It's that time of year when the summer migrant arrivals are still a way off, and yet the birds that came to see out the winter have disappeared. We put a couple of nets up for any roosting Reed Bunting that might be around and captured 5 new birds, all hatched last year. 1/3
On the 7th we met up with CJH to try for Stonechats for the Natural England project. We had had previous reports of good numbers of birds back on site, but that wasn't the case today as overcast skies and a chilly breeze inhibited movements of Stonechats.
Nice to spend a while watching the Ludham Bridge Black-winged Kite on Monday as it hunted in the distance between periods spent perched. Lots more good birds on offer too, including Barn Owl, SEO, Hen Harrier, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier and Crane.
Monitoring the Langham farm again today resulted in Total: 42 birds which included Blackbird - 1, Chiffchaff - 2, Reed Bunting - 8 and Yellowhammer - 4. One Chiffchaff being the Scandinavian abietinus race. @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
Monitoring the Langham Farm yesterday - 63 birds, which included 2 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinch, 17 Reed Buntings & 7 Yellowhammer. One of the Reed Bunting having been ringed nearby at Morston in October. Starting to get an idea of Reed Bunting movements. @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
This afternoons Black-faced Bunting certainly gave people the runaround, but eventually settled for long enough at Barkland to give everyone present some nice views in some pretty miserable weather! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Recently, Ranger Carla wrote a blog about the new Observatory building and what it means to the staff and the island. You can read that blog and see some of the stunning photos taken by the @promoteshetland.bsky.social team here: www.shetland.org/blog/fair-is...
Had some insane minke whale views this morning, with them coming very close in to where I was sat! The day then got even better when I also got to see my first white-beaked dolphins, which, though distant, put on a show breaching repeatedly!
Last nights Storm Petrel ringing session ended with a total catch of 263 Storm Petrels ringed and 18 retraps, including a Portuguese-ringed control. The highlight of the night, however, was a Leach’s Petrel, shown with a European Storm Petrel for comparison!
📸 A Penn
They are yes!
I’m on Fair Isle! I work for the bird observatory, it’s a pretty cool job!
Left my GoPro in with the Puffins while I went and did a Shorewatch yesterday and this was the result! Such curious little birds! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Little Tystie takes on a big Butterfish!! Didn’t get to see if it won the battle as we were on our way to take a look on board the Flying Dutchman, a rather impressive tall ship that had just arrived in the harbour!
Hulk and Nott paid us a visit on Fair Isle this morning, with a swim by the obs! Our second orca sighting in the past 9 days! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Orca!!! When one of the pier workmen casually mentioned there was an orca in the harbour, none of us quite believed him at first, but sure enough there they were! They attracted quite a crowd as they made their way around Buness. My first orca and they did not disappoint!!
Douglas Barr
Roy Dennis
Eileen Thomson
Lounge at the newly-opened Obs
There was a great atmosphere last week when all the islanders, guests and staff were invited to toast the newly opened Obs. Douglas Barr, Roy Dennis and Eileen Thomson spoke of the importance of the Obs to the birding and island communities. We all raised a glass to the new Obs!
Two rather nice birds ringed at the obs yesterday afternoon! First, the Great Reed Warbler from the previous day went into the obs garden nets, closely followed by a Greenish Warbler caught in Gully. Both very cool birds to see up close, the Great Reed Warbler is huge! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
This Great Reed Warbler was found in the obs garden this afternoon, and though it has shown itself only a couple of times since, it’s given some very nice views out of the bar windows for several observers! A nice bird, and so much bigger than I thought they’d be! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Just as I thought today couldn’t get much better with Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Nightjar trapped and ringed, @alex-penn.bsky.social catches this absolute showstopper of a Scops Owl in Gully! What a bird!! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Fair Isle saw its third PALLAS'S REED BUNTING, yesterday - a spring male, no less - following two autumn birds, the last some 43 years ago! www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
Please note - no sightings so far today, although the bird can be slippery, and today's weather wild!
📸A Penn
I was very pleased to get to ring this gorgeous male Bluethroat the other day!! I didn’t know what I’d been handed until I pulled him out the bag, as you can probably imagine the resulting smile when I realised what I had was pretty big! What a stunner, I can’t get over how blue that throat is!
The past couple of days have bought in some good birds, and some very nice catches in the mist nets. I was very pleased to ring a lovely female Western Subalpine Warbler yesterday afternoon! Other highlights were a trio of Crossbill and my first bluethroat in the hand! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Had a bit of fun photographing these swallows out of the @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social bar windows this afternoon as they perched on the fence and the patio between bouts of swooping around and investigating the building! They looked a little grumpy in the wind and the rain.
This gorgeous male Rustic Bunting found at Upper Stoneybrake this afternoon brightened up what has been a rather quiet few days here at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social It spent a lot of time zipping around the area but settled in a ditch long enough to give everyone present some nice views!
This gorgeous Red-throated Pipit found by @alex-penn.bsky.social this morning showed very well this afternoon! After a failed attempt to relocate it late morning, it was a relief to stumble across it within a few minutes on attempt number two! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
What better way to spend a sunny Tuesday afternoon than ringing these little bundles of joy?! You don’t get much cuter than a Lapwing chick! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
It is now six years since a fire totally destroyed the Observatory and we are delighted to announce that the Observatory and Hotel is now open for guest bookings for 2025!
Please read our website for prices and terms:
www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodatio...
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
A bee-eater added a splash of colour to this afternoon at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social, moving between fences in the south of the island and putting on a show for several observers! Seeing it occasionally hovering over the grass was also insanely cool to watch!
Some pretty perfect timing after rockpooling with the school kids yesterday afternoon meant I was able to have a look at this little beauty before it was released back into the Birkle garden. Western Subalpine Warbler, what a stunning little bird! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Yesterday bought some good birds in, including two new birds for me, wood warbler and bluethroat, and a lovely female hawfinch I had the pleasure of ringing! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
