16th September

A change of scenery saw me park out at Kviljoodden and walk back to the lighthouse along the coast; there were good numbers of waders actually at Kviljoodden with single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (very scarce this autumn) and Little Stint in amongst decent flocks of Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Turnstone while offshore there were 2 Black-throated Divers (one in summer plumage) with the Velvet Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers.

                A steady stream of Meadow Pipits moved along the coast through the morning with a few Tree Pipits, Grey Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails and flocks of Siskins (including a big flock of 50+) while all along the coast there were little groups of White Wagtails and Wheatears but nothing else with them.   Other birds included a Red-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebes in Nordhasselvika, 3 Common Sandpipers and 2 Pintail in Steinsvika and 2 Hen Harriers, 7 Whinchats, 7 Ruff and a Merlin across the fields just inland from the carpark.

                A little look in the recording area in the afternoon produced 3 Redstarts, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Whinchat, a Grey Wagtail and a juvenile Marsh Harrier out over the fields.

Merlin

With all his attention focused on me taking his photograph.....

I felt very guilty when this Sparrowhawk blazed in and caught the Whinchat pictured above......