A Grey Day . . . . 

The day was dominated by heavy rain showers, grey skies and winds which increased throughout the afternoon. I spent the morning photographing the Tystie, still in North Haven. Heading south, I was lucky enough to trap a very smart Greenland Wheatear. That was a good start but shortly thereafter the heavens opened and I had to run for cover to the shop garage. 2 mugs of coffee & half a bag of chocolate raisins later, the skies cleared. After a brief sortie outside where I flushed a Waterrail from Meadow Burn, I learned that there were 2 Grey Phalaropes showing well in the Havens. I was soon enjoying crippling views of these stunning 1st year birds. Frantically feeding just a few feet off shore, the birds seemed oblivious to the assembled crowd. Other birds I noted today included  3 Wheatear, 1 Siskin, 1 Common Guillemot, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, several Brambling & noticeably larger numbers of Redwing & Skylark moving through.

'Bits & Pieces'

Light southerly winds today with sunny spells, making birding around the Island pleasant  - though again very quiet for birds. Highlights today included 1 Scaup in Furse along with 2 Tufted Duck. Also a very close Tystie in North Haven which showed well for photos. Other birds encountered included 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Razorbill, 1 Merlin, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Black-headed Gull,  1 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Bluethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 North-western Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch, 4+ Brambling, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Blackbird & lots of Redwing & Snow Bunting (70+).

Monday Blues . . . . 

Phil left the Island today and is not back until Friday so everyone is trying even harder to find a mega rare this week! Inbetween more heavy showers & the odd sunny spell I returned to photograph the Pectoral Sandpiper which was still at the small pool behind 'Field' accompanied by a Redshank & Dunlin. Birded around the Island in the afternoon. Lots of Redwing (Icelandic) plus 2 Chiffchaff (including 1 Abietinus - see photo below), Lesser Whitethroat, a few Blackcap, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Curlew, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Merlin, 1 Whooper Swan. Greylag flocks around the south, Snow Buntings still North Haven. 

Southerly Sunday - Fair Isle.

Awful weather, worsening in the afternoon. Very few birds about. The Bluethroat & Snow Bunting flock were still in the Havens. A few Redwing were present seeping as they moved through the Isle but thrush numbers are low . A male & female Blackcap around the Obs, plus Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (trapped), Siskin, Northern Wheatear (Buness) & Bonxie. Visited a small pool near 'Field' after lunch & photographed the Pectoral Sandpiper which was busy feeding in heavy rain & wind. Another Pectoral Sandpiper was also seen over 'Chalet' mid-afternoon.

Saturday - More force 9 gales & lashings of rain.

Spent most of the morning and afternoon around the more sheltered areas of North Haven & Buness. Finally got some shots of the illusive Bluethroat which frequented South Haven beach and the old small buildings in the Havens. A flock of Snow Bunting (19) fed on the grassy banks by the beach and Eiders dived for crabs in the calm North Haven waters.  Other birds present here included 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Razorbill, 30 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 2 Knot flew overhead, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Guillemot, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Bonxies, 3 Common Gull. A blackbird and Lesser Whitethroat were in the new plantation. (A Grey Phalarope & Pectoral Sandpiper were seen in the south of the Island).

Wind increasing to Gale force 9 . . . 

An uneventful birding day with increasingly high S to SW winds, showers and low light. Enjoyed brief views of a Bluethroat in the Havens & good numbers of Grey & Common Seals within the shelter of North Haven. Also 1 Bonxie, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Blackcap, 12 Turnstone, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and a very approachable Knot around the Obs & Havens during the afternoon. There was also a Pectoral Sandpiper in the south of the Island today and a White-fronted Goose (1st of the year, Year List now 205). . . . .

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).

Fair Isle - Foul Weather.

Strong SW winds and driving rain all day on Fair Isle. A 1st winter male Bluethroat showed at Quoy for record shots during the torrential rain and an abietinus Chiffchaff and 2 Brambling were also present in Quoy crop briefly.

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll - Yell

Arrived at Sumburgh on Saturday afternoon for the start of our October birding trip. We were met with a strong northerly gale, driving rain and later that evening snow and blizzards in Lerwick! Visited 'Yell' on Sunday for the very smart Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll which was feeding in a field near the school at Cullivoe.