Light northerly winds and light cloud cover.
Late April and early May is traditionally the best time of year for migrating divers in Øygarden. It was with high hopes that I set off for Skogsøy very early in the morning.
I seawatched from 05:30 to 14:10 and by and large it was mega! Most expectations were fulfilled and then some! A truly massive 45 White-billed Diver gulnebblom - all cracking adults at superb scope range represented a Skogsøy best. Another fed on the sea. The supporting cast included 815 Red-throated Diver smålom, a Gadwall snadderand (a local scarcity), an adult Great Northern Diver islom, a decent passage of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås and a hunting Merlin dvergfalk. It was hard to leave as things were still going strong.
Two other seawatchers situated at Herdlevær sat for another 1.5 hours or so and clearly notched up another couple of WBD setting a new county record of 47!
A reasonable passage of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås today - at very varying ranges, some were dots on the horizon whilst others passed overhead.
Adult Great Northern Diver islom
Red-throated Divers smålom - the biggest single flock was 41 birds!
Cormorant storskarv with Shag toppskarv - sometimes it is crazy to see how these two can be confused!
A good movement of Tufted Duck toppand today
White-billed Divers gulnebblom - what late April is (almost) all about here in Øygarden.
Now for the numbers:
Red throated Diver smålom N 815
Great Northern Diver islom N 1 adult
White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 45 adult
Northern Gannet havsule N 21, S 2
Great Cormorant storskarv N 9, S 5
Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 40, S 90
Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås N 776
Wigeon brunnake N 3
Gadwall snadderand N 1 (with a male Tufty)
Tufted Duck toppand N 16
Eider ærfugl N 3, S 4
Long tailed duck havelle N 25
Common Scoter svartand N 85, S 7
Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 5
Merganser siland N 23
Oystercatcher tjeld N 35, S 3
Black headed Gull hettemåke N 4
Common Gull fiskemåke N 170
Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje N 3
Common Guillemot lomvi N 7
Black Guillemot teist S 1
On my way home I checked up on the long-staying Coot sothøne which has been present for a week now - arriving on the day I left. A good local rarity:)
Coot sothøne - arguably a better bird than the WBDs and certainly many times rarer!
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