David Parnaby
@parnaby.bsky.social
Fair Isle. Birds, moths, beachcombing, wildlife. Some sheep. Big fan of good drying days.
It feels immensely rare this morning and, with four Goldcrest in the garden so far, I'm hoping for something even stripier by the end of the day...
November 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM
It feels immensely rare this morning and, with four Goldcrest in the garden so far, I'm hoping for something even stripier by the end of the day...
I was very pleased to add Black-faced Bunting to my croft, Fair Isle, British, world and self-found lists yesterday and just as pleased when it was relocated at Barkland. I didn't manage any photos of the bird, but here's the twitch! #pwc2025
November 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I was very pleased to add Black-faced Bunting to my croft, Fair Isle, British, world and self-found lists yesterday and just as pleased when it was relocated at Barkland. I didn't manage any photos of the bird, but here's the twitch! #pwc2025
I was checking the honeysuckle for moths and accidentally woke up this roosting male Blackcap. He didn't fly off though, so he'll hopefully still get a good night's sleep.
September 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I was checking the honeysuckle for moths and accidentally woke up this roosting male Blackcap. He didn't fly off though, so he'll hopefully still get a good night's sleep.
I'll hopefully get better (out the pot) photos later, but I was thinking this was Agriphila straminella. That would make it a very late record for Fair Isle though, so is there anything else I should be looking out for?
@mothiduk.bsky.social
@mothiduk.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I'll hopefully get better (out the pot) photos later, but I was thinking this was Agriphila straminella. That would make it a very late record for Fair Isle though, so is there anything else I should be looking out for?
@mothiduk.bsky.social
@mothiduk.bsky.social
Feels like a fun morning in Fair Isle; 3 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Whinchat, 2 Siskin and Lesser Redpoll so far without really trying. Surely more to come! #BirdingScotland
September 14, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Feels like a fun morning in Fair Isle; 3 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Whinchat, 2 Siskin and Lesser Redpoll so far without really trying. Surely more to come! #BirdingScotland
With a bright moon, I'm not holding out much hope for the trap, but there's obviously migrants out there: 28 Dark Sword-grass, 4 Silver Y and Setaceous Hebrew Character on the sugar and flowers in our garden tonight (Fair Isle, VC112). #Teammoth
September 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
With a bright moon, I'm not holding out much hope for the trap, but there's obviously migrants out there: 28 Dark Sword-grass, 4 Silver Y and Setaceous Hebrew Character on the sugar and flowers in our garden tonight (Fair Isle, VC112). #Teammoth
Turnip Moth on sugar last night. A rare migrant to Shetland, with records in only five previous years in Fair Isle. Hopefully calm enough to try the trap tonight... #TeamMoth
September 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Turnip Moth on sugar last night. A rare migrant to Shetland, with records in only five previous years in Fair Isle. Hopefully calm enough to try the trap tonight... #TeamMoth
The recent run of easterlies has been a wee bit underwhelming for migrant birds, so I was delighted to find this Wryneck in the driftwood stick outside the kitchen window this evening. #BirdingScotland
September 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The recent run of easterlies has been a wee bit underwhelming for migrant birds, so I was delighted to find this Wryneck in the driftwood stick outside the kitchen window this evening. #BirdingScotland
Dewick's Plusia feeding on the hebe last night is a first for Fair Isle and there were still at least three Convolvulus Hawkmoths on the honeysuckle. It's been a remarkable week of moths! #Teammoth
September 6, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Dewick's Plusia feeding on the hebe last night is a first for Fair Isle and there were still at least three Convolvulus Hawkmoths on the honeysuckle. It's been a remarkable week of moths! #Teammoth
Fabulous mothing in the garden last night. Rarest were these two Scarce Bordered Straws. Most impressive were the 5 Convolvulus Hawkmoth feeding on the honeysuckle. 20 Dark Sword-grass feeding in the garden. Fair Isle rarities included Frosted Orange, Lime-speck and Double-striped Pug. #teammoth
September 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Fabulous mothing in the garden last night. Rarest were these two Scarce Bordered Straws. Most impressive were the 5 Convolvulus Hawkmoth feeding on the honeysuckle. 20 Dark Sword-grass feeding in the garden. Fair Isle rarities included Frosted Orange, Lime-speck and Double-striped Pug. #teammoth
A busy night for moths on the honeysuckle, hebe and sedum in our garden last night. Highlight was this Bordered Straw (2nd Fair Isle record), with other migrants including 2 Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 6 Dark Sword-grass and 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters. #teammoth
September 4, 2025 at 5:55 AM
A busy night for moths on the honeysuckle, hebe and sedum in our garden last night. Highlight was this Bordered Straw (2nd Fair Isle record), with other migrants including 2 Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 6 Dark Sword-grass and 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters. #teammoth
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, Dark Sword-grass and 2 Silver Y feeding on honeysuckle and hebe in the garden last night. The trap was relatively quiet (47/5), but this Lunar Underwing is the first Fair Isle (and fourth Shetland) record. #TeamMoth
September 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, Dark Sword-grass and 2 Silver Y feeding on honeysuckle and hebe in the garden last night. The trap was relatively quiet (47/5), but this Lunar Underwing is the first Fair Isle (and fourth Shetland) record. #TeamMoth
A very calm morning with the SE breeze forecast to start kicking in this afternoon. Predicting Citrine Wagtail and Arctic Warbler wouldn't feel like a huge gamble...
August 23, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A very calm morning with the SE breeze forecast to start kicking in this afternoon. Predicting Citrine Wagtail and Arctic Warbler wouldn't feel like a huge gamble...
Ahead of the forthcoming south-easterlies, the net ride has been trimmed, viewing to the ponds has been opened up and the rosa and lawn have been strategically cut to allow better viewing. And now we wait...
August 23, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Ahead of the forthcoming south-easterlies, the net ride has been trimmed, viewing to the ponds has been opened up and the rosa and lawn have been strategically cut to allow better viewing. And now we wait...
Convolvulus Hawk-moth on the honeysuckle in the garden tonight at Shirva, Fair Isle. A few butterflies around today including Peacock, which I've decided is possibly my favourite thing in the natural world.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
August 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Convolvulus Hawk-moth on the honeysuckle in the garden tonight at Shirva, Fair Isle. A few butterflies around today including Peacock, which I've decided is possibly my favourite thing in the natural world.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
This micro on the outside of the trap wasn't one I recognised. Obsidentify suggests Bactra furfurana, which seems a good fit, but the only Bactra currently on the Fair Isle list is lancealana. Any thoughts on the ID please? #TeamMoth
July 17, 2025 at 6:06 AM
This micro on the outside of the trap wasn't one I recognised. Obsidentify suggests Bactra furfurana, which seems a good fit, but the only Bactra currently on the Fair Isle list is lancealana. Any thoughts on the ID please? #TeamMoth
Bedstraw Hawk-moth the absolute star of our trap in Fair Isle last night, about the 15th record for the Isle. Technically the highlight though was Common Carpet; first for Fair Isle and just the 6th for VC112 Shetland. Overall 234/19, dominated by 114 Diamond-back Moths.
#TeamMoth #MigrantMothUK
#TeamMoth #MigrantMothUK
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Bedstraw Hawk-moth the absolute star of our trap in Fair Isle last night, about the 15th record for the Isle. Technically the highlight though was Common Carpet; first for Fair Isle and just the 6th for VC112 Shetland. Overall 234/19, dominated by 114 Diamond-back Moths.
#TeamMoth #MigrantMothUK
#TeamMoth #MigrantMothUK
I thought this pug from our trap in Fair Isle last night would be Juniper Pug (a resident in the Isle) but Obsidentify is very confident it's Double-striped, which would be a vagrant here. I don't have enough experience to be sure, so any help greatly appreciated thanks. #ukmoths #TeamMoth
July 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Some uncropped images of Killer Whales passing Landberg, Fair Isle this evening. I love this place! #CetaceansUK #Shetland
July 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Some uncropped images of Killer Whales passing Landberg, Fair Isle this evening. I love this place! #CetaceansUK #Shetland
Midsummer is generally a quiet time for new passerine arrivals in Fair Isle, so there are worse birds to have hanging around the garden than this male Eastern Subalpine Warbler, which was first seen on 17th June. #BirdingScotland
July 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Midsummer is generally a quiet time for new passerine arrivals in Fair Isle, so there are worse birds to have hanging around the garden than this male Eastern Subalpine Warbler, which was first seen on 17th June. #BirdingScotland
Our first Large White and Magpie Moth of the year gave some promise for the night, but a bright, clear sky meant the trap was pretty quiet. A bit more activity around the sugar, although not much outside of the expected species other than the lingering Bright-line Brown-eye #TeamMoth
July 2, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Our first Large White and Magpie Moth of the year gave some promise for the night, but a bright, clear sky meant the trap was pretty quiet. A bit more activity around the sugar, although not much outside of the expected species other than the lingering Bright-line Brown-eye #TeamMoth
Trying to key out some lacewings from the garden. Chrysoperla carnea agg. I would say, but not sure I can narrow it down further? Would it usually be necessary to prepare it as a specimen for getting to species level, try for better photos, or is there detail I can get with a hand lens? #insects
June 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Trying to key out some lacewings from the garden. Chrysoperla carnea agg. I would say, but not sure I can narrow it down further? Would it usually be necessary to prepare it as a specimen for getting to species level, try for better photos, or is there detail I can get with a hand lens? #insects
Last night was a good one for #TeamMoth in Fair Isle. Vagrants represented by Pearly Underwing and Bright-line Brown-eye, earliest ever Smoky Wainscot and first Northern Rustics of the year. Also 4 Dark Sword-grass, several Silver Y and Diamond-back Moths.
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Last night was a good one for #TeamMoth in Fair Isle. Vagrants represented by Pearly Underwing and Bright-line Brown-eye, earliest ever Smoky Wainscot and first Northern Rustics of the year. Also 4 Dark Sword-grass, several Silver Y and Diamond-back Moths.
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A beautiful night in Fair Isle. Highlights were the Isle's 3rd record of Aethes cnicana, 7 Clouded-bordered Brindle, 4 Dark Sword-grass, stacks of Silver Y, Nightjar and Fair Isle Mouse feeding in the garden and a wander out to Raeva for my first Storm Petrel of the year.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
June 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
A beautiful night in Fair Isle. Highlights were the Isle's 3rd record of Aethes cnicana, 7 Clouded-bordered Brindle, 4 Dark Sword-grass, stacks of Silver Y, Nightjar and Fair Isle Mouse feeding in the garden and a wander out to Raeva for my first Storm Petrel of the year.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth