Monthly report April 2019
General: coverage and weather:
Average temperature was 7.5 degC, 2.9 degC over the normal. Highest temperature was 16.7 degC (25th), and lowest was 1.1 degC (1st). Total rainfall was 2.5mm. Most rainfall in one day was 1.3mm (1st). Highest wind speed was 15.8m/s (25th). Total number of species ended on 119, versus 102 species in the same month the previous year. One has to go back to the record warm April 2014 with 112 species to be in the same league.
Raptors:
Seven different raptor species in April is good. A fly-over Hobby on the 24th and an Osprey migrating north on the 17th represent the most exciting records for the month. Merlin was noted between 6th and 28th with by four different birds. There was single record of a Sparrowhawk present between the 16th and 21st, while Kestrel were noted by 2 to 3 birds from the 5th until the end of the month and White-tailed Eagle daily with two to three birds. The local Peregrine Falcon was also reported during the month.
Shorebirds:
The young Mute Swan from October 2017 had developed some aggressive behaviour running after cars in Sørevågen. It finally met its fate on the 11th when it was run over. A flock of 55 Pink-footed Geese migrated over the island on the 6th. Greylags have been present in large numbers throughout the month with over 75 birds, while young were noted at the end of the month. A pair of Shoveler alighted from the dam by Måkeskitt on the 27th, the most notable record of the month for this group, a Tufted Duck flew over Beiningen on the 16th is also noteworthy. A female Red-breasted Merganser in Tuevågen on the 27th is also worth a mention. Good and warm easterly winds were not ideal for seabird passage. Seven Red-throated Diver on the 25th, and 22 Red-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver on the 27th were the most notable records.
Passerines:
The youngsters were in the limelight on the 27th, represented by Isak Grimsby and Bjørn Mo who found respectively a White's Thrush between Kutre/Varen and a Western Subalpine Warbler in Hoiebakken in Sørevågen. The Subalpine Warbler was present until the end of the month.
A good day which put the other good finds in the shadows. A Firecrest was ringed in Merkeskogen on the 19th and was in the area until the 28th. A Shorelark performed well on the ploughed field of Håvard Nordvik on the east side of Veito. The same location also produced a Stock Dove between the 25th and 27th. Black Redstart were well represented with a male on the 7th, female-type on the 10th, followed by one to three birds between the 18th and 22nd. Hawfinch was also well reported with various birds reported throughout the month, with a flock of six birds on the 16th. Bullfinch are not regular either in the spring so a male on the 5th and 6th and two birds on the 17th in Herberg are noteworthy.
Ringing:
There were nine days of ringing in Merkeskogen during the month. A total of 390 birds of 20 species were ringed. The best day was the 19th when 97 birds were ringed of which Robin (37), Goldcrest (24) and Chiffchaff (11) were the most numerous species. The previous year gave 264 birds of 18 species in 11 days of ringing.
Year ticks:
April resulted in 54 new species for the year: Hawfinch (2nd), Grey Wagtail (3rd), Siskin, Arctic Tern and Ring Ouzel (4th), Kestrel, Water Rail and bullfinch (5th), Lapland Bunting, Swallow and Pin-footed Goose (6th), Goldfinch (11th) and Willow Warbler (13th). Tufted Duck, Ringed Plover, Tree Pipit and Crossbill (16th), Osprey, Green Sandpiper, House Sparrow and Lesser Redpoll (17th)
Common Sandpiper, Wryneck, Sand Martin, House Martin, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Firecrest (19th), Teal, Collard dove, Short-eared Owl, Redstart and Jackdaw (20th), Shorelark (21st), Whimbrel (22nd), Whinchat and Pied Flycatcher (23rd), Hobby (24th), Red-throated Diver, Purple Sandpiper, Common Tern, Stock Dove and Twite (25th), Ruff and Feral Pigeon (26th), Whites Thrush, Subalpine Warbler, Shoveler, Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler (27th), Whitethroat and Blue-headed Wagtail (28th) and finally Greenshank (29th).
Rarities and local scarcities:
Whites Thrush was the second record for Utsira and 13th for Norway, the first being 28th September 1978.
Firecrest was the 18th for Utsira, the last in April 2018.
Shoveler was the 24th record the last in April 2018.
Subalpine Warbler was the 53rd for Utsira, the last in May 2016.
Should the Subalpine Warbler be approved as Western (Sylvia cantillans inornata/iberiae) will it be only the second approved even though a few more are suspected to be Western.
Here is a photo of the warbler by the finder Bjørn Mo:
And here another photo of the White's Thrush by the finder Iska Grimsby:
