Sunday, September 10, 2017

Skogsøy 10 September 2017 - Wader migration

Light SE changing to fresher southerly winds for the last hour. Overcast much of the time, but some sun and a couple of showers.

This picture was taken a bit too late to catch the mega double rainbow that lit up the Gannets that were pouring past at the time.

A few hours seawatching from dawn paid dividends today, largely in the form of waders. Good numbers of Ruff brushane were noted along with most of the usual autumn waders. Many flocks were too far out to identify with confidence. Wader highlights were at least two Little Stint dvergsnipe and three Grey Plover tundralo.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås

Gannet havsule - many gave great photo opportunities but there was too much else going on to take photos....

Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke were obviously on the move today

Migrating Oystercatcher tjeld

Ruff brushane (upper left), Dunlin myrsnipe (lower left) and Little Stint dvergsnipe (right)

Mixed flocks like this were common today.
Here 40 Ruff brushane, a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove, three Ringed Plover sandlo, a Knot polarsnipe, five Dunlin mysnipe and 10 Oystercatcher tjeld


Other notable observations included a couple of light bellied (hrota) Brent Geese ringgås, a Great Skua storjo and good numbers of Wigeon brunnakke. Unusually most of the latter were males.

Four Arctic Tern rødnebbterne were relatively late and there was a noticable movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke.

Peregrine vandrefalk, Black Guillemot teist, Sanderling sandløper feeding on the rocks and Red-throated Divers smålom were among the other species seen.

Red throated Diver smålom S 19
Northern Gannet havsule    N 121
Northern Gannet havsule    S 32
Great Cormorant storskarv S 78
Eurasian Shag toppskarv    N 1
Eurasian Shag toppskarv    S 1
Brent Goose ringgås           S 2
Wigeon brunnakke              S 62
Eider ærfugl                        S 4
Common Scoter svartand   S 2
Oystercatcher tjeld             S 14
Ringed Plover  sandlo        S  10
Golden Plover heilo           S  80
Grey Plover tundralo         S 3
Red Knot  polarsnipe         S 1
Sanderling sandløper         S 1
Dunlin myrsnipe                S 70
Little Stint dvergsnipe       S 2
Bar tailed Godwit lappspove S 11
Eurasian Curlew storspove S 1
Redshank rødstilk               S 2
Ruff  brushane                    S 111
Wader 105
Great Skua storjo                S 1
Common Gull fiskemåke   S 21
Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke  S 13
Arctic Tern rødnebbterne   S 4
Black Guillemot teist         N 1
Black Guillemot teist         S 1

A drive-by past Breivik later in the day produced a massive flock of Ruff brushane (85) with a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove.

Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove


Some of the many Ruff brushane at Breivik

No comments: