The July Ranger Blog is now available to read at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog.... to catch up on what Ranger Carla has been up to these past few weeks!

I was very pleased to ring my first Leach’s Petrel a few nights ago! This was our second Leach’s caught of the year, with both birds coming on nights with good Storm Petrel catches of 231 and 266, a very busy couple of nights of ringing!

Recent seabird work has centred around Bonxies and Storm Petrels, with two Leach’s Petrels also trapped in recent sessions. Breeding success has been variable, with the Arctic Terns fledging just one chick. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

The humble bike punches well above its weight... The Fair Isle Bird Observatory is a perfect example. Proof that something as simple as a bike can make an extraordinary difference. Read how bikes are not only supporting people, but helping communities and places thrive 👇 cyclinguk.org/fair-isle

Due to room availability at the end of the season, we are running a special price of £99 per person per night for stays of 7 nights or more between 15th-30th October, available on both single and twin rooms.

A new study has ranked Fair Isle as the third best location for birding in Europe, due to our location resulting in plenty of common migrants and a scattering of scarce and rare birds passing through. More can be found about how the top spots were decided here: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2629027...

Scotland is home to two of Europe's best birdwatching spots, new study reveals

Scotland is home to two of Europe's best birdwatching spots, a new study has revealed.

heraldscotland.com

It’s been a busy couple of weeks of seabird work for the Ornithology Team, with Puffin colour ringing, feedwatches and food sampling, among other seabird jobs. Birding time has been few and far between as a result. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

Birdfair starts tomorrow! You can find the FIBO stall in Swallow Marquee, stand 14. Do drop by and take a look at our new merch!

Fair Isle Bird Observatory@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · last mo.

We’ll be at @globalbirdfair.bsky.social next weekend, Swallow Marquee, stand 14. Come and find us for our new merchandise and a special offer on the new Birds of Fair Isle book!

The isle’s first July record of Melodious Warbler at the Haa and second July record of Western Subalpine Warbler trapped in Plantation have been the highlights of the past few days. Catch up on www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

We’ll be at @globalbirdfair.bsky.social next weekend, Swallow Marquee, stand 14. Come and find us for our new merchandise and a special offer on the new Birds of Fair Isle book!

The June Ranger Blog is available to read now over at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog.... to catch up on what Ranger Carla has been up to this past month!

Clear highlights of the past week have been a TRUMPETER FINCH mobile around the Kiln o’Skroo and a Serin first located in Chapel Plantation but since trapped in Plantation. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 L Marriner

This past weekend saw the grand opening of Obs 5 by Ann Cleeves, with a carefully planned programme of events and a whole host of past staff, directors, funders, supporters and friends present throughout. Kenny’s Bar also received its official opening, with the sign lit up for the first time.

Heading back south after an amazing long weekend @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social So good to be back, and so many highlights (people, seabirds, music, food)! 💙 #FairIsle 💙

Bonxie chicks are popping up all over the isle, as other species begin to fledge. A possible Red-footed Falcon was seen twice fleetingly on 18th but proved impossible to pin down, and the Bee-water was similarly elusive. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

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: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Hall

Catch up with what our Ranger Carla has been up to this month in her May blog, now up on the website! www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog....

This lovely male Rustic Bunting was a nice find by Luke yesterday morning, hopping about the Walli Burn and later joined by a singing Rosefinch. @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 L Marriner

This week just keeps getting better, with today’s clear highlight this Northern Parula, a quality find by @tomwright1.bsky.social this morning!

It’s been quite the week on Fair Isle, with highlights in the past 5 days including Red-throated Pipit, Western Subalpine Warbler, multiple Bluethroats and to top it all, a Thrush Nightingale! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

A change in the winds bought in a few new birds yesterday, with Red-throated Pipit and Lapland Bunting the best. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 L Marriner

art-angels.co.uk/blogs/news/f... Lisa Hooper’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).

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

A quieter few days, with the highlights a Shelduck on Da Water and the presumed reappearance of the Short-toed Lark. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

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 www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 T Wright