Skogsøy 27 April 2012 - First White-billed of the year

Northerly wind and sunny.

A decent enough seawatch - sat from 05:35 to 12:15. Highlights were the first two migrating White-billed Diver gulnebblom of the year in Øygarden. Other sightings of note inlcuded a couple of Arctic Skua tyvjo (one dark phase and one light), and 107 Red-throated Diver smålom.

This auk looked quite interesting - a possible Brunniche's polarlomvi candidate?

Possibly too much in the way of markings on the underarm and the dark cap does not extend far enough down?

Jizz and bill shape / markings meant this bird got some extra attention

Hunchback / rugby ball look, unmarked flanks, the collar and apparent white stripe along the bill all support Brunniche's Guillemot polarlomvi.

However, many Guillemots lomvi can look like they have a white line along the bill....

Above and below Cormorants storskarv

Long-tailed Ducks havelle

Still small numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld heading north

A flock of Red-throated Diver smålom head north - finally into three figures today

Obligatory White-billed Diver gulnebblom record shot

Passage was relatively quiet with only small numbers of duck, auks and waders heading north.

Numbers included:
Puffin lunde N 11
Razorbill alke N 7
Guillemot lomvi N 1+
Oystercatcher tjeld N 38
Turnsotone steinvender N 3
Cormorant storskarv N 28
Wigeon brunnakke N 2
Common Scoter svartand N 14

New Øygarden birds for me this year were a singing Willow Warbler løvsanger and some flyover Linnets tornirisk.

A Wryneck vendehals was photographed at Herdlevær.