Saturday 11 December 2021

11th December 2021 Unst SE3 Overcast

Calmer conditions and mild so I completed the WeBS count for Norwick. 

Norwick: 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 3 Woodcock, Puffin, Woodpigeon, Skylark, 5 Redwing, 14 Chaffinch & 6 Brambling.







2cy+ Great Northern Divers off Norwick
one calling presumably due to my proximity

Puffin off Norwick
This one has a larger more colourful bill so a different individual to that present on the 23/11.

Thursday 9 December 2021

9th December 2021 Unst SE6 Overcast

Storm Barra continued through the night and eased through the day.

Norwick: female-type Common Scoter & 1cy Iceland Gull

1cy Iceland Gull off Norwick

Wednesday 8 December 2021

8th December 2021 Unst SE8 Overcast

As Unst took a battering from Storm Barra we hunkered down just taking a look at Norwick and Haroldswick.

Norwick: 3 1cy Glaucous Gulls & 5 Chaffinch.


Glaucous Gulls off Norwick

Tuesday 7 December 2021

7th December 2021 Unst SW2 Clear

A nice day being calm, sunny and mild so we headed to Uyeasound and walked out to Heogland with the highlight being the 'other' 2cy King Eider seen distantly off Uyeasound.

Norwick: 2 Red-throated Divers, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper & 2 Redwing.

Uyeasound: 4 Whooper Swan, 2cy drake King Eider, c.350 Eider, c.350 Long-tailed Duck, 15 Goldeneye, Skylark & Redwing.

Monday 6 December 2021

6th December 2021 Unst S7 Rain

A gathering of Gulls at Norwick disappointingly failed to include any white-wingers.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver, Redwing, 3 Chaffinch & Brambling.

Sunday 5 December 2021

5th December 2021 Unst N6 Overcast

 Norwick: Red-throated Diver & 1cy Iceland Gull.

Saturday 4 December 2021

4th December 2021 Unst N4 Overcast

 Norwick: 2 Great Northern Divers

Friday 3 December 2021

3rd December 2021 Bluemull Sound WNW4 Showers

Will very kindly invited me to join the SOTEAG Bluemull seabird census with the proviso that it might be a very early return home if the poor weather worsened... As I drove to Uyeasound the rain thankfully eased and Peter was content to give it a go... It was great to be back out on the Sound with the highlight coming late in the day when Will picked out a 2cy drake King Eider among the Eider and Long-tailed Duck off Heogland. The day had one final twist, as whilst reviewing his images, Robbie picked-out a 3cy+ drake King Eider!

Bluemull: Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Northern Divers, Common Scoter, 2cy drake King Eider, c.650 Eider, c.300 Long-tailed Duck, Merlin, 5 Common Guillemots & c.60 Black Guillemots.


Great Northern Diver in Bluemull Sound

Black Guillemot in Bluemull Sound

A flock of Eider at the end of a rainbow surely a good omen...

...despite still being at considerable distance it wasn't long before sharp-eyed Will was calling 'King'!








2cy drake King Eider off Heogland

Wednesday 1 December 2021

1st December 2021 N5 Snow

A strong northerly wind soon picked-up that combined with frequent snow showers and icy roads ensured that we remained at home.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver & 1cy Iceland Gull.

the first day of the meteorological winter!