Thursday 24 June 2021

24th June 2021 Unst SE2 Overcast

A quick visit to Skaw produced nothing more than a single Swallow. On returning along Holsens road I met Paul Harvey & Alister Benn who had both seen the Bonaparte's Gull sat asleep on fenceposts at Braeview and it was still present when I was then passing there. A look around Norwick produced the albino Great Northern Diver and a Chiffchaff before the forecast rain duly arrived albeit we continued to be able to watch the Bonaparte's Gull visiting Norwick beach on and off from the comfort of our sofa!


First-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Norwick
Mike sent details of the four previous records for Shetland two of which were also found in June including the only previous record for Unst. As it is the first twitchable individual for over 15 years in the County it's proving a popular bird. Being the fifth for Shetland we went 'one better' than finding the sixth for Sussex here.