A brilliant north census of Fair Isle Bird Obs today, with the cliffs lifting with thrushes, Goldcrests and Woodcock. This brilliant 'Black-bellied' Dipper at Wirvie Burn the best of it - not often you see a Dipper sitting out on heather!

Very exciting to see the arrival of the first modules of the new building Fair Isle Bird Obs this morning, guided carefully into the Haven. A major step towards a new Obs!

Some great news - the barge and 2 tugs have arrived with the cranes and first load of new Obs modules. A major milestone in the long journey since the 2019 fire.

This is just utterly mind-blowing, breaking an already staggering record. 239 hours of non-stop, active flight from Alaska to Australia 🤯🤯🤯

It's been a remarkably good year for Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll Fair Isle Bird Obs - this handsome beast is the 6th individual of 2022. A bird that you could never see too many of!

An absolutely gorgeous young Merlin ringed Fair Isle Bird Obs today - a long-awaited first in the hand for me. Brilliantly fierce little raptor, enjoying the buffet of tired Redwings around the isle currently

Redwing are now moving through Fair Isle Bird Obs in good numbers. Yesterday, birds were dominated by Icelandic 'coburni' birds, whereas today all birds caught have been Scandinavian 'iliacus'. Adult and 1cy wings shown, the 1cy showing retained tertials and six greater coverts

A few more birds about Fair Isle Bird Obs, with a drop in the wind at last making it more pleasant to be out. Can't get much more autumnal than Redwings and Bramblings on clifftops!

Long-tailed Ducks appear on small freshwater areas Fair Isle Bird Obs with surprising regularity, particularly after poor weather. This rather smart drake was on Ultra Scrape today, allowing for brilliant close views

Typical Fair Isle Bird Obs views of an autumn migrant, feat. Angelica and Rylock fencing. This Great Spotted Woodpecker maybe a little too big for the Angelica stalks though...

Very pleased to catch up with the American Golden Plover Fair Isle Bird Obs today, found by Georgia Platt a couple of days ago and finally pinned down by SteveArlow today. Showed beautifully in the afternoon sunshine!

Time for my annual Brambling appreciation tweet! Small numbers of these fantastic finches are starting to pass through Fair Isle Bird Obs now - hopefully lots more to come

Hide and seek with a Great Spotted Woodpecker Fair Isle Bird Obs yesterday. Love seeing these birds so far out of context here

Finally got a decent field view of the Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Fair Isle Bird Obs this afternoon, as it skulked around the rig and reeds at Quoy

Obsessed with this absolute snowball of a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll today Fair Isle Bird Obs

Migrants from east and west Fair Isle Bird Obs today, with Brendan Doe's brilliant Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler late morning, and a classic snowball of a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll this afternoon

Snipe are moving through Fair Isle Bird Obs in good numbers now, with the first Jack Snipe starting to trickle through too. 9 Common and a bonus Jack were ringed last night, giving a good chance to compare the two species up close

This pristine Great Northern Diver has been around North Haven Fair Isle Bird Obs for a few days now, allowing for amazing views. Absolutely stunning birds!