UNST 2026 Part 2 Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler hangs on and Mainland day trip (08-12 October)

Thursday 08 October 2026. Valyie, Brewery Marsh and Haroldswick, Unst. Light northerly winds. A morning spent attempting to improve on Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler photos but despite several views I failed completely. An afternoon trying areas around Haroldswick with little reward. Birds seen included 2 Eider, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, Pink-footed Goose, 20 Golden Plover, 12 Common Snipe, Kestrel, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcaps and 2 Chaffinches the only finch on a very quiet day.

Eider on Norwick beach

Pink-footed Goose at Haroldswick

Friday 09 October 2026. Norwick, Skaw, Valyie and NorthDale, Unst. Moderate SE winds, early rain clearing and an obvious arrival of Redwings. Birds seen included Pink-footed Goose, 10 Curlew, 2 Razorbills, Guillemot, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Chiffchaffs, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (no photos again for me although Dave managed a decent flight shot), 4 Blackcaps, a presumed blythi/Siberian Leser Whitethroat, 80 Redwings, Ring Ouzel, 4 Wheatears, Tree Pipit, juvenile Tree Sparrow, 2 Chaffinches, 6 Bramblings and 4 Twite.

Redwing at Norwick

Pink-footed Goose at Norwick

Twite at Skaw

Tree Pipit at Valyie

with Olive-backed Pipits turning up elsewhere on Shetland we felt a bit disappointed to find a Tree Pipit, nice as it was

Hedgehog at Valyie

a recent unwanted addition to the island fauna

Saturday 10 October 2026. Norwick, Skaw, Burrafirth, Haroldswick and NorthDale. Light N winds, dull. Birds seen included Pink-footed Goose, 2+4 Whooper Swans, 3 Eider, 30 Turnstones, 40 Razorbills, 2 Guillemots, 10 Curlew, 12 Common Snipe, an Arctic Tern, 2 Red-throated Divers, 300+ Fulmars, 220 Shags, 2 Grey Herons, Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (photographed again on what was to be its last day although most of my images weren't very revealing), 3 Blackcaps, our only Goldcrest of my visit(!), 50 Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, Ring Ouzel, the juvenile Tree Sparrow, 15 Chaffinches, 45 Bramblings and 10 Twite.

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler showing a bit of colour (but not much else)

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burrafirth

the first of just three seen

Shetland Pony

Brambling at Haroldswick

Sunday 11 October 2026. Valyie and NorthDale, Unst. Light N winds, clear. Birds seen included Pink-footed Goose, 6 Razorbills, Guillemot, 2 Merlins, juvenile Great Grey Shrike, 7 Ravens, Swallow, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Siberian and 2 Common Chiffchaffs, blythi Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 10 Redwings, Wheatear, the juvenile Tree Sparrow, 8 Chaffinches, 50 Bramblings and 8 Twite.

Rock Doves at Norwick

a very mobile juvenile Great Grey Shrike at Norwick

its pale lores and base of the bill were quite striking

despite much effort we never managed closer than this and then it disappeared completely

we never did find out what amazing rarity was at the foot of the rainbow, although the shrike might have disappeared in that direction

Monday 12 October 2026. Valyie, Easter Quarff, Sound and Easter Loch. SE wind, clear. Brenda had to finish her dental treatment in Lerwick so after visiting Valyie we drove down to Lerwick. We had time to see the Grey-cheeked Thrush at Easter Quarff and I was dropped off at Sound before her appointment. The Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll was on view when I arrived and delighted me for half an hour before flying off. Returning to Unst we just had time to visit Easter Loch before the light went. There only 6 Whooper Swans remained although both female Scaup and 10 Goldeneye were present. Other birds seen included 2 Red Grouse, a Jack and 4 Common Snipe, Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, Stonechat, 4 Chaffinches, 25 Brambling and 6 Twite.

Norwick from Valyie and the remains of a croft, empty for less than a generation. The roof damage was wasn't evident on my previous visit in 2024. It is a very tough environment, for people and buildings.

Grey-cheeked Thrush at Easter Quarff, my first in Britain since 1990

it had obvious white flashes in each wing which appeared to be the result of missing secondaries?

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Burn of Sound, Lerwick

I find it hard to accept that this is the same species as Lesser Redpoll