 15 Collared Dove, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Black Redstart, Tree Sparrow & a flock of 8 Ravens flew north.

Baltasound: Bar-tailed Godwit & Knot.

'Eastern' Lesser Whitethroat at Norwick

The first interesting-looking Lesser Whitethroat that I've seen this autumn showing a sandy nape and short primary projection. Unfortunately it remained silent.

20th September 2026 Unst WNW6 Heavy showers

Norwick: 5 Pale-bellied Brent, 24 Common Snipe, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1cy Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow & Common Rosefinch.

19th September 2026 Unst SW6 Showers

With the strong overnight winds emanating from Greenland it was perhaps no surprise that there were five hungry and approachable Pale-bellied Brent on Norwick beach and an Icelandic Redwing at Haroldswick. A Barred Warbler was more unexpected, but being an elusive individual, perhaps it has been present for a few days unseen?

Skaw: Common Snipe, juvenile Sanderling & Wheatear.

Norwick: 5 adult Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Common Snipe, Knot, 3 juvenile Sanderling, 2 Pied Wagtail, Barred Warbler, Garden Warbler & Common Rosefinch.

Burrafirth: White Wagtail & Pied Wagtail.

Haroldswick: Icelandic Redwing.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Norwick

With the prevailing westerlies you'd have to assume these are from the Candaian/Greenlandic population that winter mainly in Ireland and western Britain. Considerable variation in the extent of neck collars.

1cy Sanderling at Norwick

Spot the 1cy Barred Warbler at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

1cy Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

18th September 2026 Unst W5 Showers

Norwick: Willow Warbler.

17th September 2026 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Kestrel, Whimbrel, 3 Common Snipe, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1cy Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & 2 Common Rosefinch.

Common Kestrel at Norwick

p10 being clearly shorter than p8 confirms the identification

1cy Stonechat at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

16th September 2026 Unst NW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher & Common Rosefinch.

Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick