Fishing with Stewart

Haddock!

Pollack on a string... Henry caught 4 Pollack at a go.

 Stewart of Quoy took us out fishing in his boat July 30th, the Sea/Ocean was anything but calm that day. I have a saying "you never get sea sick if you have a fish on the end of your line". It was amazing almost non stop fish! and so many different kinds. Henry & I had a blast! While Stewart was laughing at Henry's enthusiasm.

Greater Sandeel

I caught a Gunnard

The View of the Isle from Sea is always... Wow!
Kirk Stack, the white on the rocks are nesting Gannets as are most of the birds in the air. Average wingspan 180cm.

Henry's 3 Haddock

Stewart snagged this beautiful Sunstar from the watery depths.
Henry and I have never seen one before. 

We went in for a closer view at the fallen cliff face.

in a hour or two the fish box was full.
on the way back to the pier we checked our Lobster trap! lucky day!



our half or share of the catch.
Mackerel, Haddock, Cod, Greater Sandeel & Flounder
(Pollack & Coallies not shown)

I found these 2 in the the stomach of the Cod. 

Squat Lobster & Long Clawed Porcelain Crab 




We have tale to tell... Thank you Stewart!

The Big Year! The Movie Trailer

The Big Year by teasertrailer


The Big Year! The Movie...
I've been waiting for this movie since I read the book!
It looks quite funny...

Steve Martin

Owen Wilson

&

 Jack Black

as birdwatchers or

big year listers...

could they be any funnier than the

real thing?

have a look... read the book... can't wait for the movie. cheers.

Fair Isle's Bird of the Week! Eastern Olivaceous Warbler! Aug. 28 - Sept. 3rd

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Fair Isle, Chalet Garden - June, 21st, 2009 - found by Jack Ashton-Booth - Legend!

I had very good view of the Eastern Olivaeous Warbler Friday night just before dark as birds came to roost at the Schoolton Garden with 10 Rosefinch, a Red-Backed Shike a Whitethroat, Barred Warbler. etc. but bad photos of them all. It was getting dark, needing longer exposure times making photos near impossible for a flicking bird like this. So I have used my old photo above for reference, instead of the rubbish photo below.

Rubbish! after my first 2 photos that night... this the better one... I realised it would be better to just look.

This weeks bird found by FIBO Warden David Parnaby. who got a good photo.

I have been complaining long enough about Bird Guides choice of "Bird of the Week". They keep on picking things like Citrine Wagtail or Subalpine Warbler etc. Only when they are seen in England or more likely the writer. It's more like a personal "Bird of the Week"? and so I'm starting my own here on my Fair Isle blog. Even on the small Fair Isle picking the winning bird already doesn't seem easy... This week we had runner ups with Great Snipe & 15 Rosefinch one was even colour ringed from? Germany? Red backed Shike, Curlew & Pectroral Sandpipers are not good enough this time. Barred Warblers are a dime a dozen. Last week would of been a toss up Booted or Melodeous Warbler? I would of gone with Melodious of course not because it's rarer... because it was in my garden and I didn't see the Booted... I see how this works... I'm already as bad as Bird Guides.

Starting now I'll be posting...

Fair Isle's "Bird of the Week" every Sunday.

Trip to Shetland & Skeld - August 10th - 15th - Trout!

Shetland Sea Trout!

St. Ninian's Isle & it's Tombola Beach viewed from the plane ride into Shetland from Fair Isle.

What a Star!

We know a Boy and now a Boat with this name.

Fair Isle's Good Shepherd in Lerwick Harbour

Sand Goby



Yuck!
Yuck!
Yuck!

The funniest thing! Henry had caught 2 small fish at once and wanted to have his photo taken. He had stuck out his tongue showing off... when the strong breeze of the sea blew the live fish onto his exposed tongue and face. Click! The photo says the rest. I'm still laughing...

Young Gull

Pony Show at the Walls Agricultural Show

Grindybrecks, Skeld, Shetland

Me, Graham Quarmby & Sarah Q



 

I caught 2 small Shetland Brown Trout.

catch and released

Henry caught a bigger Shetland Sea Trout!

I was totally gutted but proud and happy for him.

Large Common Cushion Star

Henry caught this Flounder on a fly he tied himself with his new fly tying kit.

A very generous gift from Graham. Thank you again.

& then home again...



Late Summer Birds! Melodious Warbler... Tick!

The Cheerful Wood Warbler

Well, they always make me happy when I see one.

My Computer wasn't working for weeks and here are some of the bird photos I've wanting to post.

If your looking for the Booted Warbler or the Pallid Harrier?

I missed them both!



Wood Warbler in the window box. 

in the garden...

A Melodious Warbler - Lifer and Garden Tick!

What a beautiful morning when Asst. Warden Will Miles came by my garden, we chat about the Curlew Sandpiper that has just relocated from the north of the island to the South Harbour and not much else about etc. I did tell him I thought there was a possible Icterine Warbler in my garden earlier that morning. I didn't have great or long views but described it to Will as big, pale yellow but I didn't see the obvious pale wing patches? Will said, he wouldn't be surprised it's the right time of year for that sort of bird... Then I made my way to the South Harbour and eventually found the Curlew Sandpiper sleeping with it's head tucked basking in the sun. If the bird was moving it would of been a lot easier to find... I took my time and tried to get close for a few photos. (see photos later in the post)

At the same time, Will had walked up the road and found a Booted Warbler! The after awhile bird was flushed from Burkle and seen flying towards the Haa. Finally my wife found me down on the beach and yelled from the car window "Booted Warbler in our Garden!" I was on my way back anyways caring wood and rocks off the beach but this gave me a bit more purpose. From a distance I could see the 2 Wardens past & present taking photos in my garden. I peered over the stone wall and from the edge of my pond I saw the "Booted Warbler?" pop up onto the old Christmas tree and then onto some sticks/branches I have place over my pond in hope of someday finding a Kingfisher eating Henry's Goldfish. Only a few feet away the bird was very flighty.

A van load of Obs folk arrived and everyone is happily viewing and taking photos and over whelmed with seeing a new bird. Reviewing the photos back at the Bird Observatory, Will, who didn't come to the Haa said that's not a Booted Warbler at the Haa bird is a Melodious! photos confirmed 2 different birds in 2 different gardens. Melodious & Booted Warbler! so confusing even to the pros, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Only on Fair Isle! I didn't see the Booted Warbler and I didn't chase it either, I knew I would never be able to confirm the ID my self with my warbler skills sinking to rock bottom. Even though Booted Warbler would of been a "Lifer" too, I went fishing in our little boat with my son as promised... we caught 18 Mackerel plus some Pollack and Coalies. Fresh & Yummy!

Melodious... music to my eyes.

Rosefinch in the garden.

Whitethroat

Yellow Wagtail

Barred Warbler - one of many.

Colour ringed Wheatear - Adam are you looking?



Cuckoo Rock!




FAIR ISLE WREN



In the North Haven...



5 SPEICES OF WADERS?



WHAT ?

BLACK GUILLEMOT

Corncrake! Crex crex!

best way to see this bird is in the hand... I had only heard them til now.

  

I have never seen so many Wrynecks!

Bird Obs conservatively counted 19 around the island in one day?

Will & the Wryneck

I had great views of the Curlew Sandpiper in great weather.



Newly fledged Bonxie Chick / Great Skua

All us youngsters just love Puffins...

(Love to eat Puffin that is...)

 

The Puffins have all gone to sea for the Winter and that is the end of Summer... but they say Autumn is better for rare birds?