UTSIRA & JAEREN 1ST -9TH OCTOBER 2009

Transcription

1 UTSIRA & JAEREN 1ST -9TH OCTOBER 2009 TOUR REPORT

2 TOUR LEADERS Eddie Chapman Neil Donaghy PARTICIPANTS Chris Bamford Andrew Dodd Fiona Grant Elaine Harper Max Harrison Carolyn Newton Lesley Tuthill Roger Whittlesey 1ST OCTOBER The group met at Gatwick for our evening flight to Stavanger. After an uneventful hour and a half we landed and were met by Eddie Chapman for the short transfer to the hotel in driving rain!! With everyone tired and a long day ahead, we turned in as it was already after midnight local time. 2ND OCTOBER We awoke to a glorious sunny, but chilly and calm morning. A couple of Fieldfare flew over as we loaded up after an excellent breakfast, while the first of many Hooded Crow and Eurasian Jackdaw, as well as a Collared Dove were seen in the hotel grounds. Our first birding stop was on the coast at the superb Hartangen Bay. Large numbers of wildfowl were migrating along the coast including many flocks of Eurasian Wigeon and Mallard in the largest numbers, as well as fewer numbers of Common Goldeneye, Common Teal, Common Eider and Red-breasted Merganser, while nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese, four Greylag and 23 Pink-footed Geese, two Common Scoter, five Tufted Duck and a couple of Mute Swans were also noted. Four Velvet Scoter also flew distantly past. A couple of Grey Heron, several Northern Lapwing Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls loafed at close range on the rocky islands, thirty or so Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were on the small sandy beach and four European Golden Plover flew overhead. We were surprised to see small numbers of Tree Sparrows feeding among the tide line, while fifty Linnet, twenty Rock Pipit, four Northern Wheatear, a Reed Bunting and a couple of Chaffinch were more expected. A constant stream of Meadow Pipits, Common Starlings and Sky Larks passed overhead, along with small numbers of Barn Swallow, but the real highlight here was the huge female Northern Goshawk that gave amazing views at it flew over at close range on a couple of occasions, sending everything skywards, but not really making any effort to hunt. A distant Common Guillemot was also seen offshore, while a small garden produced twenty Blue and a couple of Great Tit, two Blackbird, Black-billed Magpie, European Robin, three Eurasian Siskin, Goldcrest and a flock of approximately 100 Brambling that included one bird perched at the top of a conifer while the others flew in and out of the weedy fields nearby. Moving on, we stopped at the next bay called Naelanstranda which produced more Common Eider, Eurasian Wigeon and Common Goldeneye, as well as much closer views of the drake and a female Velvet Scoter that had landed on the sea near to the shore. Many more Tree Sparrow and Rock Pipit were present here, a Greenfinch popped up in some rank vegetation, a few Grey Plover and a Bartailed Godwit roosted on some distant rocks and we had further excellent views of the Northern Goshawk, at one point being mobbed by a female European Sparrowhawk for excellent comparison of the flight difference and tail shapes. With time pressing, we crossed the gorgeous Boknafjord and headed to Haugesund for our ferry to Utsira. The harbour produced a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Grey Heron and House Sparrow and the hour long crossing just a single Northern Fulmar and four Black-legged Kittiwakes. Upon arrival, we checked into our very nice rorbu accommodation - apartments with saunas and freshened up before dinner. It had been a great start to the tour.

3 3RD OCTOBER We awoke to driving rain and a howling gale, so sensibly delayed birding proceedings in the hope it would clear a little later on and took a relaxed breakfast instead. At things cleared up a little, so we began our birding at a small burn where two Common Snipe and a few Meadow Pipits were present and the gardens in the centre of the island produced European Robins, Greenfinch and a few Northern Wren and every stretch of coastline had flocks of Common Eider and Herring Gulls, as well as a few Great Blackbacked Gulls. With the rain now coming down heavily again, we walked back to the bus as two Grey Wagtail and sixteen Redwing went over, but we decided to take an early lunch. This proved to be a good decision as the skies began to clear and we looked forward to a better afternoon. The day was about to get better in other ways too... Sketchy news of a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler reached us, so we made our way to the site. By the time we arrived, the bird had been trapped and its identity confirmed. While we waited for the bird to be brought back, a European Sparrowhawk flushed a flock of fifty Meadow Pipits and a very smart Northern Wheatear perched up on a telegraph wire. We noticed that another mist net had been erected in the next wet field over and that several birders were walking what was rumoured to be a second Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler towards the net. Finally, the ringers arrived back and we waited our turn to see the birds. The Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was a superbly marked bird with warm buffy upperparts, a strong creamy supercillium, white throat and lightly streaked breast and obviously long tail with white spots on the outer feathers that gives the bird its shortened name of PG Tips - just like the field guides show. We were however amazed to see that the second bird was in fact a much smaller, uniformly greyer bird without a supercillium or tail spots and streaky breast - incredibly it was a Lanceolated Warbler and we were among a select few of birders in the Western Palearctic who have seen these two rare locustella warblers side by side in the hand for direct comparison of identification features - awesome!! We were brought to earth with a bump as our next bird was a Wood Pigeon!! Moving on, we checked some gardens in the south of the island, where a very showy and cracking male Brambling was with a small flock of Chaffinch, two Common Raven flew overhead and two White Wagtails landed on a roof. However, with increasingly heavy and frequent showers returning we headed to the shop for a hot drink break. Our next stop was the lighthouse, but we were ten minutes too late for a newly found Red-breasted Flycatcher that had gone to ground or found alternative shelter from the strong wind. A Song Thrush was new for the trip here, but there was little else, so we moved on again. A Common Chiffchaff and a small flock of Goldcrest as well as a very brief Yellow-browed Warbler that wasn't seen by all were in the garden next to the church, while the next garden held a smart male blackcap and another very elusive Yellowbrowed Warbler. Despite giving it our best shot, we couldn't relocate either of these birds, so we moved on the north harbour, where a few European Shag and Northern Gannets rounded off another excellent days birding. 4TH OCTOBER There can't be many days when you go birding in a violent storm eleven, but hats off to our hardy group who braved the ferocious conditions to attempt it this morning. We had no option but to sea watch, but for the most part even this proved to be almost impossible. We managed to pick out a few Northern Gannets, Great Black-backed Gulls and European Shag, as well as the ubiquitous Herring Gulls and Common Eider. After an hour or so, we tried to find shelter on the eastern side of the island and as we parked up, we found a flock of eighteen gorgeous Snow Buntings which renewed everyone's enthusiasm despite them being very flighty in the raging gale. More sea watching produced a few extra Northern Gannet and a single Black-legged Kittiwake, but it was the torrential hailstorm that finally made us decide to take an early lunch. As we pulled up outside the rorbu, an Arctic Skua was our reward for our persistence and it gave reasonable views as it harassed an unseen gull or tern that kept low in the wave troughs. Following an excellent lunch, the weather began to clear up though remaining exceptionally windy. We decided to head again to the centre of the island, where we hoped that it would be sheltered and to a certain extent this was the case, albeit in relative terms. A couple of Blackbirds were joined by a splendid male Ring Ouzel that perched up on a rock, but it soon disappeared into a sheltered area in the scree slopes and out of sight. A European Robin was in a nearby garden and a Grey Wagtail flew overhead. A flock of six Greenfinch appeared on some telegraph wires and a few Meadow Pipits and Hooded Crows were dotted around in various places. With the sun now out and it warming up, we decided to try again for the Yellow-browed Warbler [s] and after a lot of patience, almost everyone had excellent views of at least one of these gorgeous birds though it was tricky as it was by no means calm.

4 A couple of Common Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were also present and two Common Raven flew overhead. As we returned to the bus later on, what was presumably the same male Ring Ouzel flew overhead and landed out of sight behind a small line of conifers, but unfortunately there was no access to try and relocate it. The end of a testing, but ultimately productive day that had pushed everyone's resolve to the limit, so it was a happy but weary team that trooped in to warm up with a hot drink and a shower. 5TH OCTOBER A much better day of weather with mainly blue skies and a light variable breeze. We began by re-finding the Common Chiffchaff outside the rorbu, along with Northern Gannet, Herring Gull and Common Eider in the bay. We tried up at the lighthouse garden, but once again failed to find Red-breasted Flycatcher. After searching a few gardens in the centre of the island it became apparent that a fall of Northern Wren, European Robin and Goldcrest had taken place, while a few Meadow Pipit and Blackbird were also noted. Some of the group had further views of the Yellow-browed Warbler near the church, while others who checked out a weedy field found a Reed Bunting. A couple of European Sparrowhawk went overhead, while a single flock of twelve Hooded Crows was the largest seen so far. Four Common Starling, a couple of Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail and a Greylag Goose were also seen, but the best bird of the day came just before lunch. We got news of a Red-throated Pipit in the centre of the island and initially had to make do with flight views identified by its piercing and distinctive call as the bird favoured an area of wet marsh and reeds, but eventually it came out in a ringing ride and gave superb views for most. It was a transitional bird that was still in almost full breeding plumage with a bright red throat with some remaining in the head, and dark, but evenly spaced streaking on the breast, clean white underbelly as well as the strongly marked white tramlines on the dark mantle giving it a very contrasty look. An excellent bird to round off the morning. The afternoon began with a visit to the east of the island where a male Blackcap showed well in the rubbish tip and a male Merlin was seen being mobbed by a Hooded Crow. A European Sparrowhawk was also noted in the warm afternoon sun, while scanning offshore produced just the usual species. We tried the to relocate the Red-throated Pipit but without any luck and were also unsuccessful in the search for a Bluethroat that had been seen in the same area. A Linnet perched up on some wires and a Whinchat gave reasonably good views as it flitted along a fence line. Work began on the new school and the noise of this spooked a Hawfinch out of the conifers and across the cemetery in front of us - not great views, but tickable nonetheless. As we searched for this bird, an arrival of fifty or so Redwing, ten Blackbirds, five Song Thrush and a Fieldfare came in to a little valley and a Wood Pigeon and a Common Raven flew over. As we got back to the minibus, a Lesser Whitethroat gave exceptional views as it flitted about in a rowan bush and as we were about to pack up for the day, we received news of a Pechora Pipit at the rubbish dump. We drove down, but as expected the bird had disappeared following an invasion of birders - one for tomorrow perhaps? 6TH OCTOBER A pretty unpleasant day of regular showers and leaden skies blown through on a gusty southerly wind. A Snow Bunting just outside the rorbus got the day off to a good start, but it was quite tough going after that. Flocks of Redwings were passing regularly overhead and a few Brambling were also noted in small flocks. The gardens were hard to work and produced little other than a few European Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Northern Wrens. Two Common Snipe, two Greylag Geese and a Common Raven passed overhead and a Peregrine patrolled the western side of the island before disappearing out of view behind some rocks. A couple of Northern Wheatear were seen atop large rocks, a Reed Bunting perched up on a fence line and just before lunch, we had poor views of what was probably the Pechora Pipit flying away from us at the rubbish tip. The bird had been seen once or twice during the morning, but only in flight, so we decided to give it another go after lunch. A couple of Black-legged Kittiwakes and a Northern Gannet passed as we left. We began the afternoon up at the small lake in the north east of the island and here we had our first Jack Snipe of the trip that was flushed by a local birder. A small party of Brambling also dropped in and another Grey Wagtail and the daily Wood Pigeon went overhead. From there, we went up to the ringing station, where we had excellent views of Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Brambling and Goldcrest in the hand and where several small parties of Brambling and Redwing went overhead. The weather remained difficult as we returned to the rubbish tip, but once again there was no sign of the Pechora Pipit and we beat a hasty retreat back to the rorbus as the light began to fail. Hopefully, our last day on the island tomorrow will provide us with less taxing conditions and a few more migrants. 7TH OCTOBER Another blustery day with the wind from the north west and occasional showers. We tried the ringing station, but with no ringing taking place and the wind coming straight at us, we decided to head to the garden at the church instead and this proved to be an excellent move. Several Common Chiffchaff and Goldcrest showed well, while some had brief views of a Yellow-browed Warbler. While searching for this bird, we found a Red-breasted Flycatcher which gave excellent views over the hour or so that we stayed, often perching right out in the open. A Garden Warbler was also found here, but remained rather skulking, but a Lesser Whitethroat showed well. Moving on to the football pitches, we were incredibly well placed and fortunate to get superb views of a Peregrine mobbing a huge juvenile Gyr Falcon right over our heads. The size difference was quite incredible when the birds were seen side by side and nothing like the difference between male and female Peregrine that we are used to seeing. The birds eventually drifted off to the south west and news of a Little Bunting reached us, so we headed back to the centre of the island, but were unable to relocate the bird, though a likely candidate did fly out of some dwarf birches and joined up with a couple of Sky Larks before flying off into the distance. at least three European Sparrowhawk, a few Blackbirds, European Robins, Song Thrushes and Common Raven were also seen this morning. We took lunch at the rorbus before heading back out for a last look around the island before we sailed back to the mainland at Driving around the centre of the island produced a Whinchat and a Willow Warbler, but once again no sign of the Little Bunting. A few small flocks of Brambling went overhead before we once again had the spectacle of the Peregrine mobbing the Gyr, which if anything looked even bigger than previously!! We decided to try the rubbish dump and soon saw a few Blackbirds, a Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Chiffchaff and a Northern Gannet, Black-legged Kittiwake, European Shag, Common Eider and our first European Oystercatcher offshore.

5 We drove back to the rorbus to load up the van, pay the bill and head to the north of the island to catch the ferry to end what had been a hugely enjoyable stay on this lovely island. The crossing over was rather uneventful apart from three small flocks of Atlantic Puffin that totalled twenty five birds, while two Black-legged Kittiwake and seven Common Gull were also noted. We arrived back at our base in Jaeren at for a late, but excellent dinner. 8TH OCTOBER Another wild and windy day from the north west with some incredibly heavy hail showers that reduced visibility to an absolute zero, but thankfully, we were always in the bus when this happened - good timing or good luck it didn't matter as we stayed pretty much dry the whole day! With the weather as it was, there was little option but to spend the day sea watching and this we did by visiting various bays and harbours along the coast. The first stop at Revtangen was the most productive, as not only was it morning, but the tide also appeared to be coming in. Good numbers of Northern Gannets, Black-legged Kittiwakes and a few Northern Fulmars passed offshore and a Peregrine buzzed a flock of fifty or so Bartailed Godwits and was seen to take one by some of the group - the rest of the birds scattered quickly inland. A flock of twenty eight Sanderling were on the beach and good numbers of Dunlin were feeding amongst the rotting seaweed. A single Red Knot and a Purple Sandpiper were also present, but whilst the former showed well, the latter was often hidden amongst the mass of vegetation and was only seen sporadically. Approximately one hundred European Shag were roosting on the rocks and two Grey Plover rested among them, while the ubiquitous Common Eider were present in small flocks wherever we went, making for a total of about two hundred birds for the day - perhaps more. Another species present in good numbers today was Rock Pipit with at least seventy five noted at the various stops. Back at Revtangen, two Arctic Terns flew close inshore, several small flocks of Common Guillemot passed and one group of four Razorbill were also noted. A single winter plumaged Black Guillemot was seen bobbing up and down in the heavy surf, where seven female Common Scoter and three Red-breasted Merganser were also present. Two fly past Great Northern Divers included one breeding plumaged bird, while eleven Red-throated Divers were counted in total. The real highlight here though was the group of ten Long-tailed Ducks that flew past very close inshore, most of which were gorgeous males complete with long tails - a great way to end our visit here. Chris who hadn't been feeling too good stayed near the bus with Eddie and they also noted a Yellowhammer in a sheltered garden. We continued south, stopping roadside at Orre for a mixed flock of approximately five hundred geese resting in a stubble field. The flock was split pretty much equally between Pink-footed and Greylag Geese, but a group of seven very smart Barnacle Geese were amongst them. We took lunch at the harbour in Sorevag, where good numbers of Herring and Greater Black-backed Gulls were present, but we were unable to find anything else amongst them. Another roadside stop at Lake Brusand was productive but in difficult viewing conditions, we didn't stay too long as many of the birds were on the inaccessible side of the lake. However, sixty one Mute Swan, two Great Crested Grebe, ten Tufted Duck, ten Eurasian Wigeon, five Common Teal and at least three winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe made it worthwhile stopping. A couple of Great Tit were noted in lakeside vegetation and a few Wood Pigeon flew overhead. Our next stop was at Kvassheim, where a cracking Snow Bunting was sheltering in some rocks and gave good close up view, a Northern Wheatear fed on some short turf and our first Common Shelduck and three Common Redshank of the tour were noted, as well as the resident Carrion Crow... A couple of Barn Swallow and three Velvet Scoter were also noted here. At Obrestrand, a Tree Sparrow fed in some long grass and a few Red-throated Diver were on the sea, while Vik provided us with some excellent birding in monstrous seas - this was without doubt the windiest it had been all day. We were unable to find the Surf Scoter that has been present for a while, but despite some very taxing conditions, up to fifty Velvet Scoter, twenty Common Goldeneye, a Long-tailed Duck and another Red-throated Diver were offshore and approximately fifty European Golden Plover were in a flooded field. Finally at Revekai, six Snow Bunting flew over the beach and more Red-throated Divers, Common Guillemot, Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver were noted and fifty Northern Lapwing were seen by the side of the road as we drove back to the hotel, tired but happy after a very enjoyable day. 9TH OCTOBER We awoke to a beautiful, still and sunny day though after clear skies overnight, it was cold. Once everyone had checked out, we drove the short distance to Lake Gruda. A walk through the woods produced small numbers of Redwing, Blackbird and Brambling, two Eurasian Siskin, three Goldcrest and common passerines such as European Robin, Blue Tit and Northern Wren. Two Linnet were feeding in a birch tree and a few Greenfinch, Common Raven and Black-billed Magpie were also noted, while two Yellowhammer in a spruce tree meant that everybody had now seen this species. Three Coal Tit were new for the tour, a Reed Bunting perched on some wires and a handsome male Common Redpoll perched up and sang briefly before flying off towards the lake. With lots of birds visible on the water, we decided to drive there and encountered two Eurasian Jay overhead on the way. The lake was teeming with birds with large numbers of Pink-footed, Greylag and Canada Geese being joined by two Barnacle Geese and a small flock of Northern Pintail all females. Large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal and Mallard were also present and up to six Little Grebes were picked out among them, along with a single Great Crested Grebe.

6 A large flock of Northern Lapwing were roosting on the shoreline but a huge female Northern Goshawk sent everything skywards in an impressive spectacle before it disappeared into some woodland. Twenty five Common Snipe were seen at various intervals overhead, twenty one Fieldfare flew over and a single Common Shelduck was also on the water. Our next stop was at the roadside at Lake Orre, where a single drake Common Pochard was noted among a large flock of Eurasian Wigeon. We took lunch at Vik, where the calm seas were a huge contrast to yesterday and we enjoyed some fantastic birding here. At least one hundred Velvet Scoter, ten Common Scoter were close inshore and we soon picked up the resident drake Surf Scoter unfortunately the bird remained asleep for most of our visit, but it did just occasionally stick its head up from under its wing!! As ever, large numbers of Common Eider were present and approximately fifteen Longtailed Duck, four Red-breasted Merganser and thirty Common Goldeneye were also on the water and five Ringed Plover and four Sanderling were on the beach. A flock of ten Snow Bunting flew overhead as we left following a very enjoyable, but cold hour. At Reveskogen, the sun was warm and a Red Admiral flitted around the conifers, as did a couple of Common Chiffchaff and a few Redwing flew overhead. A couple of small flocks of Common Crossbill did likewise, but views were poor on each occasion. A Willow Tit showed very well, but we had to make do with just hearing our principal target here as a Crested Tit called nearby, but refused to show. Good numbers of birds were present at Solastranda with more Velvet and Common Scoter Red-breasted Merganser and Common Eider present. A single Red-throated Diver swam close inshore, while at least five Great Northern Divers were present in various stages of moult but included one near breeding plumaged bird. A couple of Slavonian Grebe, Razorbill and Common Guillemot were also present along with our first Black-headed Gulls for a while and quite a few Barn Swallow. We ended the tour at a small fjord with more of the same species before saying our farewells to Eddie at the airport. It had been a very successful and hugely enjoyable tour despite some often very difficult conditions. We arrived on time in London and departed our separate ways SYSTEMATIC LIST 1. Red-throated Diver 2. Great Northern Diver 3. Great Crested Grebe 4. Little Grebe 5. Slavonian Grebe 6. Northern Fulmar 7. Northern Gannet 8. Great Cormorant 9. European Shag 10. Grey Heron 11. Mute Swan 12. Pink-footed Goose 13. Greylag Goose 14. Canada Goose 15. Barnacle Goose 16. Common Shelduck 17. Eurasian Wigeon 18. Mallard 19. Northern Pintail 20. Common Teal 21. Common Pochard 22. Tufted Duck 23. Common Eider 24. Long-tailed Duck 25. Common Scoter 26. Velvet Scoter 27. Surf Scoter 28. Common Goldeneye 29. Red-breasted Merganser 30. European Sparrowhawk 31. Northern Goshawk 32. Peregrine 33. Merlin 34. Gyr Falcon 35. European Oystercatcher 36. Ringed Plover 37. European Golden Plover 38. Grey Plover 39. Northern Lapwing 40. Sanderling 41 Red Knot 42. Dunlin 43. Purple Sandpiper 44. Eurasian Curlew 45. Bar-tailed Godwit 46. Common Redshank 47. Common Snipe 48. Arctic Skua

7 49. Black-headed Gull 50. Common Gull 51. Black-legged Kittiwake 52. Herring Gull 53. Great Black-backed Gull 54. Lesser Black-backed Gull 55. Arctic Tern 56. Common Guillemot 57. Black Guillemot 58. Razorbill 59. Atlantic Puffin 60. Wood Pigeon 61. Feral Rock Dove 62. Collared Dove 63. Great Spotted Woodpecker 64. Sky Lark 65. Barn Swallow 66. Rock Pipit 67. Meadow Pipit 68. Red-throated Pipit 69. White Wagtail 70. Grey Wagtail 71. Northern Wren 72. European Robin 73. Whinchat 74. Northern Wheatear 75. Ring Ouzel 76. Blackbird 77. Fieldfare 78. Redwing 79. Song Thrush 80. Lanceolated Warbler 81. Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler 82. Garden Warbler 83. Lesser Whitethroat 84. Blackcap 85. Willow Warbler 86. Common Chiffchaff 87. Yellow-browed Warbler 88. Goldcrest 89. Red-breasted Flycatcher 90. Willow Tit 91. Crested Tit [H] 92. Blue Tit 93. Great Tit 94. Coal Tit 95. Common Starling 96. Eurasian Jay 97. Black-billed Magpie 98. Eurasian Jackdaw 99. Common Raven 100. Carrion Crow 101. Hooded Crow 102. Rook 103. Tree Sparrow 104. House Sparrow 105. Chaffinch 106. Brambling 107. Hawfinch 108. Eurasian Siskin 109. Greenfinch 110. Common Redpoll 111. Linnet 112. Common Crossbill 113. Yellowhammer 114. Reed Bunting 115. Snow Bunting OTHER WILDLIFE Atlantic Grey Seal. Red Admiral. Lion Jellyfish.