12th November 2016 Unst S2 Overcast

The overnight wind and rain had cleared by dawn and soon it was another calm and pleasantly warm day to be out birding. There was an obvious passage of Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls with small and often mixed flocks arriving in off the sea over Norwick all morning. There was another arrival of Blackbirds with small flocks at all sites visited including around 10 at the tip of Lamba Ness. Starlings were also in good numbers with sizeable flocks conspicuous. Norwick played host to a Woodcock, 2 Robins, a Siberian Chiffchaff, 4 Bramblings, 5 Chaffinches and a Snow Bunting in the dunes. Skaw produced a juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Woodcock sat in the open but all too briefly!

Siberian Chiffchaff at Norwick

Snow Bunting at Norwick

Woodcock at Skaw

Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Skaw

11th November 2016 North Roe

A day off work seemed a good opportunity to try for the Rufous Turtle Dove at North Roe. With clear overnight skies and a bright moon I feared it might be gone especially never having enjoyed the best of luck with the species having been abroad for the epic twitch to Orkney by JFC, RJF & JWK and abroad again for the St. John's Loch bird and even in moving up here literally as the Kent individual gave itself up albeit in the meantime I had fortunately seen the Oriental Turtle Dove in Oxfordshire. However, I need not have worried as on arrival at the scenic North Roe we were greeted by 2 Waxwings and then the finder of the Rufous Turtle Dove photographing it in a garden. It was then never out of view for the next 90 minutes as it performed admirably seemingly enjoying the warm sunshine. George Petrie then kindly gave us directions for a nearby returning drake Green-winged Teal at Bardister that we soon located before it was all too soon time to head for the ferries back north.

North Roe proving a nice setting for a rarity

Rufous Turtle Dove S.o. meena at North Roe

Drake Green-winged Teal at Bardister

7th November 2016 Yell NW3 Overcast

A long day at work leaving Unst pre-dawn and arriving back post-dusk. Did manage a quick look at the Wind House Lodge Bod garden on Yell producing a Waxwing and 2 Mealy Redpolls.

6th November 2016 Unst NE6 Overcast

The gales had moderated overnight but still very windy. A sea-watch before work from 8.15am to 9.45am produced 65 blue Fulmars moving north but otherwise just a Common Scoter and a few Kittiwakes and (large) Auks.

A seawatch dominated by a northerly movement of Fulmars ...

 ... including a good number of blue Fulmars

5th November 2016 Unst NE8 Overcast

Overnight gales continued throughout the day. Lamba Ness proved disappointingly quiet from 8.15am to 10.15am with just a juvenile Glaucous Gull seen flying north along the headland and 11 blue Fulmars passing north offshore without a Little Sea Rat to be seen - the affectionate local name for Little Auks!

A hailstorm approaching Lamba Ness

 the water travelling up and out of the top of the burns on Clibberswick!

4th November 2016 Unst NE5 Clear

A seawatch from Lamba Ness from 8.15am to 10.15am produced a Sooty Shearwater (N), 30 blue Fulmars (N), a drake Velvet Scoter (S), 3 Common Scoter (S), a Bonxie (N) and a Purple Sandpiper (N). A check of Skaw and Norwick in windy conditions produced just a few Redwings but a Snow Bunting flew past Millfield later in the afternoon.

Redwing at Norwick

Far fewer Blackbirds and Fieldfare in evidence today and the overall darkness, heavilly streaked underparts, dark-centred undertail-coverts and horn coloured legs suggest that the Redwings present are Icelandic Redwings.

2nd November 2016 Unst NW3 Clear with light showers

Arriving at Lamba Ness I noticed a juvenile Glaucous Gull among some Great Black-backed Gulls patrolling the cliffs. I spent from 8.30am to 10.30am seawatching seeing a Great Northern Diver, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 33 blue Fulmars and 3 Little Auks all flying north and heard a Snow Bunting arriving in off the sea. Skaw was quiet with just a Robin and the long-staying Chiffchaff first seen back in July! Norwick was better producing a Waxwing, a Robin, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinches and a Brambling. Late afternoon at Setters Hill added another Robin and Chiffchaff.

Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Lamba Ness

Sooty Shearwater and Fulmar passing Lamba Ness

Blue Fulmars passing Lamba Ness

Chiffchaff at Skaw

Wheatear at Norwick

Chiffchaff at Setters Hill