16th–30th September
A couple of Barred Warblers from the last period lingered into the next. With the wind still in the west there were few new arrivals, but a slight decrease on the 18th was all that was needed to bring in a Red-breasted Flycatcher. It was found trapped in the ringing forest.
Seven hundred Common Eiders was a reasonable count on the 16th.
The autumn´s first Lapland Longspur on the 17th was no surprise given the weather conditions. A definitive record count of 37 Northern Ravens was set on the 21st. Eight Lesser Whitethroats the same day.
A few more species on the 22nd with the wind in the east and north. A Richard´s Pipit flew over the ringing forests and thereby became the first for the year, that a Northern Harrier also did is more unusual.
Other species making it to the log were Water Rail, 13 European Golden Plovers, Jack Snipe (the first for the autumn), Ruddy Turnstone, five Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sand Martin, Northern Wheatear leucorhoa, Barred Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Lapland Longspur.
At least one Red-breasted Flycatcher was in the ringing forests and in Herberg on the 23rd, and a Barred Warbler was in Kvalvik.
On the night to the 24th an effort to trap owls had the positive result of no less than seven Boreal Owls being caught during the dark hours.
When night turned to day this sought-after Utsira species turned into an even more sought-after Utsira species when a Northern Hawk-Owl (Geir Mobakken et al.) was discovered near the ringing forests. Being 29 years since the last one, it was very popular indeed among the resident birders.
The 24th also produced Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, two Jack Snipes, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Lapland Longspur.
With the wind still in the east on the 25th the potential was there but strong wind and showers made it end up in little; the autumn´s first Eurasian Treecreeper was found in a net and a Little Bunting was in a garden in the east.
Autumn´s first definite Olive-backed Pipit (Geir Mobakken, Torborg Berge et al.) appeared on the 26th, found trapped in the ringing forest. It was standby until the month´s end.
A Yellow-browed Warbler in Herberg was also the first for the autumn. A very moderate occurrence of this species in the days to follow.
Three Red-breasted Flycatchers next day included a male in Herberg. On the same day there were two Richard´s Pipits at large. The Hawk-Owl hit the net and bacame an exclusive new species for the local ringing group.
A wet day in the field on the 29th gave among other things a 650 strong flock of Barnacle Geese past Pedleneset, and also a Pomarine Skua going there. Other birds entering the log were 150 Brant Geese, Gyrfalcon and four Richard´s Pipits.
They were overshadowed, however, by a convincing report of a Black-browed Albatross (Martin Dagsland) migrating past the northeastern part of the island on the same day.
