Monthly report May 2019
General: coverage and weather:
Average temperature was 8.1 degC which is within the norm. Highest temperature was 18.8 degC (17th) and lowest 0.7 degC (3rd). Total rainfall was 26.mm. Most rainfall in one day was 19.5mm (24th). Strongest wind speed was 20.3 m/s (2nd). Total number of species for May ended on a poor 116, quite a way from the record in May 2013, which had 146 species. Cold north-westerly winds for long periods during the month can take most of the blame, nevertheless there were some highlights in both the field and the nets.
Raptors:
Four different species tells the story. One to two Kestrels were reported between 17th and 19th, plus a female on the 30th. Single White-tailed Eagle was reported between 12th and 25th while Peregrine Falcon was sporadically noted throughout the month. A March Harrier was reported from Veito on the 31st.
Shorebirds:
The local Greylag Geese have produced large broods and number three figures. A Canada Goose was on the island on the 24th and 25th. A Barnacle Goose was noted on the 4th, while 40 passed over on the 12th, and then two noted on the 18th-19th. A May with good winds from the west can produce good days for seabird passage, and the 25th was one such day with amongst others 23 Red-throated Divers, three Great Northern Divers, two White-billed Divers, two Arctic Skua, a Little Gull, 100 Guillemot, 50 Razorbill and 55 Puffin. The 4th was also notable with eight Red-throated Diver and a White-billed Diver on passage. Otherwise there were some quality shorebirds with a Little Ringed Plover on Nesatjødn and three Black-tailed Godwits on Klovningsneset on the 18th, as well as two passage Bar-tailed Godwits on Djupvikshaugen on the 2nd.
Passerines:
A Turtle Dove was in the Pedlestemmen are on the 18th and 19th. A day active Short-eared Owl was mobbed by crows over Karolinehagen on the 8th. A new or the same Shorelark from April was seen at the same location on the 12th, a Tawny Pipit rested briefly at Pedlestemmen on the 18th and a Short-toed Lark was at Austrheim on the 27th.
A period with warm winds between the 17th and 19th resulted in good falls of smaller thrushes, Sylvia warblers and Cuckoo. Subalpine Warbler and Utsira in May is usually a good combination. This year two birds were found, a male ringed in Merkeskogen on the 19th and a new male at Kallberg in Kvalvik on the last day of the month. A male red-breasted Flycatcher was in Herberg on the 17th and at Austrheim the following day. A male Lapland Bunting was at Austrheim on the 26th. A female Ortolan Bunting was at the dump on the 18th and in Nordvik the next day as well as a male at Austrheim between the 24th and 26th.
Ringing:
Only seven days ringing in Merkeskogen but nevertheless 430 birds were ringed, distributed between 28 different species. The best day was the 18th with 258 individuals. Willow Warbler (120), Redstart (34) and Whitethroat were the most numerous species. Most noteworthly ringing records were a Subalpine Warbler and four Bluethroats. The previous year for May resulted in 461 individuals being ringed of 42 species in 18 days of ringing activity.
Year ticks:
26 year ticks for the year include: White-billed Diver, Goldeneye and Barnacle Goose (4th), Carrion Crow and Great Skua (10th). A good run then followed with Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and Goosander (16th), Common Rosefinch, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Bluethroat and Reed Warbler (17th), Ortolan Bunting, Tawny Pipit, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Turtle Dove and Swift (18th) and Red-backed Shrike (19th). Followed by Canada Goose (24th), Little Gull and Arctic Skua (25th), Short-toed Lark (27th), Manx Shearwater (30th) and March Harrier (31st).
Rarities/local scarcities:
Little Ringed Plover was the 4th record, the last in May 2013
Tawny Pipit was the 8th record, the last in May 2018
Black-tailed Godwit was the 24th record, the last in September 2018
Short-toed Lark was the 51st record, the last in October 2018
Subalpine Warblers were the 54th and 55th records, the last in April 2019.
