Monthly report December 2017
General: coverage and weather:
Average temperature was 5.3 degC, 1.5 degC over the normal. Highest temperature was 10.3 degC (23rd), and lowest -0.3 degC (12th). Total precipitation was 192.1mm. Most precipitation in one day was 26.4mm (14th). Highest wind speed was 29.2 m/s (8th). A total of 42 different species were noted during the month, a little under the previous year with 50 species.
Raptors:
Only records of the local White-tailed Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, as well as a Sparrowhawk on the 5th.
Shorebirds:
No large gatherings of gulls or arrivals of geese in the month. A young Mute Swan arrived in Sørevågen on the 7th and was present until the end of the month. A male Red-breasted Merganser moved between the north and south between the 21st and 28th. A Water Rail in Merkeskogen on the 16th, and maybe the bird was present through the whole period. A Glaucous Gull was in Sørevågen on the 9th and 10th, while a Coot was with the Mute Swan between the 7th and 12th. A Curlew was noted at various locations between the 7th and 19th.
Passerines:
Few resident passerines during the month apart from Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, and Tree Sparrow at various feeding stations. The last Chiffchaff was noted on the 4th. 11 Starling were noted through the period. A large influx of thrushes between Christmas and New Year resulted in 650 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing and 15 Blackbird on the 28th. The influx was associated with a large snowfall on Haugalandet. Utsira was free of snow the whole of the month.
Ringing:
No ringing activity during the month.
Year ticks:
Coot was the only and last species of the year (7th).
Rarities/local scarcities:
No birds falling into this category were noted during the month.
A bit of December mood at Utsira (photo by Atle Grimsby):
