22nd May 2017 SE2 Clear

What a difference a day makes! Out before 5am after yesterday's excitements with Skaw producing a Great Northern Diver, a drake Common Scoter, the leucistic Oystercatcher, a Swallow, a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff and a Brambling. A juvenile Iceland Gull was present on my return to Millfield. Norwick added a Marsh Harrier that flew east, then west and then east again, 6 Swallows, 4 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and 5 Mealy Redpolls. 

drake Common Scoter at Skaw

leucistic Oystercatcher at Skaw

Sedge Warbler at Skaw

Marsh Harrier over Norwick

A different individual to that seen on the 16th May as this one has a complete tail

21st May 2017 Unst SE1 Overcast clearing

Arrived at Skaw where more migrants were evident than in recent days quickly seeing 6 Swallows, a Redwing, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Chiffchaff and a Mealy Redpoll. I then joined Brydon to take a look around Halligarth seeing a Pied Flycatcher there. A female Goosander flew past a foggy Millfield and out into Norwick bay and I saw another Redwing at Norwick before trying Burrafirth where a Song Thrush and a Tree Pipit were seen and a Sedge Warbler was heard. Arrived at the Baltasound School to a very nice surprise as immediately heard a Rustic Bunting singing that I soon tracked down along the edge of the pines where it continued to sing and a Tree Pipit, a Blackcap and a Siskin were all seen too. A Sand Martin, Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs were seen elsewhere in Baltasound before returning to Skaw seeing both the male and female Bluethroats found by the Aberdeen duo. Returned for more views of the Rustic Bunting still singing before trying for Al's singing male Common Rosefinch at Uyeasound that sadly eluded us. We finished with seeing a superb s/p Great Northern Diver in Haroldswick bay.

Male Rustic Bunting at Baltasound School

Male Bluethroat at Skaw

20th May 2017 Unst E4 Overcast with rain

Potentially promising conditions but difficult birding once the rain started albeit the sites that we checked seemed quiet. Phil Crockett and friends from Aberdeen found a female Bluethroat at Skaw that was looking rather sodden by the time that we saw it late afternoon.

Female Bluethroat at Skaw

19th May 2017 Unst E3 Overcast

A visit to Haroldswick beach this evening produced more views of the Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler were present in the adjacent bushes.

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Haroldswick beach

18th May 2017 Unst Calm & Clear

A quick walk around Skaw on a superb calm morning produced our first Hawfinch of the year but little else was in evidence. We again saw the Semipalmated Sandpiper on Haroldswick beach.

Hawfinch at Skaw

Peregrine

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Haroldswick beach

17th May 2017 Unst S4 Clear

Arrived home from Yell to only our second Carrion Crow of the year sat on our doorstep and the first Grey Wagtail of the year in an adjacent field.

Grey Wagtail at Millfield

16th May 2017 Unst S3 Overcast

Allan Conlin scored an impressive double finding a Red-rumped Swallow at Braeview and a Semipalmated Sandpiper on Haroldswick beach in quick succession this evening. Whilst looking in vain for the Swallow I did see a female Marsh Harrier fly east over Norwick as well as a juvenile Iceland Gull and 5 House Martins. Fortunately the Semipalmated Sandpiper proved more obliging as it aggressively chased around the accompanying Dunlin.

Marsh Harrier over Norwick

Semipalmated Sandpiper at Haroldswick beach