Subalpine Warbler - Fair Isle - record shot

Subalpine Warbler

 Neil at Lower Stoneybrek called me to say that Jason the new Asst. Warden found a probable Subalpine Warbler in his garden. Henry and I drove over to have a look... The bird proved hard to find but was eventually refound and confirmed at Vaila's Trees next to the shop. Well spotted Jason! Sculky little flitty bird but very pretty if you could get a quick look. I was luck to get this record shot with my pocket camera as it hopped on to a old glass door leaning against the stone dike.

Full frame photo

 Also today this Rook... For Fair Isle sightings it's bizarrely almost as rare as the Subalpine Warbler

Today is Easter and the garden was still full of the same bird from the past few days birds 2 Redpoll, 5 Brambling, 3Chaffinch, Willow, Chiffy & Blackcap Male & Female, Wheatears, Collard Dove, 2 pale Black-Tail Godwits, etc. Check the past few days posts if you want photos.

This evening the South Harbour Beach was buzzing with warblers but none quite as rare as a Subalpine.


New Photos Added May 1st 2011
Male Subalpine Warbler - Eastern Race

Photos have been greatly inlarged sorry for the poor quality of these record shots of an AWESOME bird!

Happy Easter & Ba Ba Baby Lambs!

This Lamb is only minutes old...

The mother cleans her twin Lambs with a few licks...

Happy Easter from Fair Isle!

Henry and his new Caddy Lamb

Henry has named her Ebba

Ebba is 3 days old today!  Liz & Henry have been taking good care of our new Caddy Lamb. A runt of triplets from a Skadan ewe. So small she keeps slipping through the fence and I had to put up chicken wire until it gets bigger. Taken to the bottle well Ebba is doing great. We hope to get another lamb soon to keep her company. until then...

                                                                                             Henry & Ebba watching TV on the sofa.

Happy Easter from Tommy, Liz & Henry

Good Morning Waxwing! Redpolls, Bramblings, Godwit and Glaucous Gull

Waxwing!
and Black-Tailed Godwit in background as a bonus!

As I looked out my window about 8:30 am Birds Birds Birds! A Waxwing a bird I have predicted would show up again on it's way north. I managed to get a record shot after I called the family and guest over to see it. I still am happy with that even after last years excitement of hand feeding Waxwings apples. It's not even a first of the year for me but it's made my day and all I had done is get out of bed and looked out the window. It flew off after a minute or two as neighbouring activity spooked the bird. I haven't seen it again. Plenty of other birds to look at... A Black-tailed Godwit & Glaucous Gull with the Gulls and Curlew on Meowness. The garden was a buzz with birds... 2 Redpolls, 5 Bramblings, 2 female Siskin, a few Chaffinch, a Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, male- Blackcap more and more Wheatears... and of course the regulars Twite, House Sparrows, Rock Doves and Starlings with special guests appearances of Collard Dove and 2 Wood Pigieons. In the South Harbour bird of note 2 Dunlin and a R-B Merganser.

Black-Tailed Godwit

 

Glaucous Gull was also sitting on Meowness as viewed from the Haa.
It's the one that looks like the battleship.



Redpoll

Chaffinch

female Siskin

Birds on my door step as I look out my front door.
Brambling Chaffinch & Redpole.
I swear I do not post these photos to make people jealous...
I am just continually amazed at what I can see from my window.
And without photos who would beleave me?

The birds are eating fallen nigerseed from my window feeder



Birds can brighten up your day!



3 Brambling at the Feeder

Brambling - male

Today's bird entertainment was mostly due to the 3 stunning male Brambling.

They fed all day in and out of the window box. 

a long shadow.

Just gorgeous!

The Twite are a regular at my niger seed feeder.

This female Siskin was also enjoying the feeder today.

It's always nice to see redpoles at the feeder and there have been a few around lately.

I've seen Brambling on my bird table, but...
I've never  seen this before?

the black back.

That is saying a mouth full.

Sunflower seed on a sunny day as the light fades!

I did see a few warblers in to garden today. but at Setter I saw 4 at once... 2 Chiffchaff a female Blackcap and a Willow Warbler all buzzing aroud together.

Lovely Day... I did some Landscape Painting and a little Birdwatching.

Art!

 It was so nice out that I had to take the French Easel outside and paint! It's the same view as from inside but with no dry salt on the windows. I have just started paint and it needs more work... but it's coming along.

Bird
Found Objects from the Beach in the Studio

Deep Blue Sea

Reserved Parking - Fair Isle style.

Knot - First of the Year

3 Shelducks - South Harbour
rubbish record shot...

Other birds in the Garden...

1 Chiffchaff, 1 Brambling, 2 Siskin, also saw a small group of Barnacle Geese.

Freaky... Flipped it!



Henry netted one of the Goldfish from our pond. about 7 inches long.



They are so cute when they are sleeping.

Good Day & Good Night!

Isle at Sunset, Birds & Sheep

Dunlin - I think that's a first for the year.

You know the Great Skuas are back when you start finding dead Auks on the beach. Guillemot (bridled)

 In the Garden and around the Auld Haa.

Blackcap eating apple - female

3 birds in the garden?

What a sweet heart!

Jimmy's Rams

Pipit? I need help? maybe Tree Pipit?
1st winter Red- Throated? seems it's the wrong time of the year for that? or just a pale Meadow Pipit?
Help!

Wheatear

Strange...  White Wagtail with chocolate brown wings?
Wagtails have so many variations but never seen this before? more help needed?

A new Repoll Showed up on the feeder today.

I'm trying to read the ring numbers from the window? but it's not easy! last two #s 1-3?

The Redpoll sat quite snug all evening after a day defending the feeder from the Twite.
Stunning as this was it did not allow anymore views of the ring numbers, maybe tomorrow!

I was preparing and repairing the Fair Isle Lighthouse Keeper's Golf Course.
The equipment quite weather beaten from last year. I need donations for replacements?

watching the sunset together... Priceless