Sunday, November 13, 2011

Weekend Birding... 8 Scaup & Rough-Legged Buzzard!

What's that with the Eiders?
3 Scaup and a Tuffed Duck in the South Harbour 
Saturday...
One of each... Scaup, Tuffed Duck & female Eider

Tuffed Duck - 3 Scaup - the middle one has a pointy head like Lesser Scaup but who can say?

On the beach while photographing the Ducks I found this little "Wader" hanging with the Turnstone.
leg colour changes depending on light and shadow


Wing Pattern any help?

Redwing on South Harbour Cliff


Henry & I went down to the lighthouse to feed the fish in the studio.
We saw 2 Blackcaps & a Dunnock on the way, plus Bramblings, Chaffinch, Redwings & Fieldfare.

Henry spots this Snow Bunting just outside the studio tells me to take a photo.
A small flock of about 20 have been hang around the south of the isle for a while now.

 The Skerry Holm Ram


The Girl on Skadan

In the huge tidepool below my Lighthouse Studio I spied 4 more Scaup that flew out to Sea thanks to Henry's loud and excited voice. He saw a Heron and a Sparrowhawk! (Plus a Wigeon) that made 7 Scaup! I thought that might be some sort of a record? To my surprise shortly after on the Scrape I refound our old friend... the Scaup from our pond! OMG! it's alive and well! I watched it leave the pond and saw it was ringed. it even flew! now that's 8 SCAUP in a day! then 2 Owls flew out and around me! Wow! is this cool or what? On Sunday we found our Scaup again on Dave's Pond along the road at Field, It flew off down island as we drove by.

One of the 2 Owls I saw Yesterday... I flushed one from my Garden recently.
I wonder if they are the same two I saw driving to Darts Club Thursday night?
2:30pm and got a call as the sun was setting... Rough-Legged Buzzard in the north high on Ward Hill.
My camera is not nearly as good as my binoculars... consent problem for blogging.
Light was failing plus when it came close I was looking not taking pics.
Stunning!
Sunday...
Rough-Legged Buzzard - Speck to Smudge

As I was looking at the RLB drift over the hill ... Henry yells it's over there! What the heck?
This bird was back lite in failing light and but I could not make out the white patch on tail?
Later, I heard that a common Buzzard was seen today aswell. Wow! That's rare on Fair Isle!
I'm looking for a Buzzard in good light tomorrow.


One Bean Goose... David the Warden counted 59 

Other days highlights:  2 Reed Buntings at Netter Taft crop - Windchat at Chalet - Peregrine and Sparrowhawks

The Buzzard scared up the Gulls
Thanks that helps!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Great Grey Shrikes Again!

Great Grey Shrike strikes again!
it was hunting in the garden only for a minute or two.
Quickly scoring lunch and flew away with a female Brambling or Chaffinch
photo through a salt covered kitchen window

Lately, most of the time it's quite grey and wet to tell the truth.

Stonechat

With all the winds from the south balloons like this one keep coming ashore.
Sort of sad these balloons always make me feel like we are missing something? somewhere?
Frankie & Benny's New York Italian Restaurant & Bar - British chain, closest franchise is in Aberdeen

Sheep full -Sheep Cru - Sheep Hill

nice day on the hills

But when it's nice out there we get out and enjoy it!

The days are short... but what is wrong with long nights?

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Sunrise Sunset at the South Lighthouse & Auld Haa House - Yesterday

Sunset South Lighthouse Fair Isle

Sunrise from Auld Haa

Auld Haa morning blush

Sun spreads upon the southern crofts


Sun is just up and the light is still on...




Evening blush on the Auld Haa House


Sunset in the South Harbour


good night.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Guy Fawkes - Bonfire Night on Fair Isle


Bonfire Night on Fair Isle
A most illuminating evening

 



 







Burn him!

Remember, remember the fifth of November 

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason, why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy, t'was his intent

To blow up parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below

To prove old England's overthrow.


By God's mercy he was catch'd

With a darkened lantern and a burning match.

So, holler boys, holler boys, God save the king!


And what shall we do with him?

Burn him!

The last to leave... but with a burning desire to stay.


When we left the fire still burned
With the moon and the sea.
The Lighthouse still turned
Beaming repeatedly.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Halloween Batty for Bird of the Week

Happy Halloween!

Oct. 24th - 30th, Bird of the week... a Bat?
in the Obs Ringing Room.
caught at Barkland

 Henry's costume... Dracula!
3 little monsters

Pumpkin Seed Teeth

The scariest thing seen at this Auld Haalloween Party...
was the Freak Show "Attraction" Bearded Lady
               

Nice Pumpkins! Party Balloons! etc... possible the only way I'll ever see Tits on Fair Isle? LOL
Birds!

Yellow Hammer

Bramblings


I count 56 Jackdaw? this is crazy!
Flying from the crop by the Puffin Hotel back to the crop at Nedder Taft
I got a few rubbish record shots of Black Redstart, Stonechat & Whinchat but they are not worth showing as is the photo above or below. but if I don't show them? the other birdwatchers always "question" anything they have missed as something I may have misidentified... cheeky but true.

Whinchat
Very late record... Stonechat
With the time of year and winds from the east? I so wanted this to be Eastern or Siberian Stonechat... though it does have a very large white patch or collar? the breast seems much to orange for that.

Black Redstart

The sun is going down so early these days...