Thursday 22 September 2016

22nd September 2016 Unst S1 Overcast

Light rain until lunchtime but virtually calm so a nice afternoon. Skaw produced a Peregrine and a Whinchat with another along Holsen's road. At North Dale the rain became more persistent but we did see the Little Bunting that was found yesterday looking a bright individual despite being very wet. At Norwick a total of 5 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen including 2 that plummeted from high out of the sky to joining another in a sycamore in front of us - brilliant! There were also a White Wagtail, at least one Whinchat, 3 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff, a Brambling and out first Goldcrest of the Autumn. Back home at Millfield for lunch and a Yellow-browed Warbler put in a welcome appearance. A stop on the Norwick/Millfield junction produced a Barred Warbler, presumably the Yellow-browed Warbler from Millfield and a couple of Blackcaps. Frank kindly stopped to tell us that the Short-eared Owl was sat on a fencepost at North Dale. As we were heading south we called in and there is was drying itself completely unconcerned by our presence - superb. We then tried Uyeasound starting with a search for the Blyth's Reed Warbler and whilst a Yellow-browed Warbler was immediately apparent a sequence of pishing produced what we were really hoping would still be present. Although it remained devilish to see persistence paid off as we eventually obtained some great views of a very educational bird. Another stop in Uyeasound on our way out produced our final Yellow-browed Warbler of the day.


Short-eared Owl at North Dale








Blyth's Reed Warbler at Uyeasound