25th January 2023 Unst NW3 Showers

A visit to the shop combined with a drive around a few sites. 

NorthDale: Whooper Swan

Baltasound: Carrion Crow

Uyeasound: Whooper Swan, Peregrine, first-cycle Iceland Gull, 4 Snow Buntings

Norwick: 2 Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver & Stock Dove

Peregrine at Uyeasound

Snow Bunting at Uyeasound

23rd January 2023 Unst N5 Drizzle

A 30 minute visit to Burrafirth in windy drizzly conditions produced a far-reduced trickle of Gulls arriving in off the sea in comparison to recent days.

Burrafirth: Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 2 Common Scoter, Iceland Gull & Glaucous Gull.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver off Norwick

Second-cycle Iceland Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

22nd January 2023 Unst S6 Light rain

The strong winds had continued but now combined with light drizzle ensured I waited for the weather to clear before venturing down to Burrafirth where there were less Gulls arriving than yesterday but during 45 minutes they included 3 Glaucous Gulls and an Iceland Gull.

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Iceland Gull and adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

A disadvantage of photographing the Glaucous Gull was that on seeing it being joined by a second adult white-winger, as viewed through the viewfinder, I rather assumed it was another Glaucous Gull... but looking at its comparative size and bill colouration/shape of the 'second adult' in the resultant image suggests it was an Iceland Gull.

21st January 2023 Unst S7 Overcast

With the wind increasing overnight I wondered whether it might cause a few Gulls to take shelter on the island. I headed for Burrafirth joining Robbie there. Although there was a steady stream of Gulls flying ashore I failed to see any white-wingers for the first hour but in the next hour I saw 12 Glaucous Gulls and 3 Iceland Gulls arriving in off the sea before I headed home. I then joined Brydon and Casey at Loch of Cliff where there was a Gull roost numbering a couple of thousand birds. Unfortunately the majority proved impossible to approach although it was clear there were plenty of Glaucous Gulls and a few Iceland Gulls present.

First-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull and third-cycle argentatus Herring Gull at Burrafirth

Second-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Third-cycle Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

First-cycle Iceland Gull at Burrafirth

Third-cycle Iceland Gull and adult argentatus Herring Gull at Burrafirth

Adult Iceland Gull and adult argentatus Herring Gull at Burrafirth

Gull roost at Cliff