26th May 2026 Unst W5 Partly overcast

An interesting Diver seen distantly off Norwick this evening. Watched for 7 minutes swimming east towards open water it showed features consistent with Pacific Diver. Namely the bill size and shape, pale nape, something of a dark vent strap and the lack of a white flank patch...

24th May 2026 Unst WSW3 Partly overcast

Norwick: 2cy Continental Cormorant, Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff & 3 Redpoll.

Skaw: Great Northern Diver, Swallow & Garden Warbler.

Haroldswick: Little Egret.

Common Redstart at Norwick

2cy Continental Cormorant at Norwick

23rd May 2026 Unst SW3 Overcast

Norwick: Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 7 Collared Doves, Swallow, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (one singing), Willow Warbler & 2 Tree Sparrows.

Haroldswick: Kestrel, Swallow, Sand Martin, singing Sedge Warbler, Ring Ouzel, 2 Icelandic Redwing & 2 Redpoll.

Burrafirth: 2 Osprey, Kestrel, 2cy Cuckoo & Chiffchaff.

Female Ring Ouzel at Haroldswick

Icelandic Redwing at Haroldswick

Redpoll at Haroldswick

Ospreys at Burrafirth

2cy Common Cuckoo at Burrafirth

Little Egret at Norwick

22nd May 2026 Unst SSE2 Rain clearing

Skaw: 5 Swallows, 4 House Martins, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler

Norwick: Sparrowhawk, 6 Collared Doves, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Tree Sparrow, Siskin & Brambling

NorthDale: Chiffchaff.

Burrafirth: Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, 3 Swallows, 

Haroldswick: 2 Common Sandpipers, Garden Warbler, singing Icterine Warbler, Siskin & 3 Redpoll.

Female Common Kestrel at Burrafirth

Icterine Warbler at Haroldswick

21st May 2026 Unst SW3 Partly overcast

Norwick: Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, 4 Woodpigeon, 5 Collared Dove, 5 Swallows, alba Wagtail, singing Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, singing Redwing, Redpoll h & Brambling.

Skaw: Pink-footed Goose, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Short-eared Owl, 5 Swallows, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler & Chaffinch.

Haroldswick: 9 Knot & Sedge Warbler.

Burravoe: 3 Swallows.

Common Whitethroat at Norwick

acredula Willow Warbler at Norwick

Short-eared Owl off Skaw

20th May 2026 Unst SE5 Rain clearing

It was back to work today, where I chanced upon a smart male Bluethroat. It was then a surprise that both Skaw and Norwick proved rather quiet.

Skaw: 2 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail, Black Redstart, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Snow Bunting.

Norwick: Marsh Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Brambling & 4 Tree Sparrow.

Male Bluethroat (red-spotted)

Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw

19th May 2026 Unst SE5 Overcast

Southeasterlies at last but a disappointing return for the day.

Skaw: House Martin & Chiffchaff.

Norwick: House Martin, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

Burrafirth: Common Sandpiper & 2 Chiffchaff.

Haroldswick: Marsh Harrier, 7 Knot & Sanderling.

NorthDale: Willow Warbler.

Knot at Haroldswick

Marsh Harrier at Haroldswick

18th May 2026 Unst S2 Partly overcast

Skaw: 2 Chiffchaff.

Norwick: Swallow, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Little Stint & 2 Knot.

Little Stint at Haroldswick

17th May 2026 Unst SW2 Partly cloudy

Norwick: Common Rosefinch.

Camb: singing Willow Warbler.

16th May 2026 Unst NW4 Showers

Norwick: 3Knot, White Wagtail, 2 Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: Whimbrel, White Wagtail & Willow Warbler.

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657610818

15th May 2026 Unst NNW6 Rain

Norwick: Knot, Common Rosefinch & 4 Tree Sparrows.

Haroldswick: Knot.

14th May 2026 Unst N5 Partly overcast

Norwick: 15 Eider, Knot & Common Rosefinch.

Haroldswick: White Wagtail.

2cy Common Rosefinch at Millfield

If my reading of Svensson is correct, the visible moult limit in the primaries ages it as a 2cy as the post-juvenile moult can include replacing 1-4 outer primaries.

13th May 2026 Unst Calm Occasional Showers

Skaw: Common Sandpiper, singing Sedge Warbler, Mealy Redpoll, Redpoll sp. & Snow Bunting.

Common Sandpiper at Skaw

Snow Bunting at Skaw

11th May 2026 Unst NW3 Overcast

Skaw: Short-eared Owl, Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff & Snow Bunting.

Short-eared Owl at Skaw

Sedge Warbler at Skaw

Snow Bunting at Skaw

10th May 2026 Unst NW3 Wintry showers

Norwick: 21 Eider, 4 Woodpigeon, 2 Pied Wagtails, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff & 4 Tree Sparrows.

Sedge Warbler at Norwick

9th May 2026 Unst NW4 Showers

Norwick: 2 Arctic Terns, Chaffinch & 3 Tree Sparrows.

8th May 2026 Unst SW4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Arctic Tern & 4 Tree Sparrows.

7th May 2026 Unst SSE4 Partly overcast

Norwick: Whimbrel, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaff, Song Thrush & 2 Tree Sparrow.

6th May 2026 Unst W3 Showers

Another quiet day with the unfavourable winds and temperatures continuing. Robbie saved the day finding a redhead Smew on Belmont Loch - the first that we've seen on Unst.

Skaw: Arctic Skua, 2 Pied Wagtail & Redpoll.

Haroldswick: Black-tailed Godwit & Swallow.

Belmont: Smew.

Black-tailed Godwit at Haroldswick

the worn coverts and tertials point to it possibly being a 2cy individual

Smew at Belmont Loch

3rd May 2026 Unst WSW2 Overcast

Norwick: 2 Great Northern Diver, 8 Eider, Whimbrel, 2 Woodpigeon, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.