Monday, September 24, 2012

Shetland Wildlife- September's Autumn Tour - Fair Isle

Highlights of the Shetland Wildlife Autumn Birding Tour visit to Fair Isle.

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
seen on the Meoness croftland viewable from the Auld Haa 3 of the 4 days of the tour.


Plenty of common birds were seen like these Willow Warblers.


Razorbill Rescue
This young Razorbill was found in the tall grass along the road in calm conditions.
This happens from time to time so I picked it up and let it go in the South Harbour.
Very feisty bird and it did nip at me several times, and swam away seeming quite healthy.
Always a delight for everyone to see a bird up close and to help it on it's way.

That Auk-ward moment... 

I'm fine...


A private viewing inside of the South Lighthouse.
Arranged with the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society.
View from top of the South Lighthouse.

Bonus! The group had great show of the Northern Lights!




Grasshopper Warbler?
Originally thought to be a  Lanceolated Warbler? possibly even more interesting as the measurements and other details may hopefully find it of an rare eastern race of Grasshopper Warbler? 




Lapland Bunting
Other bird highlights seen...
Barred Warbler & Rosefinch are nice birds to see.
 Well done the group leader Jon Dunn, he was the first to find & identify the Citrine Wagtail by name while we all were watching the Arctic Warbler.

Viewing the Arctic Warbler!
Then having the thrill of seeing it caught & ringed...
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
"coinciding with the Aurora Borealis"


& of course waiting for the plane... the Fair Isle experience ended with a stunning rainbow...



1 comment:

  1. Nice shot with the rainbow and the windsock.

    ReplyDelete