30th September 2016 Unst W3 Overcast

A walk along the burn at Burrafirth produced a confiding Tufted Duck and a Whinchat. Norwick played host to the long-staying Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and the Osprey flew over towards Haroldswick as we were leaving. Setters Hill produced more views of the obliging Icterine Warbler and a Goldcrest. Baliasta produced the Blyth's Reed Warbler, a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff. A return to Norwick saw Paul French waving at us whereupon we obtained brief views of a sandy Acro that showed characters of a Paddyfield Warbler. We then walked the fields seeing a Common Rosefinch and a Little Bunting.

  

Tufted Duck at Burrafirth

Whinchat at Norwick

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Norwick

Osprey at Norwick

Icterine Warbler at Setters Hill (lower JFC)

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Baliasta (JFC)

Paddyfield Warbler at Norwick (upper JFC)

Paddyfield Warbler Fair Isle September 2012 (Rebecca Nason)

Sharing a similar supercilium and head pattern, darkish centred tertials, pale secondaries, leg and claw colour.

29th September 2016 Unst W1 Overcast

It rained for an hour at Skaw but was then quite calm as we walked around with us seeing a Song Thrush, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Little Bunting. We then tried Norwick where the Red-breasted Flycatcher was still in residence as well as 5 Blackcaps, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Common Rosefinch and 3 Chaffinches. The forecast wind and rain then duly arrived although the latter cleared more quickly than forecast. We then grilled some flocks of Golden Plover seeing another Song Thrush in the process. Setters Hill offered some shelter and there was a Yellow-browed Warbler and another Song Thrush present.

Little Bunting at Skaw

Chiffchaff at Skaw

the moulting adult first seen in late July

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

28th September 2016 Unst W2 Overcast

Our early morning visit to Skaw found a birder asleep in his car hoping to see the Paddyfield Warbler but unfortunately it wasn't anywhere to be seen unless it's the one found on Fair Isle today! A Yellow-browed Warbler was present in the beach nettles and whilst watching it an Osprey flew over being mobbed by Ravens. Both the Whinchat and Common Whitethroat were lingerers but the same couldn't be said about the skein of 25 Pinkfeet that flew over heading south. Lamba Ness produced 2 Lapland Buntings, 2 Puffins passing north and our first Pintail of the Autumn. The Brambling was still present at Millfield. Paul F then text to say there was a Dusky Warbler at Burrafirth that we were soon watching. On the way we saw 5 Whooper Swans (3 ad & 2 juv) flying west over Haroldswick and 5 adults at Ungirsta mires including one carrying a Danish ring. Norwick only produced 4 Blackcaps, Clingera was quiet with just a single Willow Warbler seen and the same was true at Setters Hill with just 2 Blackcaps seen. Halligarth was playing host to 2 Blackcaps, an Icterine Warbler, a Wood Warbler and at least 3 Yellow-browed Warblers. We decided on a return to Burrafirth where the Dusky Warbler had been joined by a Whinchat. As we headed for home a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting over Ungirsta mires.

Osprey being mobbed by a Raven over Skaw

Brambling at Millfield

Whooper Swan with Danish ring J05

 Dusky Warbler at Burrafirth

Yellow-browed Warbler at Halligarth

Wood Warbler at Halligarth

27th September 2016 Unst SW3 Overcast

Our dedication to Skaw paid dividends when JFC saw a pale Acro fly from the burnside vegetation and after what felt like a prolonged game of hide and seek we finally nailed it - Paddyfield Warbler! Otherwise a Common Whitethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler were seen before the forecast strong wind and heavy rain arrived. A Brambling appeared in our garden to feed during the worst of the weather. Fortunately the rain ceased by mid-afternoon and we set off to Halligarth where we saw a Lesser Whitethroat and Wood Warbler. Just as we were returned to Norwick Paul French very kindly let us know that there was a Radde's Warbler at Valyie. On arriving we had a brief view of the Red-breasted Flycatcher and JFC soon obtained a good view of the Radde's Warbler. It took me a while longer but I eventually got there in the end just before dusk - superb!

Paddyfield Warbler at Skaw


Brambling at Millfield

 Radde's Warbler at Norwick

26th September 2016 Northern Lights !

Northern Lights showing very nicely over Norwick Bay and Lamba Ness from Millfield this evening

26th September 2016 Unst S3 Clear

A cool clear morning after seeing the first showing of the Northern Lights and a shooting star last night. Skaw produced a Grey Wagtail, a Whinchat and the usual Chiffchaff. Holsens road held 2 Blackcaps. Northdale frustratingly produced a couple of flight views of a pale Acro probably being the Blyth's Reed Warbler seen here recently although a Redwing proved far more obliging. Our roses continue to play host to a Yellow-browed Warbler. A walk around Haroldswick produced another Redwing and our first Fieldfare of the Autumn. The Icterine Warbler was still present at Setters Hill. Clingera was lively with a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff. Norwick still held at least 6 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, the Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Tree Pipit that could have been so much better! The School at long last registered a Yellow-browed Warbler. Our last port of call was Lund where a Little Bunting proved very obliging alongside a Willow Warbler and Blackcap,

Redwing at North Dale

a very dark individual

Redwing at Haroldswick

Fieldfare at Haroldswick

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Norwick

Tree Pipit at Norwick

 Little Bunting at Lund