28th June 2021 Unst NW4 Overcast

The Bonaparte's Gull was again present on the beach at Norwick this evening.

First-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Norwick

27th June 2021 Unst NW5 Overcast

Unpleasantly windy but I completed the monthly beached bird survey also seeing 2 Great Northern Divers off Burrafirth and the Bonaparte's Gull, 2 Sanderling and a Swallow at Norwick.

Great Northern Diver at Burrafirth

26th June 2021 Unst N3 Overcast

The albino Great Northern Diver, Bonaparte's Gull and Short-toed Lark were all present early morning and again performed to all-comers throughout the day. I then completed the wader productivity survey visits for my breeding bird survey squares during the course of which I saw 3 Great Northern Divers off Lamba Ness, the Song Thrush still at Skaw and a Chiffchaff at Valyie.

Short-toed Lark at Lamba Ness

Song Thrush at Skaw

25th June 2021 Unst

We spent most of the day off-island but on returning this evening there were 4 Great Northern Divers off Norwick including the albino individual and 3 Sanderling and the Bonaparte's Gull were on the beach.

First-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Norwick

24th June 2021 Unst SE2 Overcast

A quick visit to Skaw produced nothing more than a single Swallow. On returning along Holsens road I met Paul Harvey & Alister Benn who had both seen the Bonaparte's Gull sat asleep on fenceposts at Braeview and it was still present when I was then passing there. A look around Norwick produced the albino Great Northern Diver and a Chiffchaff before the forecast rain duly arrived albeit we continued to be able to watch the Bonaparte's Gull visiting Norwick beach on and off from the comfort of our sofa!

First-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Norwick

Mike sent details of the four previous records for Shetland two of which were also found in June including the only previous record for Unst. As it is the first twitchable individual for over 15 years in the County it's proving a popular bird. Being the fifth for Shetland we went 'one better' than finding the sixth for Sussex here.

23rd June 2021 Unst NW5 Overcast

A blustery morning but the wind dropped this afternoon. An afternoon visit to Skaw produced an elusive Marsh Warbler and a Chiffchaff. A walk around Norwick was proving quiet until I checked the beach where a second calendar year Bonaparte's Gull was present among the Black-headed Gulls - superb! Soon joined by Alister, Mike & Robbie it performed well until early evening when it started to commute to and fro the colony of Black-headed Gulls at Norwick mires but then went missing completely until reappearing along the beach at 10.20pm much to the relief of Logan, Phil & Paul.

First-summer Bonaparte's Gull at Norwick

22nd June 2021 Unst W2 Partly overcast

The albino Great Northern Diver was still off Norwick and a quick visit to Skaw produced a Swallow. I commenced my survey work for the day and saw a Swallow along the cliffs of Lamba Ness. Whilst then walking past the rapidly drying pools at The Garths I flushed a small pale Lark that I quickly followed-up and was pleased to find was a Short-toed Lark - only the second that I've found on Unst and the first was whilst driving to work for the same Ecological Consultancy - a fringe benefit of working?!

Short-toed Lark at Lamba Ness