Skogsøy 31 May 2020 - Autumn migration has started.....

The summery conditions continue with sun and light SE winds.

Not the normal weather for a good seawatch but I have had some good experiences under similar circumstances before. Good weather is good for migrating birds too.....

For a late spring seawatch it was pretty good with the highlight being two flocks of pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås at close range. A White-billed Diver gulnebblom, a couple of Great Skua storjo and plenty more besides kept interest levels up.

A flock of four Curlew storspove headed south - presumably females who have done their bit and left the males to finish off looking after the young. 14 Greylags grågås went the same way - failed breeders or non-breeders who were just checking out the breeding grounds? So autumn migration is underway and overlapping with birds still heading north.....

Pale-bellied Brents ringgås

Pale-bellied Brents ringgås

Mixed flock of Eider ærfugl and Common Scoter svartand heading south

Great Skua storjo

Lone Red-throated Diver smålom

Part of the view.....

In just under four hours the totals were:

Red throated Diver N	38
Red throated Diver S	1
White Billed Diver N	1
Northern Gannet N	5
Northern Gannet S	6
Great Cormorant N	1
Eurasian Shag N	19
Eurasian Shag S	11
Greylag Goose N	1
Greylag Goose S	16
Brent Goose	110
Eider N	1
Eider S	7
Common Scoter N	21
Common Scoter S	30
Velvet Scoter N	4
Merganser N	11
Merganser S	12
Oystercatcher S	2
Whimbrel N	1
Eurasian Curlew S	4
Great Skua N	2
Common Gull N	80
Lesser black backed Gull N	1
Black-legged Kittiwake S	1
Arctic Tern N	2
Razorbill N	4