Fair Isle

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Scuffy Warbler & More Questions than Answers?

This Scruff Warbler has been giving trouble to everyone who gets a glimpse of it.
It's been around awhile now... and I just got a few record shots if it helps?
The wings look brown like a Whitethoat but most have said Chiffchaff?

With the North American Hurricane residue coming in from the west the past week or so... Everyone was hopeful for an American bird... David did find a Buff Breasted Sandpiper but a V***ery rare River Warbler from the east? Second record this year!

Unknown Hoverfly Species? I was looking for North American insects...

A sneaky Lapland Bunting/Longspur feeding among the Twite.

Northern Lighthouse Board Helicopter - South Light, Fair Isle

Blackcap

This Raven has a fan shaped tail? not just in this photo... so I wondered is it a Raven?

Red Wellies Warbler? - Grey legs red/orange feet?
I've seen a few Willow Warblers like this... It's the reverse leg colouring of Booted Warbler?
So I made up a funny name for these birds.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Fair Isle Panorama & Gannets Diving

Sheep Rock viewed from Mavers Geo

Malcolm;s Head & the Holms viewed from the South Lighthouse

South Lighthouse

South Harbour Beach

A blustery old day on Fair Isle today...

Still the Gannets seemed to be enjoying it despite the wind & the rain.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Visiting Fair Isle descendent Dawn Williamson

Photos & Words by Dawn Williamson,

150 years after my family left Fair Isle for Canada, I returned with my husband Paul for our second visit to the island. We enjoyed a week (plus one bonus day, courtesy of the weather) at the Auld Haa Guest House with Tommy and Liz and Henry and enjoyed many opportunities to interact with Fair Isle family and friends. We look forward to our next visit.

Dawn & Paul

Some of my fondest memories involve food:

eggs warm from the hens,

mushrooms foraged near the North Light,

fruits of the sea,

and lamb as far as the eye can see.

Not to mention the homemade bread and the fine desserts. And did I mention the whisky? Slow food is alive and well on Fair Isle! In spite of the inherent danger of over indulgence, I know I’ll be back for more.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Fair Isle it's great to be home.

Fair Isle descendant Dawn Williamson & Husband Paul Blood percussed one of my Fair Isle paintings to take back to Vancouver Island, BC. Canada as a reminder of the landscape of her ancestors.
Malcolm's Head - View from my Lighthouse Studio / Oil on panel

After a month away in the "States" it is great to be home. Our first guests arrived before our jetlag could were off. Paul & Dawn are such a pleasure around the house, we miss them already. Henry is back to School with the new teacher and loving it. I have no guests to feed today, so I finally have time to post some photos from the past week & a half... enjoy!

Nick the new Head Teacher at the Fair Isle Primary School
also from Canada.

Red Backed Shrike in the Auld Haa Garden

Foggy Fair Isle Fulmar & Sheep Rock

Harbour Porpoise seen near the fishing boat.
Great to see... not so great for the fishing though.

Dogfish - little shark with small teeth but sandpaper skin.

Mackerel

Nice Haddock

Night ringing Storm Petrels

Banding & Branding
Rock Pipit

Scarcely recorded moths found recently in moth traps on Fair Isle.

Moth # 1. Juniper Pug Eupithecia pusillata

Moth # 2. Common or Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis agg.

Moth # 3. Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe

What kind of bird are you?

Fair Isle Mouse

Sharyn from Australia loving her newly purchased Fair Isle Knitwear.
Headband by Triona - Hat by Mati

Return visitor Jim Stuart wearing a Fair Isle hat knit by Margo Murray in 1974.
Jim said he bought this hat for 1.50...
I told him "Next time he sees Margo, he should give her a extra tenner."