Monthly report November 2019
General: coverage and weather
Highest temperature was 9.3degC (22nd), and lowest 0.5degC (11th). Wettest and most windy day was the 28th with 12mm and 21m/s respectively. The total number of species for November ended on 70 compared to 65 in November 2018.
Raptors:
Sparrowhawk were recorded regularly throughout the month, while a juvenile Goshawk was noted between the 4th and 7th. A Merlin made a visit on the 15th and the local Peregrine Falcons were noted with up to two birds while there was a maximum of three White-tailed Eagles during regular reports throughout the month.
Shorebirds:
Pinkfeet and Greylags from October remained until the 2nd with two and three birds respectively. Two Tundra Bean Geese were at Austrheim on the 23rd and a female Goldeneye was on Måkeskittmyr on the 14th and 15th.
An outstanding seabird report were large flocks of diving ducks on the sea outside Lausingen / Spannholmane area as well as in the south and east from the 16th. The months local rarity was a fine male King Eider which was in amongst the large flock of Eider on the 16th. A total of 700 Eider, 100 Long-tailed Duck and 30 Common Scoter were noted on this day. The highest count of Eider was 800 on the 23rd.
A Water Rail was in the marsh at Merkeskogen between the 4th and 23rd, with two birds there on the last of the days. Otherwise there was a large flock of Purple Sandpipers on Spannholmane and a single Turnstone on the 16th.
Passerines:
The months star passerine was without doubt the Hume’s Warbler in Måsadalen and later at Klopp on the 15th. Short-eared Owl was on rows with singles over Merkeskogen on the 8th and a passage bird out from Jupvikshaugen on the 17th. Pine Grosbeak were also reported with a single over Klopp and three arriving from Jupvikshaugen on the 7th. Two-barred Crossbill were noted with singles on the 15th and two on the 16th. A Lapland Bunting on the 15th and two large flocks of Twite of 15 and 33 on the 15th and 17th respectively were unusual for the time of year. Waxwing were reported almost daily until the 17th with the largest flock being 30 on the 2nd.
Ringing:
Four days of ringing in Merkeskogen during the month. A total of 96 birds of 12 different species were ringed. The best day was the 9th when 47 birds were ringed. The most numerous species were Mealy Redpoll (28) and Lesser Redpoll (14). A Woodcock and two Fieldfare were the months most noticeable ringing records.
Year ticks:
Three new species for the year were: Hume’s Warbler (15th), King Eider (16th) and Bean Goose (23rd).
Rarities/local scarcities:
King Eider was only the 2nd for Utsira, the last in October 1995.
Fifth and sixth records of Pine Grosbeak, last in October 2019.
The 10th Hume’s Warbler, the last in October 2016.