8th September 2018 Unst N1 Clear

A very enjoyable day's birding with Pete Cosgrove in calm warm conditions. NorthDale held a Barred Warbler feeding on the rose-hips and 3 Common Rosefinches together in the crop. Skaw then proved disappointing quiet albeit 2 Merlins were seen perched side by side but a walk around Norwick produced a male Common Redstart, a Wood Warbler and 3 Willow Warblers. Haroldswick added 2 Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler. Uyeasound produced a Barred Warbler. Lund produced my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the Autumn and there was a Common Rosefinch at Westing. A look around Baltasound added a Barred Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Spotted Flycatchers. A return to NorthDale was rewarded with our third Yellow-browed Warbler of the day and a Reed Bunting.

Wood Warbler at Norwick

Male Common Redstart at Norwick

Yellow-browed Warbler at Lund

Common Rosefinch at Westing

Pied & Spotted Flycatchers at Baltasound

Pied Flycatcher at Baltasound

Spotted Flycatcher at Baltasound

7th September 2018 Unst NE4 Overcast

Birding proved tricky today in the windier than forecast conditions with sheltered areas being at a premium. Skaw played host to just a single Garden Warbler and a single Willow Warbler. Norwick added 2 Willow Warblers and a very brief view of the Blyth's Reed Warbler that was still calling occasionally. A drive down to Lund produced a Barred Warbler and a Garden Warbler and there was another Garden Warbler at Westing. On our return north a look at a few Baltasound sites revealed the presence of just a Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Valyie

6th September 2018 Unst E3 Overcast

It felt another promising day with a brisk easterly and overcast conditions greeting me on my dawn arrival at Skaw albeit all I found there was a single Willow Warbler and a single Common Rosefinch. Lamba Ness proved quiet so I headed home to take a walk around Norwick. I'd soon seen the same birds that were present yesterday consisting of the Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and 2 Willow Warblers and was just leaving Valyie when I heard what sounded likely to prove the second tongue-clicking 'tacking' Acro I'd stumbled across this week. I'd soon pinpointed it to the ivy-covered roof(!) of a barn where the moving foliage gave away its presence but the bird remained hidden. I tried a little playback of the calls of a BRW, that in hindsight was probably a mistake, as it jumped out onto the top of the ivy before promptly flying at me, over my left shoulder and into a thicket! Looking up at the bird I couldn't see its primary projection albeit the couple of images obtained suggested BRW over Marsh Warbler. Two hours later and I'd not heard or seen it again so I walked home. On arriving home I was greeted with the news that Brydon had found a BRW in Halligarth! After a cup of coffee I was back across to Valyie but it took 4 hours before I heard a couple of deep 'tac' calls that I was sure was it. I tried pishing and it finally gave itself up - the first BRW I've found in the UK - result! We then made an evening visit to Burrafirth where a Barred Warbler was calling frequently at dusk. 

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Valyie

Barred Warbler at Burrafirth

5th September 2018 Unst S2 Overcast

It was nice to awake to overcast skies that gave me hopes of emulating Matt's success at finding a BB rarity although a walk around Skaw and Lamba Ness only produced a single Willow Warbler! I then had a commitment for the remainder of the morning but was out birding again soon after lunchtime when a look around Norwick added a Pied Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers and a Common Rosefinch. We then tried a couple of gardens at Haroldswick finding a nice fresh first-winter Icterine Warbler there. NorthDale played host to 2 Common Rosefinches together in the crop and an evening return to Skaw added a Pied Flycatcher.

Icterine Warbler at Haroldswick

3rd September 2018 Unst W2 Overcast

An evening visit to Burrafirth produced a Barred Warbler and a Garden Warbler and Norwick added 2 Common Rosefinches.

Small Tortoiseshell at Norwick

Scarce on Shetland occurring just about every year

2nd September 2018 Unst S3 Overcast

A quick early morning look around Norwick produced a single Garden Warbler and a Common Rosefinch and the Shore Station at Burrafirth added just a Kestrel.

1st September 2018 Unst SSW2 Misty and drizzle

A late afternoon visit to Burrafirth revealed the continued presence of the Common Rosefinch but I then heard an Acro repeating a deep 'chet' call and then a series of churring 'trrrrr' alarm calls so it raised my hopes that it might be a Blyth's Reed Warbler. I then managed a very brief glimpse of it in flight but couldn't discern anything other than it appeared sandy-coloured in flight. By chance, Mike arrived but it proved incredibly skulking, being particularly inconsiderate of it as we were being eaten alive by a mushroom cloud of midges! However, we eventually nailed it - our second Marsh Warbler of the Autumn. A case of de-ja-vu as I'd heard a Marsh Warbler calling in the Spring at Valyie that sounded pretty much identical to and readily responded to playback of calls of BRW. 

Marsh Warbler at Burrafirth

More readily identifiable on seeing its upperparts lacking any rufous tones, long primary projection, thick yellowish-pink tarsus, pale claws and short robust bill.