Saturday, January 04, 2020

Skogsøy and Tjeldstø 04 January 2020 - Skogsøy blow out

Near gale force north westerly winds with some sleet / hail showers.

Given yesterday's Kittiwake at Nautnes I hoped that the winds might produce something at Skogsøy. I did not sit out there very long but there was almost nothing passing and it was one of the most disappointing Skogsøy trips ever. A few White-tailed Eagles havørn were present and being only the second day I have been in Øygarden there were a few local year ticks in the form of Eider ærfugl, Coal Tit svartmeis, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, Goldcrest fuglekonge and Goldeneye kvinand.

Mute Swans knoppsvane at Tjeldstø - a local rarity.

On the way home I spent some time at Tjeldstø which was MUCH better with two Mute Swans knoppsvane as the best sighting - similar to last year's winter sighting. This is only the sixth record of this species here although it seems like it is becoming more regular. Other sightings included a Woodcock rugde, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin, six Redwing rødvingetrost, a Fieldfare gråtrost, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and a Tree Sparrow pilfink.

Dying Robin rødstrupe at Solberg. The puffy eye may indicate some kind of disease


I also popped in at Solberg where the lack of sea duck was once again noticable. Only one Common Scoter svartand was present. A dying Robin rødstrupe sat in the path here, the puffy eye probably indicates some kind of disease. Of more interest was a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk and the 11th White-tailed Eagle havørn of the day.

Mother-of-pearl clouds perlemorskyer (polar strasospheric clouds)

Another observation of interest were polar stratospheric clouds - so called mother-of-pearl clouds (perlemorskyer) - particularly obvious as I left the house before the sun came up.

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