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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

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.

Bag of rubbish from yesterday's beach clean.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I do love a bluethroat and this one was a cracker #Unst

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#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

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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..

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Here are some examples of typical areas worthy of exploring, all have the potential to hold migrant birds #Unst

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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..

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Distant shots of the 3 buff-breasted sandpipers at Lund #Unst today.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

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.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Steady southward passage of pink-footed geese over #Unst throughout the day today. Standy #Norfolk they're on their way. Despite my best efforts we didn't see much else today in the brisk wind. There's a pallid harrier and some buff-breasted sands nearby so maybe tomorrow will be better.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

1 minkie whale, 3+ harbour porpoise, 8+ risso's dolphin and 10+ white-beaked dolphin off Keen of Hamar #Unst #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Nothing of note on #Unst for me today. Highlight was doing some hoovering back at the accommodation.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Female king eider in Shetland Harbour on Saturday morning youtube.com/watch?v=J4N7...

youtube.com

King Eider, Shetland Harbour.

YouTube video by Chris Beach

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I love wrens and the Shetland subspecies are awesome, such hardy little birds with loads of character.

Shetland wren - Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Also went over for the American black tern at Loch of Tingwall. Showed well in the drizzle and murk, hence the rather dark photos.

American black tern, Loch of Tingwall, Shetland.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Esha Ness, Shetland.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Amazing encounter with an otter at Westing #Unst this morning.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

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.

Black-tailed Godwit wading around edges of a roadside pool near Westing.

Pale-bellied brent Geese flying along shoreline, Norwick, Unst.

Pale-bellied brent Geese feeding on seaweed along shoreline, Norwick, Unst.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Since when did smoked haddock cost £8.50. Also, why does Tesco in Shetland only stock haddock from Norway when its surrounded by sea!!

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Flowing ditch on Scarfe Meadows and happy cows – photo Rowena Langston

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We’re pleased to share that we’ve received funding through Anglian Water’s Thriving Communities Fund. Funding will support the 3rd year (2028) of our 'Ponds for the Future' Project on Webbs Fen #ThrivingCommunities #CommunityFunding #EnvironmentalAction #LocalImpact www.lohp.org.uk/post/thrivin...

lohp.org.uk

Thriving Communities Fund - Grant Success

Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) has been awarded funding through Anglian Water’s Thriving Communities Fund

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Did some preserving with some homegrown produce yesterday; red gooseberry jam, tomato/red onion chutney and beetroot/white onion/apple chutney. That will see us through the winter #growyourown #allotmentlife #gardening

Beetroot, white onion and apple chutney.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Just stepped out into the garden and added a 6th wader species to the garden list - ringed plover, heard several times. Not bad for an inland garden #Mulbarton #Norfolkbirding

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Snipe from East Bank, Cley Marshes, this evening.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Great day around Cley NWT today. Apart from these other highlights were glossy ibis, wood sand, pec sand, greenshank, little stint, whimbrel. Also out to sea; manx shearwater, arctic skua, black tern, razorbill and red-throated diver.

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

We are ready for you at Hinderclay Village Hall for our Art and Nature Exhibition. Lots of delicious refreshments too ! Opens at 10 am today and tomorrow IP22 1HW

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

If coming to the Exhibition on Monday the B1113 is closed during the day outside the Crosskeys pub for a classic car event. still able to access Hinderclay from the North past the Poultry Factory, or via Thelnetham, but if coming from Botesdale best to come here past Rickinghall Village Hall

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

We have 33 fantastic artists to view and demonstrations from Sylvie Maney on Sunday morning, @Gill Thornton Art on Sunday afternoon and Becky Whatley on Monday afternoon

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Weird thunder here in #Mulbarton it started rumbling over 5 minutes ago and it has been constant without a pause.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Rain in East Anglia!!! 2 water butt's went from dry to completely full overnight, happy days #growyourown

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I left our County bird news WhatsApp group today due to the disrespectful behaviour of some of the group. Someone posted about a Bill Oddie programme on this evening. Several people used the yellow card emoji to highlight to the group admin that this was an inappropriate post. Disgraceful!!

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Well that eclipse was a bit of a damp squib!

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

2 year old rise and recliner chair for sale. Hardly used. You will need to collect from Hertfordshire. £600ono, DM if interested.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I don't understand, its 29 degrees and sunny and a grit lorry has just gone passed me spreading grit!! It is July isn't it.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

RIP Bill Oddie. A true legend, I looked up to him as a young birder and was fortunate to meet him a couple of times.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Went to Cattawade today for the Hudsonian Godwit. Great bird, even if it wasn't very showy. 1st hour it was flat‑out asleep, just a tucked‑in head. Then it finally fed, distant & mostly hidden, before vanishing up a creek & never showing again. Still, those flashes of the black underwing were good.

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Chris @mulbartonbirder.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Long‑tailed shrike showing brilliantly at Eastleach Down after a tough week. Stunning spot full of wildlife. Watched it take a vole and dismantle it in a hawthorn. Worth every bit of the effort.

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Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) @littleouse.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

PONDS Contractors have started year 1 of the pond creation project on Webbs Fen. As part of our pond strategy over the next 3 years we will be creating a network of ponds across all of our reserves, one with a dedicated viewing area for watching wildlife. #pondlife #fens #littleouseriver

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