My annual trip to Unst took place during 23rd September to 1st October. Our first port of call on arrival into Lerwick was at Gulberwick on mainland, for a smart drake Surf Scoter. Unfortunately too far to photograph.
On arrival on Unst our first decent bird was a Woodchat Shrike at Feall, then followed by a Slavonian Grebe at Norwick and a Great Northern Diver at Uyeasound. Later in the day we had a Yellow-browed Warbler and 3 Common Rosefinch at Valyie.
During the rest of the week we managed to pick-up a decent bird on most days. A Storm Petrel and a Red-backed Shrike on 25th Sept. A drake Long-tailed Duck, a Barred Warbler and a Snow Bunting on 27th Sept. Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll and a Blythe’s Reed Warbler on 29th Sept. We had several cool encounters with Otter during our week.
Some horrendous weather during the end of the week prevented any proper birding, but on 1st October, back on mainland, we had another Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll, a Great Grey Shrike of the race Homeyeri and bird of the week, a Swainson’s Thrush at Mid-Yell. Finishing off with a 1st winter drake King Eider at Wester Quarf.
