14th September 2026 Unst S4 Overcast

Finding your first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn always feels like something of a watershed moment...

Norwick: 2 juvenile Sanderling, 1cy Stonechat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (singing), Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler & 3+ Common Rosefinch.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick

and here's a link to a recording of it calling

Common Rosefinches at Norwick

It was tricky to know exactly how many birds were involved today. I saw 3 together but the total may have been 6 or 7.

13th September 2026 Unst W2 Overcast clearing

Norwick: 7 Sanderling & Common Rosefinch.

1cy Common Rosefinch at Norwick

10th September 2026 Unst S5 Clear

Skaw: 2 Snipe & Chiffchaff.

9th September 2026 Yell NW3 Partly overcast

Gutcher: redhead Goosander.

8th September 2026 Unst SSE3 Clear

Skaw: Snipe, 5 juvenile Sanderling, 3 Wheatear & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: 5 juvenile Sanderling, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

7th September 2026 Unst SW4 Occasional heavy rain

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat & 1cy Spotted Flycatcher.

Haroldswick: Wigeon & 65 Snipe.

1cy Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

Interestingly, only six primary tips are visible in forming its primary projection that is a suggested proposed feature of Mediterranean Flycatcher. Could that be age-related? Otherwise it shows characters typical of Spotted including its wingtip falling beyond its pale-tipped retained juvenile uppertail-coverts etc.   

Lesser Whitethroat at Norwick

Meadow Pipit at Norwick

6th September 2026 Eastshore, Virkie S4 Light rain

There are rarities and there are rarities. Roger found one of the all-time mythical British rarities yesterday, all the more special being one of Heinrich Gatke's Heligoland legendary first records for northwest Europe... Egyptian Goatsucker! Unst often isn't the best place to be located from which to chase rarities elsewhere on the islands and yesterday that again proved true. On reading the species typically have large foraging ranges it didn't fill me with confidence that it would be present today. But Glen's message 5 minutes before sunrise to say that it was again roosting on the beach at Eastshore resulted in us scrambling for the door and picking-up Mike and Chris enroute to Belmont. Fortunately the 'bookings only' 7am ferry had arrived courtesy of a sheep lorry and we were soon leaving Unst. Likewise there was plenty of room on the 8.15am ferry from Ulsta and we were heading south. We were greeted by Paul encouraging us to quickly take a look through his scope as the Nightjar had become a little active at the onset of light rain. We were then largely mesmerised by the Nightjar as we watched it rocking, shuffling and on one occasion opening its very large eyes to take a look at its gathering admirers. It was then great to spend time with friends, not least Roger recounting his exciting find. A very enjoyable day and what a bird - a world tick to boot!

Egyptian Nightjar at Virkie

Eastshore beach

The gathering admirers

Birders who arrived off the first couple of flights into Sumburgh

Birds of Heligoland