5th May 2017 Unst NE2-3 Clear

Spent another morning seawatching from Flubersgerdie with highlights as follows:

Red-throated Diver 3 s/p north
Great Northern Diver 1 w/p north at 7.51am
White-billed Diver s/p 1 north at 10.00am
blue Fulmar 5 north
Kittiwake c.150 north
Arctic Skua 1 north

The Black-tailed Godwit was still present in Baltasound.

Dawn mist and dew on Unst from Houlland

the long walk to Flubersgerdie in the distance

nearly there!

Chair now stashed to ensure future comfort!

the first blue Fulmar of the morning passing Flubersgerdie

Great Northern Diver passing Flubersgerdie

Small flocks of Kittiwakes passing throughout the morning

Puffins passing Flubersgerdie

Bonxies passing Flubergerdie

 Second blue Fulmar of the morning passing Flubersgerdie

Third blue Fulmar passing Flubergerdie

Red-throated Diver passing Flubersgerdie

I was glad not to be stood on deck!

the walk back

4th May 2017 Yell & Unst NE1 Clear

Mid Yell played host to 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls and a Blackcap and Willow Warbler were present at the Windhouse bod. This evening the c.20 Swallows at Haroldswick bay had been joined by a Sand Martin and 4 House Martins.

3rd May 2017 NE2 Clear

An early morning seawatch produced a Red-throated Diver north at 7.56am, a drake Tufted Duck south at 6.50am, 2 Shelduck north at 7.40am and 1 south at 7.47am and 3 Arctic Skuas. There were 2 Willow Warblers along a nearby wall. A check of some of the Baltasound sites produced a Black-tailed Godwit, a Wryneck at Halligarth, a White Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Common Redstarts, a Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Willow Warblers, a Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting. Norwick proved much quieter than the last couple of days with just a White Wagtail, the female Stonechat and the Dunnock being seen.

Two Shelduck flying north offshore...

to  be quickly followed by one flying south

Red-throated Diver flying north

Male Wheatear

Female Common Redstart at Setters Hill

Tree Pipit at Setters Hill

Black-tailed Godwit at Baltasound

2nd May 2017 Unst SE1 Clear

A tour of the usual sites of north Unst produced a nice selection of migrants including some more new species for the year being Arctic Tern, House Martin, Whinchat, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit, Common Whitethroat and Linnet.

Millfield
Willow Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Reed Bunting 1

Skaw
Swallow 6
Whinchat 1
Chiffchaff 3
Robin 1
Reed Bunting 1

Haroldswick 
Eider 5
Wigeon 2
Dunlin 9
Arctic Tern 1
House Martin 2
Tree Pipit 1
Swallow 20
Willow Warbler 3

Burrafirth
White Wagtail 1
Whinchat 1
Willow Warbler 2
Reed Bunting 1

Norwick
Iceland Gull 1 juvenile
Swallow 10
White Wagtail 1
Whinchat 1
Stonechat 1 female
Ring Ouzel 1 male
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 1
Blackcap 2 males
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler 4
Chiffchaff 1
Robin 1
Dunnock 1
Siskin 1
Brambling 5

Baltasound
Fieldfare 2
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Willow Warbler 4
Robin 1
Linnet 1
Siskin 1+
Mealy Redpoll 1+

Whinchat above Norwick

White Wagtail at Burrafirth

Juvenile Iceland Gull at Norwick

Male Ring Ouzel at Norwick

Female Stonechat at Norwick

Drake Wigeon at Haroldswick

Arctic Tern at Haroldswick

1st May 2017 Unst SE4 Clear

A Willow Warbler in our garden was early promise but just a single male Snow Bunting was seen at Lamba Ness and a Willow Warbler at Skaw albeit our first Stonechat of the year was seen along the road on the way home. Norwick then came good with a juvenile Iceland Gull along the beach, where 3 Swallows were busy feeding, a pair of Blackcaps were the first we have seen this year, there were 4 Willow Warblers present and a Fieldfare, Dunnock and Robin... and a very pleasing find in the form of a female Subalpine Warbler that shared its garden with a Waxwing! A tour of the Baltasound sites then produced a couple more Willow Warblers and our first Lesser Whitethroat of the year and a Mealy Redpoll.

Willow Warbler at Millfield

Juvenile Iceland Gull at Norwick

Swallow at Norwick

Female Blackcap at Norwick

Pair of Blackcaps at Norwick

Female Subalpine Warbler at Norwick, Unst

BB November 2013 compares the tail patterns of the Subalpine Warbler complex...

Click the above to enlarge

Waxwing at Norwick

Mealy Redpoll at Setters Hill