News that the Blackpoll Warbler was still on Unst lifted my spirits. I can't remember which ferry I got on at Toft, but managed to catch the 1.45pm Gutcher (Yell) to Belmont on Unst. Found out later that Lerwick birder Andy J. was in front of me on that ferry. Headed straight to Haroldswick.
No more than approximately 10 birders on site including Richard again, who I bumped into at Levenwick. There had been no sightings when I arrived, since the first one of the day, I kind of expected this. I decided to check out the original garden at Rockfield again and was just about to head to search the beach, when I could see several people intently looking over a wall into a field near to Bordanoost Lodge. There was another birder behind me and we both ran to join the group. They had it!!! It was raining most of the afternoon so visibility and photography were not ideal, but I finally got to see the cracking Blackpoll Warbler – it was feeding next to some docks in a grassy field alongside a stone wall. What a bird! Not close enough for cracking photos at this point or at any point come to that. I regretted running as I was now in considerable pain with what seemed like my left hamstring and right knee.
Later on, Jill and Rob turned up. I was worried about my camera, it had got too wet so I pulled up the drawstring of my waterproof cover tight around the body of the camera, just as I did this the Blackpoll Warbler landed on the stone wall. I shouted across to Jill (she had not seen it all at this point) that it was on the wall. By the time I had got my cover off and walked around to join Jill for the best angle for photography, I had missed the best shots, but still got a few pics. Jill and I were the only ones here at this point. I was pleased to have got these considering distance and rain! Everyone then left and there was only Andy Johnson and myself left until dusk. Still plenty of light left and we searched hard, but didn't see the Blackpoll Warbler again – its obviously covering a huge range of gardens and feeding well, which is good.
It was torture driving home, I was in a lot of pain. Thank you to local birders for kindly putting the news out and for anyone that helped with sightings of this bird today.
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