A Trip to Foula

Welcome to Foula!
 (this photo was taken at the airport just before leaving.)

 Some of the kids and teachers from Fair Isle Primary School visit the ones at Foula.

 these are some of my photos...

Foula insight from the plane.

I heard Foula's Kame 2nd tallest vertical cliff in the UK.
Over 1200 ft. strait down into the Ocean.

Foula's Crofts and Airstrip viewed from plane.

Foula's fire truck

Foula Primary School

Playground

My Fair Isle friend Maria in Foula.

Climbing Hamnafield one of the highest spots on Foula.

We encountered a wild herd of (Shetland) Foula Hill Ponies.

The Foula Kirk /Church

Phone box greenhouse      -      Foula Harbour and Mail Boat

Da Sneck

The Shetland Islander Airplane on the Foula Runway as we are loading to go home to Fair Isle.

Yellow Orange Rosefinch? a rare bird!

The rare Common Rosefinch
Carodacus erythinus

 We had 5 Rosefinch in our garden 2 female/juv, 2 bright red males & this odd yellow/orange one.

I found them in our garden while Dad was away in Shetland, so I took some photos.

Red Male Rosefinch

2 Female or Juvenal Rosefinch

It's amazing to see stunning rare birds like these.
The orange Rosefinch was just ace!

Hawfinch - Coccothraustes Coccothraustes

I took these photos from the window only a few feet away. What a AWESOME bird! A male Hawfinch. He fought off the Starlings, House Sparrows & Chickens for rights to the window bird table. The Hawfinch was first seen yesterday about 2pm. It fed all day until dark and was back this morning. I took tons of photos, Dad deleted most of them but some are sharp. A Kestrel came thought the garden at least 3 times today and then I saw the Hawfinch was being chased by the Kestrel with out stretched claws but the Hawfinch got away. It came back about 2 hours later and ate on & off until dark.

The Kestrel it missed the Hawfinch but got a House Sparrow.

I'm outside now and that is my reflection in the window.
it is not affaid of me now I can walk up close.

Hawfinch have cool feathers on their wings.

We saw Puffins today too!

Siskin at Hand and funny captions

                                    Come on little Siskin, come to the hand... 

                                              Yeah! you came to the hand!

Hey, Thomas the cat are you hungry?

                                                           

                                              what's that you say little birdy? 
                         

Look I am touching the bird with my nose!

ugh! did you fart, our was that me?

Take the photo Henry!
Can you think of a better caption for Tommy to say?

Sea Slugs - Onchidoris bilamellata - First records for Fair Isle

Sea Slugs - Onchidoris bilamellata

 First record for Fair Isle!

not rare in Britain just never found or noted here before.
I found about 10 of them.

sweet peerie little things aren't they!

Sea Slugs with nicely striped Dog Whelks found in the North Haven during very low tide.
March 9th, 2012

 I took them to Nick Riddiford for identification. Thanks Nick!

I like tide-pooling!

Fishing with Stuart & Dad

Haddock!

Pollack on a string... Henry caught 4 Pollack at a go.

 Stewart of Quoy took us out fishing in his boat July 30th, 2011 the Sea/Ocean was anything but calm that day. My dad has a saying "you never get sea sick if you have a fish on the end of your line". And we had plenty! It was amazing almost non stop fish! and so many different kinds. Dad & I had a blast! While Stewart was laughing at my enthusiasm.

Greater Sandeel

Dad caught a Gunnard

The View of the Isle from Sea is always... Wow!
Kirk Stack, the white on the rocks are nesting Gannets as are most of the birds in the air. Average wingspan 180cm.

My 3 Haddock

Stewart snagged this beautiful Sunstar from the watery depths.
Dad and I have never seen one before. 

We went in for a closer view at the fallen cliff face.

in a hour or two the fish box was full.
on the way back to the pier we checked our Lobster trap! lucky day!



our half or share of the catch.
Mackerel, Haddock, Cod, Greater Sandeel & Flounder
(Pollack & Coallies not shown)

I found these 2 in the the stomach of the Cod. 

Squat Lobster & Long Clawed Porcelain Crab 




We have tale to tell... Thank you Stewart!