25th October 2023 Unst E3 Overcast

I spent more time birding but there appeared to be fewer birds present although my persistence was eventually rewarded with finding a Bluethroat at Burrafirth - the first I've seen this Autumn and only the second this year.

Skaw: Merlin, Robin, Chiffchaff, Fieldfare & 2 Song Thrush.

Norwick: 2 Grey Heron, Pink-footed Goose, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, 8 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 14 Goldcrest, 6 Waxwing, 4 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, Song Thrush, Great Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, Siskin, 20 Mealy Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch & 50 Brambling.

NorthDale: 3 Reed Bunting.

Burrafirth: Water Rail, Short-eared Owl (plus another found dead), Robin, Bluethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 6 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, Siskin, 30 Mealy Redpoll.

Bluethroat at Burrafirth

24th October 2023 Unst SE3 Clear

I spent most of the day working but just had time for a quick circuit of Norwick seeing a similar selection of species as during recent days. 

Norwick: 7 Woodcock, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, 4 Robin, 3 Skylark, Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 14 Goldcrest, Great Tit, 3 Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 6 Waxwing, 40 Snow Bunting, Siskin, 35 Mealy Redpoll, 6 Chaffinch & 55 Brambling.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Millfield

ever-present on our feeders!

23rd October 2023 Unst WSW2 broken high cloud

A nice day of weather made for a very pleasant day with a small arrival of Woodcock and a male Northern Bullfinch proving the highlights.

Skaw: Woodcock, Blackcap, Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush & Northern Bullfinch.

Norwick: 2 Red-throated Diver, 4 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Woodcock, Water Rail h, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Robin, Skylark, 7 Blackcap, 9 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, Waxwing, 2 Tree Sparrow, 2 Chaffinch, 70 Brambling & Hawfinch.

NorthDale: Short-eared Owl, 2 Blackcap, Goldcrest, Yellowhammer & Chaffinch.

Burrafirth: 3 Common Scoter, Short-eared Owl, Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Fieldfare & 10 Redwing.

Haroldswick: 2 Woodcock, 3 Goldcrest, 10 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing & Waxwing.

Northern Bullfinch at Skaw

A sound-recording of it calling here

Tree Sparrow at Norwick

Great Tit at Norwick

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Norwick

Short-eared Owl at NorthDale

Yellowhammer at NorthDale

Short-eared Owl at Burrafirth

Dunnock at Burrafirth

21st October 2023 Unst E5 high cloud

There was no sign of the Northern Treecreeper at Valyie this morning but we found a Continental Coal Tit at Haroldswick and then a flock of c.25 Mealy Redpolls that contained a Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Northdale.

Norwick: Pink-footed Goose, 6 Common Scoter, 6 Wood Pigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, 6 Goldcrest, Great Tit, 10 Redwing, 5 Waxwing, 2 Northwestern Redpoll, 60 Brambling & Hawfinch.

Haroldswick: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, Continental Coal Tit, 5 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing & Waxwing.

NorthDale: Yellowhammer, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, c.25 Mealy Redpoll, c.5 Northwestern Redpolls, Lesser Redpoll, Brambling & Hawfinch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Valyie

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Millfield

Continental Coal Tit at Haroldswick

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Haroldswick

Coues's Arctic Redpoll at NorthDale

20th October 2023 Unst SE7 broken cloud

The Northern Treecreeper remained but today's highlight was down to Robbie who found a Continental Coal Tit performing well in Baltasound. Whilst watching it we were joined by Duncan, Iain and Martin and soon after by another 2 Continental Coal Tits!

Norwick: 3 Long-tailed Duck, Northern Treecreeper, 15 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 8 Waxwing, 30 Brambling & Reed Bunting.

Baltasound: 3 Continental Coal Tits.

Haroldswick: 45 Fieldfare.

Northern Treecreeper at Valyie

Continental Coal Tits at Baltasound

Only the second record for Unst with the first in October 1965.

19th October 2023 Unst SE6 Overcast

Having spent all day working, John Lowrie Irvine's news that there was a Treecreeper and 3 Coal Tits in the Skaw Plantation, Whalsay had me heading for Valyie late in the afternoon... in the windy conditions I'd tried playback of the two species but to no avail. I was then joined by Duncan, Iain and Martin and we were admiring a Waxwing when a small passerine flew from behind, past us and landed on the wall below the kitchen window of Valyie just a few meters away - bingo - a Northern Treecreeper - only the third record for Unst! It then put on a fine show feeding in the clump of sycamores completely unconcerned by our presence.

Norwick: Pink-footed Goose, 3 Long-tailed Duck, Sparrowhawk, Wheatear, Robin, Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Northern Treecreeper, 20+ Waxwing, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Chaffinch, 40 Brambling & Hawfinch.

Northern Treecreeper at Valyie

Great Tit at Valyie

17th October 2023 W4 Overcast

Norwick: Hen Harrier, Wheatear, 4 Robin, 6 Blackcap, Goldcrest, Waxwing, Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 4 'Northwestern' Common Redpoll, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, Chaffinch & 5 Brambling

Uyeasound: 21 (incl 2 juv) Whooper Swan, 29 Mute Swan, 120 Long-tailed Duck, 24 Tufted Duck, Glaucous Gull & Whinchat.

1cy Hen Harrier at Norwick