19th November 2021 Unst WNW5 Overcast

After overnight westerly gales we headed to Westing but disappointingly there were very few Gulls present feeding in the surf. I then waited for the gales to abate before sea-watching from Lamba Ness from 1.15pm to 2.15pm where the highlight was a White-billed Diver that flew north before it splashed down onto the sea and commenced diving between Lamba Ness and the Holm of Skaw.

Millfield: Siberian Chiffchaff.

Lamba Ness: Eider, White-billed Diver N then splashed down, blue Fulmar N, Puffin N then splashed down, 2 Little Auks N & Fieldfare.

 

2cy White-billed Diver passing Lamba Ness

On seeing it approaching I was initially a little perplexed on seeing the combination of its pale bill and the overall darkness of the plumage. However, as it passed rather closely, there was no overlooking its bill! In having acquired plenty of white-centred scapulars but lacking any white-spotted wing-coverts I think that it effectively ages this individual as a 2cy being a plumage that it then largely carries well into its 3cy summer - there's a nice portrayal in Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe (1992).

17th November 2021 Unst W5 Hail showers

It's felt like we've slipped from Autumn into Winter these last couple of days with yesterday's highlight being our garden producing a Dunnock - only the sixth I've seen on Unst this year! Today our garden was graced by a Siberian Chiffchaff.

Millfield: Red-throated Diver, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Redwings & Siberian Chiffchaff.

Haroldswick: Meadow Pipit, Skylark, c.20 Blackbirds, c.35 Fieldfare & c.30 Redwings.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Millfield

15th November 2021 Unst SW4 Overcast clearing

Nice weather to be birding with a few migrants still present.

Skaw: Fieldfare & Chiffchaff.

Lamba Ness: 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Woodcock, 6 Meadow Pipits, Skylark, 10 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare & 12 Snow Buntings.

Holsens road: 5 Fieldfare & Siskin.

Norwick: Woodcock, Long-eared Owl, 4 Robins, 4 Blackcaps, Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Siskins, 17 Chaffinches & 2 Brambling.

Haroldswick: 51 Fieldfares.

Burrafirth: drake Scaup.

Drake Scaup at Burrafirth

Possible female Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid (left) & Tufted Duck at Burrafirth

Being similar in size to the accompanying Tufted Duck and having the hint of a crest note its more Scaup-like headshape and reduced black tip to the bill hence matching the description of some females of this hybrid combination in the Collins Guide.

14th November 2021 Unst S6 Overcast

Very windy and rather dull weather for the Swan count saw me fail to find any at all whilst touring the north of the island!

Burrafirth: Grey Wagtail.

Haroldswick: Long-tailed Duck, 1cy Iceland Gull, 1 Fieldfare, c.5 Redwings & Chaffinch.

Drake Long-tailed Duck off Haroldswick

13th November 2021 Unst SE2 Overcast

It almost felt the last roll of the dice of Autumn today with a light southeasterly airflow and being dry all day. It's the Swan census tomorrow that feels very wintry!

Skaw: 5 Redwings.

Lamba Ness: Oystercatcher & Woodcock.

Norwick: Meadow Pipit, Skylark, 3 Robins, 20 Blackbirds, 25 Fieldfares, 45 Redwings, Siberian Chiffchaff, 3 Siskins, 10 Chaffinches & Brambling.

Haroldswick: 5 Meadow Pipits, 10 Blackbirds, 3 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, Mealy Redpoll, 8 Chaffinches & 3 Bramblings

Burrafirth: Red-throated Diver & 2 Meadow Pipits.

Meadow Pipit

Having not seen any for a good few days there was clearly a small arrival today.

12th November 2021 Unst SE6 Rain

A wet and windy morning saw a visit to the shop produce an adult Glaucous Gull in Haroldswick and a 1cy Iceland Gull off Norwick that then spent the afternoon touring the wick. The rain virtually stopped early in the afternoon so I took a walk around Norwick.

Haroldswick: adult Glaucous Gull.

Norwick: Woodcock, Water Rail, 1cy Iceland Gull, 1 cy Glaucous Gull, 2 Robins, 3 Redwings, Blackcap, 2 Siskin & 10 Chaffinches.

1cy Iceland Gull against the cliffs of Lamba Ness

11th November 2021 Unst NW5 Clear

I seawatched from Lamba Ness for a couple of hours from dawn but given the conditions it proved a little disappointing with a single Little Auk the highlight. 

Lamba Ness: 2N Red-throated Diver, 1S large Diver sp., 2N blue Fulmars, 2 Eider (1N & 1 on sea), 4 Purple Sandpipers, Little Auk N, 4 Black Guillemots & Snow Bunting.

Skaw: Robin.

Norwick: Red-throated Diver, 4 Great Northern Divers, Long-eared Owl, Robin, 5 Redwings, Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, 11 Chaffinches & Brambling.

Black Guillemots off Lamba Ness

The snowy-crowned individual proved eye-catching but Shetland has form for these and unfortunately this one shares more similarities with this one than this beauty.