JFC's Birding: UNST, SHETLAND ISLANDS, AUTUMN 2017 (PART 3)

23^rd September, 2017 (Day 8) Overcast cool SE 3-4 increasing to 5.

First visited Skaw but we were unable to find a single migrant, a party of 15 Twite flew over but other than good numbers of Ravens little else of interest seen. Onto Burrafirth and again just a single Wheatear otherwise 2 Peregrines tussling with 12 Ravens little was seen in either the walled garden and along the burn. A party of 9 Twite flew over here.

After breakfast, we drove up to Valyie, but by now the wind had increased to force 5 and made birding difficult. We failed to find or hear any migrants here.

After lunch, we went for a drive around the South of the Island. Up to 400 Golden Plovers near Uyeasound with 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Ruff feeding with the plovers. 2 Whooper Swans were with 30 Wigeon on the small lochs, and a 1stW Glaucous Gull near the ferry terminal at Belmont. An Otter was seen at Skeotaing. Arriving back at Millfield 8 Ruff flew over and 6 Twite.

David working the ditches at Skaw hoping for a Lancey.

Large numbers of Ravens all over Unst.

The first Whoopers of the Autumn on Loch Easter.

(DC)

1stW Glaucous Gull at Belmont

24^th September, 2017 (Day 9) Overcast dry SE 5-6

Our usual early morning visit to Skaw and we then moved onto North Dale and the Heritage Centre Garden. Unfortunately, not a single migrant seen. After breakfast, we visited Vaylie where 1 Willow Warbler and a Blyths Lesser Whitethroat was present and at Norwick where a Brambling flew over Millfield and another Willow Warbler was seen.

After a break, we then visited a number of sites including Clingera, where we had 5 Mealy Redpolls, School Clump, the Pines where David had 1 Yellow-browed and 1 Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat and the Health Centre Garden but the strong winds again made birding very difficult.

Doreen and Brenda on the walk back from Valyie battling the strong SE wind.

My annual picture of the Autumn crocus at Valyie

Shetland Bee at Valyie.

25^th September, 2017 (Day 10) Overcast becoming misty and rain. SE 3 to 5.

Very little at Skaw other than a few new Blackbirds and 4 Ruff flew over. Check of Norwick beach produced out first Purple Sandpiper. Onto Vaylie where a Yellow-browed was calling at least 15 Blackbirds and the Blyth’s Lesser Whitethroat.

After breakfast, we first visited a small quarry near Burrafirth where a male Snow Bunting showed well and then onto the burn at Burrafirth where just a single Yellow-browed which also showed well.

News then broke of an American Wigeon on Easter loch at Uyeasound. We made our way there and soon located the drake American Wigeon which was coming out of eclipse plumage. It was with a small flock of European Wigeon and once or twice it flew around the loch. The light was now very poor for photography. There was also a Little Bunting nearby and we also had good views of this in the rain.

With rain now settling in we returned to Millfield where a Robin was present the first for the Autumn.

Purple Sandpiper in Norwick Bay, our first for this Autumn.

Snow Bunting in a quarry near Burrafirth

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burrafirth

American Wigeon on Easter Loch, Uyeasound.

Drake American Wigeon in flight showing the white auxiliaries.

Little Bunting at Uyeasound in the rain.

26^th September, 2017 (Day 11) Overcast mild SE 5

Another strong SE wind, we did our early morning visit to Skaw where a single Blackcap was present, but little else. Onto Vaylie where several new migrants were seen but in difficult conditions with the wind. Migrants seen and heard were Redstart 1, Yellow-browed Warbler 2+, Goldcrest 2+ Willow Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, and 1 male Chaffinch. On Norwick beach, the Purple Sandpiper was still present and was joined by a Dunlin.

After breakfast a visit to Setters Hill pines where 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit and 1 Robin were present. Also visited School Clump but no migrants seen here other than a Robin.

Probably 30 Yellow-browed Warblers for the trip so far.

Sunrise over Skaw, the last of the sun we saw today.

(DC)

Blackcap in our garden at Millfield.

27^th September, 2017 (Day 12) Overcast mild SE 5-6.

Another very windy day and we made our usual early morning visit to Skaw where migrants seen included Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and brief views of a Reed Warbler before it departed. Onto Valyie where we had a number of new migrants including both single Redwing, Robin and Song Thrush, 4 Chaffinches, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Blackcap and the highlight was a superb Long-eared Owl which flew out of the Gully and showed well in the main clump.

After breakfast, we visited Setters Hill Pines where the Tree Pipit showed well, also singles of Siskin, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush. At the Health Centre garden just 2 Bramblings flew over, and at Clingera singles of Yellow-browed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were seen. We then went to Hagdale Quarry where a 1stW Bluethroat had been reported. After searching for around 40 minutes we had distant views as it seemed to be covering a large area. Also 2w Grey Wagtails flew over calling.