Monday Madness . . . 

The day was spent, rather like the Turnstone below -  bracing the elements once again -  I will have to get used to these endless gales & driving rain when I live on Shetland! Can't wait!  Photographed something a 'little different' this morning,  a smart adult female Tufted Duck which showed well in the Havens. It was later trapped & ringed. Also spent time sifting through gulls in the north for an elusive Glaucous Gull which had been seen earlier in the day. No sign of the Glauc but good numbers of gulls gathering near the airstrip & Golden Water throughout the day, so a gull dazzling session has been mentioned for later tonight. The plane was cancelled this afternoon & the boat is cancelled tomorrow, we just need the winds to come from somewhere a little further afield . . . . .

Storm Sunday . . .

Well what a surprise, more awful weather.  Really not the day for bird photography! or even birding for that matter as it was difficult to raise the bins let alone the lens! However, Phil trapped 2 Purple Sandpiper in South Haven & I concentrated on Purple Sandpiper & Turnstone photography in the increasing mounds of seaweed & violent waves of the Havens. A Peregrine, several Kittiwake & Black-headed Gull were also noted. 

Saturday Struggle . . . 

The strong gales and heavy downpours continued today. I photographed the male Long-tailed Duck which was still present in North Haven during a brief sunny spell as well as a confiding Redwing. 2 female Long-tailed Duck & the 2 Grey Phalaropes were also still present. I headed north & birded the cliffs round to Easter & Wester Lother before lunch but it was a virtually birdless venture, my only bird of note being a Tree Pipit  - shown in the photographs below (a trip tick for me).  Other birds I noted today include 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Kittiwake, 4 Common Gull. Phil had 3 Great Northern Diver & 1 Red-throated Diver during a South Light Seawatch.

All Barred Out . . . 

Phil arrived back on the Isle today & we said our farewells to Martin, who, after drinking the Obs dry was returning to Glasgow at the end of his Autumn birding trip. After a days absence the second Grey Phalarope rejoined the other still feeding close to the shore in South Haven. A Barred Warbler & Common Redpoll (Islandica) were trapped in the Plantation by Deryk & Phil. A cracking male & a female Long-tailed Duck showed well in North Haven. In the afternoon a single panel net was erected on the beach & Phil trapped 3 Snow Bunting from the sizable flock still present in the Havens.

Safe Havens . . . 

Today was marked by very strong north westerly winds & rain. As such it was difficult to contemplate leaving the Havens. Luckily that's where the action was! I was able to get more shots of one remaining Grey Phalarope and an obliging Purple Sandpiper. Also noted 7 Black-headed Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Razorbill, 1 Common Guillemot, 1 Chaffinch.

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.