27th June 2019 Fetlar NW2 Overcast

A very enjoyable day spent with Mike, Peter and Will circumnavigating Fetlar surveying the breeding seabirds along the cliffs. 

Puffin off Fetlar

Guillemots on Fetlar

Shags on Fetlar

Kittiwake off Fetlar

Sea Urchin in a cave on Fetlar

Grey Seals Fetlar

Out Skerries from off Fetlar

25th June 2019 Unst NE4 Overcast

After a seawatch from Lamba Ness had only produced the usual suspects it was good to stumble across a first-summer Iceland Gull at Skaw.

Iceland Gull at Skaw

23rd June 2019 Unst N1 Clear

Brydon found a singing Blyth's Reed Warbler at Halligarth that proved a real performer constantly singing and chasing around a Common Whitethroat. Robbie then found a Nightjar perched near the entrance gate that sat unconcerned by its admirers.

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Halligarth

Nightjar at Halligarth

20th June 2019 Unst SW1 Drizzle

A walk to Valyie and back produced a couple of surprises being a Long-eared Owl and a Marsh Warbler found just as the rain commenced.

Long-eared Owl at Valyie

Marsh Warbler at Valyie

18th June 2019 Unst SW3 Clear

A visit to Skaw early this morning produced a couple of surprises being a Collared Dove in Forn Geo and then a Fieldfare that appeared overhead whilst I enjoyed a cup of tea with Matt & Julie from Sussex who are currently camping on Unst. The Fieldfare arrived from the direction of the sea, circled a couple of times and headed off inland. I then heard a/the Fieldfare calling over Millfield and during a trip to the shop in Baltasound this afternoon we saw the lingering Little Egret.

Collared Dove in Forn Geo

Fieldfare at Skaw

11th June 2019 Unst NE3 Overcast

Brydon found a Marsh Warbler in the Haroldswick pools rosa that was singing and showing incredibly well and proved a real treat.

Marsh Warbler at Haroldswick

7th June 2019 Unst SW2 Overcast

A cold grey dawn soon improved into a sunny warm day that was ideal for fieldwork. Walking through moorland isn't the most productive habitat for migrant birds but today was more about migrant butterflies with good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies flying north (the first we've seen this year) along with a few Red Admirals. We also saw out first Silver Y moth of the year. Migrant birds seen comprised a Kestrel, 6 Swallows, a Song Thrush, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and a female Red-backed Shrike that was found by Jim & Lynn.

Shore Station at Burrafirth

Muckle Flugga

the Rosy Starling twitch but it failed to show

Flock of Whimbrel

A flock of five and a flock of seven were seen today. 

Song Thrush

Hooded Crow and female Common Kestrel at Lamba Ness

Painted Lady at Millfield

we saw around 30 today

Female Red-backed Shrike at Lamba Ness

6th June 2019 Unst NE3 Rain

It remained dry for the first few hours of daylight when I heard a Quail at NorthDale, heard another Quail at Ungirsta and saw the lingering female Marsh Harrier there for the first time. Kristofer Wilson then found an adult Rosy Starling on the approach to Skaw that I saw briefly in flight as it flushed off the road as I drove down the hill !

Female Marsh Harrier at Ungirsta

5th June 2019 Unst NE3 light rain

I'd seen a Cuckoo at Burrafirth and took a walk down the burn where I flushed a male Rustic Bunting onto the fence - stunning. It even sang a few times just prior to the rain commencing. On putting the news out Brydon quickly confirmed that it was the same male that he and his sons had found at Skaw on the evening of the 1st. Norwick produced a few new migrants including a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Haroldswick added the drake Green-winged Teal and a Mealy Redpoll.

Male Rustic Bunting at Burrafirth

Male Mealy Redpoll at Haroldswick

Drake Green-winged Teal at Haroldswick