Tuesday 12 October 2021

12th October 2021 Unst NW3 Clear

We enjoyed another 'Arctic seawatch' from Lamba Ness for 2.5 hours before visiting Skaw. We then bumped into Matt on Norwick beach where he'd just relocated the Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll that we saw a briefly a few times as it flew to the base of the cliffs of Lamba Ness. We then headed home to find Brenda had been watching and photographing a flock of 4 Redpolls in our garden that included what we assumed was the same Hornemann's. Fortunately the small flock soon reappeared, and whilst we had a few suspicions it was a different Hornemann's based on some apparent plumage differences, that was quickly confirmed by some of the first birders to arrive to take a look that had just driven from watching the Hornemann's back on the beach! We then visited Burrafirth finding an impressive Greenland Redpoll there.

Lamba Ness: blue Fulmar, 4N, Sooty Shearwater 14N, Long-tailed Duck 2N, 1S & Little Auk 2N.

Skaw: Siberian Chiffchaff.

Norwick: 2 Siskin, 2 Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls, 2 'Northwestern' Redpolls & a Mealy Redpoll.

Burrafirth: 'Northwestern' Redpoll & Greenland Redpoll.

Haroldswick: Robin & 6 Chaffinches.

Sooty Shearwater passing Lamba Ness

Siberian Chiffchaff at Skaw


Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in our garden



Greenland Redpoll at Burrafirth