The usual trip to Shetland took place on 26th September, catching the late evening ferry from Aberdeen. The only birds of note were six Sooty Shearwater, the remnants of a large movement of Sooty Shearwater down the Scottish east coast earlier in the day.
From the 27th to 4th October we basically stayed on Unst and spent our time searching for rare birds, mostly in vain. Before heading off to Unst on 27th we visited Quendale and had a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Loch of Tingwall produced two Corncrake, one of which was a juvenile and we were able to prove breeding of this species at this site. The Corncrake was thought to be breeding but none of the local birders had seen evidence. So we were well chuffed with ourselves.
So, during our week on Unst we managed to see Whooper Swan,, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Wood Warbler, around 15 Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Barred Warbler, Little Bunting, Siberian Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl and the best bird of the week a Lanceolated Warbler. A mix of common migrants, several excellent views of Otter and a Minke Whale rounded of a mediocre week.
Barred Warbler – Lerwick, Shetland – October 2024Barred Warbler – Lerwick, Shetland – October 2024Lanceolated Warbler – Valyie, Unst, Shetland – October 2024Long-tailed Duck – Norwick, Unst, Shetland – September 2024Meadow Pipit – Norwick, Unst, Shetland – September 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Otter – Shetland – 2024Oystercatcher – Norwick, Unst, Shetland – September 2024Little Bunting – Unst, Shetland – September 2024Little Bunting – Unst, Shetland – September 2024Red-breasted Flycatcher – Quendale, Shetland – September 2024Red-breasted Flycatcher – Quendale, Shetland – September 2024Red-breasted Flycatcher – Quendale, Shetland – September 2024Ringed Plover – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Ringed Plover – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Sanderling – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Sanderling – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Sanderling – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Sanderling – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Starling – Unst, Shetland – September 2024Turnstone – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Turnstone – Unst, Shetland – October 2024Twite – Unst, Shetland – September 2024Whooper Swan – Unst, Shetland – September 2024Yellow-browed Warbler – Unst, Shetland – October 2024
