15th July 2016 Off Aberdeen

After visiting Aberlady Bay we caught the overnight ferry from Aberdeen from where I seawatched for 3 hours seeing 3 Manx Shearwaters and a few Puffins amongst the anticipated species.

14th July 2016 Beachy NW3

We walked Birling, Chat Vale, Old Trapping Area, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge and Belle Tout Wood. DRC heard a Nightingale croaking in Chat Vale that was quickly tracked down to a showy juvenile.

Common Buzzard 5
Swift 8W
Sand Martin 254 W
Swallow 15
Nightingale 1 juvenile
Wheatear 1 juvenile
Lesser Whitethroat 1-2
Common Whitethroat 12
Blackcap 1 singing
Willow Warbler 1
Raven 1

JFC & DC at Birling (DRC)

Juvenile Nightingale at Chat Vale (JFC)

12th July 2016 Beachy W1-2 increasing W4

We walked Birling Lane and the Belle Tout Loop and Chat Vale.

Little Egret 1
Common Buzzard 1
Hobby 1W over Birling
Mediterranean Gull 1E adult
Swift 10
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sand Martin 3W
Swallow 8
Stonechat 8
Common Whitethroat 8
Raven 2
Corn Bunting 4

Hobby at Birling (JFC)

10th July 2016 Beachy Cool with drizzle mid-morning

Happy Birthday Dad! We walked Birling, Chat Vale, the Old Trapping Area and the Hotel Garden.

Swift 6
Grey Wagtail 1W
Common Whitethroat 14
Blackcap 1 singing

4th July 2016 Unst

As I approached Haroldswick Pools with Pete C we discussed neither of us ever having seen a Red-necked Phalarope there. As Pete checked the beach I glanced at the pool and right on cue there were a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes right next to the road! Later we were treated to some superb views of a pair of inquisitive Red-throated Divers at a satellite loch (non-breeding site).

Red-necked Phalaropes (male upper, female lower)

Summer-plumaged Red-throated Divers

1st July 2016 Yell

A Short-eared Owl was seen near the waters of Raga and a flock of 50 Lapwings were seen flying over being a sure sign of Autumn! Back on Unst the summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe was again seen at Haroldswick successfully fishing in poor light and steady rain.

Short-eared Owl near Waters of Raga

Lapwings flying over Yell

Red-necked Grebe at Haroldswick

30th June 2016 Unst Calm with heavy showers

A single Swallow was seen at Skaw. A walk around Norwick revealed that both the singing Chiffchaff and Marsh Warbler are still present. Robbie & JFC then very kindly informed us that Josh Jaggard had found a summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe in Haroldswick Bay that we successfully saw this evening.

Eider family at Skaw

Arctic Terns at Skaw

Pale morph Arctic Skua at Lamba Ness

 Heavily-laden Redshank at Norwick Beach

Marsh Warbler at Norwick

Otter

Red-necked Grebe in Haroldswick Bay