Fair Isle - Day 3

The day dawned to the sound of the wind howling round the roof of the obs, and clear evidence of overnight rain. With spirits dampened a little by the liklihood that the very strong SE wind would make most birds difficult to observe, we headed out after breakfast consoling ourselves with the fact that at least it was from the right direction and the rain may have forced a few tired migrants to make landfall.

Birding was very hard, with most birds choosing to keep very low in what little vegetation there is on the island, but despite the driving afternoon rain, the group worked hard to find what birds might be on the island, and recorded the following:

Corncrake (1)
Ring Ouzel (4)
Barred Warbler (2)
Common Rosefinch (1)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1 juv)
Redstart (1)
Wheatear (5)
Lapland Bunting (100+)
Sooty Shearwater (1)
Arctic Skua (1)
Long-tailed Duck (2)
Purple Sandpiper (2)
Whinchat (4)
Barnacle Goose (25)
White Wagtail (1)
Jack Snipe (3)
Pied Flycatcher (1)
Brambling (120)
Greenshank (1)
Curlew Sandpiper (1)
Hen Harrier (1)

Whinchat

Evidence of new birds was certainly clear, and also seen on the island was a Little Bunting, the -Buff-belled Pipit, and a controversial juv Wood Duck. Hopefully the wind will drop a little for tomorrow and the birding will become a litte easier, though the forecast may suggest otherwise!