30th August 2026 Unst NE3 Overcast

A cooler morning feeling distinctly autumnal.

Skaw: Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: 4 Knot, 11 Sanderling (10 juv. & 1 ad), 6 Swallows, 6 Pied Wagtails, 1cy Stonechat, 2 Pied Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & 8 Willow Warblers.

NorthDale: Garden Warbler & 2 Willow Warblers.

Burrafirth: 3 Snipe, Knot, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff & 2 Willow Warblers.

Haroldswick: Whinchat & Pied Flycatcher.

Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler at Norwick

1cy Pied Flycatcher at Norwick

Pied Flycatcher at Haroldswick

Whinchat at Haroldswick

29th August 2026 Unst N4 Overcast

After a few days of promising easterlies there was switch to a northerly airflow. On climbing the hill to Valyie I heard a Hooded Crow alarming from behind me, so I spun around to take a look just in case it was in pursuit of a Pallid Harrier... and it was!! A superb, tiny, juvenile male.

Norwick: 4 Knot, 10 juvenile Sanderling, juvenile male Pallid Harrier, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Flycatcher, Blackcap & 7 Willow Warblers.

Skaw: Snipe, 2 Garden Warblers & 2 Willow Warblers.

1cy male Pallid Harrier at Norwick

Mike P has kindly informed me that it is the seventh Pallid Harrier for Unst with 2 recorded in 2003, 1 in 2011, 2 together in 2015 and 1 in 2025.

28th August 2026 Unst SE1 Clear

Skaw: Merlin, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff & 2 Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Kestrel, Knot, 6 Swallows, Garden Warbler, 8 Willow Warblers & Siskin.

NorthDale: Garden Warbler & 2 Willow Warblers.

Mike ran a moth trap in our garden overnight and a few migrants were caught being a Dark Spectacle (Mike trapped another in Baltasound overnight being the first records for Unst), a worn Small Mottled Willow, a Turnip Moth (both second records for Unst), a The Crescent, a Bright-line Brown-Eye and 30 Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Dark Spectacle at Norwick

27th August 2026 Unst SE3 Partly overcast

Skaw: 3 Garden Warblers, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: 3 Snipe, 3 Knot, 2 juvenile Sanderling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Swallows, 8 Pied Wagtails, Barred Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Willow Warbler, adult Pied Flycatcher & 6 Siskin.

Burrafirth: 2 Willow Warblers.

Adult Pied Flycatcher at Norwick

26th August 2026 Unst SE1 Overcast clearing

Skaw: Merlin, 2 Snipe, 3 Ruff, 12 juvenile Sanderling, 6 Swallows, Pied Wagtail, Barred Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat & 3 Willow Warblers

Norwick: 2 Knot, 2 juvenile Sanderling, juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Barred Warbler & 4 Willow Warblers.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Norwick

of the Continental nominate form major

25th August 2026 Unst SE1 Clear

A thin scatter of migrants today with the highlight being two Barred Warblers present together in our garden, one of which was watched bathing in the dew on our lawn. 

Skaw: 3 Teal, 2 Snipe, 2 juvenile Sanderling, 7 Swallows, 3 Pied Wagtails, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Snipe, 5 Knot, 2 juvenile Sanderling, 5 Pied Wagtails, 2 Barred Warblers, Garden Warbler & 4 Willow Warblers.

Burrafirth: 2 Snipe, 5 Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff.

Haroldswick: Merlin, 2 Quail flushed, 9 Ruff, Knot & 3 Willow Warblers.

1cy Barred Warbler at Skaw

First seen by James on the 23rd the current individual is rather dishevelled in comparison to the one present on the 16th & 17th.

One of the two 1cy Barred Warblers present together in our garden today

Garden Warbler at Norwick

24th August 2026 Unst SW1 Overcast

We spent most of the day off island but on our return saw the Barred Warbler at Skaw and one in our garden.

Skaw: 6 Swallow & Barred Warbler.

Norwick: Barred Warbler.

1cy Barred Warbler in our garden