FINALLY a day on Hernar!
I have barely made it out there this year and incredibly not visited at all during September. How times change:(
This was easily the most enjoyable day of the autumn thus far with plenty going on all the time.
Despite being on the island all day we still felt short of time and some areas had to be left uncovered. Best bird was a rather elusive Red-breasted Flycatcher dvergfluesnapper which was seen very well indeed but refused to be photographed. A Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger was slightly more cooperative in the short time it was visible.
There were a decent number of migrants on the island with several each of Blackcap munk and Chiff-chaff gransanger, three Jack Snipe kvartbekkassin, the usual thrushes, a nice selection of finches, several Reed Bunting sivspurv and plenty more besides.
Visible migration was very obvious too with flocks of Redpoll gråsisik dropping in very briefly before continuing south. Pinkfoot kortnebbgås, Grey Wagtail vinterle, Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildemåke and Wigeon brunnakke were among the species passing overhead.
One bird that was missing was Water Rail vannrikse - normally a regular visitor at this time of year. But the boggy area this species normally frequents has been totally grazed out by sheep. No tall vegetation = no Water Rail. This meant that the Snipe were easier to spot though.
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