Birding activity at a virtual standstill but still trying to squeeze in some time here and there.
On 30th May drive-bys at the usual places on the way to and from work provided encouraging signs for the local Common Terns
makrellterne and Arctic Terns
rødnebbterne
One of several Arctic Tern rødnebbterne pairs in among the Common Terns
Common Tern makrellterne (though I did look twice given the all dark bill!)
Lapwing vipe chicks at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø
Young Lesser Redpoll brunsisik
Skylark sanglerke - not often I take pictures of this species despite small numbers breeding in the area
Adult White-tailed Eagle havørn
The various breeding waders are starting to hatch with Ringed Plover sandlo, Lapwing vipe and Curlew storspove all with young. The Redshanks rødstilk must be imminent if they don't already have young.
On 31st May I spent a few hours seawatching at Skogsøy. This paid off well with the first Manx Shearwater havlire of the year. Plenty of other stuff passing too, so well worth the effort! In addition to the birds listed below a pair of Arctic Skua tyvjo, one pale phase, the other dark flew overhead as I walked out to the lookout point.
Red throated Diver smålom N 19
Northern Fulmar havhest N 3
Northern Gannet havsule N 170
Northern Gannet havsule S 8
Great Cormorant storskarv N 3
Common Scoter svartand N 27
Turnstone steinvender N 8 (first of the year for me)
Great Skua storjo N 1
Common Gull fiskemåke N 21
Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje N 79
Black-legged Kittiwake krykkje S 13
Arctic Tern rødnebbterne N 3
Common Guillemot lomvi N 43
Razorbill alke N 18
Atlantic Puffin lunde N 2
Guillibill alke/lomvi N 17
Common Scoter svartand
As usual at this time of year non-adult birds start to dominate
Migrating Red-throated Diver smålom
Some Red-throated Diver smålom are not in breeding plumage - younger birds heading north to check out what to do next year?
