Thursday 21 September 2017

21st September 2017 Unst SE1 Drizzly rain

Drizzly rain persisted for virtually the whole day but at least it was virtually calm. Soon after dawn a Common Redpoll was found feeding along the road at Braehead. A flock of 6 Ruff flew over Skaw where the Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat had been joined by a second individual. Burrafirth was playing host to 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and the Gannet was still along the burn! Norwick produced a another Blyth's Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Yellow-browed Warblers with 5 in a single garden, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Rosefinch and a Mealy Redpoll. An afternoon visit to Houlland added our tenth Yellow-browed Warbler of the day.

Common Redpoll at Braehead
We had nothing alongside to compare size but it appeared rather large, hefty and bull-necked and the solid dark tramlines along its flanks are perhaps suggestive that it is a Greenland Redpoll.

Common Rosefinch at Norwick

Mealy Redpoll at Norwick