Wednesday 5 October 2016

5th October 2016 Unst SE6 Clear

We awoke to a windy morning that persisted for the whole day making birding generally difficult. Skaw produced just a single Redwing and a single Blackcap. There was a single Redwing, single Blackcap and single Brambling in the crop at North Dale. Norwick was more lively with the Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Willow Warbler, a Goldcrest, 3 Brambling, a Siskin and a Common Redpoll present. Setters Hill added another Redwing, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest. At Houlland there were 5 Whooper Swans on the Loch of Cliff, 2 Redwings and the Blyth's Reed Warbler was still lingering. At Clingera the Willow Warbler was still present and we heard a Yellow-browed Warbler. As we drove past Haroldswick a juvenile Arctic Tern was seen feeding in the bay. In the flooded fields at Norwick we flushed our first 2 Jack Snipe of the Autumn and then flushed another near Halligarth. A Yellow-browed Warbler was the only migrant seen at the School.

Common Redpoll at Norwick

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Houlland (JFC)

Jack Snipe at Baltasound