The very pleasant
conditions remain but the easterly wind gradually built up through the morning
from flat calm to force 7 by lunchtime; three Redstarts and a Treecreeper (the
first to be caught this autumn) were the highlights in the nets but the best
bird of the day came mid-morning when a 1st winter Golden Eagle drifted slowly over the
lighthouse – they breed not far away from here in the mountains but are very
scarce out here in the recording area, indeed it appears that this is the first
ever September record (the majority of the records are in October / November
with a handful of winter and one spring record).
There were good numbers of other raptors around
including 15+ Sparrowhawks and a Marsh Harrier which headed south out to sea
while other birds included a Lapland
Bunting over, a Hen Harrier over the fields, 2 Grey Wagtails, 20+ Yellow
Wagtails, a couple of Siskin flocks, 2 Little Stints with a flock of Dunlin
along the shore and a Common Tern, a Velvet Scoter and a Red-breasted Merganser
on the sea.
The afternoon produced more raptors including a male Goshawk, at least 5 Peregrines and 2 Merlins
as well as a Red-throated Pipit
feeding in the newly cut fields at Vågsvollmarka, 2 Pintail in Vågsvollvika, 2
Spotted Flycatchers, 3 more Redstarts, 10 Tree Pipits, a single Whinchat
remaining and another Treecreeper.
Treecreeper
Golden Eagle
Goshawk
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