Small groups of pink-feet over #Mulbarton and Thorpe End #Norfolkbirding this morning.
Chris
@mulbartonbirder.bsky.social
Birding isn’t a hobby, it's a way of life. You're constantly looking or listening out for something different. Some might say that I'm obsessed. Norfolk based and annually migrate to Unst in the autumn.
I always like to do a bit in return when I stay on #Unst Yesterday morning we did a beach clean. When we're out and about we also remove any plastics caught up on the fences. So if you're visiting Shetland then why not just give an hour to do a litter pick in your area.
#Unst is the most northerly UK island and my home village of #Mulbarton is just on the outskirts of Norwich. Yet, I have far superior EE network up here and there are more streetlights.
streetlights.in
No fair weather birding here on #Unst Surprisingly we had quite a productive day with pied fly, rb fly, bluethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, redwing, brambling, song thrush, robin, arctic tern and a couple of otters.
Bird migration is amazing, as soon as the wind gets a hint of easterly in it then the flood gates open. OK I haven't seen anything mega but have seen a couple of blackcap, pied fly, yellow-browed warbler, increase in chiffchaff, brambling and siskin. Also a rather vocal red-breasted flycatcher..
Our accommodation on Westing beach #Unst is perfect, stunning views and plenty to watch. Even if its chucking it down outside we can sit in the observatory and scan the bushes in the garden, plus the beach and out to sea.
Here are some examples of typical areas worthy of exploring, all have the potential to hold migrant birds #Unst
Only the 2 buff-breasted sandpipers at Lund #Unst today. A few migrants around too with wheatear at Lund and chiffchaff, yellow-browed warbler, siskin and brambling at Halligarth.
When I tell non birding friends/family/work colleagues that I'm away for 2 weeks on a remote Scottish island that they understand how exhausting it really is. Up at 1st light and back after dark. Walking miles of road, tracks, field margins, beaches etc. In and out of burns, navigating geos..
Up to Lund #Unst to see the group of 3 buff-breasted sandpipers this morning. We were pleased to find a 4th bird which seemed to keep its distance from the other 3 so never got all 4 in one photo. Also found a lovely 1st winter med gull on the beach.
Birding on #Unst for the past week has been extremely tough. There is a significant lack of migrants so far. It's only the buff-breasted sandpipers (now 3) and a single yellow-browed warbler that has kept us going. A blackcap or a lesser whitethroat would be nice. Hopefully next week will be better.
2 buff-breasted sandpiper at Lund #Unst this morning #rarebirdsuk Hopefully there'll be an upland sandpiper there tomorrow 🤞 A few days I saw my first buff-breasted in 34 years ago and now I've doubled that.
1 minkie whale, 3+ harbour porpoise, 8+ risso's dolphin and 10+ white-beaked dolphin off Keen of Hamar #Unst #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
Nothing of note on #Unst for me today. Highlight was doing some hoovering back at the accommodation.
Female king eider in Shetland Harbour on Saturday morning youtube.com/watch?v=J4N7...
King Eider, Shetland Harbour.
YouTube video by Chris Beach
youtube.com
I love wrens and the Shetland subspecies are awesome, such hardy little birds with loads of character.
Also went over for the American black tern at Loch of Tingwall. Showed well in the drizzle and murk, hence the rather dark photos.
Popped over to mainland Shetland today to see the buff-breasted sandpiper at Esha Ness. It's been 34 years since my my 1st one at Cliffe, fairly sure I didn't have point blank views like today..what a bird.
Just driving across Yell and had a dark bird cross the road. At first I thought moorhen, but then looked grouse like, when it took flight it had silver underwings. There's no black grouse on Yell @akettle.bsky.social
Hard going on #Unst today due to the wind. Managed to get a couple of island ticks; black-tailed godwit and pale-bellied brent goose.
Since when did smoked haddock cost £8.50. Also, why does Tesco in Shetland only stock haddock from Norway when its surrounded by sea!!
Flowing ditch on Scarfe Meadows and happy cows – photo Rowena Langston
