16th–31st August
The Nightjar from last period was caught again on the 16th.
As with the first part of the month, the ringing forests was very much in focus also during the latter part, with several Barred Warblers, Water Rail, a couple of Wood Warblers, several Wrynecks, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch and topped by a Greenish Warbler (Øystein B. Nilsen) on the 22nd. This last one stayed put until the 29th.
Most of these species also turned up outwith the ringing area, with for instance up to three Barred Warblers in a day.
A flycatcher caught on the 24th had a primary pattern that would make any Collared Flycatcher envious. The white spot on the bases was just as marked as it should be, but not all other characters were according to the book.
A Spotted Redshank was in the southwest on the 21st. However, the bird cliff of Spannholmane is the place for shorebirds on Utsira. A trip there on the 23rd gave many of the common ones, including the year´s first Little Stint, though overshadowed by a Temminck´s Stint (Øystein B. Nilsen), the first record since 1999.
On a second trip on the 26th a Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage was the best, an unusual species in a rare plumage for Utsira.
A follow up of an already fine year for raptors on Utsira occurred from 24th to 26th, days much like 4th September last year.
Fresh southeasterlies was obviously what they needed, and European Honey Buzzard, Northern Harrier and Osprey came along in addition to the more regular species.
The least regular was a Pallid Harrier (Geir Mobakken) coming in over the north in the evening of the 24th. This third for Utsira stayed on the isle for the following five days. A full set of harriers in a single year is a nice delivery for an island in the North Sea.
More good birds followed in much the same weather, SE and showers, in the coming days, with not one but two Citrine Wagtails (Geir Mobakken) in the western fields on the 27th.
The same or a new Temminck´s Stint suddenly appeared on the same spot and joined the wagtails. Next day all three birds had relocated to the northern fields, where both wagtails were trapped for ringing.
Curlew Sandpiper showed again on the 28th with five birds at the seawatch point, and a Honey Buzzard was on the wing the next day.
Trapping of petrels seems to have stopped for the year, clocking in on 47 European Storm Petrels, almost as few as last year, and zero Leach´s.
During the last few days of the month the wind veered north, after a most productive August on Utsira.
