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Carla Hill

@carlahill.bsky.social
408 followers 474 following 46 posts

@fairislebirdobs.bsky.social Ranger. Birder, trainee bird ringer and marine life lover with a passion for environmental education. Uni of Exeter grad.

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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A good day of birding here at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social with my first Lanceolated Warbler this morning, then a very showy Radde’s Warbler this afternoon, my second lifer of the day, which then made its way into the Plantation trap! Thrushes everywhere and plenty else to look at too!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The September Ranger Blog is available to read now to catch up on what Carla has been up to lately over at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog....!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I’ve had the chance to ring a couple of new birds for me recently; first a Rosefinch, followed by a Red-backed Shrike. Though much less striking than their adult counterparts, juveniles really can look quite lovely and these two were excellent proof of that! The detail on the shrike was amazing!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Had my best ever field views of a Barred Warbler yesterday when this one passed right in front of me as it worked its way through the Angelica at Midway
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The August edition of the Ranger’s Blog is available now over at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog...., catch up on what Ranger Carla has been up to lately!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
The July Ranger Blog is now available to read at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog.... to catch up on what Ranger Carla has been up to these past few weeks!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I was very pleased to ring my first Leach’s Petrel a few nights ago! This was our second Leach’s caught of the year, with both birds coming on nights with good Storm Petrel catches of 231 and 266, a very busy couple of nights of ringing!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The June Ranger Blog is available to read now over at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog.... to catch up on what Ranger Carla has been up to this past month!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
This past weekend saw the grand opening of Obs 5 by Ann Cleeves, with a carefully planned programme of events and a whole host of past staff, directors, funders, supporters and friends present throughout. Kenny’s Bar also received its official opening, with the sign lit up for the first time.
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Catch up with what our Ranger Carla has been up to this month in her May blog, now up on the website! www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog....
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
This lovely male Rustic Bunting was a nice find by Luke yesterday morning, hopping about the Walli Burn and later joined by a singing Rosefinch. @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
This week just keeps getting better, with today’s clear highlight this Northern Parula, a quality find by @tomwright1.bsky.social this morning!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
It’s been quite the week on Fair Isle, with highlights in the past 5 days including Red-throated Pipit, Western Subalpine Warbler, multiple Bluethroats and to top it all, a Thrush Nightingale! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
After a 3 year absence, the Ranger’s Blog is back! You can read what Ranger Carla has been up to over on www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/ranger_blog.... New blogs will be shared at the end of each month.
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Iceni Bird Monitoring Group @icenibirdgroup.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
It's that time of year when the summer migrant arrivals are still a way off, and yet the birds that came to see out the winter have disappeared. We put a couple of nets up for any roosting Reed Bunting that might be around and captured 5 new birds, all hatched last year. 1/3
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Iceni Bird Monitoring Group @icenibirdgroup.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
On the 7th we met up with CJH to try for Stonechats for the Natural England project. We had had previous reports of good numbers of birds back on site, but that wasn't the case today as overcast skies and a chilly breeze inhibited movements of Stonechats.
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Nice to spend a while watching the Ludham Bridge Black-winged Kite on Monday as it hunted in the distance between periods spent perched. Lots more good birds on offer too, including Barn Owl, SEO, Hen Harrier, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier and Crane.
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Iceni Bird Monitoring Group @icenibirdgroup.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Monitoring the Langham farm again today resulted in Total: 42 birds which included Blackbird - 1, Chiffchaff - 2, Reed Bunting - 8 and Yellowhammer - 4. One Chiffchaff being the Scandinavian abietinus race. @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
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Iceni Bird Monitoring Group @icenibirdgroup.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Monitoring the Langham Farm yesterday - 63 birds, which included 2 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinch, 17 Reed Buntings & 7 Yellowhammer. One of the Reed Bunting having been ringed nearby at Morston in October. Starting to get an idea of Reed Bunting movements. @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
This afternoons Black-faced Bunting certainly gave people the runaround, but eventually settled for long enough at Barkland to give everyone present some nice views in some pretty miserable weather! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Recently, Ranger Carla wrote a blog about the new Observatory building and what it means to the staff and the island. You can read that blog and see some of the stunning photos taken by the @promoteshetland.bsky.social team here: www.shetland.org/blog/fair-is...
shetland.org
Visitors flock back to Fair Isle Bird Observatory | Shetland.org
Fair Isle Bird Observatory was established in 1948, and since then there have been five iterations of the Observatory building. The latest was lost to a fire in March 2019, and after six years and a c...
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Had some insane minke whale views this morning, with them coming very close in to where I was sat! The day then got even better when I also got to see my first white-beaked dolphins, which, though distant, put on a show breaching repeatedly!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
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
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Left my GoPro in with the Puffins while I went and did a Shorewatch yesterday and this was the result! Such curious little birds! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Little Tystie takes on a big Butterfish!! Didn’t get to see if it won the battle as we were on our way to take a look on board the Flying Dutchman, a rather impressive tall ship that had just arrived in the harbour!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Hulk and Nott paid us a visit on Fair Isle this morning, with a swim by the obs! Our second orca sighting in the past 9 days! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Orca!!! When one of the pier workmen casually mentioned there was an orca in the harbour, none of us quite believed him at first, but sure enough there they were! They attracted quite a crowd as they made their way around Buness. My first orca and they did not disappoint!!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
There was a great atmosphere last week when all the islanders, guests and staff were invited to toast the newly opened Obs. Douglas Barr, Roy Dennis and Eileen Thomson spoke of the importance of the Obs to the birding and island communities. We all raised a glass to the new Obs!
Douglas BarrRoy DennisEileen ThomsonLounge at the newly-opened Obs
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Two rather nice birds ringed at the obs yesterday afternoon! First, the Great Reed Warbler from the previous day went into the obs garden nets, closely followed by a Greenish Warbler caught in Gully. Both very cool birds to see up close, the Great Reed Warbler is huge! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
This Great Reed Warbler was found in the obs garden this afternoon, and though it has shown itself only a couple of times since, it’s given some very nice views out of the bar windows for several observers! A nice bird, and so much bigger than I thought they’d be! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Just as I thought today couldn’t get much better with Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Nightjar trapped and ringed, @alex-penn.bsky.social catches this absolute showstopper of a Scops Owl in Gully! What a bird!! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Fair Isle saw its third PALLAS'S REED BUNTING, yesterday - a spring male, no less - following two autumn birds, the last some 43 years ago! www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... Please note - no sightings so far today, although the bird can be slippery, and today's weather wild! 📸A Penn
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
I was very pleased to get to ring this gorgeous male Bluethroat the other day!! I didn’t know what I’d been handed until I pulled him out the bag, as you can probably imagine the resulting smile when I realised what I had was pretty big! What a stunner, I can’t get over how blue that throat is!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
The past couple of days have bought in some good birds, and some very nice catches in the mist nets. I was very pleased to ring a lovely female Western Subalpine Warbler yesterday afternoon! Other highlights were a trio of Crossbill and my first bluethroat in the hand! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Had a bit of fun photographing these swallows out of the @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social bar windows this afternoon as they perched on the fence and the patio between bouts of swooping around and investigating the building! They looked a little grumpy in the wind and the rain.
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
This gorgeous male Rustic Bunting found at Upper Stoneybrake this afternoon brightened up what has been a rather quiet few days here at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social It spent a lot of time zipping around the area but settled in a ditch long enough to give everyone present some nice views!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
This gorgeous Red-throated Pipit found by @alex-penn.bsky.social this morning showed very well this afternoon! After a failed attempt to relocate it late morning, it was a relief to stumble across it within a few minutes on attempt number two! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
What better way to spend a sunny Tuesday afternoon than ringing these little bundles of joy?! You don’t get much cuter than a Lapwing chick! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
It is now six years since a fire totally destroyed the Observatory and we are delighted to announce that the Observatory and Hotel is now open for guest bookings for 2025! Please read our website for prices and terms: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodatio... We look forward to welcoming you soon!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
A bee-eater added a splash of colour to this afternoon at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social, moving between fences in the south of the island and putting on a show for several observers! Seeing it occasionally hovering over the grass was also insanely cool to watch!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Some pretty perfect timing after rockpooling with the school kids yesterday afternoon meant I was able to have a look at this little beauty before it was released back into the Birkle garden. Western Subalpine Warbler, what a stunning little bird! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Yesterday bought some good birds in, including two new birds for me, wood warbler and bluethroat, and a lovely female hawfinch I had the pleasure of ringing! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Nice to finally get a piece of the eastern subalpine warbler action at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social with this stunning male found at Schoolton today!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Thoroughly enjoyed seeing my first white-tailed eagle earlier today! Arriving at the south of the island moments too late as it disappeared out to sea I wasn’t optimistic, but luckily it decided to return and do some laps of the island giving me some excellent views as it passed close by!
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Fair Isle Bird Observatory @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Advance notification of when the Observatory and Hotel will be open for bookings is now on our website www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk
It is now six years since a fire totally destroyed the Observatory and we are delighted to announce that the Hotel will shortly be open for guests.

Friends of Fair Isle will be contacted on Monday 28th April 2025 with the relevant booking information and pricing and will be able to book accommodation from Monday 12th May to the end of October. On this occasion, Friends who have supported us at any time since the fire will be eligible to book one room (twin or single) for a single visit. There is a minimum stay of three nights.

We will then open up bookings to the general public on 12th May who will be able to stay, subject to availability and for a minimum stay of three nights, from Monday 26th May. We will shortly be posting all the relevant information and pricing on our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to Fair Isle and our unique bird observatory hotel.
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Nothing says spring like a lamb in some daffodils!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Had this flick out in front of me while on census this morning and immediately had the feeling it was something out of the ordinary. Some panicked shots that I quickly sent to @alex-penn.bsky.social confirmed my suspicions that it was something different, a short-toed lark!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
It’s been great to see the puffins back on the cliffs this past week, especially since it’s my first time seeing them so close up! I’ve also loved seeing so many people heading up to Buness to enjoy them, islanders and workmen alike. It’s hard not to love them! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Tricky to summarise my first 10 days on Fair Isle in just 4 photos, but it’s been an amazing start to the season! We’ve been lucky to have some gorgeous weather too so I’ve really been introduced to the island at its best! It’s such a stunning place, excited to see what the rest of the year brings!
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Carla Hill @carlahill.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
My first time ringing stonechats and I was lucky enough to process this bird! A pretty good day all round, and a great result for my last Norfolk ringing session for a while before I head up north!
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