2009 - MAY 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

 

May 31st: The final day of the month brought in yet another rarity. A River Warbler in Vaila’s Trees – no doubt the first of many good birds for this newly planted area, in memory of Vaila Harvey. An approachable Hobby was at Leogh, which is more than can be said for the Great Reed Warbler that was also there. At least four Marsh Warblers were the third new species for the year. Photographs by Deryk Shaw		Hobby
Great Reed Warbler		River Warbler

May 30^th: Another quiet day was considerably enlivened when a Great Reed Warbler was discovered at Lower Leogh. A Common Rosefinch at Schoolton was also new.

May 29^th: Its been a quiet few days but a Turtle Dove today was an addition to the yearlist whilst an Icterine Warbler was a lingering bird, originally ringed on 26^th.

May 26^th: Migrants again pretty thin on the ground but a nice Rustic Bunting was discovered at Wirvie and later moving to near Vaadal/Plantation. Two Icterine Warblers and a male Grey-headed Wagtail were other notables. A freshly killed Long-eared Owl was a sad find whilst Arctic Terns seeming to be at least attempting to breed with c350 on Buness and smaller numbers at Bullock Holes, Horsti Brekkers and Shalstane.

May 25^th: A much quieter day with just the Bluethroat lingering at Setter. A Dunnock was new, as was a Woodcock flushed from the Gully and a couple of mealy Redpolls were seen. Just a handful of common warblers now remain.

Stone Curlew  Photograph by Deryk Shaw

May 24th: Star bird today was the Stone Curlew spotted by a visiting birder on Meoness. It flew shortly after and was relocated on the Rippack but disappeared again an hour later. This was the eighth island record but the first since 1995. A male Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat and a pair of Common Rosefinch were colourful entries to the log. Finally, a Quail was flushed from the pony field near Kenaby.

May 23^rd: A brisk easterly with plenty of cloud cover but still a mild, bright day. Two firsts for the year were both male – a Red-backed Shrike trapped in the Vaadal and a Common Rosefinch singing in Chalet garden. A Common Nightingale at the mast looked as though it could have been the same bird that was at Leogh on 21^st.

May 22^nd: More glorious weather and hardly a breath of wind. A European Nightjar was flushed from the Gully on morning trap round whilst Icterine warbler and Bluethroat were spotted near the Ringing hut. At sea, a Sandwich Tern flew past North Light whilst a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was also new for the year. Best of all however was the European Bee-eater, which unfortunately only stayed long enough for the two Assistant wardens to see it near their garden at the Chalet.

Subalpine warbler Photo by Jack Ashton-Booth

May 21st: The glorious weather continues, as does the light SE’ly wind. However, the numbers of migrant birds dropped still further with only single figure counts of many and no remaining scarcities. Three nice arrivals went a long way to make up for this though with a Subalpine Warbler at Skerryholm/Haa first thing, followed with a cracking bright Common Nightingale at Leogh mid-morning and late afternoon a Honey Buzzard arrived to upset the breeding gulls, skuas, ravens etc.

May 20^th: Another glorious day of weather but there has been a large clearout of birds. There was still a fair scattering of common migrants but in much less numbers. A Quail at the Obs and two Icterine Warblers were the highlights.

May 19^th: A glorious day of weather with just a light SE’ly wind. Birds were still very much in evident with all the common migrant species of the past few days present in similarly good numbers. A turnover of birds is indicated by the fact we are catching few retraps in the heligolands and that new species are being found. In fact, there were four additions to the year list today with an Osprey travelling north-east at lunchtime, two Common Terns in the Havens, a Quail flushed from Schoolton Ditch and a Tree Sparrow at Auld Haa, then Burkle late afternoon.

Red-throated Pipit Photo by Jack Ashton-Booth

May 18th: The day started well with a male Nightjar trapped in the Gully before breakfast. Common migrants were in very similar number to the previous day although Willow Warblers broke one hundred (112 logged) and a dozen Chiffchaff was also an increase. Of the scarcities, Bluethroats numbered 7, whilst Icterine Warblers increased to 3 and the 2 Wood Sandpipers remained. Finally, a Red-throated Pipit was a nice afternoon find!

May 17^th: A slightly less strong easterly today but still the majority of migrants were to be found along the west cliffs. As yesterday, leading the totals were 98 Willow Warblers but others were in slightly fewer numbers; 46 Common Redstarts, 21 Whinchats, 17 Common Whitethroats, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Garden Warblers, 17 Pied and 13 Spotted Flycatchers. Highlights included a fine male Golden Oriole, an adult Long-tailed Skua, at least 11 Bluethroat, an Icterine Warbler, 2Wood Sandpiper and the first Reed Warbler of the year.

The Peregrines on the west cliffs have hatched!

May 16^th: An easterly gale meant that the majority of migrants on the isle were sheltering down the west cliffs…..and what a lot of them there were! Leading the totals were the 84 Willow Warblers but the chasing pack included 50 Common Redstarts, 30 Whinchats, 26 Common Whitethroats, 16 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Garden Warblers, 25 Pied and 20 Spotted Flycatchers. Highlights included at least 15 Bluethroat, 2 Icterine Warblers and the first Wood Sandpiper and Cuckoo of the year.

Bluethroat		Wood Warbler
Richards Pipit from 10th		Photos by Jack Ashton-Booth

8^th May: BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD -  Fair Isle does it again with another first (2nd record for Britain)!
Remainedd here all day Saturday 9th May.

Video (no sound on this version) of Brown-headed Cowbird
by Liz Musser, Auld Haa, Fair Isle