Unst, Shetland – 23rd Sept – 1st October 2016

Well another year has flown by and my week on Unst has already come to an end. Another great time on the Isle above all others, with a number of rare warblers being the stars of the show. We found a few birds, re-located a few and came so very close to finding the big one, like 10 minutes behind from finding the Paddyfield Warbler. With 3 Blyth’s Reed Warbler, a Dusky Warbler, Raddes Warbler, Icterine Warbler, 2 Barred Warbler, many Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Bluethroat, 2 Little Bunting and a Red-breasted Flycatcher, the rarity list was pretty good. Well I’m going to let the photos do the talking and already I’m looking forward to Shetland 2017. Year List is now on 234.

The Northern Lights – We kick off with a stunning Aurora on the evening of the 26th September 2016. It was truly an amazing sight. This is the very first image I have ever taken of the Northern Lights – Tony Davison©

First the common stuff

Black Guillemot – (Tystie) – winter plumage – Lerwick Harbour – 1st October 2016 – Shetland is THE place to see these birds – Tony Davison©

Whooper Swan – Above 4 images – Uyeasound, Unst – 25th September 2016 – Up to 8 birds were present on the fresh water loch in Uyeasound. – Tony Davison©

  

Ringed Plover – Juveniles- Above 4 images – Norwick Beach, Unst – 26th September 2016 – Tony Davison©

Golden Plover – Baliaster, Unst – 30th September 2016 – Several flocks scattered around the island – Tony Davison©

Gannet – Above 3 images – Uyeasound, Unst – 25th September 2016 – A number of birds were fishing around the sound – Tony Davison©

Osprey – Skaw, Unst – 27th September 2016 – A single bird was touring the island and we saw it on several occasions – Tony Davison©

Blackcap – male – Balliaster, Unst – 30th September 2016 – A common migrant on Unst, some times an indicator species as to what may be around – Tony Davison©

Common Whitethroat – Juvenile – Above 4 images – Balliaster, Unst – 30th September 2016 – Tony Davison©

Willow Warbler – Lund, Unst – 28th September 2016 – Tony Davison©

Northern Wheatear – Northdale, Unst – lots around the isalnd during the week – Tony Davison©

The Shetland Pony – Haroldswick, Unst – Tony Davison©

Grey Seal – Immature female – Haroldswick, Unst – “Happiness is a Seal called Hamlet” – Tony Davison©

 

Now the Rare Stuff

PADDYFIELD WARBLER – Skaw, Unst – 27th September 2016 – We walked onto this bird within minutes of it’s discovery by two local Unst birders – Tony Davison©

ICTERINE WARBLER – Baltersound, Unst – 25th September 2016  – Tony Davison©

BLYTH’S REED WARBLER – Balliaster, Unst – 30th September 2016 – Took me 4 attempts and over 7 hours in the field to get these pictures. Tony Davison©

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER – Norwick, Unst – 26th September 2016 – Hundreds of these tiny warblers arrived on Shetland during September and hundreds more down the east coast of mainland UK – Tony Davison©

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER – 1st winter – Valyie Gardens, Norwick, Unst – 24th September 2016 – Our first rarity of the trip – Tony Davison©

LITTLE BUNTING – Skaw, Unst – 26th September 2016 – This bird was very difficult to find at times – Tony Davison©

LITTLE BUNTING – Lund Thistle Beds, Unst – 28th September 2016 – This Little Bunting was much more obliging – Tony Davison©

NORTHERN LIGHTS – Northdale, Unst – 26th September 2016 – One of my favourite images of the week, a stunning light show and something I will never forget – Tony Davison©