1st October 2026 Unst and south mainland SSE3 Overcast and misty clearing

News of a Siberian Blue Robin saw us head for south mainland but we unfortunately arrived too late to see it. Step forward Jack Morris and Dan Beadle to round-off their sensational rarity-finding week by finding a Two-barred Warbler within walking distance at Quendale! Superb!

Norwick: Grey Heron, 5 Snipe, 3 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing, 2 Robin, Stonechat, 2 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Tree Sparrow & Chaffinch.

Hillwell & Quendale: Sand Martin, Two-barred Warbler, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff & Dunnock.

Song Thrush at Norwick

the best that our garden had to offer...!

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Norwick

Two-barred Greenish Warbler at Quendale

30th September 2026 Unst SE7 Overcast

Norwick: 3 Wigeon, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 8 Redwing, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher h, Tree Sparrow, Brambling h & Siskin.

Redwing and Blackbird at Norwick

29th September 2026 Unst SE4 Partly overcast

Norwick: 26 Pink-footed Geese (8.04am), Merlin, Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler & Tree Sparrow.

Skaw: 2 Wheatear, Common Whitethroat & Lesser Whitethroat.

Burrafirth: 2 Wheatear, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

28th September 2026 Unst SW4 Showers

After a morning visit to Valyie we spent most of the day off island, but on our return, we took the opportunity of seeing 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Lund found a few days ealier by Clive Saunders.

Norwick: pale-bellied Brent, Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Stonechat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff (one singing), Tree Sparrow & Brambling.

Lund: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Lund

27th September 2026 Unst S5 Partly overcast

Norwick: pale-bellied Brent, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, 2 Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Stonechat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff 2 (1 singing), Tree Sparrow, Siskin h & Brambling.

1cy Black-tailed Godwit at Norwick

26th September 2026 Unst SW5 Showers

Norwick: pale-bellied Brent, Pintail, Wigeon, 3 Merlin, Snipe, Pied Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat, singing Chiffchaff, Brambling & 3 Siskin.

Adult pale-bellied Brent Goose at Norwick

Pintail at Norwick

25th September 2026 Unst SW4 Showers

Norwick: 185 Pink-footed Geese, pale-bellied Brent, 6 Snipe, 1cy Arctic Tern, Pied Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 2 (ad & 1cy) Stonechat, Barred Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Tree Sparrow, Brambling & 3 Siskin.

Tree Sparrow at Norwick

24th September 2026 Unst S2 Clear

Norwick: 43 (9.06) & 220 (14.15 - 16.15) Pink-footed Geese, pale-bellied Brent, 10 Eider, 6 Snipe, juvenile Sanderling, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Barred Warbler, Willow Warbler & 2 Chiffchaff.

Skaw (10.20 - 11.50): 127 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Snipe & 3 Wheatear.

Pinkfeet over Norwick

23rd September 2026 Unst W2 Partly overcast

Norwick: Pale-bellied Brent, 7 Snipe, 3 Pied Wagtail, Barred Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, singing Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

Baliasta: Pied Flycatcher.

1cy Pied Flycatcher at Baliasta

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