Sunday, December 30, 2012

Øygarden 30 December 2012 - New Year Bird Race Day 1

Southerly gales, heavy showers at times.

Woken up by heavy thunder and a heavier hail storm my sanity was questioned as I left for Skogsøy. Given the conditions it was no surprise that passerines and raptors (with the exception of White-tailed Eagle havørn) were virtually absent.

Luckily there was some passage over the sea with around 10 Gannets havsule, 10 Kittiwake krykkje, several Little Auks alkekonge, a Razorbill alke and some other unidentified auks. Just singles of Common Scoter svartand and Velvet Scoter sjøorre.

After Skogsøy I popped in very briefly at a number of localities picking up a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Herdlevær, a Fieldfare gråtrost, two Blackcap munk, Tree Sparrow pilfink etc at Tjeldstø.

A few adult Whoopers sangsvane at Storavatnet were the last new of the day - taking the number of species to 35.

Bird of the day was without doubt an Eagle Owl hubro.

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