Monthly Report April 2015
General: coverage and weather:
Back to basics April! Compared to last years record warm year there were cold winds generally from the NW. Average temperature was 5.4 degC, only 0.9 degC over the normal. Highest temperature was 10.9 degC (19th), and lowest 0.5 degC (2nd). Total precipitation was 69.4mm. Most rainfall in one day was 12.7mm (25th). Strongest wind gust was 21.2 m/s (1st). Total number of species ended on only 82, a significant reduction compared to last April when species 112 were recorded. It is quite unusual to record under 100 species for the month of April.
A long maintenance period for the boat and damaged sound system in Merkeskogen takes the blame for the poor coverage in the month. All species have not been recorded in artsobservasjoner.no either, so the quality of data is lower than normal. Most of the new arrivals were mid-month, such as Redshank, Hen Harrier, etc.
Raptors:
A Hen Harrier in the middle of the month, singles of Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel on the 27th are the only birds of note other than resident Peregrine Falcons and White-tailed Eagles.
Shorebirds:
The 13-15 Pinkfeet from February were present until the 10th, with a new bird between the 25th and 27th. The Little Grebe in Nordvikvågen was seen until the 4th. Greyalgs in breeding modus were also evident. The long period with cold winds from the NW resulted in little seabird movement. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser were note don the 7th. 35 Fulmars were noted at the breeding sites on Beiningen and in Skarvanes for the first time on the 25th.
Passerines:
Two Stock Doves were present between the 7th and 11th and a Great Grey Shrike on the 10th and 11th. Otherwise there was little passerine movement with 40 Meadow Pipit and 250 Starling from the 5th and 300 Fieldfare on the 11th the best movements, indicating the poor passage of birds during the month. A Stonechat from March held out till the middle of the month, a Mistle Thrush on the 12th and 2 male and female Hawfinch between the 9th and 17th were the best of the rest.
Ringing:
No noteworthy falls in the month and a damaged sound system resulted in poor coverage and low ringing totals. A total of only 31 individuals of 11 species were ringed. Best day was the 17th when 8 individuals were ringed consisting of Blackbird (3), Siskin(2) and Chiffchaff (2). Most noteworthy ringed species was the Stonechat. The years ringing is way behind the previous year when 446 individuals of 22 species were ringed in 13 days.
Year ticks:
April resulted in 20 new species for the year:
Linnet (2nd), Common Scoter (3rd), Lesser-black Backed Gull (4th), Stock Dove (7th), Hawfinch (9th), Great Grey Shrike (10th), Swallow (11th), Wheatear (18th), Yellowhammer, Lesser Redpoll and Black Redstart (19th), Common Sandpiper (20th), Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit and House Martin (19th) and Kestrel (20th).
National and local rarities:
No records of any birds in this category.
Here some photos from April - all taken by Atle Grimsby:
