Øygarden 14-16 June 2020 - Blyth's Reed Warbler ID blunder!

On 16 June a visit to Hernar proved quite embarassing well after the event as I fell into "expectation trap" - I had hoped for Icterine Warbler and a singing bird went down as exactly that. I saw an Icterine head shape and thought I saw the pale wing panels - this proved to be a trick of the light.

A combination of a comment on a video I uploaded and review of pictures long after the event shows a classic Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger - the first I have heard singing, the first I have seen away from the autumn migration period and my first for Hernar.

Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger

Here is where I thought I saw light wing panel....

I should have got the colour here - not yellowy! 

Trying to obtain pictures in the field v observing the bird.....

Singing Blyth's Reed

This recording was bombed by a Chiff-chaff gransanger early on

Chiff-chaff gransanger  - this bird seemed to have rather pale legs in the strong sunlight

View over some of the "fields" on Hernar

Spotted Flycatcher gråfluesnapper with flies

The local Twite bergirisk gave great views as usual.

Many young ones present now:)

Young Wheatear steinskvett

On the way home it was nice to see Arctic Terns rødnebbterne flying around one of their breeding islands.

Arctic Terns rødnebbterne

....along with the usual Grey Seals havert, Shags toppskarv etc

Shags toppskarv, the young birds here were probably hatched locally....

Grey Seal havert

Starlings stær have started to flock and up to 100 were feeding in fields at Breivik, some even raided an ants nest and were "bathing" in it.

Starlings stær ant bathing

The Ravens ravn at Sture have at least two fledged young - wonder how many wader eggs / chicks they consumed this year.......

Two young Raven ravn

On 15 June my usual round at Herdlevær produced just the usual - an immature WT Eagle havørn, Wheatear steinskvett with young, Common Sandpipers strandsnipe etc.

Spotted Orchids are flowering all over the place now

Male Wheatear steinskvett

Herdlevær 27 September 2013 - Finally!!!!

Calm and sunny.

As soon as I got out of the car it was obvious that there was a lot going on. A fair bit of passage overhead and quite a bit of activity in the trees and bushes. Almost the first bird I got onto was a Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger. A few Willow Warbler løvsanger, Goldcrest fuglekonge and a Garden Warbler hagesanger were in the same garden.

Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger

The evenly coloured wing, short primary projection, no contrast on the tertials, length of P2, the supercillium and not least the sylvia like call all confirm this birds identity

A short distance down the road I got onto the bird of the day - a Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger - the second for Øygarden and in virtually the same place as the previous one. Today's bird was rather easier to see and photograph and with a bit of patience gave itself up nicely.

Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger

At least 750 Mealy Redpoll gråsisik flew over with some flocks stopping briefly. Plenty of Common Crossbill granskornebb passing over and Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb were heard occasionally. A Bullfinch dompap was another good species locally and was the first of the year in Øygarden.

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

LOADS of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett again, a few Skylark sanglerke and plenty more besides.

A Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett drumming on a streetlight at Breivik, normally enough to make a day, was relegated to "also ran" today.

Definitely good to be back......

Herdlevær 20 August 2010 - Mayhem!

Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger - this picture shows the supercillium going behind the eye.
The above shot shows the short primary projection
Above picture illustrates the plain tertials

Record shot of an extremely skulking Barred Warbler hauksanger - this was as good as views got even after waiting well over an hour.....

Record shot of Barred Warbler hauksanger - normally a great find but relegated to also-ran if the Blyth's turns out to be "good".

Under normal circumstances this Stonechat svartstrupe would have made the day....

A Stonechat svartstrupe at Breivik was a promising start to the day and a brief look at Herdlevær turned into an hour of patient waiting after finding an Acro which, after listening to some sounds, consulting some books and getting opinions from other birders was finally identified as a Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger. The bird called repeatedly - exactly as per the call on the "Calls of Eastern Vagrants CD". With such a bird requiring good documentation I returned later in order to try and obtain some better images but there was no sign of it. However, a first year Barred Warbler hauksanger was ample compensation!