Saturday, October 01, 2011

Skogsøy 01 October 2011

Frash southerly, sunny but hazy over the sea.

 Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke
 Arctic Tern rødnebbterne
 Oiled Gannet havsule
 Steady passage of Gannets havsule today - part of plock pictured here
Common Gulls fiskemåke were obviously migrating

A good migration day, most passerines passing inland of the lookout. A little over two hours seawatching around dawn proved that southbound migration was in full swing. At least four Kestrel tårnfalk, two Sparrowhawk spurvehauk, three Red-throated Diver smålom, an Arctic Tern rødnebbterne, the first Black-headed gull hettemåke for some time, a couple of Grey Plover tundralo, a Turnstone steinvender, a Tree Pipit trepiplerke and at least 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke were the best sightings. A single Great Skua storjo headed north.

Other birds included over 170 Gannet havsule, 105 Cormorant storskarv, 80 Common Gull fiskemåke and a Wigeon brunnakke.

In the woods and overhead there were plenty of migrants with a Grey Wagtail vinterle the best of the bunch (first in Øygarden this year), many flocks of Chaffinch bokfink, plenty of Brambling bjørkefink and a few Reed Bunting sivspurv were among the passing flocks. Singles of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and Ruff brushane were also noteworthy sightings on the way back to the car.

Barely a drive-by at Herdlevær produced the first Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett I've had this year.

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