One of Britain's premier bird observatories on the UK's most remote inhabited island! Follow for migration, marine life & more
Joined April 2011
- Tweets 3,909
- Following 46
- Followers 12,110
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1,115 Photos and videos
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12 May 2025
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:
fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accomm…
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
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A Bee-eater touring the crofts yesterday was a highlight of recent days, as seabird monitoring gets underway and chicks start to appear across the isle. Catch up over at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Penn
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We’ve had a generally quieter few days lately, with highlights Nightjar, Icterine Warbler and Marsh Warbler. Quail numbers have also been consistently good with passing birds scattered around the isle. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Penn
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
Jun 4
A fairly quiet census was brightened up by this lovely Golden Oriole at Kirn o'Skroo. Amazing views of it bounding around on the heather scoffing insects. @FI_Obs
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A foggy few days has prevented much movement of birds, with a couple of Rosefinch and Marsh Warbler remaining throughout, and one Crossbill lingering from the flock seen earlier in the week. Catch up on recent sightings here: fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Hall
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 31
This gorgeous male Rustic Bunting has been showing brilliantly well along the Walli Burn for the last few days. Amazing to watch it munching craneflies and grubs in between bouts of singing. A quality find by @LukeMarriner_1
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Catch up with what our Ranger Carla has been up to this month in her May blog, now up on the website! fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger…
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The clear star of the past week was the Northern Parula which spent four days around Vaila’s Trees, giving many observers some great views. Other highlights include Rustic Bunting and Rosefinch. Catch up over at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 L Marriner
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 29
Pleased to bump into this bonny male Rustic Bunting feeding on bugs in the Walli burn @FI_Obs this morning. Top class birds !
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 23
Wow! A Northern Parula @FI_Obs! A massive surprise when this stunner flicked over my shoulder and landed in front of me at Vaila's Trees. After being a bit mobile it thankfully settled down, showing well for everyone on the isle.
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 23
Some off the camera pics of the Northern Parula that spent all day munching on insects in Vaila’s Trees @FI_Obs cracking bird and find by @tom_wright16 also 2 Temmincks stint provided a fine supporting cast.
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 23
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RT @LukeMarriner_1: 2 cracking birds in the last few days in @FI_Obs, a Summer Red-throated pipit and this bonny Male Western Subalpine War…
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 20
This gorgeous Thrush Nightingale was a lovely start to census. A right bugger to see, mostly skulking in dense bushes in the Setter garden. @FI_Obs
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The start of the week bought some excitement, filling up the latest sightings board with birds such as Thrush Nightingale, Western Subalpine Warbler and a scattering of Bluethroats. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Penn
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory retweeted
May 17
After seemingly endless northerly winds a switch to southerlies delivered straight away with @LukeMarriner_1 finding this smart Red-throated Pipit at Field.
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A change in the winds bought in a few new birds yesterday, with Red-throated Pipit and Lapland Bunting the best. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 L Marriner
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art-angels.co.uk/blogs/news/…
@LisaHooper20 ’s artwork features on the covers of our new Birds of Fair Isle volumes. Her ‘Puffins and Sheep Rock’ design is also available as a card (soon to be on sale at the Observatory).
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A lingering male Goldeneye in the Haven and some smart breeding-plumage Great Northern Diver in the south have kept things interesting through a quieter period, along with a handful of year ticks. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Penn
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A quieter few days, with the highlights a Shelduck on Da Water and the presumed reappearance of the Short-toed Lark. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 A Penn
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Fair Isle’s first ever record of Spoonbill caused a stir yesterday afternoon, with two dropping into Da Water for a short while, followed by a Short-toed Lark along the road not long after. Read more at fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest…
📸 T Wright
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