Dunlin - Alpina or possible Hudsonian?

Dunlin - Alpna? Hudsonian?

I have been wanting to post more photos of this bird for months now and thought I should do so before the New Year. In September I read an article in Birding World Magazine Volume 24 number 5 (June 2011 - Issue No.293) titled "An apparent Hudsonian Dunlin in Norfolk" reviewing my photos from May 20th, 2011 just 5 days after the one seen in Norfolk I saw many similarities? But this type of technical bird identification is well beyond me and most normal people. So it is for those special few (bird geeks) I share this now.... you know who you are.

           

Check out this bit of DunlinVideo!

I first posted a photo of this bird on my blog May 21st:

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/2011/05/rustic-bunting-waders-on-kirki-geo.html

Everyone else that day was chasing a rustic bunting that I couldn't get close enough to to get a decent photo. But, this rustic Dunlin was quite approachable with my pocket camera on the sheltered Kirki Geo Beach. From that one photo posted I was told about the Hudsonian possibility?

 I know it is most inconclusive but I'm pretty sure it is a Dunlin?

What do you think?

Christmas Tree Party - The Pantomime - Boxing Day & useless "Crap" I got for Christmas.

True to form, it is impossible to get a clear photo of true mythical figures or beasts.



Boxing Day the weather was so crap we played a lot of cards... here we are playing Canasta?
Later in the evening we went over to Elena's and I was given this as a present?

Great... just what I needed more useless Crap!
LOL! Crap in a tin, in Romania Carp is Crap?



With a bit better weather on 27th we braved an outing with more gales forecast for Wednesday.
Auntie Joyce, Karen (Liz's Mom), Tommy, Henry & Liz

Seals on Beach, Jivvy Geo -  15 Seals, 6 of them pups

Liz wearing her new Fair Isle Knit Kep.



no Gannets on Kirk Stack.





The Christmas Tree Party in the Hall



Pantomime - Robin Hood and the Tall Ships

A complete farce of the story of Robin Hood bartering the Sheriff of Nottingham's horse for a better hat while moving to Fair Isle during the Tall Ships event and then falling in love and becoming a crofter? 

Sheriff of Nottingham, 3 Merry Men, Fair Isle Crofter/Knitter, Robin Hood, Florrie & Jimmy as themselfs.

Fair Islander "Lise Sinclair?" & "Robin Hood" in new Kep.

It all made prefect sense... more like a documentary in it's historical value.

Sheep Hill Dance! Woo Hoo!

Joyce, Dave & Liz
and many more smiling faces
shown all night.

 

Wear what ever comes out of the bag game!

Neil is in the Hood!
Thanks for the music for all the games & dances.

Santa came with presents for all the good kids!

  

Pass the Parcel game with Santa.

The Choir sings! and so does James?

Winners of the stand on the bit of newspaper game.

We all hold hands an sing... Auld Lang Syne

White Christmas Fair Isle Style! & random holiday photos

The choir sings Christmas Eve at the chapel
Visiting for the holiday Karen (Mother-in-Law) & Auntie Joyce make their voices heard.

Candles in the Chapel window

Elena plays the Chapel organ wearing a Funky Fair Isle hat she hand knit herself.

lights on the tree. . .

The  Fair Isle Christmas Chorus 2011

Tom lighting the way...

Christmas Eve Party at the Auld Haa
participants in the Yankee auction gift exchange



Anyone want to trade? woot! woot!



our Tree...

Henry and a few of his favorite gifts!
Darth Maul plush toy, Lego Storm Trooper Clock & New hand knit Fair Isle Kep.
Thanks Santa! Special K! and Mom & Dad! 



This is my "AMAZING" gift from Liz & Henry
A water colour/painting by Brian Small of my Citril Finch
 Special thank to Brian who was a guest at our B&B last Autumn

Find a Citril Finch painting under the Christmas tree is almost as good as finding one in Britain!

 

A White Christmas was had out to sea as it was not blue!
The gales continued all day and into the night Christmas mass at Church was even cancelled due to bad weather. but with winds from the south east it seemed quite warm for December.

Salty spray in the air and on the windows... that is as close to a white Christmas as we could get this year.

Cheers & Merry Christmas!
Tommy, Liz & Henry

Christmas Seals & Froggy Christmas Eve

Seal Pup - South Haven Beach, Sheep Rock in the background.

The Seal Pup looks happy enough here but beware of those puppy teeth!

The Family Christmas Unit 2011
Auntie Joyce, Karen (My Mother-in-Law), Liz, Henry, Tommy (Me) 

Fair Isle's Solstice Sunset - Dec. 22nd 2011