Thursday 26 January 2023

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

Monday 23 January 2023

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

Sunday 22 January 2023

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.

Saturday 21 January 2023

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