Fair Isle

Fair Isle Dreams

2025-11-13T17:41:00.001+00:00

Fair Isle Dreams

Black-throated Loon

Turnstone & Purple Sandpiper

Firecrest

The magic of fog

Auld Haa & Tommy's Flowers

Rosefinch

Guillemot

Bachelor Party Bonfire
Acrylic on Canvas

Plein Air Painting with Puffins

Artist T H Hyndman

Good Night x

In the Shadow of the Lighthouse

2024-11-15T20:02:00.000+00:00

The Sun's brightness is blocked by the South Lighthouse
thus allowing the colours of the Sunset to be seen and photographed.

Standing in the shadow at Sunset is a cool place to be, you should try it sometime.

Sunset at the South Lighthoue, Fair Isle

Light covering the Island

Waves & Wavelenths

Chiffchaff in Jimmy's Garden

Purple Sandpipers

Sunset at the Skaddan

Reflecting on the Day

A glorious Sunset ending in an ever-elusive Green Flash

Fair Isle Autumn Birdwatching Autumn 2024

2024-10-23T17:02:00.004+01:00

Blue Throat - such a lovely bird.
About the size of a European Robin.
Bluer than most during Autumn migration.
very confiding and didn't mind having his photos taken,
while foraging in the Sheep pen at Barkland.

Blue Throat - male with the Autumn Blues.

Yellow-browed Warbler on my driftwood tree.

Black Redstart

It was beautiful, clear & bright because of cold breezes from the north.

Tennessee Warbler - a lost American.
A Lifer and Island tick!

Lanceolated Warbler
A rare Fair Isle speciality bird from Siberia.
I had it relocate in my Garden for a week.

Hoopoe
Everyone's favorite when it stays around and lets people see it's wow factor.

Hoopoe

Daurian Shrike - Isabelline Shrike
A Lifer & Fair Isle Tick!

Black Guillemot already in Winter plumage.

Red-necked Grebe

Autumn seems in a hurry to be Winter.
but we have a few more weeks of Migration and more birds to come!

Sheep Hill Gathering & Sunset Puffins

2024-07-31T08:48:00.004+01:00

Fair Isle Free-range Shetland Breed Hill Sheep & Lambs
Gathered in the Cru for Summer Clipping

Hill Sheep Gathering

Shetland Black Lamb

Hill Rams

Gathering the Hill Sheep.

Sheep Cru

Black Sheep - Fair Isle Free-range Shetland Ewe

Puffin

Bonxie

Shetland Black Wool - Ram

Why is there a Puffin in my Rabbit hole?

Puffins act like overthinkers

Puffin Lovers

Puffin Quite Time

I swear one of the reasons Puffins come ashore at dusk is to enjoy the Sunset.

Fair Isle, Puffins & Sunset

Nothing better!

A Circus of Puffins

2024-07-02T19:43:00.000+01:00

Fair Isle Puffins

Puffin Rock

Sweet Cheeks

Guillemot Rock

Soggy Sandeel Dinner

A Circus of Puffins

Puffins & Sheep Rock

Whales & Little Birds

2023-10-22T02:11:00.004+01:00

Minke Whales

There were as many as 40 Minke Whale, 60 Dolphin & one Humpback Whale seen from Fair Isle for about a week in a feeding frenzy. Sometimes I could see them from my house or garden. Sometimes they were very close to shore. Sometimes the Whales were quite distant and binoculars really helped get a better view. Still, it is always an amazing sight to see a Whale. I found Minke Whales much harder to photograph than Killer or Humpback Whales, Minke Whales are much faster with smaller fins and a less obvious spout or spray to alert you to their presence. These are a few photos I got while the Whales were close to shore.

Minke Whale

Minke Whale Fin

Minke Wha

& Little Birds

Goldcrest

Willow Warbler

Yellow Browed Warbler

Birds & Puppies

2022-11-12T22:04:00.003+00:00

Feeding a lone Waxwing

No big invasion this year.

Bohemian Waxwing at the Auld Haa

Auld Haa House

Ash & her Puppies
So Sweet!

Sweet Babies 💓

Border Collie Puppies at Koolin / Springfield

Koolin & Springfield

Old Life Boat Shed

Fair Isle's South Lighthouse

A good day for wash at Taft

Great Grey Shike eating a Snow Bunting - Auld Haa Garden

Lower Leogh

View from my front door at the Auld Haa

Fair Isle Turkey? "Snipe"

South Harbour

When the nights come early.
Enjoy the Nightlife. x

I Sea Magic - Fair Isle

2022-05-29T13:48:00.003+01:00

Magic happens when you become aware enough to look at the world around you.
It just so happens, I choose live in the magical World of Fair Isle.

Free Bird

Where the Puffins are.
Nature Photographer at Sunset

The wind has my hackles up.

The Rare "Serin" on my Patio.
New Fair Isle Birdwatching Tick!

Bluethroat

Shetland as seen on the Horizon from the North Lighthouse Foghorn.

North Lighthouse & a Huge Wave

An Eirie Face in the Clouds

A Couple of Sweet Faces

Razorbills pairing up & courting

Razorbill Breeding Season
How do they do that sexual position?
On top and from behind at the same time while on a cliff edge?

Very Carefully!

Puffin with nesting material.

Such the Romantic
Atlantic Puffin

Oystercatchers overlooking the North Lighthouse and a passing Good Shepherd Ferry.

This couple is attached at the hip.
Oystercatchers

Jimmys Rams

The Fair Islander

Learning to Fly

Great Teachers if you want to learn how to Fly.
Gannets

What that under the Water!
Orca! Killer Whales!

Orca! Killer Whale!

Killer Whale nosing the edges looking for the unsuspecting Seal.

In a larger context... Orca! Killer Whale!

Fair Isle's Stacks of Schoo & Kirk Stack are covered in breeding Gannets with a tiny Killer Whale hunting Seals in the bottom left corner in this photo.

Spouting off!
Orca! Killer Whale!

Sunny Day in the South Harbour
Crow Stack a Tripod Arch Rock Formation.

Still just a Lamb

Enjoy the Magic where ever you are. x

Fair Isle Images

2022-04-23T08:57:00.002+01:00

Island Dog

Ash

Highlander & Texel

Puffins are back

Gets the Worm

Low Tide in the South Harbour

Hello Auld Haafinch

Frogs

Sheep Rock

Bonxie - Eater of Puffins

Puffin

The Girls

Another Sunset

View from Malcolm's Head

Seals & Pups

South Light

Epic Fair Isle

Atlantic Puffin

Stormy Seas

The Dance

The South Light

I hope you enjoyed my POST

Traveling to Fair Isle: Information

2022-01-26T21:38:00.001+00:00

Traveling to Fair Isle?

Fair Isle - Shetland Islands - Scotland - UK.

Hello, it's a lot easier than it looks… really there are just so many options when traveling to Fair Isle the most remote inhabited island in the UK. With time, money and maybe some travel motion pills you'll get here. Wherever you are you'll need to first need to get to Scotland, which is always a good place to be! But specifically getting to Fair Isle you'll need to travel through mainland Shetland by plane or boat. I'll break it down into understandable travel information.

Flying from Scotland to Shetland is straightforward travel from a number of Scottish cities. Shetland's Sumburgh Airport has direct flights to and from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness & Kirkwall in Orkney. Also, Shetland has flights to and from Bergen, Norway.

Travel at Sea is also a popular way to get to Shetland, taking the overnight Northlink Ferry from Aberdeen or Orkney to Lerwick, Shetland has its advantages when on to Fair Isle.

Once in Shetland you need to decide do you want to take the boat or plane to Fair Isle?

The Boat (Fair Isle's Good Shepherd Ferry) goes every other day so it seems a bit confusing the 1st time. Many of the ferry boat crew are also part of the fire crew at the Fair Isle airport, this helps to explain the travel schedule. The plane has 1 or 2 flights a day, with no flights on Sunday.

Flight from Sumburgh airport to Fair Isle, on Saturdays only at 11:30 am. Totally the easiest way to Fair Isle is this small 8 seat plane, it takes about 10 minutes flying time.

By Sea, Good Shepherd Ferry? departing from the Sumburgh Pier about two miles from the airport easily reached by a quick Taxi (5 pounds?) or even walk about 2 miles to the Good Shepherd Ferry Boat to depart for Fair Isle (15 pounds each way Tues. Thur. Sat.) This is cheap! and no weight restriction on luggage, cameras, scope, bike, etc. If you take the Northlink Ferry you land in Lerwick and would need to take the bus to Sumburgh pier ( about 3 pounds and one hour ride) Warning! Once on the Good Shepherd the boat does move with the waves and the tides so make sure you bring your sea legs.

By Air, Shetland's Tingwall Airport to the outer Isle? Leave Sumburgh on a nice bus to Lerwick (3 pounds each - trip 1 hour) in Lerwick then catch a Taxi - Airport Shuttle to nearby (10 minutes) Tingwall airport (about 5 pounds) and get a small 8-10 seat plane to fair isle (90 pounds round trip - each adult- trip time 25 min.). When planning a Shetland holiday it is better to book your small flights 1st because there are so few seats and so few options and these sometimes conflict with the large airlines schedules.

Arrive in style, some people arrive with their Private Plane landing on the Fair Isle crushed stone and dirt runway they think it's fun. Planes are also occasionally chartered by Twitchers from London to come see a rare bird. Many other sail into Fair Isle's North Haven Harbour in their Private Yachts... Some folks come on cruiseships just for a few hours as part of a tour. No matter how you get here, the travelling on and off island is part of what makes Fair Isle such an awesome experience.

Delays in travel? every time I travel anywhere there are delays. Fair Isle is not much different, it just seems so extreme and desperate here at times.

When booking tickets on the Plane to Fair Isle it seems complicated because if you change your plans from one day to the next the scheduled times change from one day to next. this is done on purpose to give Fair Isle and Foula alternative long shopping days and chances for day-trippers.

Travel plans often change on Fair Isle…

Example 1: I wanted to leave on Monday’s plane but we had fog and then had to take the boat on Tuesday as the boat can travel in fog.

Example 2: We have a Gale (strong winds) and all transport is canceled and you had planned to take the boat, the next day the wind drops but the sea is still high. So you take the plane, if they have room of course.

Example 3: Don't save the best for last. Say you visit Shetland for 2 weeks and come to Fair Isle for your last night before heading back to Australia, New York or any international or domestic flight. (Not a good idea!) If you get stuck due to weather... your major international airline ticket holders don't care that you missed your local transport out of Fair Isle. (Loganair and the Northlink out of Shetland are somewhat sympathetic) but your international flights you will most likely need to rebuy, reschedule and rebook all your tickets and it's a costly huge mess! make sure to Schedule your Fair Isle visit at the beginning or middle of your trip.

That is why I suggest when visiting Shetland and you want to come to Fair Isle, come here first, then you wont mess up your larger travel plans before leaving Shetland.

Auld Haa Guest House - Fair Isle - Shetland Islands - Scotland - UK

If you are planning to stay at the Auld Haa Guest House please let me know what days you are thinking of and I will do my best to advise you.

email: tommyartgallery@yahoo.com

Message me on Instagram or Facebook Messanger

The Good Shepherd Ferry Service

Fair Isle - Sumburgh, Shetland

Summer 1st May - 18th September FAIR ISLE/ SUMBURGH	DEPART FAIR ISLE	ARRIVE SUMBURGH	DEPART SUMBURGH	ARRIVE FAIR ISLE
TUESDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)
ALTERNATE THURSDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)
SATURDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)

Fair Isle - Lerwick - every other Thursday

FAIR ISLE/ LERWICK	DEPART FAIR ISLE	ARRIVE LERWICK	DEPART LERWICK	ARRIVE FAIR ISLE
ALTERNATE THURSDAY	06.00	10.30 (approx)	15.15	19.45 (approx)

Winter Ferry Service: Tuesday only (weather permitting)

All bookings to Tel. 01595 760 228

and must be confirmed 24 hrs before departure.

Fair Isle's Good Shepherd

Northlink Ferry as seen from the Auld Haa Garden - Fair Isle

   Northlink Ferry Boat,  Aberdeen – Lerwick

Ferry Ticket Reservations By Telephone 09067 533 451

Northlink Link: http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/

Over night ferry from Aberdeen, Scotland to Lerwick, Shetland Price varies on seat or cabin - round trip etc.. goes nightly. Usually cheaper and much slower than plane from Aberdeen but you can travel with while sleeping.

Direct Flight - Shetland - Tingwall (Lerwick) to Fair Isle

Website Link: http://www.directflight.co.uk/

Timetable: https://www.airtask.co.uk/userassets/Summer_19_07_02_update.pdf

Fares: http://www.directflight.co.uk/shetland/shetland-islands-fares/

Average Summer Day Crossing on the Good Shepherd Ferry

I don't know if if Kirkwall to Fair Isle are going to resume this Summer?

Loganair

Kirkwall, Orkney to Fair Isle Flights

June through September

https://www.loganair.co.uk/destinations/city-guides/fair-isle/

Ben Fogle - New lives in the Wild - Plein air Painting - Fair Isle & Tommy Episode.

2021-03-08T21:38:00.007+00:00

Where the Wild Men Are. Fair Isle

Ben Fogle came back for a Fair Isle revisit episode in mid-October 2020
The Fair Isle - New Lives in the Wild is now being aired for the first time in the UK .
March 9th at 9pm on Channel 5

The 2015 Channel 5 TV Promo Video

Seen on TV all over the world.
Dubbed and Subtitled in many languges.
It was funny to see myself talk in French and Hindi.

Sort of awkward... we had to be six feet apart at all times.

Ben looking at my Paintings before his art lesson.

Insparation for a bit of Plein Air Paiting of his own.

Ben Fogle the Art Student

Artist: Ben Fogle - Auld Haa, Fair Isle - Oil Painting on Canvas - October 2020

Out-standing in his field, but not this one!

Ben didn't want to put the Paint Brushes down.
I could tell this was a challenge he wanted to spend more time with.
We had only 30 minutes of painting time, while also being on camera.
This was great fun though, I remember saying...
"The most important part of this painting is going to be the signature."
😋😂

House Painting

Artist: T H Hyndman - Auld Haa, Fair Isle - Oil Paint on Canvas - 2020

Our oil paints of the Auld Haa Guesthouse on the French Easel.

My Quick Oil Painting Study of the Auld Haa

Me Landscape Painting 2015
Ben Fogle - New Lives in the Wild - Drone Footage over Landberg a Bronze age fortifaction.

My Painting from that day.

T H Hyndman - Sheep Rockfrom Landberg - oil painting on canvas- 50cm by 20cm - June 2015

What a beautiful day for Plein air Painting that was...

Henry, Ben Fogle & Tommy Hyndman 2015

Henry & Tommy December 2020

Thank you, everyone. We hope you enjoy the show.
Cheers from Fair Isle.

Link to Tommy Art Gallery to view more works of my Art.

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/p/art-gallery.html

Fair Isle Artist in Residency & Auld Haa Guesthouse Self-catering

2021-03-04T00:48:00.011+00:00

New Adventure! I am starting the Fair Isle Residency Project.

Artist - Adventurers - Scientists - Craftpeople

Creative types and hard workers wishing to stay 2 weeks or more can apply for this opportunity.

If you are willing to stay in my Son's room while he is away at University and give me 20 hours a week of work we might be able to make an arrangement. The work would be physical, gardening, maintenance, house painting, cleaning, etc. After a video chat interview, if you are selected and a time slot is vacant and agreed upon, your stay at the Auld Haa will be self-catered with plenty of free time to enjoy Fair Isle and creative pursuits. If selected use of my Artist Studio at the South Lighthouse a close walk away will also be yours to use and enjoy. At the end of your stay, I would like a work of your art for my collection.

Only a few residencies a year will be offered.

I am taking applications now for Spring 2021 (sometime in April or May)

This may seem to be a great deal seeing how I sometimes rent Henry's room for £100.00 a day. Remember not to over idealize it. I'm sort of a wild guy needing some help getting some stuff done in a place it's hard to find people to help. I like to help other artists too, I know a visit to Fair Isle is an inspiration for a lifetime. If you have a grant or sabbatical and want to work out a longer stay without the work hours and a reduced rate let's talk. If you are traveling with a partner or friend let me know, that might work too. It's all new and I am working with new ideas.

Please contact me through my Instagram or Facebook Messanger

email: tommyartgallery@yahoo.com

A registered historic building and landmark owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

New Self-catering Accommodations

As Travel and Tourism start again I am offering Self-catering Accommodation.

It's not the way I choose to have guests, it's how I can have guests safely.

A preference for longer visits from guests is the new normal.

Self-catering Prices - food can be bought at the Fair Isle Shop.

1 person, 1 room - £70.00

2 persons, 1 room - £120.00

Aerial picture of Fair Isle in case you don't know where you are going?

the blue room

Full Board Rates - When Back to Normal

Two small but charming rooms with shared bath, access to the dining room,
living room, Garden & Wireless Internet.

One large size bed in each room, very luxurious for one…

made to comfortably sleep two. Shared bathroom.

♦ Price includes Breakfast, Dinner & Dessert ♦
No Lunch

Food is bought at full retail from Stackhoull Store. Supporting another Fair Isle business as well.

You can pay this much for just a room in most places in Britain.
And we are the most remote! not surprising most things cost more here.

Full Service Prices

1 person, 1 room - £100.00

2 persons, 1 room - £160.00

The Auld Haa has two guestrooms and a third room if necessary, to accommodate children, students, stranded day-trippers, and desperate birdwatchers when a rare bird is about...
I may find a bed for you. So give Tommy a call. 01595 760 349

If you want Student Rates, (25 or under with student ID.)
Woofing or can help around the house and garden let me know.
Maybe we can work something out?
{Requires a Video Interview}

the red room

Guest Bathroom

*

This is not a fancy Guesthouse! no lace doilies here.
This is staying in a weird artist's home full of curious art and objects.
Be warned the Auld Haa is run by an independent wild man,
the type of person that would live on a remote island.

I run the Guesthouse mostly alone,
or sometimes with help from my son or another Islander.

Family-style meals at a shared table.
A very relaxed atmosphere.
The house cleaning could be better I know!
Most people think it is quite an experience, to say the least.
I have been welcoming guests to my home since 2007.

No one has died yet, but a few almost from laughing.

Fair Isle Lamb & Beach Art

2021-01-26T15:19:00.010+00:00

Limpet Lamb - Found Object Beach Art

Little Lamb Detail

LOVE

Perriwinkle Heart

Fair Isle Knitwear Pattern

Colour Transition

NICE

South Harbour

You can almost hear nothing it's so calm,
and then a Fulmar cackles and laughs.

After Glow

My Painting of the South Harbour at Sunset
Rare Fair Isle painting without Green or Blue paint.
(The canvas was painted blue underneath before I started)

Acrylic on Canvas - size A4 - For sale in my Art Gallery

Smile of the Fulmar on a pleasant afternoon...

Watching the Sunset waiting for the lighthouse to come on.

Fair Isle

Good Night South Light

One Word about Fair Isle.

2020-10-08T01:27:00.005+01:00

Together

Warm

Home

Healing

Spirituality

Remembered

Finding

Foraged

Resting

Reflection

View

Shadow

Building

Floating

Last

Fair Isle Isolation! "Self-catering"

2020-08-23T18:17:00.001+01:00

New! Fair Isle Isolation! Self-Catering at the Auld Haa Guesthouse is a safe and wise option for short term and traveling visitors. As you can see in the video. Self-catering guests will have:

Separate entrance
1 or 2 bedrooms
Separate bathroom
Kitchenette.

At the moment Self-catering is 70 pounds a night for a single room.

Compared to 100 pounds a night including meals.

Everything is a bit new, bookings will be on a case to case basis.

The new arrangement allows for long term guests willing to do their own thing, which could be useful for Winter artists in residence. I might even make arrangements to share/rent part of my Lighthouse Artist Studio.

The Basic Guesthouse Info:

Auld Haa Guest House - Fair Isle - Shetland Islands - Scotland

A registered historic building and landmark

owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Historic charm warms the Auld Haa, originally built for the laird of the island in the year 1700. A gathering place that has shown hospitality to many travelers, notably Sir Walter, who visited here in 1814, he was interested in the Islands history and the Spanish Armada shipwreck, the El Gran Griffin of 1588.

Fair Isle's First Heligoland Bird Trap Built at the Auld Haa House - 1949

Fair Isle Aerial Photography

The Auld Haa is close to the Museum, the South Harbor all waiting to be explored. In view off the South Lighthouse, built by Stevenson in 1892, the light shines in the window at night. Make sure to find time to golf the humble but challenging Fair Isle Lighthouse Keepers Golf Course, Watch a few and make a few birdies at the same time. The Auld Haa has great views from the front garden, made even more amazing if you have the chance to see whales or a rare bird species. Keep a lookout for passing ships as Gannets plunge into the shimmering Sea.

View from the plane.

Accommodations

Two small but charming rooms with shared bath, access to the dining room,
living room, Garden & Wireless Internet.

One large size bed in each room, very luxurious for one…

made to comfortably sleeps two. Shared bathroom.

♦ Price includes Breakfast, Dinner & Dessert ♦

No Lunch

Food is bought at full retail from Stackhoull Store. Supporting another Fair Isle business as well.

You can pay this much for just a room most places in Britain.
And we are the most remote! not surprising most things cost more here.

1 person, 1 room - £100.00

2 persons, 1 room - £160.00

If you want Student Rates, (25 or under with student ID.)
Woofing or can help around the house and garden let me know.
Maybe we can work something out?
{Requires a Video Interview}

*

This is not a fancy Guesthouse! no lace doilies here.
This is staying in a weird artist home full of curious art and objects.
Be warned the Auld Haa is run by an independent wild man,
the type of person that would live on a remote island.

I run the Guesthouse mostly alone,
or sometimes with help from my son or another Islander.

Family-style meals at a shared table.
A very relaxed atmosphere.
The house cleaning could be better I know!
Most people think it is quite an experience, to say the least.

I have been welcoming guests to my home since 2007.

No one has died yet, but a few almost from laughing.

Your Host at the "Haa"

Son Henry & Tommy
"old picture"

Henry is not here much anymore now that he has been off to school or China!
Then Dundee University in the Autumn 2020

So it is mostly just me as the host these days.

Tommy is very creative in the kitchen with culinary inspirations from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, hope you like to eat! The Auld Haa Chocolate Cake is legendary... Whenever possible we serve local vegetables from our own garden, fresh fish, and local game. All guests are accommodated with likes & dislikes, allergies, ways of life. etc. Just make sure Tommy knows if you like Hot! or Not.

I don't supply or sell booze.

You can get wine, beer or spirits at the local shop or bring it with you.

Get some for me too! You are welcome to drink it here in moderation.

Sparkling Pink Sunset

It's in the air, you'll love it here.

My Oil Painting of the Auld Haa House from the South Harbour

South Harbour

Fair Isle Hill Lamb - Free Range Shetland Breed

Puffins are present on Fair Isle, May till the first week in August.

Phone # 01595 760 349

From USA # 011 44 1595 760 349

Auld Haa Guesthouse

Fair Isle, Shetland Islands

Scotland, UK. ZE2 9J

email: tommyartgallery@yahoo.com

Tommy's Fair Isle Blog: fair-isle.blogspot.com

Like the Auld Haa Guesthouse on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/726985530656495/?fref=ts

I have seen Orcas and whales from my front door.
It happens... but not every day or year. good luck!

We see many a passing ships, few as nice as this one.

Island Tractor at Harvest Time

Puffins & Sheep Rock - Fair Isle

The cliffs at the North Lighthouse - Fair Isle

Seal Pup South Harbor

Beware of the Alligators

Fair Isle Facts

1. Truly the most remote inhabited island in the UK.

2. Population about 50 to 60 year-round residents

3. Population about 50,000 summering Puffins

4. World Famous as the origin of Fair Isle knitwear

5. The island is owned by The National Trust for Scotland

6. Important location for breading Seabirds & migratory species

7. 28 new species for Britain orthogonal records

8. Holder of the European diploma for environmental living

9. Recognized as one of the most scenic places in Britain

10. Shetlands 2nd busiest international port due to private yachts

11. Fair Isle is about 1 1/2 by 3 miles in size

12. The only island for 50 miles between Orkney and Shetland

Auld Haa House photographed with the Aurora / Northern Lights in the night, lit by a full Moon.
(8 second exposure - Jan. 3rd, 2015 - Fair Isle)

Santa visits every year but I'll suggest April through October.

* Open all year round *

Ask Tommy for availability and reservations,
phone 01595-760-349

Summer Romance

2020-08-07T22:19:00.007+01:00

While Puffins are having their Summer Romances.

I'm certainly not!

At what age did the idea of a Summer Romance die with you? Puffins can live for 30 to 40 years having Summer Romances often with the same partner year after year. When mid-August comes, they both go out to Sea with all the other Puffins scattered to the winds, living apart until next Spring. This works for them somehow? I'm just saying you can learn stuff from watching wildlife. Though for me personally, the island has no suitable mate, the island is perfect for hopeless romantics looking to live a more authentic lifestyle.

Just look at some of my photos from the past couple of weeks. enjoy!

Spending time with Puffins is one of the great joys I have had during all the isolation and distancing. I am trying to spend as much time as I can to enjoy the quirky cuteness of these wonderful creatures. The Puffins are leaving soon and I'm feeling an anticipated loss already.

A Good Catch is Hard to Find!

Father & Son Clipping Sheep

Happiness is a full string of Mackerel!

Greater Sandeel

Kenny with a Full String too!

Buckets Full! Shared around the Isle.

Dark Face Puffin

unusual to see on land in Winter or youth plumage.

Feeling at home is important!

Ready to go! in the biggest truck on Fair Isle.

Pollack

The Legend of Lukki Minni

Island Lover!

Sheep Rock

Isn't it Romantic?

Good Night with some mysterious Noctilucent Clouds. xxoo

Fair Isle Puffins concerned by the noticeable decline of the Human Species.

2020-07-05T21:37:00.003+01:00

My son Henry singing to lonely Puffins.

The Puffins are not seeing the numbers of Humans they are used too. The number of Human Auk Gawkers were drastically reduced last breeding season after the loss of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory in March, 2019 due to a devastating fire requiring a total rebuild from the ground up before any guest can return. Still, many people came and stayed in the island's guesthouses. While many others arrived on private yachts and day visits from crowded cruise-ships one hundred or more at a time.

Now sadly with the Corona Virus, all tourism and Puffin lovers have been stopped up till now. Thus leaving only a few of the 47 Fair Islanders to visit the Puffin Colonies on occasional walks. I swear the Puffins look surprised and glad to see me each time I appear, they are not afraid of me. Especially the Puffins nearest the old bird observatory and the North Haven harbour where most of the Tourists find easy access to a great Puffin Colony on Buness. These Puffins are used to people and cameras, over time they have realized people crazy about Puffins are scaring away the predators, Bonxies/Great Skuas, Large Gulls, and Arctic Skuas are afraid of Humans and will leave the Puffins alone when they are there watching the magic of a Puffins on a clifftop. It seems at this Puffin Colony more than anywhere else Puffins are really missing the Human presence. The growing numbers of Bonxies are relentlessly hunting the Puffins all over the island and the odd relationship between Puffin enthusiast and the quirky birds is sorely missed by both the Puffins and the people who want to see them.

With the new ease of travel guidelines from the Scottish Government and Guesthouses due to or possibly opening if they wish on August 15th, I'm afraid the Puffins will still not be seen by many visitors this breeding season which ends mid-August. The strange symbiotic relationship between Puffins & Puffin Lovers has been broken. As far as I see it, and you can see it plainly on their sad clown faces all over the island people have been missed.

Puffins & the South Lighthouse

Puffin feeling Nostalgia dreaming of human safe contact.

The face of a concerned Puffin

I remember the day...
people matter.

Bonus Photos

The Solstice Sunset

The Nees & Gap of my Solstice Stone Circle

Stones of my little Stone Solstice Circle.

Solstice Sunrise

Stacks of Skroo

Write your name in stone.

Pollack

Fulmar reflecting on human friends with fish guts.

Steven - Islander in Natural Habitat.
thank you for taking me fishing

Oystercatcher - look at the light through the nostril.

Meadow Pipit with food for the chicks.

Henry Playing Turn Turn Turn to the Tern Tern Terns.
Who seemingly don't miss humans at all!

Photo Opp!

Happy to be Home!

Hello Baby!

Fulmar

Da Burrian

I love Beachcombing!
Rocks, shells and sea glass make me happy.

Da Mallie - Shetlantic name for Fulmar

We Miss You.

A Lovely Autumn on Fair Isle

2019-10-28T00:09:00.001+00:00

Autumn on Fair Isle at the Auld Haa

Good birds & Good weather

South Harbour

Twitching the Raddes Warbler

Mermaid
Seaweed Beach Drawing

Fair Isle's South Lighthouse

Waxwing

Brown Shrike in my scope... tick!

Black-Winged Stilt

Crow Stack - South Harbour

Pectoral Sandpiper

Northern Lights through the clouds...

I love Fair Isle

Puffins & Lambs - It's that time of Year!

2019-04-14T12:38:00.003+01:00

Hello! We're back!

Did you miss me?

Spread your Wings!

Puffins ashore for the first time this year.

Puffin Puckering Up. Kiss Kiss.

Dark billed Puffin Fresh from the Sea.

Puffin Wings

Reflections Through Wings

Puffin Beak Orange Sunset

Ram & Ewe

Momma and Babes

Wee Triplet Lamb Runt. x

Jimmy's Lambs

I Love Fair Isle

2019-04-02T22:56:00.002+01:00

I was away in the States for a few weeks, its good to be back,

No one is perfect.

Spring flowers in the guestrooms.

Auld Haa Guesthouse - Fair Isle

Inner Beauty

Fair Isle Fisherman Keps by the Legend Annie Thomson

Daffodils in the Dark.

Love is in the details.

Random Acts of Photography

2019-02-22T00:52:00.000+00:00

Fair Isle - South Haven with view to Sheep Rock

Enjoying the View

Storm Brewing

Free Spirit

Fair Isle - The Edge of the World

North Haven Pier

Good Shepherd Ferry - North Haven

Fruits of the Sea

Winter Beachcombing

Whatever Floats your Boat

Sticks and Stones

bits and pieces

Mermaid Tears - Beach Glass

Yellow & Blue

I Love Fair Isle

Hello Old Boat

Rust Never Sleeps

Fair Isle Knitting

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/p/travel.html

One of the Great Joys of My Life is Colour in the Sky.

Winter is Coming (Pics from Nov - early Dec.)

2018-12-17T17:00:00.003+00:00

Breath

Beauty

Breeze

Kelp

Smile

The Chapel and Museum Access.

The North Sea making a Splash!

Snow Bunting

My New Chickens

The Old Lifeboat Shed

kicking around the isle with Henry.

The Innocents

My photograph features in this new series as the kids run away from home and become time-travelers when Dad wants to move to a remote Scottish Island.

light on the horizon.

Seal Pup

Mum keeping the Pup safe on the beach.

up in the air...

it's the little things.

Pointless

The Keels

Jimmy's Sheep

Glaucous Gull

Winter is Coming...
but, so is Christmas!

Painting - Fair Isle - Keeping it Loose

2018-06-23T21:27:00.004+01:00

Sheep Rock

I have been doing some loose landscape paintings recently.
I don't think anyone has painted a Puffin so loose?

The blank canvas

Paint Box

Pinks &Puffins

Sea Birds of Fair Isle

Blach Eye
Ewe should she the outer bitch!

Feeding the Chicks

Work in process.

Sheep Rock and the Birds of Fair Isle

A Circus of Puffins

Puffin

Fulmars of Eastor Loder

Guillemots and Razorbills

Wild Orchid

Sea Pinks at Midnight on the Summer Solstice

No Stars at Night... too Light!

Solstice Simmer Dim at the North Lighthouse
00:47 am.

Happy Citril Finch Day! 10th Anniversary!

2018-06-06T14:48:00.000+01:00

10 years ago I found the first record in Britain for the bird species Citril Finch. for the full story follow this link to original blog post.

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-6th-d-day-i-found-citril-finch.html

Citril Finch - Carduelis citrinella

10 years and still loving it! Legend!

Painting a Picture

2018-06-03T01:30:00.003+01:00

I never thought anyone could paint puffins so loose,

Fair Isle

Fair Isle Dreams

In the Shadow of the Lighthouse

Fair Isle Autumn Birdwatching Autumn 2024

Sheep Hill Gathering & Sunset Puffins

A Circus of Puffins

Whales & Little Birds

Minke Whales

Minke Whales

& Little Birds

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Willow Warbler

Yellow Browed Warbler

Birds & Puppies

I Sea Magic - Fair Isle

Fair Isle Images

Traveling to Fair Isle: Information

Fair Isle - Lerwick - every other Thursday

Ferry Ticket Reservations By Telephone 09067 533 451

Over night ferry from Aberdeen, Scotland to Lerwick, Shetland Price varies on seat or cabin - round trip etc.. goes nightly. Usually cheaper and much slower than plane from Aberdeen but you can travel with while sleeping.

Ben Fogle - New lives in the Wild - Plein air Painting - Fair Isle & Tommy Episode.

Fair Isle Artist in Residency & Auld Haa Guesthouse Self-catering

A registered historic building and landmark owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

2 persons, 1 room - £120.00

Aerial picture of Fair Isle in case you don't know where you are going?the blue room

Fair Isle Lamb & Beach Art

One Word about Fair Isle.

Fair Isle Isolation! "Self-catering"

owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Summer Romance

Fair Isle Puffins concerned by the noticeable decline of the Human Species.

A Lovely Autumn on Fair Isle

Puffins & Lambs - It's that time of Year!

I Love Fair Isle

Random Acts of Photography

Winter is Coming (Pics from Nov - early Dec.)

Painting - Fair Isle - Keeping it Loose

Happy Citril Finch Day! 10th Anniversary!

Painting a Picture

Aerial picture of Fair Isle in case you don't know where you are going?

the blue room