Shetland 2015

September 25th – October 3rd 2015 – Another autumn week on Unst, Shetland, staying at our usual croft at Northdale. What a great location to spend a week looking for rare birds. This year was not what I would call a classic week, yet there were still some good birds about, especially on the mainland. We stayed on Unst for our week and managed to find around 15+ Yellow-browed Warbler; 2 Barred Warbler and a Richard’s Pipit. We also saw Arctic Warbler, Pallid Harrier, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Scaup and Olive-backed Pipit. So better than a “Poke-in-the-Eye”. Common migrants included large numbers of Pink-footed Geese heading south, Fieldfare, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Snow Bunting, Whooper Swan and Swallow. The bird of the week for me was the stunning juvenile Pallid Harrier. It was roosting each night just across the moor from our croft, so we were treated to some excellent viewing of this bird each evening. Photography proved rather difficult due to some difficult birds and a number of days with poor weather conditions. A couple of butterfly species, including Red Admiral and I saw the rare Oyster Plant for the first time. The year list was boosted to 231 by the end of the week. 

Arctic Warbler – Uyeasound, Unst, Shetland – September 2015 – Tony Davison©

Yellow-browed Warbler – Unst, Shetland – October 2015 – Tony Davison© – This autumn has seen possibly the biggest invasion of this stunning little warbler to our shores.

Pallid Harrier – Juvenile – Northdale, Unst, Shteland – October 2015 – Tony Davison© – This bird was last seen as it went to roost on 2nd October 2015.

Red-backed Shrike – Burrafirth, Unst, Shetland – 29th September 2015 – Tony Davison©

Barred Warbler – Skaw, Unst, Shetland – Self Find – 28th September 2015 – Also found another at Northdale later in the day – Tony Davison©

Redstart – Above two – Norwick, Unst – September 2015 – Tony Davison©

Turtle Dove – Haroldswick, Unst, Shetland – 2nd October 2015 – Tony Davison©

Willow Warbler – Skaw, Unst, Shetland – September 2015 – Tony Davison© – Above two images

Twite – Skaw, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – Above two images

Hooded Crow – Unst, Shetland – October 2015 – Tony Davison©

Skylark – Northdale, Unst, Shetland – September 2015 – Tony Davison© – take a look at those cool hind claws !!

Rock Dove – Norwick, Unst, Shetland – October 2015 – Tony Davison© – proper ones?

Turnstone – Uyeasound, Unst, Shetland – September 2015 – Tony Davison©

Curlew, Baltasound, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison©

Bonxie – Skaw, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – Above three images

Gannet – Juvenile – Haroldswick, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – We rescued this bird off the road and finally saw it in a field half a mile away on 2nd October.

Pink-footed Geese – Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – many skeins over the island during the week – Pure migration happening..

Grey Lag Geese – A typical scene on Unst – Tony Davison©

Common Seal – Lund, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© –  “Who are these Twitchers”?

Common Seal – Haroldswick, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison©

Common Gull – 1st winter – Lund, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison©

Lund Beach, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – A beautiful location.

Oyster Plant – Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© – A very rare plant

Red Admiral – Uyeasound, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison© 

Norwick Beach, Unst, Shetland – Tony Davison©

Olive-backed Pipit – Lerwick, Shetland – October 3rd 2015 – Tony Davison© – a real poor quality record shot.