Herdla 05 May 2022 - Off the reservation again

 Light southerly breeze, rain during the night clearing shortly after dawn.

Once again I went off the reservation and left Øygarden (twice in two months - starting to be a habit). A short guiding trip meant there was not really time to do anything else.

Herdla produced a few things of interest with the highlight being seven islandica Black-tailed Godwits svarthalespove. Another delightful sighting were two sets of Lapwing vipe chicks (2x3), great to see the work being done there paying off:)

A couple of hundred Golden Plover heilo, two Whimbrel småspove, five summer plumaged Dunlin myrsnipe and a selection of other waders were present, an adult White-tailed Eagle havørn did a fly-by and small numbers of Velvet Scoter sjøorre and Long-tailed Duck havelle were still on the sea there.

Getting on for 40 species noted, but there was not the time to cover even the usual route.

Although my camera largely stays in my rucksack when guiding I just had to take a few pics....

islandica Black-tailed Godwits svarthalespove coming in to land

Cracking summer plumaged Golden Plover heilo

Mum says "stop moving and hide, there are strange and potentially dangerous creatures nearby"

....and then keeps an eye on the kids and the danger

these three were sat under Dad but scattered when he stood up to feed

Unlike human offspring Lapwing chicks do what they are told by their parents immediately. When Mum says "sit still and hide" they do exactly that. Straight away:)