Monday, 4 May 2015

4th May


There was still a strong SE wind at dawn after a stormy and wet night; so after a fruitless look at the sea I was about to walk the sheltered sides of the plantations but before I could there was a BLACK KITE sat in a field out in Gunnarsmyra which after a while drifted off NW – distant views but not bad.   There was a good scattering of migrants out in the area as would be expected given the conditions, totals included 8 Redstarts, 5 Whinchats, two Ring Ouzels, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Whitethroat, the first Garden Warbler of the year, 15+ Blackcaps, 10+ Chiffchaffs, 37+ Willow Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatchers and 9+ Reed Buntings as well as slight increases in Robins, Dunnocks and Thrushes.   A walk out onto Steinodden also produced the same 4 Dotterels in the same spot, 2 Kestrels and a Merlin.

                There was also a fine selection of birds in Vågsvollvika just after lunch including the Pectoral Sandpiper still, feeding with a Little Ringed Plover and a Wood Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, the pair of Garganey, 11 Redshank, 6 Teal, a Blue-headed Wagtail and a Peregrine which came within inches of nailing a Redshank, forcing it to dive into the sea!   There was a singing Sedge Warbler out on Gunnarsmyra where there was also a big increase of 170+ Golden Plover.

                The day ended in a similar fashion to how it started as a scan across Gunnarsmyra revealed a smart 1st summer PALLID HARRIER sat in a field!   May the Fourth be with you!
 
Whinchat

Migrant Willow Warbler by the lighthouse

Pectoral Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Little Ringed Plover

The Peregrine moments after he just missed a Redshank
 

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