26th November 2021 Unst NE8 Overcast

The gales associated with Storm Arwen persisted all day confining us to home.

Norwick: 1cy Iceland Gull & Redwing.

25th November 2021 Unst NNW4 Overcast

After a strong overnight northerly I met Brydon at Lamba Ness and we sea-watched from 8.30am until nearly 10.30am with the highlight being 11 Little Auks and I guess my first Shelducks of the year should qualify too! A walk around Norwick with Brenda produced a Long-eared Owl and a Goldcrest but proved rather ill-timed getting caught in a prolonged heavy snow shower!

Lamba Ness: Red-throated Diver N, 11 blue Fulmar N, 4 Shelduck N, 12 Guillemots N, 4 Puffins N, 11 Little Auks N, 4 Glaucous Gulls N & 15 Kittiwakes N.

Norwick: Long-eared Owl & Goldcrest.

1cy Glaucous Gull passing Lamba Ness

Shelduck passing Lamba Ness

24th November 2021 Unst WSW5 Clear

We made a tour of the lochs today but they proved quiet with 3 Scaup the best.

Uyeasound: Red-throated Diver, drake Scaup, 2 Fieldfare & Chaffinch.

Westing: 2 Red-throated Diver

Loch of Cliff: 2 Scaup (one drake). 

Norwick: Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Robin & 8 Chaffinch.

23rd November 2021 Unst W6 Overcast

I completed the two monthly WeBS counts for north Unst with the highlights being a 1cy Puffin and a 1cy Iceland Gull both on the sea just off Norwick beach.

Norwick: 1cy Puffin & 1 cy Iceland Gull.

Burrafirth: drake Scaup.

1cy Puffin off Norwick

22nd November 2021 Unst WNW5 Overcast

It felt like sea-watching from Lamba Ness was worth another try, but despite similar weather conditions to yesterday, there were far fewer Fulmars, Guillemots and Kittiwakes passing today.

Lamba Ness: 1N & 1S Red-throated Divers, 5 blue Fulmars N, 5N & 3S Guillemots, 2 Puffins N, 2 Little Auks N & 3 Kittiwakes N.

Scandinavian Herring Gull passing Lamba Ness

no white-wingers today but a steady trickle of argentatus

Juvenile Red-throated Diver passing Lamba Ness

blue Fulmar passing Lamba Ness

Puffins passing Lamba Ness

21st November 2021 Unst N4 Overcast

I sea-watched from Lamba Ness for 75 minutes from 8.15am.

Lamba Ness: Great Northern Diver N, 20 blue Fulmar N, Glaucous Gull N, 1cy Iceland Gull N, 61 Kittiwakes N, 109 Guillemots N, 3 Black Guillemots N & 2 Fieldfare.

Norwick: 2 Great Northern Divers.

Guillemots passing Lamba Ness

Black Guillemot passing Lamba Ness

Glaucous Gull passing Lamba Ness

20th November 2021 Unst WNW5 Overcast

I sea-watched from Lamba Ness from 1.30pm until 2.30pm where a Little Auk and a nice close Minke whale proved the highlights.

Lamba Ness: Great Northern Diver on sea, 4 blue Fulmars N, Eider on sea, Long-tailed Duck S, Little Auk, Purple Sandpiper N & Minke Whale.

blue Fulmar passing Lamba Ness

Minke Whale off Lamba Ness