5th August

Overcast with a light easterly breeze made perfect netting conditions but the birds didn’t agree with only 22 birds caught including a Whinchat and a Pied Flycatcher; there was a bit of passage at sea with 225 Oystercatchers and 217 Greylag Geese heading south in small flocks along with a single Tystie.   A few waders were around Vågsvollvåien as usual while 13 Crossbills came out to the lighthouse and a big adult female Peregrine was cruising around.

                The day’s highlight came as I headed out into the area late morning when I flushed an awesome EAGLE OWL from the corner of Lebeltet which backs onto Seviksmarka, it flew up to the top of the plantation but instead of flying away straight away it perched on a spindly branch to glare at me for a few minutes before eventually heading away over the wood – brilliant!     Other birds inland included a Green Woodpecker, a Wryneck, a couple of Red-backed Shrikes, 2 Sparrowhawks, 40+ Swifts, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a couple more small flocks of Crossbills.

                Did a bit of the coast as well where waders included at least 3 Spotted Redshanks, 11+ Greenshanks, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 26 Dunlin and 13+ Common Sandpipers; a few bits then dropped into Vågsvollvåien late afternoon including 4 Herons, 2 Ruff, 7 Common Sandpipers, 2 Greenshank and 4 Wood Sandpipers while a couple of small, tight flocks of Common Gulls headed south.

 

Not sure why he chose to just fly up and perch on the spindly tops of the trees where he could hardly keep his balance, perhaps he was groggy after I woke him up by mistake or he was wondering if he could eat me?  I wasn't complaining though - awesome!

Wood Sandpiper

Spotted Redshank

Painted Lady