Thursday, November 18, 2010

Skogsøy 18 November 2010 - Seawatching at last

Above and below, record shots of Black Redstart svartrødstjert

Common Scoter svartand

Long-tailed Duck havelle

Finally gave up on trying for passerines and despite the sunny weather and easterly winds decided to buck the trend and go seawatching instead. I was not disappointed.
Things started well as I almost trod on a Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin on the way out.
Mainstay of the passage today were almost 300 Little Auks alkekonge heading south - finally something approaching a movement of this species. Other good stuff headed south included a male Scaup bergand and a flock of four Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker. Other birds included 12 Velvet Scoter sjøorre, 15 Razorbill alke but JUST one Guillemot lomvi - something of a scarcity these days.
Most of the usual suspects turned up including a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn, 20 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt and a Black Guillemot teist.

The way back home was even more productive with a late Black Redstart svartrødstjert feeding on that mound of rotting seaweed that normally only turns up Rock pipits skjærpiplerke.

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