Fair Isle Bird Observatory
@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
1.5K followers 27 following 69 posts
One of Britain's premier bird observatories on the the UK's most remote inhabited island. Follow for migration, marine life & more www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Book your 2026 trip to Fair Isle Bird Observatory now. We have kept the prices the same as this year plus there are cheaper rates during spring and autumn “Migration Specials”. The single and twin rooms are all en-suite and prices include all meals. See www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodation
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
sheldonbirds.bsky.social
Leaving Shetland after 8 super days birding Fair Isle & Shetland with @tombedford.bsky.social. A superb mix of rarities, scarcities, common migrants, seabirds & spectacular scenery based at the brilliant @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social - thanks to all. eBird trip report ⬇️
ebird.org/tripreport/4...
A male Siberian Thrush emerges from cover at Asta Loch, Shetland, Oct 2025 Red-breasted Flycatcher peeping out from cover in South Raeva Geo on Fair Isle, Sept 2025 A migrant Common Redstart finding shelter in the derelict buildings near the summit of Ward Hill on Fair Isle Landscape looking south along the West Side of Fair Isle
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Storm Amy has bought with it some waterfowl movement, with flocks of geese and Whooper Swans around the isle, along with the fifth island record of Little Egret. Other highlights include Olive-backed Pipit and the 12th record of Firecrest: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Two Richard’s Pipits added some interest to an otherwise fairly quiet few days with few new birds in. Yellow-browed Warbler continue to be present in small numbers with a few other scattered scarcities. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 S Arlow
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Yesterday’s Glossy Ibis was only the fifth Fair Isle record! The Yellow-browed Warbler influx continues, with seven seen yesterday, and thrushes have begun to move through in bigger numbers. Read more on our latest sightings www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
sheldonbirds.bsky.social
Arrived @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social for week's birding with @tombedford.bsky.social yesterday eve. Smooth journey with spectacular views from plane of Sumburgh Head & Fair Isle looming out of the south. Short pre-dinner birding produced Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch & Lapland Bunting - not bad!
Approaching Fair Isle from the North by plane - North Light on cliff top Sumburgh Lighthouse and Sumburgh Head First winter Barred Warbler at Fair Isle Bird Observatory Common Rosefinch perched on wire
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Recent days have bought an arrival of Yellow-browed Warbler, along with a mobile Bluethroat, the second Great Spotted Woodpecker of the autumn and the third Turtle Dove of the year. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
The past few days have bought our fourth Brown Shrike in 3 years, as well as the first Snow Bunting and Whooper Swan of the autumn. Catch up with what else has been seen on our latest sightings blog www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
The flow of migratory birds has continued with several Sparrowhawk and Redstart moving through, along with our first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year and a Glaucous Gull seen off Buness. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was seen on the 11th, with a Greenish Warbler and Great Snipe the other highlights of the past few days. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Yesterday bought our best day of the autumn yet, with plenty of new birds in all across the isle in very calm conditions. A range of common migrants showed well across the gardens, cliffs, and all sorts of other unusual places! Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
It’s been a busier few days for birds, with today bringing the first Red-breasted Flycatcher of the autumn, a new Wryneck, two Little Stint and six passing Curlew Sandpiper. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Highlights from the past few days have included a Wryneck, another Barred Warbler and an Icterine Warbler all trapped and ringed as well as a Pipistrelle sp. seen hawking over the Obs garden at dusk yesterday evening. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
The past few days have bought some welcome arrivals, including a couple of Barred Warblers, a scattering of Pied Flycatchers, two Wood Warblers and a Wood Sandpiper. Read more on our latest sightings www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
A shift in the winds in the past couple of days has bought the first Wood Warbler and Icterine Warbler of the autumn our way, and small numbers of Ruff are enjoying the cut silage fields.
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸A Penn
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
A juvenile Red-necked Phalarope has spent the past couple of days doing laps of Da Water, and a Greenish Warbler was found on the cliffs at Wirvie yesterday. Read more of our recent sightings at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Book your 2026 trip to Fair Isle Bird Observatory now. We have kept the prices the same as this year plus there are cheaper rates during spring and autumn “Migration Specials”. The single and twin rooms are all en-suite and prices include all meals. See www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodation
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Census has now resumed for the autumn, with the last bits of seabird work being finished up for the year. Evidence of migration is starting to show, with a trickle of warblers and waders moving through. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Recently we’ve been busy carrying out plenty of seabird work, monitoring lots of our breeding species. We’ve also had a couple of Orca sightings! Read more of what we’ve been up to lately over on www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸s - A Penn
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
carlahill.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
carlahill.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
carlahill.bsky.social
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!!
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
As usual, FIBO will be at the @globalbirdfair.bsky.social‬ at Rutland this weekend. Why not come along and hear about the new observatory building and some special offers. There are vacancies for this autumn and bookings for 2026 open for 'Friends of Fair Isle' on 1st August.
fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Friends of Fair Isle will be able to make accommodation bookings for 2026 from Friday 1st August 2025. General booking will open on 15th August. Prices will be published at that time. Discounted rates may also be available for certain periods in 2026.
Reposted by Fair Isle Bird Observatory
shetnews.co.uk
Feature:
At the edge of the cliffs, no-one says a word. Before us are literally dozens of puffins, fawning at our feet on the grass – the only noise their own mutterings and the sound of the waves below.
@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
Out of the ashes – the resurrection and return of Fair Isle Bird Observatory
AT THE edge of the cliffs, no-one says a word. Before us are literally dozens of puffins, fawning at our feet on the grass – the only noise their own...
shet.news