Bird List

My Fair Isle Bird List

Birds I have seen since Jan 1st 2007 only on Fair Isle 

Citril Finch - Carduelis citrinella - 

Auld Haa Garden - June 6th 2008 - First record for Britain

Tommy's Total (304) Fair Isle Birds

 Auld Haa House Garden List.* (195) Birds seen in or from my Garden.

Tick Key
       seen on Fair Isle
*     garden tick - birds seen in or from my garden.
s      self-found tick - birds I find
t      tree tick - birds seen on my "tree"
p     pond tick - birds seen in or on edge of my little garden ponds.

Accipitridae

Kites, Hawks, Eagles

• Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus  *s
• European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
• Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus  *s
• Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus *t
• Red Kite Milvus milvus
• Western Black Kite Milvus migrans
• Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus  *
• White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla  ^

Alaudidae

Larks

• Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
• Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis  *s t 
• Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla  *
• Horned Lark (Shore Lark)  Eremophila alpestris
• Woodlark Lullula arborea *s

Alcidae

Auks

• Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica  *s
• Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle   *s
• Common Guillemot Uria aalge  *s
• Little Auk Alle alle  *s
• Razorbill Alca torda  s

Anatidae

Swans, Geese, Ducks

• Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus  *s ?
• Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis  *s
• Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii *
• Canada Goose Branta canadensis  *s
• Common Eider Somateria mollissima  *s p
• Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula *s
• Common Pochard Aytehya ferina  *s p
• Common Scoter Melanitta nigra  s
• Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna *s
• Common Teal Anas crecca  *s
• Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla  *s
• Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope  *s
• Gadwall Anas strepera
• Garganey Anas querquedula
• Goosander  Mergus merganser s
• Greater Scaup Aythya marila   *s p
• Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons  *s
• Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
• Greylag Goose Anser anser  *s p
• King Eider Somateria spectabilis
• Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
• Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis  *s
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos  *s p
• Mute Swan Cygnus olor 
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta s
• Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata  s
• Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus  *s
• Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator  *s
• Smew Mergellus albellus
• Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata  s
• Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis *
• Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula   *s p
• Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
• Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus  *s

Apodidae

Swifts

• Common Swift Apus apus  *s

Ardeidae

Bitterns, Herons

• Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus *
• Grey Heron Ardea cinerea  *s

Bombycillidae

Waxwings

• Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus  *s t p

Burhinidae

Thick-knees

• Collared Paratincole Glareola pratincola
• Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus  *

Certhiidae

Treecreepers

• Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

Charadriidae

Plovers

• American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica 
• Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
• Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula  *s
• Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
• European Golden Plover Pluvialis  apricaria *s 
• Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 
• Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus  *s

Cinclidae

Dippers

• White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Columbidae

Pigeons, Doves

• Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto  *s t
• European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur  *
• Rock Pigeon Columba livia   *s t
• Stock Dove Columba oenas  *s
• Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus *s t

Corvidae

Jays, Crows

• Carrion Crow Corvus corone  *s t
• Common Raven Corvus corax  *s t
• Hooded Crow Corvus cornix  *s t
• Rook Corvus frugilegus  *s
• Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula *s t

Cuculidae

Cuckoos

• Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus  *s

Emberizidae

Buntings

• Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
• Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus   *s t
• Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra 
• Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia
• Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus  *s t
• Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla  *s
• Ortolan Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos
• Pine Bunting Emberiza hortulana  *s
• Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica  *s
• Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis  *s t
• White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
• White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
• Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella  *s

Falconidae

Caracaras, Falcons

• Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus  *s t
• Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo *
• Merlin Falco columbarius   *s t
• Peregrine Falco peregrinus  *s

Fringillidae

Finches

• Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni   *s t
• Brambling Fringilla montifringilla  *s t
• Citril Finch Carduelis citrinella   *s t
• Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula  *s
• Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs  *s t
• Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra  *s t
• Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina  *s t
• Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea  *s t
• Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus  *s t
• Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus  *s t
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis  *s t
• European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris  *s t
• Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes  *s t p
• Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret  *s t
• Twite Carduelis flavirostris  *s t
• Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera

Gaviidae

Divers

• Great Northern Loon Gavia immer   *s
• Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata     s

Gruidae

Cranes

• Common Crane Grus grus   *

Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers

• Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus   *s

Hirundinidae

Swallows, Martins

• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica  *s t
• Crag Martin ptyonoprogne rupestris
• Common House Martin Delichon urbicum  *s t
• Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica  *
• Sand Martin Riparia riparia  *s

Hydrobatidae

Storm Petrels

• European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
• Leach's Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
• Swinhoe's Storm Petrel Oceanodoma monorhis

Laniidae

Bush Shrikes, Shrikes

• Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
• Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor  * s t
• Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor  *
• Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio *s t
• Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator

Laridae

Gulls

• Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus  *s
• Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla *s
• Common Gull Larus canus  *s t
• Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan
• Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus  *s
• Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
• Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus *s t
• Herring Gull Larus argentatus  *s t p
• Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides   *s p
• Kumlien's Gull Larus kumilieni  *
• Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
• Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus  *s t
• Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus *s
• Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus *
• Ring- Billed Gull Larus deawarensis *

Meropidae

Bee-eaters

• European Bee-eater Merops apiaster  *s

Motacillidae

Pipits, Wagtails

• Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava  *
• Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens
• Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola  *
• Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea  *s
• Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla thunbergi
• Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis  *s t
• Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni  *
• Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi
• Pied Wagtail Motacilla yarrellii   *s t
• Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus *
• Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi  *
• Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus  *s t
• Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis  *s t
• White Wagtail Motacilla alba  *s t
• Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flavissima  *s

Muscicapidae

Flycatchers

• Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica  
• Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis
• Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca  *s
• Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva  *s t
• Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata  *s t

Oriolidae

Orioles

• European Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus  *

Pandionidae

Osprey

• Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus  *

Paridae et al

 Tits

• Blue Tit (european) Cyanistes caeruleus  
• Great Tit Parus major * t

Parulidae

New World Warblers

• Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata  * t
• Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia

Passeridae

Snowfinches, Sparrows

• Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus  *s t
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus  *s t p

Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants

• European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis  *s
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo   *s

Phasianidae

Partridges, Pheasants

• Common Quail Coturnix coturnix  s

Picidae

Woodpeckers

• Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla   *s t
• Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major  *st

Podicipedidae

Grebes

• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus  s
• Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
• Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
• Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus   s

Procellariidae

Petrels, Shearwaters

• Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus   s
• Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis   *s
• Sooty Shearwater  Puffinus griseus

Prunellidae

Accentors

• Dunnock Prunella modularis  *s t
• Siberian Accentor Prunella collaris

Rallidae

Rails, Waterhens, Coots

• Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus *s p
• Corncrake Crex crex
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra  *
• European Water Rail Rallus aquaticus  *s p
• Spotted Crake Porzana porzana

Regulidae

Kinglets

• Goldcrest Regulus regulus  *s t

Scolopacidae

Sandpipers, Snipes

• Baird''s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica   *s
• Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa  *s
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia  *s p
• Common Redshank Tringa totanus  *s
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos  * s 
• Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago *s p
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 
• Dunlin Calidris alpina  *s 
• Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata  *s 
• Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus  *s
• Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola  *s p
• Great Snipe Gallinago media
• Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus  *s  
• Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius  s
• Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus
• Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus  *s p
• Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
• LesserYellowlegs Tringa flavipes
• Little Stint Calidris minuta
• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos  * 
• Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima  *s
• Red Knot Calidris canutus *s
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres  *s
• Ruff Philomachus pugnax  *s
• Sanderling Calidris alba  s
• Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 
• Termminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Stercorariidae

Skuas

• Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus  *s
• Great Skua Stercorarius skua  *s
• Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus

Sternidae

Terns

• Arctic Tern Sterna aradisaea  *s 
• Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo  *s
• White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

Sturnidae 

Starlings

• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris *s t p
• Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus  *

Strigidae

Owls

• Barn Owl Tyto alba 
• Long-eared Owl Asio otus  * s
• Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus  *s

Capimlgidae

Nightjars

• Nightjar (European) Caprimulgus europaeus

Sulidae

Boobies, Gannets

• Northern Gannet Morus bassanus  *s

Sylviidae

Gnatcatchers, Goldcrests, Warblers

• Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis *
• Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria  *s t
• Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla  *s t
• Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum  *
• Booted Warbler Iduna caligata  *
• Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita  *s t
• Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia  *s
• Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis  *s t
• Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
• Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida
• Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus  *s t
• Garden Warbler Sylvia borin   *s t
• Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
• Green Warbler  Phylloscopus nitidus 
• Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides  *s t
• Hume's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei
• Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina  *s t
• Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata
• Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca  *s t
• Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris  *
• Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta  * t
• Moltoni's Warbler Sylvia sublpina
• Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola
• Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola
• Pallas's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus *
• Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi
• River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis
• Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus  *s t
• Subalpine Warbler Eastern Sylvia cantillans  *
• Subalpine Warbler Western Sylvia inornata
• Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama
• Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus  *s t
• Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix  *s t
• Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
• Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus  *s t

Troglodytidae

Wrens

• Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes  *s t

Turdidae

Chats, Thrushes

• Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros  *s
• Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis
• Blackbird Turdus merula  *s t
• Bluethroat Luscinia svecica  *s t
• Caspian Stonechat Saxicola hemprichii
• Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
• Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus  *s t
• European Robin Erithacus rubecula  *s t
• European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola  *s t
• Fieldfare Turdus pilaris  *s t
• Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus 
• Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus ustulatus
• Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus  *s
• Northern Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
• Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe  *s t
• Redwing Turdus iliacus  *s t
• Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus  *s
• Siberian / Eastern Stonechat Saxicola maurus
• Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica
• Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope  *
• Song Thrush Turdus philomelos  *s t
• Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia  *t
• Whinchat Saxicola rubetra  *s t
• White's Thrush Zoothera aurea                                                                                            

Upupidae 

Hoopoes

• Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Vireonidae 

Vireos

• Red-eyed Vireo Vereo olivaceus

• Black-browed Albtross Thalassarche melanophris

• Brown Headed Cowbird Molothrus ater? I never saw it... but yes! it was on my tree and in my garden eating the bird seed I set out before heading off to Aberdeen. Liz & Henry saw it and took video. But sadly, it disappeared the morning I came home.

Tree Ticks?
Birds seen on driftwood tree sculpure wired together for birds to perch on.
I only count birds on this "tree" in the Auld Haa House front garden.

please note: Garden ticks include seen from the garden. I have a great view of the sea, but not the beach. Many of the waders do spend time on the Meoness sheep pasture easily viewed from the Auld Haa with binoculars. Some of my records are the result of "Island Twitching" that is when I get a call from another birdwatcher that they found something... as I do for them too.  I must say some of the birds I have seen I wish I had better views of and I would have had a hard time identifying independently. But that said, some of these birds are hard to identify even in the hands of experts and/or with detailed photos, DNA is now used for some of the rarest birds. I am lucky to have a Fair Isle Bird Observatory staff to confirm all my sightings as well as heads up for things I need to see. I do have a few good self-found ticks, many in my own garden! I have relocated many birds independently after being informed of sightings elsewhere on the Island, I do not count those as self-found. I am not counting anything that isn't listed among Fair Isle records, there are quite a few birds I've missed that others have seen in the past few years. That is my crazy list, and that is what you would expect to find when you're living on Fair Isle. cheers! Tommy