Sunday 29 May 2016

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