Øygarden 07 July 2008

Gannet havsule trailing fishing line - this bird must be doomed
Redpoll brunsisik

Seawatching might not have been the most obvious choice with a brisk easterly blowing off the land - accompanied by light rain. However, Skogsøy proved productive enough as usual with a flock of three Green Sandpiper skogsnipe heading south as the highlight - the first of the year in Øygarden. Five summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove were also the first of the autumn. A few Shelduck gravand and a Whimbrel småspove were other migrants of note.

A light passage of Swifts tårnseiler was also noteworthy - all were seen a long way out to sea heading south.

Other birds included over 160 Northern Gannet havsule and at least seven Great Skua storjo. and small numbers of Puffin lunde, Guillemot lomvi and Razorbill alke.

Elsewhere in Øygarden I stumpled upon a White-tailed Eagle havørn nest and two rather vocal Merlin dvergfalk.