30th May 2016 Unst & Scatness NE1 increasing

A quick early morning circuit of northeast Unst produced just a Spotted Flycatcher at North Dale. Receiving news of the continued presence of the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Scatness from both my parents and Matt proved too much to resist. The drake Surf Scoter was seen sat on one of the fish cages off Belmont. On arrival at Scatness Steve Minton couldn't have been more accommodating in allowing us open access to his garden. And what a garden, with plenty of varied planting to provide ample cover and shelter for migrants. Steve had seen the Warbler in his garden in the morning and had heard it call not long before we arrived, but with a freshening wind, it proved difficult to see but we were eventually rewarded with views that we wouldn't have obtained without Steve's hospitality - many thanks Steve! Steve then pointed us in the direction of the loch where a Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff were seen prior to us making the journey back north.

Skaw

Pied Wagtail 2

Chiffchaff 1

North Dale

Swallow 3

Spotted Flycatcher 1

Millfield below the fog

Drake Surf Scoter off Belmont

Fulmars in the Bluemull Sound

Scatness

Ruff 1

Curlew Sandpiper 1

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at Scatness

Being 21 years since the last one I saw at Benacre in Suffolk this proved a very welcome refresher of this tail-dipper! It always appeared incredibly pallid being pale and eye-catching in flight. Perhaps not as large as I was anticipating and it proved really frustratingly elusive in the rosa. Greyish brown upperparts that appeared rather worn and abraded with paler narrow poorly-marked supercilium extending just beyond its eye and not bridging the base of its bill. Lores appeared pale when viewed side-on but feather arrangement gave the impression of forming an isolated dark spot when facing towards us. Pale secondary panel sometimes appeared quite obvious when the bird was facing directly away but all but disappeared when viewed side-on. Creamy wash to flanks but remaining underparts white including its under-tail coverts. Tail frequently dipped with narrow outer edges of outer tail feathers appearing white. Really quite a short primary projection, being shorter than expected appearing less than half of the tertial length. Long but broad-based bill appearing quite colourful almost orange at times. Sturdy greyish legs and feet. A very educational and great bird.

29th May 2016 Unst SE1 Foggy becoming clear and sunny

Awoke to near calm conditions with a light southeasterly breeze with some fog over the hills that came and went. On opening the front door a Redwing was on the lawn. A Swallow and 3 House Martins were sat along the fence near the cliff. As I headed for Holsens Road a Collared Dove flew through being the first I've seen for a good few days. Skaw produced another 3 Swallows and a Willow Warbler but Lamba Ness was very foggy. Norwick was clear producing Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and a skulking Acro that eventually showed a bit better and looked a Reed Warbler. A tour of the Baltasound sites produced a Blackcap and 2 Tree Sparrows at Setters Hill, 2 Mealy Redpolls at Halligarth where a flock of 18 Woodpigeons flew over high heading south.

Millfield

Swallow 1

House Martin 3

Redwing 1

Three House Martins and a Swallow at Millfield

House Martin at Millfield

In showing grey-sullied underparts and dark markings to its undertail coverts it is showing plumage characters oft-quoted for Asian House Martin but structurally the deeply forked tail is typical for House Martin

Skaw

Swallow 3

Willow Warbler 1

Arctic Terns at Skaw

Norwick

Collared Dove 1

Pied Wagtail 1

Reed Warbler 1

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Common Whitethroat 1

Chiffchaff 3

Siskin 2

Reed Warbler at Norwick

School

Chiffchaff 2

Setters Hill

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 1

Tree Sparrow 2

Halligarth

Woodpigeon 18 S

Mealy Redpoll 2

Burrafirth

Bonxie c.200

Swallow 2

Chiffchaff 1

Bonxies at Loch of Cliff, Burrafirth

Whooper Swan

28th May 2016 Unst Calm & Overcast

It felt like classic conditions but apart from a couple of Willow Warblers and a few Hirundines migrants were again very thin on the ground.

Skaw
Swallow 1
Willow Warbler 1

Haroldswick
Teal 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 6
Chiffchaff 1

Norwick
Redwing 1
Chiffchaff 2

Redwing at Norwick

Setters Hill
Chiffchaff 1

School
Chiffchaff 1

Halligarth
Willow Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 1

Lamba Ness
House Martin 1
Swallow 6

27th May 2016 Unst ENE 1-2 Overcast

An early morning circuit of Skaw, Norwick and Haroldswick proved quiet despite what felt nice conditions.

Skaw
Sanderling 2

Norwick
Swallow 1
Chiffchaff 3
Mealy Redpoll 2

Haroldswick
White Wagtail 1 female

Valyie from Millfield

25th May 2016 Unst NNE5 Overcast

With a brisk northeasterly blowing I was hopeful for Lamba Ness but whilst a 90 minute seawatch produced plenty of Gannets and Fulmars passing, Puffins were down in number compared to usual and variety was limited to an Arctic Skua and 5 Wigeon flying north. A quick tour of North Dale and Norwick produced very few migrants. Fetlar hosts the RSPB's Loch of Funzie reserve where some imaginative habitat management has secured the continued presence of confiding breeding Red-necked Phalaropes. A visit to our neighbouring island produced a pair. 

Lamba Ness

Wigeon 5 N

Puffin c.25 N

Arctic Skua 1 N

North Dale

Swallow 1

Chiffchaff 1

Norwick

Chiffchaff 1

Snarravoe

Swallow 1

Gannets and Fulmars passing Lamba Ness

Pale morph Arctic Skua passing Lamba Ness

with complete breast band

 Female Red-necked Phalarope

24th May 2016 Esha Ness N3-4 Cold

With a trickle of Skuas passing the Western Isles and a northerly wind blowing it seemed a good day to try Esha Ness and all the more so that I'd be sea-watching alongside Mark who has put in the hours there over many years now. On the way, at Hillswick Pig Farm, we found another interesting Gull with white primaries that basically looked good for a juvenile Iceland Gull until it flew and the upperside of its primaries appeared rather uniform grey. Not wanting to miss any passing Skuas we didn't watch it for long. At Esha Ness, whilst we didn't see any Long-tailed or Pomarine Skuas, Mark's sharp eyesight is legendary and proved itself yet again as he picked out 2 Killer Whales powering north with his naked eye - absolutely superb! The first I've seen in Britain and looking incredibly powerful and in a rush as they quickly moved north. We returned to Hillswick where more prolonged views of the Gull allowed us to appreciate its subtle characters consistent with Kumlien's Gull. We checked a couple of sites for passerine migrants but they seemed very quiet. The time flew and all too soon I was saying goodbye to Mark being the last car on the ferry north with a minute to spare having thoroughly enjoyed another day with him.

Kumlien's Gull 1 juvenile
Arctic Skua 2
Puffin c.25

KILLER WHALE 2 N at 9.30am

Killer Whale moving north past Esha Ness

 

quite a large, hefty looking Iceland Gull with rather dark underparts especially considering the time of year with a few grey centres apparent to its primaries

bill rather robust and predominantly dark

underside of primaries showing Venetian blind effect

dark centres and outer-webs of primaries grey-washed

Juvenile Kumlien's Gull at Hillswick
Upperwings appearing very uniformly grey with outer primaries darrker and a dark subterminal band to its tail

23rd May 2016 Unst Calm and overcast at first

Despite the westerly influence continuing there were a few new arrivals in evidence today. A Grey Wagtail at Skaw, a few Swallows present at a number of sites, two Tree Sparrows at Norwick and on our return home a Turtle Dove at Millfield that was seen to fly towards Norwick but latter reappeared briefly.

Skaw
Sanderling 1
Swallow 3
Grey Wagtail 1

A calm morning at Skaw

Skaw

Inner Skaw and Clibberswick from Skaw

Female Grey Wagtail at Skaw

Lamba Ness
Swallow 3

North Dale
Swallow 3
Willow Warbler 1

Norwick
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff 3
Tree Sparrow 2

Setters Hill
Chiffchaff 1

Baltasound
Garganey 2

Halligarth
Chiffchaff 3

Millfield
Turtle Dove 1

Turtle Dove at Millfield