Army Ornithological SocietyFair Isle - Day 5
Wed 3 Oct 12
A pre-breakfast recce of the Havens and Bu Ness was conducted but failed to reveal anything unusual, although most team members seemed keen to view the Snow Bunting flock at one stage or other.
The morning patrols were concentrated on the southern croft areas of the island and South Harbour. All was quiet until late morning when one of the civvy teams identified a probable Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler near the cemetery. A full FIBO ‘crash out’ ensued culminating in the bird being bagged and tagged by the FIBO staff, ie netted, weighed, measured and ringed. Consequently, the bird was formally confirmed as a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler and was shown to all before being returned to the ditch from which it was captured. Lunch was quite an excited affair!
The afternoon patrols returned to the south of the island. The forecast showers turned up as persistent heavy rain instead! Eventually, rain stopped play, and the teams tabbed back north to FIBO. Inevitably, once back, the rain ceased. Some additional sorties were made to search for a reported Corncrake but without success.
So, another day ends on a high with the capture of another three star rarity even though all team members are now a bit soggy round the edges!
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