30th September 2024 Unst SSE3 Overcast

Norwick: Long-tailed Duck, Swallow, Redwing, 2 Blackcap, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, Goldcrest & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Common Redstart & Yellow-browed Warbler.

29th September 2024 Unst SE2 broken cloud

I failed to see any newly-arrived migrants today with the highlight being at dusk when we saw the first Otter we've ever seen in our garden.

Norwick: Long-tailed Duck, Merlin, Robin. 2 Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler & Common Rosefinch.

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

The first Otter that we've seen in our garden!

28th September 2024 Unst NW4 Showers

There was less wind between showers today that made birding easier with my highlight being finding another Blyth's Reed Warbler.

Norwick: Long-tailed Duck, 6 Collared Dove, 2 Robin, Black Redstart, Barred Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Whitethroat, Wood Warbler, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Blyth's Reed Warbler, Blackcap & 5 Yellow-browed Warbler.

Burrafirth: Grey Heron & 2 Whinchat.

Long-tailed Duck off Norwick

Wood Warbler at Norwick

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Haroldswick

27th September 2024 Unst N4 Wintry showers!

Norwick: 2 Long-tailed Duck, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Wood Warbler & 3 Yellow-browed Warblers.

Burrafirth: Grey Heron.

Long-tailed Ducks off Norwick

25th September 2024 Unst NNE4 Showers clearing

Norwick: Robin, Barred Warbler, Blackcap, acredula-type Willow Warbler, Willow Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest & Brambling.

24th September 2024 Unst NNE4 Overcast

Norwick: 2 Robin, Barred Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, acredula-type Willow Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 5 Yellow-browed Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Common Rosefinch & Brambling.

Skaw: 2 Blackcap.

Wood Warbler at Norwick

acredula-type Willow Warbler at Norwick

Brambling at Norwick

22nd September 2024 Unst NE2 Overcast

Norwick: Kestrel, Merlin, Swallow, Barred Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers & Goldcrest.

Barred Warbler at Norwick

21st September 2024 Unst ENE3 Overcast

Norwick: 2 Grey Heron, Pink-footed Goose, 5 Collared Dove, Robin, 2 Barred Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, Goldcrest & Common Rosefinch.

Skaw: 2 Wheatear & Blackcap.

NorthDale: 2 Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Blackcap & Yellow-browed Warbler.

20th September 2024 Unst SE2 & overcast

The first bird seen on leaving our house was a Yellow-browed Warbler in our garden that rather set the theme for the day.

Norwick: 3 Grey Heron, Pink-footed Goose, 2 Robin, 2 Barred Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest & Common Rosefinch.

Skaw: Blackcap, 2 Wheatear, Yellow-browed Warbler & 6 Greenland Redpoll.

NorthDale: Tree Pipit & Blackcap.

Haroldswick: Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow-browed Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher.

Burrafirth: Grey Heron & 3 Yellow-browed Warblers.

Yellow-browed Warbler in our garden.

Common Snipe at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick

Greenland Redpoll at Skaw

Tree Pipit at NorthDale

Spotted Flycatcher at Haroldswick

19th September 2024 Unst S2 Clear

Very clear and virtually calm conditions produced my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn.

Norwick: Swallow, Wheatear, Robin, Barred Warbler. 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler & Goldcrest.

Skaw: Wheatear & Greenland Redpoll.

Northdale: Whinchat, Garden Warbler, Fieldfare & Common Rosefinch.

Barred Warbler at Norwick

Missing its central tertial on its right wing, so is different to the individual photographed on the 16th.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick

A sound-recording of it calling here

Greenland Redpoll at Skaw

16th September 2024 Unst W4 Overcast

The wind had moderated at last. Given the lengthy period of westerlies there was a surprisingly good number of Common Rosefinches with at least a couple more seen by others. More-anticipated arrivals given the weather included a Greenland Redpoll and a Lapland Bunting, the latter seen thanks to Anne.

Skaw: Common Rosefinch.

Norwick: Pink-footed Goose, 3 Swallow, Tree Pipit, Robin, Barred Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Greenland Redpoll & Lapland Bunting.

NorthDale: 2 Lesser Whitethroat.

Haroldswick: Swallow, Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher & 3 Common Rosefinch.

Burrafirth: Whinchat, Common Whitethroat & Pied Flycatcher.

Common Rosefinch at Skaw

Greenland Redpoll at Norwick

top image showing size comparison with Twite

Barred Warbler at Norwick

Tree Pipit at Norwick

Lapland Bunting at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Haroldswick

Pied Flycatcher at Burrafirth

15th September 2024 Unst SW5 Overcast clearing

A case of being so near and yet so far... as unfortunately there was no competing with today's Tennessee Warbler on the magic isle!

Norwick: Tree Pipit, Barred Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

Burrafirth: Grey Heron, Glaucous Gull, Common Whitethroat & Pied Flycatcher.

Glaucous Gull at Burrafirth

14th September 2024 Unst

It's tough going with the ongoing windy, westerly-dominated weather. 

Norwick: 2 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Swallow, Tree Pipit & Blackcap.

Pinkfeet among Greylags at Norwick

13th September 2024 Unst WSW3 Clear

Skaw: Whinchat, Robin & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Merlin, Barred Warbler, Blackcap & Pied Flycatcher.

NorthDale: Snow Bunting.

Snow Bunting near NorthDale

12th September 2024 Unst NW5 Frequent heavy showers

Norwick: Pink-footed Goose, Barred Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

Pink-footed Goose with Greylag Geese

the first that I've seen this autumn

11th September 2024 Unst NW5 Heavy showers

After a day of stormy strong winds and rain yesterday, unfortunately the wind again hampered birding today.

Norwick: Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

Uyeasound: Ruff.

Pied Flycatcher at Norwick

9th September 2024 Unst W3 Overcast clearing

Norwick: 17 Wood Pigeon, 5 Collared Dove, Tree Pipit, 2 Robin, Barred Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher & Redpoll h.

Barred Warbler at Norwick

8th September 2024 Unst SE1 Clear

Norwick: Merlin, Robin, Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher & Song Thrush.

Haroldswick: Kestrel, 6 Swallow, Tree Pipit, 2 Willow Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher.

Burrafirth: Whinchat & Barred Warbler.

7th September 2024 Unst SE2 Mist clearing

It was good to finally establish there are currently 2 Blyth's Reed Warblers at Norwick both of which have been present since at least Wednesday.

Norwick: 4 Swallow, Tree Pipit, Robin, 2 Blyth's Reed Warblers, Garden Warbler, 4 Willow Warblers & Pied Flycatcher.

Burrafirth: Whinchat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler.

Tree Pipit at Norwick

Garden Warbler at Burrafirth

6th September 2024 Unst NE2 Overcast

Norwick: Merlin, Tree Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler (singing) & Pied Flycatcher.

NorthDale: Blackcap.

Burrafirth: Barred Warbler & 2 Willow Warbler.

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Norwick

Short p2. Emarginations on p3, p4 & slightly p5.

A recording of it calling here.

Barred Warbler at Burrafirth