JFC's Birding: UNST, SHETLAND ISLANDS, AUTUMN 2017 (PART 5)

5^th October, 2017 (Day 20) wet and windy morning. NW 6-7

Another late start due to heavy rain. Very little seen at Skaw with 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 male Blackcap. We then drove slowly down Lamba Ness headland but virtually nothing seen from the car.

After breakfast we visited Lund and Westing but just a Whinchat and Chiffchaff seen. We then visited Easter Loch where 6 Whooper Swans, 3 Goldeneye and a female or juvenile Ring-necked Duck was present with a party of Tufted Ducks in very rough conditions. A single pink-foot flew over with 5 Grey-lags.

Our final visit was to Valyie where a Mealy Redpoll and Little Bunting were seen.

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Female / juvenile Ring-necked Duck at Easter Loch.

In very difficult conditions with the duck sheltering along the far

bank in gale force winds with frequent heavy squally showers.

6^th October, 2017 (Day 21) windy morning with showers. NW 5

Our usual early morning visit to Skaw where the Red-throated Pipit and a Tree Pipit were seen, also Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat. We then went and walked the field at Clibberswick where we had a Whinchat, 3 Bramblings, 3 Chaffinches and a Wood Pigeon.

After breakfast, we visited Setters Hill Pines where a Parrot Crossbill flew over. We then drove to Houlland but just a Robin seen. With news of a Hornemann’s Redpoll now at Skaw, we quickly drove there and had some close views of this superb snowball male Hornemann’s. which we watched for some time. Also 1 Kestrel seen.

As the light had now improved and the wind had dropped we decided to have another attempt to photograph the Ring-necked Duck at Easter Loch. Luckily the Tufted flock was now nearer us and the Ring-necked Duck was still present, also 7 Whooper Swans.

Early morning rainbow over Haroldswick

Living up to its name as a "snowball"

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Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll showing well at Skaw.

What a stunner and for me bird of the trip.

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Female/Juvenile Ring-necked Duck on Loch Easter.

7^th October, 2017 (Day 22) Early morning light drizzle becoming fine and sunny E 3

Early morning visit to Skaw but already a number of birders present and some of them must have been there in the dark. We only bothered to cover part of the site and saw the Tree Pipit and probably flushed the Red-throated, also 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Redpolls flew out and away. On our way back from Skaw a Merlin flew past the car. We then visited North Dale, where a Yellow-browed was briefly seen, also a Dunnock and Reed Bunting.

After a break, we then walked 2 fields but other than the odd Brambling not a lot seen. As we drove through Haroldswick a large female Peregrine flew over the bay. Onto Halligarth where a Spot Fly, 2 Chiffchaffs and another Yellow-browed were all seen and 5 Redpolls flew out and away. Onto Setters Hill Pines where another Yellow-browed showed very well, but little else seen. The School Clump was very quiet.

Back at Millfield we had a 1stW Iceland Gull performing in Norwick Bay. We then decided to go to Uyeasound to try to see the Olive-backed Pipit which had been seen earlier. As we arrived one other observer was already watching it so we managed some satisfactory views although at times it would disappear in the long grass.

Spotted Flycatcher at Halligarth

1stW Iceland Gull in Norwick Bay

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Olive-backed Pipit at Uyeasound

It was in exactly the same site as the one we saw last year.

8^th October, 2017 (Day 23 ) Fine calm morning becoming overcast later N 1

Early morning visit to Valyie but generally quiet. We also covered the field at Norwick. Male Coue’s Arctic Redpoll showed briefly sat with a Mealy Redpoll, also seen 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, and 2 Blackcaps. We then visited Skaw where the Red-throated Pipit showed in the long grass also the Tree Pipit, 2 Chiffchaffs, and 1 Blackcap.

After breakfast, we visited Burrafirth but the burn was very quiet. Onto Houlland where 1 Brambling and a fine Siberian Chiffchaff showed very well in the garden. We next visited Lund where an adult male winter plumage Long-tailed Duck on the loch but otherwise just 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Whinchat seen. Also 4 Harbour Porpoises. On the drive back, a fine Merlin sat on a wall close to the road.

Finally, a visit to North Dale produced a late Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.