COMMON and RARE MIGRANTS

Since the early 1900’s, Fair Isle has been an internationally renowned site for the observation of migrant birds. The Bird Observatory was established in 1948 by George Waterston, who recognised the island for its attraction to migrating birds.

The winter months are generally very quiet, with occasional wildfowl and storm driven gulls of note, including Iceland and Glaucous. Migrant birds become evident from late March, becoming more numerous through April and by the time the Observatory opens to visitors in late April, migration is well underway. Fair Isle relies heavily on the weather to blow migrating birds off course. If conditions are right, large falls of common migrants such as Wheatear, Whinchat, Redstart, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Tree Pipits can occur. Scarce migrants will also be mixed in with Bluethroats, Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrikes, Marsh and Icterine Warblers and occasional Ortolan Buntings seen. Regular spring rarities include Rustic Bunting, Red-throated Pipit and Subalpine Warbler. Rarer birds in the past few years have included Thick-billed Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Collared Flycatcher. May is the best spring month to visit Fair Isle for numbers of migrants, with more unusual birds seen from the end of May and through June.

Wheatear

Rustic Bunting

Red-backed Shrikes

July is often a quiet month as efforts are concentrated on seabird studies and spring migration tails off before autumn migration begins in August. However, failed breeders are often noted returning south, with waders and gulls passing through and the occasional passerine seen. Unusual birds in July have included Nightjar, Arctic Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, Two-barred Crossbill and the isle’s only record of Scops Owl.

Nightjar

Scops Owl

Autumn migration is well underway by mid-August with waders, gulls, ducks and passerines all seen in good numbers. Falls of birds often occur, usually toward the end of the month. The weather is nearly always good and makes for a pleasant day’s bird-watching, especially if you catch up with an early autumn rarity in the form of a Greenish Warbler or Citrine Wagtail! September is the traditional month for seeing good numbers of common migrants, rarities and bird-watchers! The ‘Fair Isle specials’ seen during this month can include Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Great Snipe, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Lanceolated Warbler. October can be as good as September, but there is the added bonus of seeing tens of thousands of thrushes, hundreds of Robins and a handful of Long-eared Owls. Most of our rarest vagrants have turned up during this month with Harlequin Duck, Brown Shrike, Black-faced Bunting, Savannah Sparrow, Siberian Rubythroat and Red-flanked Bluetail all seen in the last few years.

Lanceolated Warbler

Savannah Sparrow

During the migration periods, Observatory staff are occupied with daily census work whereby the island is split into three sections and checked on rotation, ensuring everywhere is covered! Daily ringing activities also take place and all visitors are encouraged to join staff on the early morning trap round to see what migrants have arrived over-night! Contributions to the days record of observations are encouraged at the log, called by Deryk in the evening. 

Fair Isle does rely heavily on the weather to produce large falls of birds, but as many visitors will know, anything can turn up at any time……….