Five Olive!

15th - 16th October
With a continuation of winds from the east, it was no surprise that some new birds came in. Although the highlights amongst the arrivals on the 15th were limited to 6 Whooper Swans, a Common Sandpiper and a Rook, the 16th saw an increase in several species and a couple of notable highlights. A flighty Olive-backed Pipit at Schoolton was the rarest bird in national terms and continues an excellent run for this species on Fair Isle, with this being the fifth in 2012, matching the five seen in 2011.

Although perhaps one of the more expected rarities to occur on Fair Isle, it's still always good to find one of these beauties. After a tremendous autumn, this is the 36th BBRC bird to be racked up for Fair Isle in 2012. With another 16 or so local descriptions to be written as well it looks like we'll have plenty of work to do over the winter!

Rarer in a local context was the Woodlark first seen near Burkle, which then moved to Shalstane before relocating to the small roadside quarry at Dutfield. Other lingering highlights included the Lanceolated Warbler that was relocated in the Field Ditch, with the Great Grey Shrike and Great Tit both still present.

Species showing an increase in numbers today included: 9 Chiffchaff, 14 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 24 Robin, 3 Grey Wagtail, 314 Brambling, 19 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 2 Goldfinch, Linnet, 117 Snow Bunting, 5 Jackdaws and 2 House Martins, whilst the first Little Auk of the autumn was seen by South Harbour.
So what next? With the easterly winds continuing I’m sure there’ll be more, but will it be something along the lines of Blue Tit, Treecreeper or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (all recorded in Shetland in the last week) or something more like Eastern Crowned Warbler or Rufous-tailed Robin (both recorded in western Europe in the last couple of days)? If part of the fun of birding is never knowing what will be happen next, then there can't be many more fun places than Fair Isle in late October in easterly winds...

Birds build up, no more rarities yet though...

13th - 14th October
As expected, strong winds on 13th made birding difficult at times, although the 14th was a much calmer day. There were clearly new birds in (or there were more birds visible at least, with some of them having perhaps just having come up off the cliffs), but a perhaps surprising lack of ‘headline’ species. The Great Grey Shrike remained (and was ringed on 13th) but the rarest bird from a Fair Isle point of view was a Great Tit, found on 13th in Hjukni Geo before it relocated to Chalet on 14th.

Less than 50 Great Tits have made it to Fair Isle, this was the first since 2008 and the first autumn record since 2002.

Other scarcer visitors included Black Redstart (13th – 14th), Yellowhammer (13th – 14th), Goldfinch (13th), whilst a late Garden Warbler was at the Obs on 13th.

The Yellowhammer frequented the Taft oat stubble. Photo David Steel

Good numbers of thrushes remained, with Redwings decreasing to 1955 on 13th (and 1017 by 14th), but other species increasing to: 292 Blackbird (14th), 171 Song Thrush (13th), 37 Fieldfare (13th), 18 Ring Ouzel (14th) and 2 Mistle Thrush (14th).
Other high counts of species included on the 13th: 255 Brambling, 10 Jack Snipe, 10 Woodpigeon, 10 Reed Bunting, 5 Sparrowhawk and on 14th: 113 Goldcrest, 17 Siskin, 16 Blackcap, 16 Woodcock, 15 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 7 Crossbill, 6 Dunnock, 6 Lapland Bunting, 3 Linnet and 2 Grey Wagtail (with one on 13th).

Flocks of Brambling are widespread across the island, many using the Observatory planted crop strips.

The 13th also saw some movement of wildfowl with 8 Barnacle Geese, 3 Shoveler and 6 Common Scoter, whilst there were also 6 Grey Herons on Da Water.

Up to 3 Long-tailed Ducks have been frequenting the South Harbour area for a few days now.

An arrival of common species of gulls also brought a first-winter Little Gull and a Glaucous Gull.

Little Gull has appeared in three consecutive years on Fair Isle, although it is still a rare visitor, with just over 30 individuals seen.

It looks like there will be easterly winds on and off for another week at least, so I'd be surprised if there wasn't another rarity or two to cap off an excellent autumn.

12th October. It aint over yet.

After the Black-throated Thrush on 6th (which arrived with just 61 Redwing and cleared out along with most of its host flock overnight), things quietened down for a few days as the westerly winds finally brought the expected lack of birds – not that we were complaining after the run that we had enjoyed (and the Lanceolated Warbler that lingered in the Field Ditch until 10th also provide popular with visitors).

However, the quiet spell didn’t last long, as the beginning of a forecasted run of easterlies has already started bringing in birds. A Yellow-browed Warbler in calm conditions on 9th was the start, although the best new birds of the 10th were two Greenfinch. As the easterlies finally picked up on 11th, the floodgates started creaking open, with morning census producing an arrival of Redwings but not much else. The afternoon saw a slight drop in the winds and also more birds in. Although the island wasn’t hooching with stuff, the highlights were impressive: Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Walli Burn), two Olive Backed Pipits (Vaila’s Trees and Leogh), Corncrake (Quoy), Great Grey Shrike (Pund), Red-breasted Flycatcher (Obs) and Yellow-browed Warblers (Skinners Glig). The back-up was provided by 925 Redwing, 38 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Short-eared Owls.
As the winds picked up on 12th birding became trickier, with gusts of 50mph recorded. Although an Olive-backed Pipit and the Great Grey Shrike were both still present, other highlights were provided by the spectacle of the large number of some common migrants that had arrived. The influx was largely of thrushes with 2744 Redwing, 124 Blackbird, 86 Song Thrush, 18 Fieldfare, 6 Ring Ouzel and a Mistle Thrush recorded on census. There were also 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 53 Goldcrest, 10 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Redstart, Black Redstart, Whinchat, 4 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 3 Tree Pipit, 90 Skylark, Swallow, 2 Woodpigeon, 14 Brambling, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Siskin, 2 Reed Bunting, 5 Woodcock (the first of the month), 8 Jack Snipe, 35 Snipe and 4 Sparrowhawk.
So, a good couple of days birding and surely with the forecast the way it is, there’ll be more to come. There’s no transport over the weekend, so whatever turns up will only be enjoyed by those who are already on the island, but we do have room from Monday (at £45 per night, full board) if anyone out there wants to see if Fair Isle manages a last hurrah in what has already been a fairly epic autumn.

No let up.

6th October
The 4th October finally saw a break in the arrival of BB rarities, although there was still the lingering Lanceolated Warbler in the Field Ditch, whilst elsewhere on the island there were still two Richard’s Pipits, a Great Northern Diver offshore and four Goldfinch.
A calm, sunny day on 5th was pleasant enough to set out on census in a t-shirt (albeit a long-sleeved one). The Lancie and a Richard’s Pipit were both still present, although it was clear that new migrants were limited. That didn’t stop a return to the run of BBs though, as a Citrine Wagtail flew south over the assembled masses at the Sheep Cru (where the hill sheep had just been gathered) before being relocated at the mouth of the Walli Burn where it showed very well at times. A new Barred Warbler at Setter and a Garden Warbler on Buness were about the only other new arrivals.

Our 5th Citrine Wagtail of the autumn in another outstanding year for this species on Fair Isle.

Today has started with a cold, NW wind, but there are birds in. A noticeable, although modest, arrival of Redwings, a passage of Greylag Geese and a Chiffchaff at the Plantation that was certainly of eastern origin were the early signs of promise, and expectations were met with a fine Black-throated Thrush found near the Hill Dyke before settling in fields between Chalet and Upper Stoneybrek with Redwings. 

A smart bird, although views were mostly distant. It had the decency to turn up just before the morning plane, allowing departing guests to be ferried up to see it before catching their flight.

The 13th Black-throated Thrush for Fair Isle, the first was found in December, there have been two April records and the remaining ten have been October discoveries.

Nobody’s complaining with that for a start to the weekend, but there’s also a feeling that there could be another bird or two out there today...

Cheers!

3rd October
Despite the calm morning and promising feel to the day, census started off fairly quietly and it was obvious that there hadn't been a large arrival of birds. However, that was all forgotten fairly quickly when a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was trapped near South Harbour in the late morning (in exactly the same ditch where a skulking Grasshopper Warbler had briefly raised our hopes last week). With 23 records, Fair Isle accounts for almost half of all the British occurences of this supreme locustella, and there have now been six in the last six years. Most of the recent sightings have been in late September and they are usually only seen on the day of their discovery, making them a hard bird to twitch. Indeed, one visitor who had narrowly missed them on several previous Fair Isle visits declared last night he would buy everyone at the Obs a drink if one was found today - and he was good to his word when he finally connected with this major bogey bird!
The Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was one of two locustellas seen today, the other was a Lanceolated Warbler that was discovered very late in the day in Field ditch. The fact that this bird was missing its tail would suggest it was probably the one from Da Water seen on 26th September.
There were very few other signs of new arrivals, although a Corncrake at Pund was a good find. There were still two Richard's Pipits (seen together at Leogh) and 2 Little Buntings (both at the School, where there were also two Goldfinches).
With the wind set firmly in the west for a few days to come, surely that is it for our run of good birds, although there are easterlies forecast for the start of next week...

Autumn Excitement Continues.

26th September – 2nd October

Ok, apologies for no update for a week, but there’s not been much to report. Nah, not really, it’s been an absolute belter of a run of rarities that has kept everyone happy. I signed off my last blog by saying that conditions may not be suitable for new arrivals, which was not exactly the case, although there were no large falls. The only species to arrive in anything approaching numbers were Song Thrush (a peak of 234 on 27th), Brambling (90 on 26th), Dunnock (18 on 26th), Blackcap (14 on 27th) and Redstart (13 on 27th).
The rarities though are what really stick in the mind from the last week. Competition for ‘pick of the bunch’ was pretty intense but was probably won by Buff-bellied Pipit, found in Furse on 29th, not least of which because it provided me with a birthday lifer!

After flying off from Furse, the Buff-bellied Pipit appeared briefly on the Obs wader scrape later in the afternoon. Although too distant for a decent photograph, views were still good from the lounge.

Another major highlight from the same family was the Pechora Pipit found late on the evening of 1st October (and causing a delay in dinner as the Obs was hastily evacuated) that was still present today.

The often very confiding Pechora Pipit arrived in strong SW winds and sunshine.

Sticking with pipits, the Olive-backed remained at Haa until 29th, with a second bird present at Setter on 27th – 28th, and Richard’s Pipit put in a good showing after a couple of poor years, with sightings from 26th – 2nd involving at least three birds.

One Richard's Pipit was caught on Meoness, this was a second bird present that day (at Lower Leogh) whilst sightings from Wester Lother, Troila and Vaasetter involved at least one more.

That quintessential Fair Isle bird, the Lanceolated Warbler, put in its second and third appearances of the autumn, with one trapped in Da Water on 26th and another showing ridiculously well near the Double Dyke trap on 2nd.

After two elusive Lancies, the 3rd of the autumn lived up to the their usual stereotype by feeding in ditches less than two feet from several extremely happy observers. The fact that it was sunny and fairly calm added to the 'only on Fair Isle' element of the experience.

The Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Schoolton remained until 1st, whilst one at the Observatory on 29th somewhat belied the species often skulking nature when it flew in through the patio door and was trapped in the library! The Paddyfield Warbler remained until 1st at least, often showing well but also going missing for long periods. The fifth Arctic Warbler of the season showed very well around Shirva on 27th – 30th whilst the sixth appeared in Wester Lother on 2nd, an outstanding showing.
Scarcities were represented by Little Buntings (which increased to 4 on 26th – 27th and one remaining until 1st), Yellow-browed Warblers (daily sightings during the period of up to 7), Barred Warblers (26th – 30th, involving at least two birds), Red-breasted Flycatcher (in Hesswalls on 30th), Bluethroats (a lingering bird at Shirva until 1st, with one in Furse in 26th) and a Red-backed Shrike that remained at the Obs until 30th.

Many of the Yellow-browed Warblers have been feeding on the grass in the geos, like this bird in South Feltsigeo.

Other sightings of note included up to 100 Snow Buntings, up to 23 Lapland Buntings, Short-eared Owl (until 29th), up to 6 Ring Ouzel, Goldfinch (2nd), Collared Dove (30th), at least two Water Rails, the first Woodcock of the autumn (27th), Sparrowhawk (2nd) and up to 5 Kestrel and 3 Merlin. Wildfowl passage included a peak of 311 Barnacle Geese (26th), 4 Tufted Ducks (1st – 2nd) and a Scaup (1st – 2nd), whilst sightings at sea included a Great Northern Diver (30th) and a few Sooty Shearwaters.

Snow Bunting flocks have been showing well on Buness, at North Light and near South Light.

All of this amazing run of birds has been on winds without a hint of east in them (it's been predominantly SW), so even if the weather doesn’t look great for the next week or so, I’d not bank against a few more birds. Tomorrow looks set to be wet, which won’t help, although a brief spell of SE wind forecast for tonight and calm conditions in the morning could be interesting…

25th September

We have been enjoying a fantastic run of birding (with the last four days producing eight BBRC rarities) and today saw a reasonable arrival of common migrants. The rarity quotient was provided by the lingering Paddyfield Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit and scarcities included a Richard’s Pipit at Utra, three Little Buntings (the lingering bird at the Havens, with new individuals at Lower Leogh and Kenaby), Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat, Hawfinch and ten Yellow-browed Warblers.

A small fall of thrushes included 173 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 5 Ring Ouzel, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackbird and a Fieldfare. The main support was provided by 80 Brambling, 56 Snow Bunting, 54 Goldcrest, 20 Tree Pipit, 65 Snipe and 14 Jack Snipe. Species arriving in smaller numbers included 9 Redstart, 8 Dunnock, 6 Chaffinch, 3 Wood Warbler and a Common Sandpiper, whilst there were two Sooty Shearwaters seen from South Light.
The conditions are set to become less favourable for new arrivals in the forthcoming days, but I suspect that there may be one or two more surprises lurking out there waiting to be found.