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

15th September 2026 Unst & mainland Shetland N3 Rain

After a quick look around Skaw and Norwick, I had an appointment to attend in Lerwick that gave us a convenient opportunity to see the 1cy American Black Tern at Tingwall Loch. Despite the poor weather, it performed admirably albeit rather distantly for most of the time that we were present. The first that I've seen in the UK since seeing the 'first for Britain' at Weston-Super-Mare in October 1999.

Skaw: Wheatear.

Norwick: 6 juvenile Sanderling, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Tree Sparrow & 3 Common Rosefinch.

Tingwall Loch: 1cy American Black Tern.

1cy American Black Tern at Tingwall Loch

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