Mild with southerly winds with the exception of 26 which mild with NW breeze. Some rain at times but mostly dry.
On 23 February a cheeky pre-work seawatch was in order, I managed just over an hour. Not that much going on but a hunting Peregrine vandrefalk was quite impressive as it sped out to sea and stooped at something I couldn't even see in the scope. It had managed to spot whatever it was from somewhere slightly further inland from where I was sitting without the aid of powerful optical equipment. The southbound migration of Shags toppskarv is now underway - the birds from further south in Norway head north for the winter:)
On the way home two Lapwing vipe flew over as I left the shop - the first of the year for me.
More Greylags grågås and Starling stær have now arrived. Other birds reported on 23.02 were a couple of Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik and the first Mistle Thrush duetrost of the year at Harkestad
The 24th was a none starter, just a 12+ hour day at the coal face.
On 25 February it was time for the first trip to Hernar this year. Once again nothing remarkable but most of the usual suspects seen including several Black Guilemot teist, a couple of Sparrowhawk spurvehauk seemingly hunting as a team, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, Starlings stær and so on.
Most interestingly I was informed about a sighting of an Ivory Gull ismåke at the fish farm north of the island in the autumn/winter of 2019/2020 - seen by three of the workers there who googled the bird but did not see it subsequently.
A pre-work round at Herdlevær on 26 February showed that the Shag toppskarv migration has picked up considerably with 134 heading south in 45 minutes (biggest count in the county so far this year). A Goshawk hønsehauk put in an appearance and a dark looking duck had me frantically grappling my camera out of my rucksack - just in time to prove it was just a rather odd and dark-looking Mallard stokkand. Better safe than sorry though.
No comments:
Post a Comment