Sunday 21 August 2016

21st August 2016 Unst ENE1 Overcast

Awoke to overcast conditions with far less of a breeze than yesterday. Skaw proved enjoyable with the Barred Warbler watched being mobbed by 4 Willow Warblers of which there were at least 6 present. The Common Whitethroat had also remained and been joined by 2 Garden Warblers. Rain arrived for the remainder of the morning but skies brightened at lunchtime. We tried the Baltasound sites finding a Wood Warbler and 3 Pied Flycatchers and a scatter of Willow Warblers and Garden Warblers. A field near the airport played host to a Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Ruff and 3 Knot amongst the Golden Plovers and Oystercatchers, Norwick produced another Pied Flycatcher and a flock of 8 Common Snipe overflew Lamba Ness. Finally 25 Swallows were counted sat on the wires at Norwick at dusk.

Barred Warbler at Skaw

Willow Warbler at Baltasound

Wood Warbler at Baltasound



 Pied Flycatcher at Setters Hill

Garden Warbler at Norwick


Common Snipes over Lamba Ness
showing a fair degree of variation in the extent of barring to their flanks, underwings and axillaries