14th June 2021 Unst W6 Clear

Our garden was still playing host to both the Rosy Starling and Common Crossbill much to the delight of a steady stream of admirers today. With nothing of note seen at Skaw or Lamba Ness I headed to Valyie with low expectations so was pleased to hear the Marsh Warbler still singing and soon realised that another songster was also present - an Icterine Warbler - all the more surprising given the westerly wind - a sound recording here - it transpired that John Gale had already heard and seen it too. I also saw a Garden Warbler, a Blackcap, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Siskin and whilst passing Leawart a Rosy Starling was accompanying a flock of juvenile Starlings - close scrutiny of my images prove it to be the same as the individual regularly visiting our garden feeders - in fact, it then beat me back home!

A socially-distanced twitch at Millfield

Common Crossbill at Millfield

What it lacks in colour, being so confiding, it ensures that it appeals to all - here sat on our washing line, watching-on, whilst I refill the feeders - yet again! Dave Pullan mentioned never seeing them attending feeders around Speyside.

Siskin at Leawart

Rosy Starling at Leawart

13th June 2021 Unst W6 Rain

Wet and windy on and off all day today made for unpleasant conditions. The Rosy Starling and Common Crossbill both remain faithful to our garden feeders.

Rosy Starling at Haroldswick (left) and Norwick (right)

A few days ago Adrian K flagged-up the likelihood of more than one Rosy being involved and a comparison of images of the individual seen at Norwick, Skeggie & Haroldswick on 5th - 7th June confirm that it's a different individual to that currently present in our garden from the 8th June. In addition to the various plumage differences the wings and tail of the current individual appear far more faded and worn and it has some damage to a primary on its left wing. Ageing & sexing appears tricky (Shirihai & Svensson 2018) but I suspect the original individual was an adult female whereas the current bird is a 2cy.

12th June 2021 Unst NW5 Overcast

A much nicer day than forecast and both the Rosy Starling and Common Crossbill were again visiting our feeders. Just time for a quick look around Norwick that was quite productive as I flushed 2 Quail together from a roadside verge and the singing Marsh Warbler was showing a little better today. 

Millfield: 3 Great Northern Divers, Rosy Starling, Common Crossbill & Mealy Redpoll.

Norwick: 2 Quail, 2 Collared Doves, singing Marsh Warbler, 2 Blackcap, singing Chiffchaff & Mealy Redpoll.

Male Mealy Redpoll at Millfield

Mealy Redpoll at Norwick

Quail at Norwick

Marsh Warbler at Norwick

sound recording here

11th June 2021 Unst W5 Light rain clearing

A day spent catching-up with writing-up fieldwork but the Rosy Starling re-appeared on our feeders in our garden and a Common Crossbill joined it for the afternoon.

Common Crossbill & Rosy Starling at Millfield

Rosy Starling at Millfield

Common Crossbill at Millfield

10th June 2021 Unst SW3 Overcast

Quick visits to Skaw and Norwick both before and after work. At Skaw a grey Goose flew south that I suspected was a White-fronted Goose and a couple of heavily cropped photos just about confirm that it was - the first that I've seen this year. Norwick produced the albino Great Northern Diver, the Rosy Starling and a singing Marsh Warbler.

Skaw: 2cy White-fronted Goose flew south & Spotted Flycatcher.

Lamba Ness: 3 Siskin flew south.

Norwick: 2 Great Northern Diver including the albino individual this evening, Quail, Rosy Starling, singing Marsh Warbler, singing Garden Warbler & Chiffchaff.

2cy White-fronted Goose over Skaw

Rosy Starling at Norwick

Marsh Warbler at Norwick

sound recording here

9th June 2021 Unst S3 Overcast

The albino Great Northern Diver was still present off Skaw. Whilst watching it I received a message from Brenda to say the Rosy Starling was on our feeders where it remained for most of the day! Otherwise the obvious highlight was seeing my first Cuckoo of the year.

Skaw: albino Great Northern Diver, Sanderling & Robin.

Millfield: Rosy Starling & 5 Mealy Redpolls.

Norwick: Great Northern Diver, Collared Dove & 2 singing Garden Warblers.

NorthDale: singing Sedge Warbler.

Haroldswick: Quail, Cuckoo & Garden Warbler.

Albino Great Northern Diver off Skaw

still attracting plenty of admirers today 

Nice to see some Eider chicks at Skaw this morning

Rosy Starling at Millfield
onto our garden list and clearly onto this lamb's list too

8th June 2021 Unst & Fetlar S3 Fog

An early morning visit to Skaw confirmed the continued presence of the albino Great Northern Diver but otherwise I only saw a single Swallow. A quick look at Norwick proved little better hearing the singing Garden Warbler, a couple of Chiffchaffs and seeing 2 Mealy Redpolls. We then took a trip to Fetlar in the hope of seeing the male Eastern Stonechat. Whilst unfortunately we failed to see it, we did bump into the male Woodchat Shrike that to my knowledge hasn't been seen since it was found last Friday. Otherwise it proved very quiet for migrants but seeing 4 Red-necked Phalaropes was nice. On returning to Unst I took a walk around Norwick hearing a Quail, seeing the Rosy Starling and now 11 Mealy Redpolls.

Male Red-necked Phalarope feeding on the sea off Fetlar

Woodchat Shrike at Everland

Rosy Starling at Norwick

Mealy Redpoll at Norwick