I decided to spend the day working on mainland. Whilst leaving home in the half-light it became apparent there were plenty of Redwings across Unst so I was beginning to think I'd made a mistake - why were they arriving on what feels like never-ending south-westerly winds?! Whilst on the ferry to Yell a juvenile Glaucous Gull was following in the wake of a trawler but more spectacular was a flock of over 200 Redwings and maybe 10 Fieldfares making the journey from Unst to Yell. More Redwings were seen as we crossed Yell. On departing Ulsta on the ferry there was a large gathering of Gulls feeding offshore and whilst scanning through them a first-winter Mediterranean Gull appeared flying alongside the ferry... I quickly raised the camera and rattled off a few shots but photographing through the thick double-glazed windows wrecked the results. The whole encounter had lasted a matter of seconds leaving me having effectively only seen a dark mask, white crown and very little else! I let Dougie know and fortunately he had enough faith to head to Ulsta and refind it distantly offshore - the first record for Yell! My survey work on mainland continued to produce flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare throughout the day.
Bluemull Sound: juvenile Glaucous Gull, 300+ Redwing & 10 Fieldfare.
Yell: 110+ Redwing & 2 Brambling.
Yell Sound: first-winter Mediterranean Gull.
