16th–30th September
The period had its share of bad weather with strong northerlies at times, not exactly an invitation for birds to go to the island.
In combination with rain, however, such weather systems can produce birds. One of the Utsira classics, Yellow-browed Warbler, made the debut on the 19th and several were seen the following days. On the 20th, one trap-round in the ringing forests gave one Jack Snipe, two Barred Warblers and one Red-breasted Flycatcher, all in the same row of nets!
Another Barred Warbler was trapped on the 22nd. Otherwise there has been the odd Water Rail, Grey Wagtail, Ring Ouzel and Wood Warbler.
A Pink-footed Goose has made Utsira at least its temporarily home. Of birds with stripy underwings, Northern Harrier, Long-eared Owl and Short-eared Owl have been seen on several days.
A Eurasian Wryneck was trapped on the 23rd, and there was a Hawfinch at large. Next day, a female type Black Redstart turned up. On the 25th six Barnacle Geese flew over the isle, the first for the autumn, the same status as Blue Tit got the same day. The following day two Common Rosefinches stayed together at the dump.
Little Bunting was new in on the 27th, with Richard´s Pipit, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Common Rosefinch other treasures the same day.
All and everyone Utsira classics, though overshadowed by one that these days seems to join these icons, a Red-flanked Bluetail (Bjørn Ove Høyland et al.). This handsome gem was seen twice early morning in Herberg.
Another trip to Spannholmane the same day delivered both Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur, in addition to some 50 common shorebirds, among them two Red Knots.
Calendar showed 28th and it was time for two ordinary species not recorded earlier in the year: Great Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Bullfinch.
Other things of note this day was Velvet Scoter, Northern Harrier, Eurasian Stonechat, Great Grey Shrike and Yellowhammer. A new Little Bunting also joined in.
Bird of the day, however, was a Eurasian Hobby coming in from the west early morning.
The ringers trapped 205 birds of 22 species during the day, among them two Red-breasted Flycatcher. Seven Mistle Thrushes was flushed in the east on the 29th and one Hawfinch was seen.
In the period under review the Lapland Longspurs peaked at 30. Several eastern Common Chiffchaffs was starting to turn up during the latter part of the month.
Here follow more of this month´s birds at a glance:
The Red-flanked Bluetail was only seen early morning in poor light, so documentation was a challenge:
