22nd September 2026 Unst SW3 Showers

On leaving home I heard the wistful call of an American Golden Plover being frequently repeated. A single Golden Plover was quickly seen flying towards me. I managed a recording of a couple of calls and a few very poor images before it landed atop a ridge on East Hill.  

Norwick: Pale-bellied Brent Goose, American Golden Plover, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 4 Pied Wagtails, Wheatear, Barred Warbler, 2 Blackcaps & 2 Chiffchaff.

Westing: Merlin, 4 Snipe, Wheatear.

Lund: 8 juvenile Sanderling.

Adult American Golden Plover at East Hill

Sonograms re calls of AGP (left) / East Hill / Pacific Golden Plover

The above has been quickly hashed together and will require further refinement/research. Calls of both species are variable but note the similarity of the frequency range and oft-described bell-shaped pattern of AGP rather than the inflected upward-sloping line of PGP.

21st September 2026 Unst SW3 Partly Overcast

Norwick: Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Merlin, 9 Snipe, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 15 Collared Dove, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Black Redstart, Tree Sparrow & a flock of 8 Ravens flew north.

Baltasound: Bar-tailed Godwit & Knot.

'Eastern' Lesser Whitethroat at Norwick

The first interesting-looking Lesser Whitethroat that I've seen this autumn showing a sandy nape and short primary projection. Unfortunately it remained silent.

20th September 2026 Unst WNW6 Heavy showers

Norwick: 5 Pale-bellied Brent, 24 Common Snipe, 1 juvenile Sanderling, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1cy Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow & Common Rosefinch.

19th September 2026 Unst SW6 Showers

With the strong overnight winds emanating from Greenland it was perhaps no surprise that there were five hungry and approachable Pale-bellied Brent on Norwick beach and an Icelandic Redwing at Haroldswick. A Barred Warbler was more unexpected, but being an elusive individual, perhaps it has been present for a few days unseen?

Skaw: Common Snipe, juvenile Sanderling & Wheatear.

Norwick: 5 adult Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Common Snipe, Knot, 3 juvenile Sanderling, 2 Pied Wagtail, Barred Warbler, Garden Warbler & Common Rosefinch.

Burrafirth: White Wagtail & Pied Wagtail.

Haroldswick: Icelandic Redwing.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Norwick

With the prevailing westerlies you'd have to assume these are from the Candaian/Greenlandic population that winter mainly in Ireland and western Britain. Considerable variation in the extent of neck collars.

1cy Sanderling at Norwick

Spot the 1cy Barred Warbler at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

1cy Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

18th September 2026 Unst W5 Showers

Norwick: Willow Warbler.

17th September 2026 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Kestrel, Whimbrel, 3 Common Snipe, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1cy Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & 2 Common Rosefinch.

Common Kestrel at Norwick

p10 being clearly shorter than p8 confirms the identification

1cy Stonechat at Norwick

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

16th September 2026 Unst NW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher & Common Rosefinch.

Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

15th September 2026 Unst & mainland Shetland N3 Rain

After a quick look around Skaw and Norwick, I had an appointment to attend in Lerwick that gave us a convenient opportunity to see the 1cy American Black Tern at Tingwall Loch. Despite the poor weather, it performed admirably albeit rather distantly for most of the time that we were present. The first that I've seen in the UK since seeing the 'first for Britain' at Weston-Super-Mare in October 1999.

Skaw: Wheatear.

Norwick: 6 juvenile Sanderling, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Tree Sparrow & 3 Common Rosefinch.

Tingwall Loch: 1cy American Black Tern.

1cy American Black Tern at Tingwall Loch

14th September 2026 Unst S4 Overcast

Finding your first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn always feels like something of a watershed moment...

Norwick: 2 juvenile Sanderling, 1cy Stonechat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (singing), Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler & 3+ Common Rosefinch.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Norwick

and here's a link to a recording of it calling

Common Rosefinches at Norwick

It was tricky to know exactly how many birds were involved today. I saw 3 together but the total may have been 6 or 7.

13th September 2026 Unst W2 Overcast clearing

Norwick: 7 Sanderling & Common Rosefinch.

1cy Common Rosefinch at Norwick

10th September 2026 Unst S5 Clear

Skaw: 2 Snipe & Chiffchaff.

9th September 2026 Yell NW3 Partly overcast

Gutcher: redhead Goosander.

8th September 2026 Unst SSE3 Clear

Skaw: Snipe, 5 juvenile Sanderling, 3 Wheatear & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: 5 juvenile Sanderling, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

7th September 2026 Unst SW4 Occasional heavy rain

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat & 1cy Spotted Flycatcher.

Haroldswick: Wigeon & 65 Snipe.

1cy Spotted Flycatcher at Norwick

Interestingly, only six primary tips are visible in forming its primary projection that is a suggested proposed feature of Mediterranean Flycatcher. Could that be age-related? Otherwise it shows characters typical of Spotted including its wingtip falling beyond its pale-tipped retained juvenile uppertail-coverts etc.   

Lesser Whitethroat at Norwick

Meadow Pipit at Norwick

6th September 2026 Eastshore, Virkie S4 Light rain

There are rarities and there are rarities. Roger found one of the all-time mythical British rarities yesterday, all the more special being one of Heinrich Gatke's Heligoland legendary first records for northwest Europe... Egyptian Goatsucker! Unst often isn't the best place to be located from which to chase rarities elsewhere on the islands and yesterday that again proved true. On reading the species typically have large foraging ranges it didn't fill me with confidence that it would be present today. But Glen's message 5 minutes before sunrise to say that it was again roosting on the beach at Eastshore resulted in us scrambling for the door and picking-up Mike and Chris enroute to Belmont. Fortunately the 'bookings only' 7am ferry had arrived courtesy of a sheep lorry and we were soon leaving Unst. Likewise there was plenty of room on the 8.15am ferry from Ulsta and we were heading south. We were greeted by Paul encouraging us to quickly take a look through his scope as the Nightjar had become a little active at the onset of light rain. We were then largely mesmerised by the Nightjar as we watched it rocking, shuffling and on one occasion opening its very large eyes to take a look at its gathering admirers. It was then great to spend time with friends, not least Roger recounting his exciting find. A very enjoyable day and what a bird - a world tick to boot!

Egyptian Nightjar at Virkie

Eastshore beach

The gathering admirers

Birders who arrived off the first couple of flights into Sumburgh

Birds of Heligoland

5th September 2026 Unst WNW5 Partly overcast

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat.

4th September 2026 Unst SSW2 Overcast

Skaw: Snipe, 19 juvenile Sanderling & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Sparrowhawk, 3 juvenile Sanderling, Chiffchaff & Pied Flycatcher.

3rd September 2026 Unst SW5 Overcast

Norwick: Knot, 2 juvenile Sanderling, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Pied Flycatcher.

2nd September 2026 Unst WNW5 Rain

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat.

1st September 2026 Unst SW4 Overcast

Norwick: Lesser Whitethroat.

Uyeasound: 2 Goldeneye.