I have now started a week off work:)
Both 26.04 and 27.04 were spent at Skogsøy, getting up ridiculously early to spend several hours staring out to sea. Not for everyone:)
Glorious weather both days, though lack of wind may have impacted the results a bit. Calm conditions and full on sunshine meant conditions were good for the birds at least. Well over 1000 birds passing on both days with plenty of interest although the number of "bananabills" remained low.
On Friday I forgot my sandwiches so had to sit there hungry for a number of hours. Rookie mistake. I did, however, have my coffee and other essentials.
Two Great Northern Diver islom on the sea were starting to moult and looked pretty good. Best birds were a male Goosander laksand - a rare species to see on migration in Øygarden and the first Great Skua storjo of the year - amazingly although all the big gulls fled a lone Common Gull fiskemåke had a go at it!
The first Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås of the year also put in an appearance. Generally speaking both the number and variety of species increased as is usual at this time of year.
Red throated Diver smålom N 433
Great Northern Diver islom N 1 2K
White Billed Diver gulnebblom N 2 adult
Northern Gannet havsule N 29, S 8
Great Cormorant storskarv N 31, S 10
Eurasian Shag toppskarv N 71. S 60
Greylag Goose grågås N 3, S 1
Barnacle Goose hvitkinngås N 38
Shelduck gravand N 1
Wigeon brunnakke N 4
Eider ærfugl N 4
Common Scoter svartand N 127, S 11
Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 9
Merganser siland N 33, S 4
Goosander laksand 1
Oystercatcher tjeld N 92
Eurasian Curlew storspove N 1
Great Skua storjo N 1
Black headed Gull hettemåke N 1
Common Gull fiskemåke N 130
Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke N 1
Common Guillemot lomvi N 3
Razorbill alke N 6
Atlantic Puffin lunde N 1
Auk N 23, S 2
The first Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås of the spring on their way north
Cormoran storskarv and Shag toppskarv comparison
The first Great Skua storjo of the year at Skogsøy. Amazingly after all the big gulls had left a Common Gull fiskemåke had a go at the bully
A few Greylags grågås still on the move, either non breeders o bird heading much further north. Some of the locals have chicks already
Still Oystercatchers tjeld heading north, well past the peak passage period
Shags toppskarv
A late Shelduck gravand heading north
Velvet Scoter sjøorre are staring to move now
The following morning I did exactly the same thing except that this time I remembered to take my sandwiches out of the fridge:). Rather fewer Red-throated Diver smålom but more of other stuff. A couple of male Shoveler skjeand were the best sightings, one on its own early on then another with Mergansers siland later on. A couple of Whimbrel småspove, several Tufted Duck toppand and two nice adult White-billed Divers gulnebblom were among the other highlights.
Teal krikkand N 2 ( a few more flying around)
Northern Shoveler skjeand N 2
Tufted Duck toppand N 10
Eider ærfugl N 8, S 2
Long tailed duck havelle N 8
Common Scoter svartand N 52, S 30
Velvet Scoter sjøorre N 1, S 2
Goldeneye kvinand N 2
Merganser siland N 34, S 4
Oystercatcher tjeld N 354
Whimbrel småspove N 2
Black headed Gull hettemåke N 1
Common Gull fiskemåke N 210
Lesser black backed Gull sildemåke N 2, S 2
Herring Gull gråmåke N 10
Common Guillemot lomvi N 1, S 1
Razorbill alke N 2
Black Guillemot teist N 1
Auk N 4
Common Sandpiper strandsnipe was another first for the year on the way home and a Goshawk hønsehauk put in an appearance too:)
Common Scoter svartand
Now into the overlap zone when both Curlew storspove and Whimbrel småspove are on the move. These two are Curlew stospove
Some of the Gannets havsule passed by close in as usual
2cy Great Northern Diver islom. Almost the easiest ID feature is the way it holds its head / bill
Guillemot lomvi
Good numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld on the move for this late in the season, although the local birds arrived ages ago Norway has a long coastline and it is still wintery further north.
Cormorant storskarv / Shag toppskarv comparison
White-billed Diver gulnebblom. This is what late April / early May is all about!
Goshawk hønsehauk on the way home
