I had planned to visit Unst today, as the weather was forecast to be sunny all day and I wanted to return to places I had been to on my visit with Oriole Birding in 2017. It was obviously a bonus that the Blackpoll Warbler was still around. I managed to catch the first ferry from Toft at 6.40am arriving at Ulsta on Yell, then drove to Gutcher to catch the 7.45am ferry to Belmont on Unst.
Parked up along Beach Road and walked to Bordanoost Garden and I was surprised that I found the Blackpoll Warbler so quickly, but then it does tend to stand out from everything else around at the moment! Managed to get a half decent photo, better than my previous visit, but still not the shot I was looking for. Walked along the road to see what else I could find and found a single Redwing in a field along with a Willow Warbler, a Robin and several Snipe. Tons of Starlings feeding amongst the kelp on the beach – also a Turnstone seen. Returned to Bordanoost Garden where I found Robbie B. and Roger R. Stayed here far too long, but managed to get some better shots of the Blackpoll Warbler in the bushes around the garden. I then left and headed north.
Best of the rest!
I had forgotten how long the winding single track road was to Skaw Beach, but so worth it when you descend to the car parking area! The last time I came here there was no Spaceport, so this rather spoils the view now, but the beach itself still looks stunning. I decided it was a good time for lunch. Whilst enjoying my egg and cucumber sandwiches I was very excited to see a Grey Wagtail flitting about in the stream on the beach. Five minutes later, I got out of the car to walk to the beach and photograph the Grey Wagtail – it had gone, vanished, disappeared like melting chocolate. I couldn't believe it! If I had known that my sighting was going to be that short, I would have stopped lunch and gone to photograph it straight away, oh well. Had a lovely amble on the beach and took lots of photos.
Valyie Garden at Norwick. Parked my car at the bottom of the road and walked up to the garden. Lots of House Sparrows and Starlings on route up to the garden. Managed to find male and female Blackcaps feeding in the thick ivy clump on the wall at the back of the garden, but didn't see the Yellow-browed Warbler today. Roger R. arrived as I was leaving. Took some pictures of Norwick beach.
I returned to Haroldswick again and this is when I got the shots I was looking for, posing on the stone wall in late afternoon light. Nice to meet Mike Pennington and his wife Margaret here. Just as I was above to leave Mike spotted a Slavonian Grebe in the voe, which he said was quite an unusual siting for Unst.
and the Slavonian Grebe was in the voe
Started to head south and went to Easter Loch – the light was so beautiful and it was fabulous to see so many Whooper and Mute Swans on the loch, along with Tufted Duck and Mallards etc – this is a very scenic spot. Drove up to Muness Castle and found the walk to the beach that the Oriole Birding group had walked to, it was called "Ham Beach". I then retraced my steps and drove a long way along a single track road to the parking area for Easting Beach. After reading the information board and map details I realised that I did not have time to walk to this beach and back before dark. Sat and had the last egg and cucumber sandwich whilst watching the curly horned sheep in the fields. There were quite a lot of Lapwings in this area and also Curlew and Greylag Geese. The skies and light over islands as I was driving for the ferry was truly stunning.
Headed to Belmont Ferry Terminal and caught the 5.55pm ferry to Gutcher on Yell, drove to Ulsta on Yell and managed to catch the 6.30pm ferry to Toft on the mainland and cruised home slowly. What a fantastic day in the sunshine!
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