Winning White . . .
An added bonus last night before we left Fair Isle, was finding out that my White's Thrush image below is the SURFBIRDS RARE BIRD PHOTO OF THE MONTH - OCTOBER 2008.
As seen in Birdwatching Magazine!

Fair Isle Thursday -

A few common birds photographed this morning before the weather took a nasty southerly turn again . .  .  Northern Fulmar, MEALY Redpoll, Twite, Bluethroat & Brambling. Also another image of the White's Thrush from yesterday when it flew down into a geo in the SW briefly. It has not been reported today. The Redpoll which I photographed at Setter, was later seen at Chalet garden. The identification of this bird caused much debate - however it should be pointed out that this bird was very SMALL compared to any other NW Redpolls we have observed here before. It was certainly not a typical NW bird which can be compared size wise with Chaffinch & House Sparrow. This bird was present with House Sparrows at Chalet and was noticably smaller. 

White's Thrush - Quoy - Fair Isle

This morning, as the gales and rain had stopped,  I returned to Quoy to re-photograph the 1st winter male Bluethroat, which has now been joined by a 1st winter female.  I spent a while photographing the male down to a few feet as it fed on an open midden mound. A black cat flushed the Bluethroat over me and into the main Quoy crop of cabbages. As I crept to the edge of the crop and looked along the wire fence line, hoping to spot where the Bluethroat had gone - I was met with an incredible sight - a cracking White's Thrush was stood right out in the open a few metres away! WOW! I had found a White's Thrush! Many enjoyed views of this impressive Siberian rare as it flew between several crops and even spent a short time on the west cliffs. This was the 3rd White's Thrush on Fair isle this autumn! (and my 2nd - first one 1999 - Scillies).