Skogsøy 17 May 2022 - Gratulerer med dagen

As is often the case I spent the first part of Norway's big day at Skogsøy 

With glorious sunshine and light SE winds the day was not set up to be among the best of them. Nothing very remarkable but an early flock of 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås heading north was a nice bonus. Just one adult White-billed Diver gulnebblom and a reasonable movement of the usual suspects.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås heading north

Yet another adult White-billed Diver gulnebblom

On the way out two singing Lesser Whitethroat møller and a flock of five Common Crossbill grankorsnebb were the best finds.

Red throated Diver smålom N 94, S 2

White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 1

Northern Gannet havsule N 21, S 4

Great Cormorant  storskarv N 1, S 1

Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 15, S 35

Brent Goose ringgås N 11

Eider ærfugl S 3 (all males, most birds passing now are males)

Long tailed duck havelle N 1

Common Scoter svartand N 2, S 74 (as usual in the second half of May most Common Scoter are seen heading south - on their way down and into the Baltic?)

Merganser siland N 19, S 7

Oystercatcher tjeld N 68

Whimbrel småspove N 7, S 1

Black headed Gull hettemåke S 1

Common Gull fiskemåke N 93

Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje N 1

Arctic Tern rødnebbterne N 1

Razorbill alke N 11

Atlantic Puffin lunde N 1

With calm winds and the sun high in the sky White-tailed Eagles havørn were pretty obvious at Tjeldstø and from my terrace at Nautnes. Also Sparrowhawks spurvehauk at both locations. At Nautnes some 14 House Martins taksvale heading north - the first I have seen this year.