Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Carla Hill

@carlahill.bsky.social

330 followers 440 following 35 posts

@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social Ranger 2025. Birder, trainee bird ringer and marine life lover with a passion for environmental education. Uni of Exeter grad.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 25

Left my GoPro in with the Puffins while I went and did a Shorewatch yesterday and this was the result! Such curious little birds! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

10 40 300

Reposted by Carla Hill

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · Aug 13

Last nights Storm Petrel ringing session ended with a total catch of 263 Storm Petrels ringed and 18 retraps, including a Portuguese-ringed control. The highlight of the night, however, was a Leach’s Petrel, shown with a European Storm Petrel for comparison!
📸 A Penn

2 11 72

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 26

They are yes!

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 26

I’m on Fair Isle! I work for the bird observatory, it’s a pretty cool job!

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 25

Left my GoPro in with the Puffins while I went and did a Shorewatch yesterday and this was the result! Such curious little birds! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

10 40 300

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 21

Little Tystie takes on a big Butterfish!! Didn’t get to see if it won the battle as we were on our way to take a look on board the Flying Dutchman, a rather impressive tall ship that had just arrived in the harbour!

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 19

Hulk and Nott paid us a visit on Fair Isle this morning, with a swim by the obs! Our second orca sighting in the past 9 days! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 25

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jul 10

Orca!!! When one of the pier workmen casually mentioned there was an orca in the harbour, none of us quite believed him at first, but sure enough there they were! They attracted quite a crowd as they made their way around Buness. My first orca and they did not disappoint!!

3 35

Reposted by Carla Hill

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 18

There was a great atmosphere last week when all the islanders, guests and staff were invited to toast the newly opened Obs. Douglas Barr, Roy Dennis and Eileen Thomson spoke of the importance of the Obs to the birding and island communities. We all raised a glass to the new Obs!

3 44

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jun 14

Two rather nice birds ringed at the obs yesterday afternoon! First, the Great Reed Warbler from the previous day went into the obs garden nets, closely followed by a Greenish Warbler caught in Gully. Both very cool birds to see up close, the Great Reed Warbler is huge! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 4 54

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jun 12

This Great Reed Warbler was found in the obs garden this afternoon, and though it has shown itself only a couple of times since, it’s given some very nice views out of the bar windows for several observers! A nice bird, and so much bigger than I thought they’d be! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 4 46

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jun 8

Just as I thought today couldn’t get much better with Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Nightjar trapped and ringed, @alex-penn.bsky.social catches this absolute showstopper of a Scops Owl in Gully! What a bird!! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 5 86

Reposted by Carla Hill

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · Jun 3

Fair Isle saw its third PALLAS'S REED BUNTING, yesterday - a spring male, no less - following two autumn birds, the last some 43 years ago! www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
Please note - no sightings so far today, although the bird can be slippery, and today's weather wild!
📸A Penn

2 57

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Jun 3

I was very pleased to get to ring this gorgeous male Bluethroat the other day!! I didn’t know what I’d been handed until I pulled him out the bag, as you can probably imagine the resulting smile when I realised what I had was pretty big! What a stunner, I can’t get over how blue that throat is!

1 22

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 31

The past couple of days have bought in some good birds, and some very nice catches in the mist nets. I was very pleased to ring a lovely female Western Subalpine Warbler yesterday afternoon! Other highlights were a trio of Crossbill and my first bluethroat in the hand! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 29

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 27

Had a bit of fun photographing these swallows out of the @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social bar windows this afternoon as they perched on the fence and the patio between bouts of swooping around and investigating the building! They looked a little grumpy in the wind and the rain.

1 12

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 22

This gorgeous male Rustic Bunting found at Upper Stoneybrake this afternoon brightened up what has been a rather quiet few days here at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social It spent a lot of time zipping around the area but settled in a ditch long enough to give everyone present some nice views!

1 28

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 14

This gorgeous Red-throated Pipit found by @alex-penn.bsky.social this morning showed very well this afternoon! After a failed attempt to relocate it late morning, it was a relief to stumble across it within a few minutes on attempt number two! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

2 42

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 13

What better way to spend a sunny Tuesday afternoon than ringing these little bundles of joy?! You don’t get much cuter than a Lapwing chick! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 24

Reposted by Carla Hill

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · May 12

It is now six years since a fire totally destroyed the Observatory and we are delighted to announce that the Observatory and Hotel is now open for guest bookings for 2025!
Please read our website for prices and terms:
www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodatio...
We look forward to welcoming you soon!

2 17 83

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 11

A bee-eater added a splash of colour to this afternoon at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social, moving between fences in the south of the island and putting on a show for several observers! Seeing it occasionally hovering over the grass was also insanely cool to watch!

1 5 51

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 9

Some pretty perfect timing after rockpooling with the school kids yesterday afternoon meant I was able to have a look at this little beauty before it was released back into the Birkle garden. Western Subalpine Warbler, what a stunning little bird! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

2 13

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · May 7

Yesterday bought some good birds in, including two new birds for me, wood warbler and bluethroat, and a lovely female hawfinch I had the pleasure of ringing! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1 2 43

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Apr 23

Nice to finally get a piece of the eastern subalpine warbler action at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social with this stunning male found at Schoolton today!

3 37

Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · Apr 17

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing my first white-tailed eagle earlier today! Arriving at the south of the island moments too late as it disappeared out to sea I wasn’t optimistic, but luckily it decided to return and do some laps of the island giving me some excellent views as it passed close by!

1 15

Reposted by Carla Hill

Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · Apr 16

Advance notification of when the Observatory and Hotel will be open for bookings is now on our website www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk

It is now six years since a fire totally destroyed the Observatory and we are delighted to announce that the Hotel will shortly be open for guests.

Friends of Fair Isle will be contacted on Monday 28th April 2025 with the relevant booking information and pricing and will be able to book accommodation from Monday 12th May to the end of October. On this occasion, Friends who have supported us at any time since the fire will be eligible to book one room (twin or single) for a single visit. There is a minimum stay of three nights.

We will then open up bookings to the general public on 12th May who will be able to stay, subject to availability and for a minimum stay of three nights, from Monday 26th May. We will shortly be posting all the relevant information and pricing on our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to Fair Isle and our unique bird observatory hotel.

4 12 49