Fair Isle Bird Observatory
@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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
Follow for migration, marine life & more
www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk
The new FIBO library has arrived at the Obs. With a huge effort from John & Marian Ginnever and the generosity of many donors, 80 boxes of books now replace and expand the library lost in the 2019 fire. Huge thanks go to DHL, Streamline and the crew of the Good Shepherd for their generosity and help
November 24, 2025 at 8:40 AM
The new FIBO library has arrived at the Obs. With a huge effort from John & Marian Ginnever and the generosity of many donors, 80 boxes of books now replace and expand the library lost in the 2019 fire. Huge thanks go to DHL, Streamline and the crew of the Good Shepherd for their generosity and help
Still wondering whether to visit the new Fair Isle Bird Obs in 2026? We are open for bookings 20th May to 31st October. Although there is only limited availability in May-July, we still have plenty of space from early August until the end of October. Our website includes information on how to book.
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Still wondering whether to visit the new Fair Isle Bird Obs in 2026? We are open for bookings 20th May to 31st October. Although there is only limited availability in May-July, we still have plenty of space from early August until the end of October. Our website includes information on how to book.
Highlights of the last few days of the season were Little Bunting, Firecrest, Barred Warbler and Long-eared Owl, but the best of the week waited until a day after the last census of the year, a Black-faced Bunting at Shirva!
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
November 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Highlights of the last few days of the season were Little Bunting, Firecrest, Barred Warbler and Long-eared Owl, but the best of the week waited until a day after the last census of the year, a Black-faced Bunting at Shirva!
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
Yesterday we trapped a Norwegian ringed Goldfinch, which was originally ringed on 6th August this year at Jomfruland Fuglestajion by a young girl, pictured with the bird. The map shows Fair Isle in blue & Jomfruland in red, a movement of over 600km!
📸 Alex Penn & Ola Nordsteien
📸 Alex Penn & Ola Nordsteien
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Yesterday we trapped a Norwegian ringed Goldfinch, which was originally ringed on 6th August this year at Jomfruland Fuglestajion by a young girl, pictured with the bird. The map shows Fair Isle in blue & Jomfruland in red, a movement of over 600km!
📸 Alex Penn & Ola Nordsteien
📸 Alex Penn & Ola Nordsteien
A wild couple of days limited birding ability, but bought with it Little Auk and Waxwing. Some more pleasant weather yesterday resulted in a clear-out of birds but also presented an opportunity for catching some Jack Snipe. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
📸 L Marriner
October 27, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A wild couple of days limited birding ability, but bought with it Little Auk and Waxwing. Some more pleasant weather yesterday resulted in a clear-out of birds but also presented an opportunity for catching some Jack Snipe. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 L Marriner
📸 L Marriner
On a wet and windy day like today, the floor to ceiling windows around the bar make the observatory the perfect hide for watching birds in the garden while staying warm and dry. It doesn’t get much better for garden birds than this one, a Waxwing spending the afternoon enjoying an apple feast!
October 24, 2025 at 1:36 PM
On a wet and windy day like today, the floor to ceiling windows around the bar make the observatory the perfect hide for watching birds in the garden while staying warm and dry. It doesn’t get much better for garden birds than this one, a Waxwing spending the afternoon enjoying an apple feast!
Things have really picked up the past few days, with thrushes, Blackcap and Goldcrest everywhere and highlights in the form of Pallas’s Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear and Paddyfield Warbler, as well as a few Northern Bullfinch today. Read more here www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
📸 A Penn
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Things have really picked up the past few days, with thrushes, Blackcap and Goldcrest everywhere and highlights in the form of Pallas’s Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear and Paddyfield Warbler, as well as a few Northern Bullfinch today. Read more here www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 A Penn
📸 A Penn
After a quiet few days, yesterday’s winds bought in a few new birds including a Bluethroat trapped at Double Dyke, a Turtle Dove, the first Long-eared Owl and Goldeneye of the autumn and the first Greenfinch of the year. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
October 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
After a quiet few days, yesterday’s winds bought in a few new birds including a Bluethroat trapped at Double Dyke, a Turtle Dove, the first Long-eared Owl and Goldeneye of the autumn and the first Greenfinch of the year. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
An elusive and mobile Richard’s Pipit and a lingering Black-throated Diver have been the recent highlights, along with a Purple Sandpiper ringed in Svalbard earlier this autumn. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
October 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
An elusive and mobile Richard’s Pipit and a lingering Black-throated Diver have been the recent highlights, along with a Purple Sandpiper ringed in Svalbard earlier this autumn. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
Continuing unsettled weather has kept things on the quieter side, though multiple close in Minke Whales have kept everyone entertained between bouts of rain. Avian highlights include Black-throated Diver, Grey Phalarope and Slavonian Grebe www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
October 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Continuing unsettled weather has kept things on the quieter side, though multiple close in Minke Whales have kept everyone entertained between bouts of rain. Avian highlights include Black-throated Diver, Grey Phalarope and Slavonian Grebe www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸 T Wright
📸 T Wright
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
📸 A Penn
October 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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
📸 A Penn
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
📸 S Arlow
October 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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
📸 S Arlow
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
📸 L Marriner
September 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 L Marriner
September 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 L Marriner
September 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 L Marriner
September 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 L Marriner
September 13, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 L Marriner
September 9, 2025 at 8:59 AM
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
📸 L Marriner
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
📸 T Wright
September 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
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
📸 T Wright
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
📸 T Wright
September 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM
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
📸 T Wright
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
📸 A Penn
August 30, 2025 at 9:05 PM
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
📸 A Penn
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
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸A Penn
August 25, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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
Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight...
📸A Penn
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
📸 A Penn
August 19, 2025 at 8:29 AM
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
📸 A Penn
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
August 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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
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
📸 A Penn
August 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
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
📸 A Penn