20th August 2023 Unst SSW1 Overcast clearing

One of the best August falls of migrants I've witnessed since living on Shetland with the stand-out highlights being finding an Arctic Warbler, 3 Barred Warblers together and a fourth nearby, 2 Red-backed Shrikes and 3 Wrynecks. 

Burrafirth: 4 Swallow, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Garden Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, Arctic Warbler & 8 Willow Warbler.

Skaw: Wryneck, 2 Whinchat, 6 Garden Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Pied Flycatcher & 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Norwick: Merlin, 2 Snipe, Sanderling, 2 Wryneck, 2 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, Reed Warbler, 4 Barred Warbler, 6 Garden Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Red-backed Shrike, 5 Pied Flycatcher, 1cy Redpoll & Common Crossbill.

NorthDale: 2 Wheatear, 4 Willow Warbler & 1 Pied Flycatcher.

Haroldswick: Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler & 1 Pied Flycatcher.

Arctic Warbler at Burrafirth

Arctic Warbler (right) with Willow Warblers at Burrafirth

Wryneck at Skaw

Wryneck at Norwick

Barred Warbler at Norwick

Pied Flycatcher at Norwick

Common Crossbill at Norwick

1cy Red-backed Shrike (the 'new' individual) at Norwick

Whinchat at Haroldswick

19th August 2023 Unst Calm at dawn but soon ENE4 clear but rain by c.11am

Out early as the weather was forecast to quickly deteriorate. Initially it felt little had arrived but in the 10 minutes that the heavy rain commenced I found a Red-backed Shrike and Icterine Warbler in quick succession. 

Norwick: 3 Wheatear, 3 Garden Warbler, Icterine Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher & 1w Red-backed Shrike.

NorthDale: 3 Willow Warbler & Pied Flycatcher.

Haroldswick: 2 Willow Warbler.

Burrafirth: juvenile Moorhen, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Wheatear & 2 Willow Warbler.

1cy Red-backed Shrike at Norwick

Icterine Warbler at Norwick

Pied Flycatcher at NorthDale

Wheatear at Burrafirth

18th August 2023 Unst NE2 Overcast clearing

The easterly airflow delivered a scatter of migrants with finding my first Barred Warbler of the year being the pick of the bunch albeit there was no competing with the magic isle!

Skaw: 7 Sanderling, 5 Knot, 3 Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat & Willow Warbler.

Norwick: Merlin, 4 Sanderling, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Wheatear, Barred Warbler & 3 Willow Warbler.

Burrafirth: 2 Wheatear & 2 Willow Warbler.

NorthDale: 2 Willow Warbler.

Lesser Whitethroat at Skaw

Barred Warbler at Norwick

a very skulking individual!

Great Skua at Burrafirth

17th August 2023 Unst N2 Overcast

Norwick: 5 Sanderling, 2 Swallow.

Burrafirth: Kestrel, Swallow & 3 Willow Warbler.

NorthDale: Merlin, 3 Willow Warbler & 3 Redpoll (1 juv). Peacock Butterfly.

Haroldswick: White Wagtail.

Willow Warbler at NorthDale

14th August 2023 Unst S2 High broken cloud

Norwick: 2 Sanderling, 2 Snipe, 5 Pied Wagtail, 10 Wheatear & Chiffchaff.

13th August 2023 Unst SE2 Overcast with early rain then mist

Skaw: Snipe, 5 Wheatear. 

Norwick: 9 Snipe, Pied Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat & Garden Warbler.

Burrafirth: 7 Swallow & Willow Warbler.

10th August 2023 Unst W3 Overcast

Skaw: Green Sandpiper