12th May 2017 Unst SE3 Overcast

A look at Setters Hill early evening produced a dull male Pied Flycatcher, 2 Ring Ouzels and a Mealy Redpoll. North Dale added a Kestrel, a female Common Redstart and a Blackcap and our garden was playing host to an acredula-type Willow Warbler. Mike P then found a male Grey-headed Wagtail at Skaw that we successfully twitched and where we also saw a Kestrel, 6 Swallows, a House Martin, a Whinchat and a Blackcap.

Male Pied Flycatcher at Setters Hill

acredula - type Willow Warbler at Millfield

 Male Grey-headed Wagtail at Skaw

Female Common Kestrel at Skaw

11th May 2017 Unst NE2 Clear

I arrived at Skaw hoping to see some migrants but didn't see any at all. I decided to quickly walk the headland where I found 2 Shorelarks feeding on the short turf. Migrants were also few and far between at Norwick where I had only seen 4 Arctic Terns, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and 6 Brambling when I inadvertently flushed a Long-eared Owl that then showed nicely. Being out of signal I was late to hear that Jim Nangle had found 4 Dotterel at Keen of Hamar that I then successfully twitched before reluctantly heading to work.

Pair of Shorelarks at Skaw

Long-eared Owl at Norwick

Dotterel at Keen of Hamar

10th May 2017 Yell & Unst

The only birds of note seen on Yell were two Iceland Gulls seen distantly at Mid Yell and returning here this evening there was a juvenile Iceland Gull floating around the fields surrounding our garden and a smart male Common Redstart in our garden.

9th May 2017 WNW3 Overcast

The Short-toed Lark was still present alongside the road at Haroldswick pools. A cold seawatch produced a Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers and an Arctic Tern. Returning through Baltasound, Brydon's Coot was seen on Buness Loch. Haroldswick bay was playing host to a drake Common Scoter that was then targeted by a pair of Peregrines and then, perhaps more surprisingly, by a s/p Great Northern Diver that surfaced immediately beneath it and spread its wings causing the Scoter to fly off. A Waxwing was busy munching in our rose, when another was heard calling high above, with 'ours' flying-up to join it and them both flying off high to the north - migration in action!

Drake Common Scoter at Haroldswick

Pair of Peregrines at Haroldswick

Waxwing at Millfield

8th May 2017 Unst NE4 Overcast

It was windier than forecast first thing so I decided to look at the sheltered spots at Norwick before starting work that produced a Tree Pipit, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Willow Warblers. Driving through Haroldswick coincided with Robbie having seen the Short-toed Lark that was now feeding along the edge of the road as well as on the beach.

Tree Pipit at Norwick

Short-toed Lark at Haroldswick

7th May 2017 Unst NE7 Overcast

Awoke to a strong wind that had congregated good numbers of Gulls in Norwick bay that included a juvenile Iceland Gull. A quick look around Norwick in the windy conditions produced a female Ring Ouzel, a Tree Pipit and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Plenty of Gulls at Norwick today

 Juvenile Iceland Gull at Norwick

Lesser Whitethroat a Norwick

Female Ring Ouzel at Norwick

6th May 2017 Unst & Yell NE2 Clear

Having booked the 7am ferry to Yell planning a long day at work took a last-minute decision upon taking the route via Haroldswick. In the corner of the bay I noticed two large Divers so stopped to take a look to ensure that they were Great Northern Divers. One dived and took ages to resurface but when it did so they were both as expected. My attention was then drawn to a small passerine along the tide line on the beach and viewed at c.50m with the naked eye it's general colouration reminded me of a female Snow Bunting. On raising my bins I was delighted to see that, in fact, it was a Short-toed Lark, and just to make things even better, a Shore Lark was right beside it! I rattled off a few record shots when a Hooded Crow arrived on the beach and conveniently flushed the Larks onto rocks right beside me where the Short-toed Lark was seen closing its eyes presumably being tired. They then both flew but returned to the beach when it was time to make a dash to the ferry which was made with a couple of minutes to spare. Rather an uneventful remainder of the day until seeing a rather distant Iceland Gull at Mid Yell.

Short-toed & Shore Lark on Haroldswick beach

 Short-toed Lark on Haroldswick beach

Shorelark on Haroldswick beach

Iceland Gull at Mid Yell