Tuesday 27 August 2019

27th August 2019 Unst Calm Foggy

Thick fog rolled in and out for most of the day finally clearing late in the afternoon. I saw my first returning Whinchat of the Autumn, 4 Wheatears and a Willow Warbler whilst driving along Holsen's road. Skaw was then disappointingly quiet with just a Dunlin, 8 Sanderling, 5 Wheatears, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler being seen. Northdale added 10 Wheatears and a single Willow Warbler. A walk around Norwick suggested there was little change from yesterday with 9 Sanderling, the Pied Flycatcher, the Garden Warbler, a Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs all present. On arriving at Burrafirth Al Conlin was present who immediately picked out a Common Swift that made a couple of circuits of the shore station building and there was a Willow Warbler present in the garden. A visit to the shop coincided with low tide on the houb with just 4 Knot being seen. As we arrived home there was a commotion among the Common Gulls and 2 juvenile Arctic Skuas powered in off the sea.

Common Swift over the Shore Station

Juvenile dark phase Arctic Skuas at Millfield