Thursday, December 31, 2009

Øygarden 31 December 2009

New Years Bird Race Day 1

Spent most of the day out and about checking various localities. Fantastic weather yet again - although snow and ice cover must be making life difficult for many species.

Started off at Herdlevær where the best bird was a Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker. The only Velvet Scoter sjøorre of the day was also seen here.

Next stop was Herdlevær where highlights were a couple of Goldfinch stillits and a Merlin dvergfalk. A flock of 17 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt and at least five White-tailed Eagles havørn were also present.

Alvheim produed a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and cracking views of a Great Northern Diver islom.

Finally we made it up to Hjelme West where new species were limited to Rock pipit skjærpiplerke and Black Guillemot teist. However, at least one more Great Northern Diver islom and more than 60 Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt were also seen here.

At Tjeldstø a brief look around (mostly in my garden) gave 10 Tree Sparrow pilfink, a Brambling bjørkefink, 15 Chaffinch bokfink, at least one Woodcock rugde and four Redwing rødvingetrost.

Last new bird of the day was a Goshawk hønsehauk near Rong.

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