Fair Isle - through the seasons

I felt really privileged to have been asked to provide a good selection of photographs for the publication 'Fair Isle' through the seasons, a beautiful NEW publication by Roger Riddington & Malachy Tallack out this week! I was one of only a small selection of photographers who were asked to take part in this special publication, timed perfectly to coincide with the same month as the opening of the New Fair Isle Bird Observatory. Photographers include Dave Wheeler with his incredible Fair Isle landscapes, Deryk Shaw, David Gifford & Mark Breaks. This delightful & unique Fair Isle book will no doubt be a huge success & an invaluable asset to any Fair Isle visitor's coffee table, past, future or present. . . . the UK birding mecca, beautifully illustrated & described.

'A tiny piece of land, halfway between Orkney & Shetland, Fair Isle is the most remote inhabited Island in the United Kingdom. Yet it is a place that inspires endless fascination.'

'This book gathers together photographs of Fair Isle's spectacular scenery, its wildlife and birds, and the life and work of the community . . . . .this is the story of a unique place, told through the turning of a year'.

Spring Watch

Just back from a superb Spring week on Fair Isle & Shetland. It was great to catch up with friends & see the 'New' Bird Observatory in it's nearly completed state - it does look incredible! Birds were fairly quiet this week but a cracking male Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch & the Red-throated Pipit shown here were all very welcome scarce Spring migrants. Again as is always the way these days, we were torn when departure day came, but a technical fault with the plane saw us stranded on Fair Isle for one more day ;-) & we missed our other 2 connecting flights back to Luton . . . However this twist of fate saw me take the best photographs of the trip during our 'extra' day followed by another great evening with Hollie & Deryk so all was not lost! We also jammed in on an extra day on Shetland at the weekend where we drank tea with Helen & Paul H in the Shetland sunshine, had fillet steak & Lobster at the Sumburgh Hotel & managed to photograph Skua's & a smart Osprey being attacked over Virkie. Quite a trip!

FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY APPEAL 

CONTINUES . . . . 

It is still hoped that a new & exciting Bird Observatory & Guesthouse will be built during 2009 on Fair Isle to replace the old one. This much needed building will be a comfortable, eco-friendly & better place  to stay for birders and researchers alike & will be enjoyed for generations to come. Thank you to all who have donated so far, if  you have not done so yet please do help make this a success story by donating whatever you can to the Observatory Appeal via the official website: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk or via Hollie & Deryk at the Obs. The website also gives the latest appeal updates and news.  I would also like to thank over 100 people who turned out to see my slideshow & talk on 'A Fair Isle Season' at the Cambridge Bird Club in November, a superb turn out! All funds raised were donated to the appeal and were much appreciated . . .