2009 - APRIL SIGHTINGS

On 2nd April we received the fantastic news that FIBOT has secured the last major element in the funding package for the New Observatory. The SRDP (Scottish Rural Development Programme) have granted us £1, 938, 250 (50% of the total cost). Along with the initial £1,150,000 grant from SIC (Shetland Islands Council), the recent £400,000 from HIE (Highlands & Islands Enterprise) and almost £250,000 raised by our own appeal (so far) means that we can now proceed with demolition and building work in summer 2009, as planned.

Deryk & Hollie and the board of Directors are extremely grateful to all those organisations and individuals who have granted or donated monies to the project, reflecting the socio-economic importance of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory to the island and Shetland as a whole.

We are still waiting for final planning permission and a building warrant, but hope that these will be approved shortly.

Our contractors, Synergie Scotland (click for link) and A H Wilson have drawn up plans and are standing by, itching to get to work on the demolition phase.

We still require around £200,000 to complete the funding package, but we are confident that, with the help of Friends of Fair Isle, other visitors and private funding sources, we can raise this during the coming year.

So do please keep on donating – no matter how small an amount, it all adds up!

Watch this space for further developments!

NEW OBSERVATORY APPEAL

April 30^th: Another good day to end a good month with two new birds being added to the year list including a Sanderling and a Jackdaw. Other notable species seen on this clear but breezy day were 6 Greylag Geese, 4 teal, 6 golden plover, 1 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Purple Sandpiper and 3 Dunlin. The Stock Dove remains in the vicinity of Pund and 5 Woodpigeon were seen around the Meadow. Also noted were 5 Swallow, 3 Tree pipits, 2 Yellow, 5 White and 2 Pied Wagtails, a couple of new Robins, 2 Redstarts, 4 Whinchats, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Brambling, 2 Siskin and a single Goldfinch.

April 29^th: The Pink-Footed Goose and Greenland White-Fronted Goose remain with just 13 Greylag Geese and 5 Teal are the only other notable wildfowl species. A Grey Heron and a female Merlin were seen on the wing in the south and waders comprised of 8 Golden Plover and a single Dunlin, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. Pigeons were represented by a Stock Dove, 3 Woodpigeon and a Collared Dove. A Short-Eared Owl was also encountered as were13 Swallows, a single Goldcrest, Robin and Reed Bunting, 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Pied Wagtails and a single White Wagtail. Newly arrived chats included a male and female Redstart, and 2 stunning male Whinchats. Warblers comprised of 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaff and 6 Willow Warblers. Finches were rather thin on the ground with just a single Goldfinch, Brambling, Linnet and Mealy Redpoll feeding with 2 Siskin at Auld Haa.

April 28^th: Another good late April day with a Common Shelduck on Da Water with a group of 4 Teal, however there was no sign of their Neartic equivalent. The 1^st 2 Manx Shearwater of the year were reported by the crew of the Good Shepherd and the Marsh Harrier continues its stint with us, as does the male Sparrowhawk that was trapped in the Gully early in the morning. Waders included a flock of 16 Golden Plover on Setter, 2 Whimbrel and 2 cracking summer plumaged Dunlin in the south along with 3 Common Sandpipers. Skuas were very evident today with 112 Great Skuas around the island and 10 Arctic Skuas that were beginning to re-establish their territories. Continuing with that arctic theme was a fly over 1st summer Glaucous Gull and the 1^st Arctic Tern of the year. The 2 Collared Doves were again seen and the Woodpigeons on the island continue to fluctuate with a flock of 10 birds counted. The elusive Great-Spotted Woodpecker was again seen briefly by the island nurse this time on the mast, much to the disappointment of a certain seabird warden who I can assure now knows the precise locations of all the islands birdfeeders like the back of his hand. An obvious influx of migratory passerines was evident with 25 Swallows, 2 House martin, 3 Tree Pipits as well as a count of 139 Wheatears - the highest count so far this year. It is also the first time this year that 4 different Wagtails have been noted which included the 1^st of the years Yellow Wagtails (Ssp.flavissima) with 3 individuals in the south alongside 6 Pied, 4 Whites and a Grey Wagtail. Other migrants that arrived as part of this afternoon arrival included the 1^st Whinchat of the year, a Black Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler in Vaila’s Trees. Sylvia’s comprised of 2 Lesser Whitethroats, the male Whitethroat and 5 Blackcaps. Spring was well and truly in the air with12 Chiffchaffs noted including a singing bird and 3 Willow Warblers. Finches comprised of 4 Siskin, 3 Chaffinches, 2 Linnets, 5 Mealy Redpoll, a Brambling and a Goldfinch caught at the Chalet. Three bunting species were noted consisting of 2 Snow Buntings, a single Yellowhammer and a Reed Bunting.

27^th April: The Green-Winged Teal continues its stay amongst a flock 4 Teal on Da Water and a drake Red-Breasted Merganser was seen flying over the north east of the island but best of all was a female Great- Spotted Woodpecker seen at the chalet feeders in the morning. Either the very naïve or very brave Marsh Harrier continues its island tour, amidst an ever increasing minefield of Great Skuas territories, whilst other raptors on the island include a male and female Sparrowhawk. The 1^st Common Sandpiper was heard and then seen around South Harbour and 24 Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel and a single Dunlin were other notable wader species. Notable passerine species consisted of 8 Swallows, 2 Tree pipits, 3 Pied, 8 White and a Grey Wagtail. Also noted was a second wave of Wheatears with 122 being counted (roughly twice as many as the past week) comprising mainly of males much to the dislike of the breeding males that have already established their territories. Sylvia’s comprised of a Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and Whitethroat. Also there were 7 Chiffchaffs, a single Willow Warbler and Goldcrest, 4 Siskin, 2 Linnets, a single Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Brambling as well as 2 Mealy Redpolls, 7 Snow Buntings and a Reed Bunting.

26^th April: The drake Green-Winged Teal is here for its second day, along with 10 Teal and 2 Wigeon. The second Cormorant of the year was noted as was the female Marsh Harrier, 36 Golden Plover, a single Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 2 Pied and 4 White Wagtails. Sylvia’s comprised of 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps and the Whitethroat again. 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Willow Warblers were the only other warbler species noted today in the company of a single Goldcrest a few Chaffinches, 2 Linnets, 2 Mealy Redpolls, a single Snow Bunting and 3 Reed Bunting.

25^th April: Unquestionable highlight of the day has to be the drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL found amongst the 8 Teal on Da Water which represents the First record of this long overdue species for Fair Isle. The Marsh Harrier continued its tour of the isle as did a flock of 22 Golden Plover, a Whimbrel, 2 Collared Doves, 22 Swallows and 2 House Martins. The 1^st Tree Pipit of the year was recorded as were 3 Pied and 4 White Wagtails, as well as 2 Robins, a Dunnock and a Black Redstart. Sylvia’s comprised of 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Blackcaps. Phyllosc’s were well represented by 19 Chiffchaffs and 3 Willow Warblers. Granivorous species comprised of 3 Chaffinches, 2 Linnets, 4 Mealy Redpolls, 2 Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting.

24^th April: The second Marsh Harrier of the month toured the island today; although a cream crown the bird was a lot more adult like in its appearance compared to the bird earlier on in the month and was also missing some primaries in its right wing. Also noted were 21 Golden Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 9 Woodpigeon, a House Martin amongst 7 Swallows, 2 Pied and 1 White Wagtail, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts as well as 7 Chiffchaffs. Sylvia’s comprised a single Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap. Finches included 4 Chaffinch, 3 Mealy Redpolls and a single Goldfinch and the only buntings seen were the 2 Yellowhammer that continued their stay at Burkle.

23^rd April: The single Greenland White-Fronted Goose and a single Pink-Footed Goose remain but the Dark bellied Brent Goose that spent most of the winter with us hasn’t been seen for some time and has presumably left with the migratory Greylag Geese.  A nice surprise today and a good spring record was a pair of Gadwall that took off from the scrape along with a Black Tailed-Godwit. Other notable species was a female Merlin, 15 Golden Plover, a Whimbrel, 14 Woodpigeon, 5 Swallows, 1 White and 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Dunnocks and 2 Robins. Warblers comprised of a male Blackcap, the lingering male Whitethroat and 7 Chiffchaffs. Finches included a single Brambling, Chaffinch and Siskin as well as 3 Mealy Redpolls. There were also 3 Snow Buntings in the south and 2 Yellowhammers at Burkle’s newly created avian Shangri la.

22^nd April: Yesterdays Yellowhammer was joined by another at Kennaby and its arrival coincided with the arrival of two Goldfinches and 62 Fieldfare. Other good counts of birds continued with 63 Greats Skuas, 6 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls and 87 Wheatears. An Arctic Skua and Short-Eared Owl were seen as well as the lingering Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. A Ring Ouzel, 9 Swallows and 4 White Wagtails were also noted as were 3 Dunnock, 2 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts, a Reed Bunting and 7 Chiffchaff. Finches were represented by 5 Chaffinches, 4 Brambling, 4 Siskin and the cracking male Mealy Redpoll.

21^st April: A Yellowhammer brightened up an otherwise dull day. However a single Woodcock, Whimbrel, Arctic Skua and White Wagtail were recorded as were 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Dunnocks, 6 Robin, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 2 mealy Redpolls (including a stunning male), a Reed Bunting as well as the male Ring Ouzel and Whitethroat that continue to put in brief appearances.

20^th April: Undoubtedly the highlight of today was the evening arrival of a Red-Rumped Swallow and more importantly the arrival of Adam who found it. Had he not arrived to study wheatears it is more than likely the bird would have simply drifted through undetected. All that can be said is thank goodness he did because the bird gave outstanding views as it hawked the cliff tops by south light and stalled just inches in front of all the memorised observers. Other good birds of note included the 1^st Lesser Whitethroat and Cormorant of the year, 2 Stock Dove, 22 Wood Pigeons, 3 Whimbrel, a Woodcock and 14 Chiffchaffs including one bird singing in the gully. Other species include a male Ring Ouzel and Whitethroat, 3 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 2 Chaffinches, 5 Brambling, 3 Siskin and a single Linnet, Mealy Redpoll and Reed Bunting.

19^th April: Flat calm conditions enabled the 1^st of the year’s Black Guillemot counts to be conducted. Not surprisingly, a number of birds were also noted offshore with a single Wigeon, a drake Tufted Duck and Red-Breasted Merganser, 3 Red-Throated Divers, an Arctic Skua and a noteworthy 1^st summer Kittiwake. The calm conditions also induced passage over the island and migrants included 2 Kestrels, an immature female Peregrine that kept upsetting the resident Peregrine pair, 2 Whimbrel, 41 Black-Headed Gulls, 200 Common Gulls, a Short-Eared Owl and 9 Swallows. The stillness in the air had clearly brought about a small afternoon arrival with 3 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 18 Brambling, 5 Chaffinches and 6 mealy Redpolls noted. Other birds of note were 2 White Wagtails, 3 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, a Willow Warbler, 7 Siskin, 3 Linnet, a male Reed Bunting and yesterdays Black Redstarts and Ring Ouzel.

18^th April: A very different day from yesterday with the 1^st Whimbrel of the year being seen in the form of one flock of 50 birds (second highest ever) flying high to the north east as well as 1^st Greenshank of the year that toured the island before alighting to feed on Easter Lother. There was a noticeable increase in Wheatears with 80 birds being counted along with 2 Black Redstarts, a male Ring Ouzel and the Hawfinch that remains. Apart from a small increase of 8 Chiffchaffs numbers of other species remained relatively constant with 2 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, a single Willow Warbler, Greenfinch and mealy Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch, 7 Brambling, 6 Siskin, 3 Linnet and 2 Reed Bunting.

17^th April: Apart from a single Greenfinch that joined the Hawfinch, birds were rather thin on the ground and seemed to have cleared out. Birds that continued to linger however were 2 White Wagtails, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Robins,1 Black Redstart, the male Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaffs a single Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and mealy Redpoll, 6 Brambling and 9 Siskin.

16^th April: New birds included a Merlin, 8 Carrion Crows and 3 White Wagtails. The Hawfinch and the 2 Rooks were again seen as was the Sparrowhawk with a very full crop and apart from one less redwing on the island other birds included a good count of 29 Golden Plover, 4 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, 1 Black Redstart and a male Ring Ouzel. The Grasshopper Warbler was caught in the Gully, Chiffchaffs had increased to 12 birds and small fluctuations in finch numbers produced 4 Chaffinch, 13 Brambling, 8 Siskin, 2 Linnet, 1 Mealy Redpoll.

15^th April:  The 1^st Common Whitethroat of the year was seen today along with a cracking male Redstart and 2 Rooks. The female Sparrowhawk was caught in the Vadaal and the female Marsh Harrier from yesterday was seen coming in off the sea in the south after what appeared to be a failed attempt to cross the sea. Other birds of note were 3 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 8 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 6 Chaffinches, 11 Brambling, 5 Siskin, a single Linnet and Mealy Redpoll as well as 2 Reed Bunting.

14^th April: What started off as a very quiet and unrewarding day was soon forgotten with the arrival of a female Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper. The female Sparrowhawk was seen again as was the White Wagtail and 3 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 12 Chaffinches, 10 Brambling, 4 Siskin, 3 Linnet and a Reed Bunting were recorded.

13^th April: Another great day with the 4 new birds added to the year list with a Stock Dove, Shelduck, House Martin and a pair of Shoveler being noted. Other new birds included a female Sparrowhawk, a White Wagtail and 7 Pied Wagtails. The Hawfinch and the Grasshopper Warbler remain and other birds noted include a Dunnock, 2 Robins, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 willow Warblers, 13 Chaffinch, 6 Brambling, 5 Siskin, a Linnet, and 2 Reed Buntings.

12^th April: Today’s highlight had to be the White-Tailed Eagle that graced us with its present. First reported on North Ronaldsay the day before it obviously thought that Fair Isle would be its best bet to catch up with the elusive Easter bunny. After being kindly tipped off about the Eagle leaving high to the north from North Ron the bird was first picked up flying over Sheep Rock 40 minutes later. It then chose to sit on Ward Hill for 20 minutes before flying purposefully with its entourage of a Raven, Great-Blacked Backed Gull and a female Peregrine out to sea towards Shetland where it was seen coming in 35 minutes later. Another new bird that also stood out like a sore thumb was a corking male Hawfinch that had found the newly erected bird feeders at the Chalet. Other notable species was a good count of 7 Teal, a Woodcock, 3 Black Redstarts, 6 Goldcrests and a male Stonechat. Warblers were represented by a male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers and yesterdays Grasshopper Warbler. Finches comprised of 5 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 5 Siskin, 4 Linnet and a single Mealy Redpoll.

11^th April: New birds for the year today included a male Kestrel, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Grasshopper Warbler and a male Redstart. A small influx of thrushes occurred with 23 Blackbirds, 54 Fieldfare, 15 Song Thrush and 29 Redwing. Other birds of note include 23 Woodpigeons, 2 White Wagtails, 2 Black Redstarts, 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers and 6 Goldcrests. Finches comprised of 9 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 11 Siskin and 2 Linnet. A male Reed Bunting and the yesterdays Lapland Bunting were also seen.

10^th April: A miserable day with low cloud and periods of drizzle but the south-east wind persisted resulting in the first Lapland Bunting of the year, other grounded migrants included 150 Skylarks, a Grey Wagtail, a Black Redstart, the male Stonechat, a Ring Ouzel, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a Brambling and 4 Siskin.

The single White-fronted Goose and Brent Goose are still lingering with the flock of 60 Greylags still on the island – its surely time for them to move back north?    Also of note was the first mass arrival of Puffins back onto the cliff-top including many colour ringed birds at Roskilie.

9^th April: The wind remained in the south-east but increased slightly which, when combined with some showers produced our first Willow Warbler, Blackcap, and 2 Brambling of the year.   There were a few other new birds which included 10 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Woodpigeon, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Swallows, a White Wagtail, an increase to 9 Robins, 3 Black Redstarts, a male Stonechat, a big influx of 40 Wheatear, a male Ring Ouzel, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrest, 7 Chaffinch and 14 Snow Bunting.

The male Kestrel remains and the drake Long-tailed Duck and female Common Scoter reappeared in Furse.

8^th April: The wind veered easterly for a time with frequent showers which resulted in our first 2 Ring Ouzels of the year arriving as well as a small influx of waders which included 35 Purple Sandpipers, 36 Redshank and 89 Turnstone.   Other new birds included a group of 7 Pink-footed Geese, a pair of Wigeon, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Swallow, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Siskin and a Reed Bunting.

7^th April: The brisk south-easterly wind continued but with clear skies it was a quiet day for grounded migrants as birds of note included a male Kestrel, a male Merlin, 10 Golden Plover, a White Wagtail, a Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin and the first Mealy Redpoll of the year.

6^th April: A nice day with a light SE’ly which developed into a cool brisk SE’ly during the afternoon. A couple of Siskins were new for the year and there were also three Greenfinches and ten Chaffinches. Also in were two Black Redstarts, two Grey Wagtail, a Goldcrest, 18 Snow Buntings and a Reed Bunting. A freshly dead but emaciated Long-eared Owl was discovered in the Gully. Greylag Geese are down to around 65 but the Brent and Greenland Whitefront remain. Bird of the day was only seen briefly - a first-winter Iceland Gull which looked incredibly dark as it flew past, a possible Kumliens?

5^th April: A switch to westerly winds cleared the fog and resulted in beautiful almost cloudless sunny (though cool) sky first thing, however a rain front had arrived by 11am. A male Wigeon and a Grey Wagtail were new in whilst increased counts of Oystercatcher (140), Bonxie (10), Common Gull (44), Meadow Pipit (100), Wheatear (8) and Fieldfare (50) were made.

4^th April: Another day of foggy weather severely hampered birding so the only birds of note were the first Shelduck of the year plus four Wheatear and a Mistle Thrush.

3^rd April: A much quieter, very foggy day with a cool SE’ly breeze. A couple of Water Rails and a similar number of Dunnocks and Robins plus a Goldcrest were the only new things in.  Other sightings included one Bonxie, five Pied Wagtail, just one Wheatear, Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting.

2^nd April: Best day of the year so far for weather – a light SE’ly with lots of sunshine and little cloud. The birding didn’t quite match up to it but our first White Wagtail (and four Pied) dropped in and a Redpoll sp flew over. Greenfinches increased to seven and Wheatears to nine (all males) and a couple of Dunnocks arrived. Also seen were Swallow, Chiffchaff, six Snow Buntings and a pair of Reed Buntings. Close offshore wrere the second-winter Glaucous Gull, Long-tailed Duck and Common Scoter. The first Puffins came ashore.

1^st April: A fairly mild day with a light SSW’ly wind. New for the year were the first few Puffins in Finniequoy, three Collared Dove, a Grey Wagtail and a Greenfinch, but best of all was the first Swallow. Also, seen were the Greenland Whitefronted Goose (with the 120 Greylags and single Brent), a fine male Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser. On land were three Bonxies, four Wood Pigeon, the Short-eared Owl, 60 Meadow Pipits and a cracking ‘littoralis’ Rock Pipit in South harbour. Other passerines of note included three Wheatear, three Pied Wagtail, an increase in thrushes (55 Blackbird, 16 Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrush and 25 Redwing) and corvids (20 Hooded Crow, a single hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow and 6+ migrant Ravens) plus two Reed Bunting. There were lots of Guillemots and Razorbills ashore all day and in the late afternoon 200+ Puffins in Furse.