Wednesday 14 September 2016

14th September 2016 Unst N1

A chill in the air at dawn and a very heavy dew but nice calm conditions. It was then something of a disappointment that most of the migrants seen at Skaw yesterday evening had clearly departed and there was no sign of any new arrivals to replace them. A walk of the headland produced two high flying flocks (5 & 3) of Lapland Buntings flying south calling away as they went and there were a few more Skylarks in evidence. Norwick was also quiet albeit a Sparrowhawk was the first of the Autumn and a Common Rosefinch had remained on site. At North Dale presumably the same Short-eared Owl as seen there recently was inadvertently flushed but soon landed in a grassy field. Burrafirth seemed totally devoid of passerine migrants although a Wigeon was another first of the Autumn.

Millfield
Garden Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 1

Skaw
Sanderling 9
Knot 3
Blackcap 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler 1
Lapland Bunting 8 (5 & 3 flew high south)

Norwick
Sparrowhawk 1
Sanderling 1
Blackcap 1
Garden Warbler 1
Willow Warbler 1
Chiffchaff 1
Common Rosefinch 1

North Dale
Short-eared Owl 1
Garden Warbler 1
Willow Warbler 1


Common Rosefinch at Norwick

Painted Lady at Norwick

Wigeon at Burrafirth