Monthly report October 2019
General: coverage and weather
Average temperature was 9.5 degC, 0.1 degC over the normal. Highest temperature was 12.8 degC (9th), and lowest 4.6 degC (30th). Total rainfall was 125.9mm. Most rainfall in one day was 31.0mm (9th). Highest wind speed was 17.5m/s (8th). Total number of species ended on 135 versus 150 the previous year for the same month.
Raptors:
Eleven raptor species during the month where a young Pallid Harrier between the 18th and 20th was the pick of the bunch. A late Hobby on the 4th is also notable. As in previous years there were larger daily numbers of passage raptors and fewer passerines.
Hen Harrier were noted daily with one to five birds between the 2nd and 17th and a bird on the 31st. Goshawk were reported with singles on the 5th to 10th, and also on the 20th. Rough-legged Buzzard was noted with a single on the 4th and two on the 6th. A young Gyrfalcon female was around Merkeskogen on the 19th and 20th. Sparrowhawk were reported daily with one to five birds and a maximum of 15 on the 20th, Kestrel were noted with one to two birds until the 18th, The local White-tailed Eagle and Peregrine were also present, the former being noted with up to five birds on the 21st.
Shorebirds:
The 22 Pinkfeet from September were noted until the 13th while a new bird arrived on the 27th together with a Greylag. 25 Brent Geese were on passage on the 1st. Shelduck from September were still present with one to two daily until the 19th, as well as a Tufted Duck passing Pedleneset were the only ducks of note. The Quail reported in September was found dead on the 7th. A late Greenshank on the 4th and a minimum of 13 Jack Snipe on the 5th were the only noteworthy waders.
Seabird passage was not particularly enlightening during the month. Fulmars were noted only with double figures. A Sooty Shearwater on the 9th and a Glaucous Gull on the sea on the 12th are the most noteworthy birds. A light phase Actic Skua on the 2nd was the only passage skua while there was a maximum of 45 Kittewake on the 13th. Single late Puffins were noted between the 4th and 12th and the autumns first Little Auk came on the 30th in the form of 10, in a month with hardly any two figure counts of auks. There a few divers on passage. Red-throated Divers were noted with 47 on the 1st, and later 12 up until the 19th. Great Northern Diver were reported with singles on the 2nd, 5th, 20th and 27th. White-billed Divers were noted with singles on the 6th and 11th. Black-throated Diver is less then annual so two birds past Jupvikshaugen on the 5th and another single on the 12th are well worth a mention.
Passerines:
There are few Scandinavian localities that have a list of rarities that Utsira had this October. This October may be one of the best October months ever. That said there were no days with large falls of migrants typically small thrushes and song birds.
The rarities unfolded as follows; a juvenile Brown Shrike at Rabben on the 3rd.
A very nice but elusive adult Red-flanked Bluetail at Kutre on the 7th and 8th. This was the first adult Red-flanked Bluetail for the island.
These were followed by the first transatlantic birds for 20 years in the form of a Red-eyed Vireo in Helgesenhagen and a Dusky Warbler in Grotlehagen on the 9th. The Vireo was present until the 11th and the Dusky Warbler until the 15th.
A new ‘yankee’ in the form of a Swainson's Thrush hung in the net in Merkeskogen on the 10th. These were followed by a juvenile Red-flanked Bluetail ringed on the 17th and a new Dusky Warbler at Myre on the 21st.
Other ‘snacks’ included: a stationary Stock Dove on the 8th and 9th. Short-eared Owls were noted almost daily between the 2nd and 8th with one to two birds and a maximum of three on the 6th. Three different Shorelark were noted, a bird at Breimyr on the 5th, at Koltemyr between the 10th and 12th and another at Pedlestemmen on the 20th.
Olive-backed Pipits were ringed on the 5th and 13th while another was seen in Nordvik on the 7th. Red-throated Pipit was only noted with a single in the west on the 5th. Waxwings were reported with one to two birds between the 12th and 20th. A Blyth’s Reed Warbler was first seen and then later trapped in Nakkjen in Sørevågen on the 12th, the bird also being present the following day. A Barred Warbler was reported on the 2nd.
Yellow-browed Warblers were reported in fewer numbers than usual but daily with 10-15 birds between the 1st and 6th, three to seven between the 7th and 14th and one to two between the 15th and 23rd. Black Redstart were noted with one to two birds in different plumages at various localities between the 8th and 27th with a maximum of three on the 12th. A nice Stonechat was at Myre between the 14th and 20th.
A juvenile Red-breasted Flycatcher first seen in Beite was later ringed in Herberg on the 4th, with the bird still present in Herberg until the 7th. A further one to two Red-breasted Flycatchers were seen in the same period at various localities.
Also, a Long-tailed Tit on the 20th, a Great Grey Shrike on the 5th, plus various reports of Goldfinch between the 10th and 25th; the largest flock of 22 on the 25th. Twite were also well reported between the 2nd and 14th, with a maximum of 30 on the 5th. Lapland Bunting were also regular with one to four birds between the 4th and 16th. Pine Grosbeak invasion was only visible with a pair over Varen towards Merkeskogen on the 29th. An Arctic Redpoll was at the same location on the 12th. Little Bunting was scarce with a bird in Herberg on the 5th, bird ringed and later also present in Merkeskogen on the 6th and 7th and a new bird on the 9th.
Ringing:
A total of 1463 birds of 35 different species were ringed in 18 days in Merkeskogen. The best day was the 6th when 247 birds were ringed of which Goldcrest (76), Redwing (57) and Robin (23) were the most numerous. The years ringing was under average for an October but an improvement on the previous year when 1163 birds of 37 species were ringed during 17 days of activity in Merkeskogen.
One Red-flanked Bluetail, a Swainson’s Thrush, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Little Bunting, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, nine Yellow-browed Warblers, a Hawfinch, a Waxwing and three Twite were the most notable birds.
Year ticks:
October resulted in 16 new birds for the year: Jack Snipe (1st), Brown Shrike (3rd), Rough-legged Buzzard (4th), Red-throated Pipit, Great Grey Shrike and Little Bunting (5th), Red-eyed Vireo and Dusky Warbler (9th), Swainson’s Thrush (10th), Glaucous Gull, Artic Redpoll, Waxwing and Blyth’s Reed Warbler (12th), Pallid Harrier (18th), Long-tailed Tit (20th) and Pine Grosbeak (29th).
Rarities/local scarcities:
First Red-eyed Vireo (3rd for Norway) and new Utsira bird, species 329 for the Island.
Second Brown Shrike last in October 2005 (fifth for Norway)
Fifth Swainson’s Thrush for Utsira and Norway the last in October 1999.
Fourth Pine Grosbeak record, last in November 2012.
Tenth Pallid Harrier, last in May 2018.
The 18th Dusky Warbler, last in November 2017.
The 24th and 25th Red-flanked Bluetail, the last in September 2019 and first adult male.
The 24th Blyth’s Reed Warbler, the last in May 2018.
Here is some more photos of the rarities in this period:
Olive-backed Pipits were ringed on the 5th and 13th - here are both individuals:
Not only rarities:
Happy people at Utsira this period:
