Monthly report October 2020
General: coverage and weather
Highest temperature was 16.7 degC (2nd), and lowest 4.8 degC 819th). Total rainfall was 185.2mm. Most rainfall in one day was 45.1mm (20th9. Highest wind speed was 19.5 m/s and 27.7 m/s gust (28th). Total number of species ended on 155 versus 135 the previous year.
Raptors:
Nine different species during the month of which an Osprey on the 1st was the pick of the bunch. A female-type Hen Harrier was noted between the 6th and 9th, a male on the 11th and then singles on the 17th and 30th. A Goshawk was present between the 3rd and 6th, and Sparrow Hawk daily with one to two birds throughout the month, with a maximum of five on the 30th. A Rough-legged Buzzard passed over on the 13th. Kestrel were noted daily until the 10th with one to two birds with a maximum of five on the 3rd. Merlin were also reported daily with singles between the 1st and 9th. The local Peregrine Falcons were noted with up to three birds and White-tailed Eagle with up to four birds during the month.
Shorebirds:
Most of the numbers of geese and dabbling ducks from September held out some way into October. 15 Pink-feet increased to the 23 until the 11th, followed by two to three between the 15th and 23rd. The eight Barnacle Geese reduced to six between the 6th and 11th while one was still present on the 13th. Various Wigeon and Teal were on Pedlestemmen and Måkeskittmyr until the 18th. Wigeon were noted with a maximum of 21 on the 2nd and Teal with a maximum of 13 on the 1st. One of the Pintail from September was still present until the 8th. Two female Shoveler were seen in Måkskittmyr and Pedlestemmen between the 3rd and 7th.
The juvenile Tufted Duck from September was joined by another on the 3rd and were still there on the 4th. An adult female Velvet Scoter was in Nordvik on the 8th and then in Sørevågen on the 25th. Goldeneye was noted with a female on the 7th and a male on the 8th in Nordvikvågen. A Slavonian Grebe was in Sørevågen on the 19th and 20th before finding a companion in Nordvikvågen on the 21st, being still present on the 23rd.
As with last year there were no movements of seabirds during the month. Fulmar failed to reach double figures. Two Sooty Shearwaters on the 1st and a Glaucous gull on Lausingen followed by a visit to Sørevågen on the 8th were the most notable records.
Kittiwake were noted on most days in small numbers with only the 9th recording double figures when 200 were counted. Guillemot and Razorbill were also noted daily in low numbers with maximums of 80 and 15 respectively. Little Auk was noted with 13 on the 13th and two on the 25th. Puffin were noted with one to four birds between the 8th and 14th. October was not especially rich on the diver front either. Red-throated Diver were daily on passage until the 18th with a maximum of 21 on the 14th and there were single Great Northern Divers between the 1st and 9th.
Water Rail was also reported daily throughout the whole month and four were noted on the 5th. Most of the normal wader species were present in varying numbers. Jack Snipe were noted with a maximum of 28 on the 3rd.
Passerines:
It is difficult to beat September or last year October for passerines. Major rarities were absent this time. Nevertheless two Short-eared Owl were around various locations between the 2nd and 6th and a Long-eared Owl was hunting at Myre on the 23rd. Two Woodlarks were by the church and the dump between the 2nd and 10th, the bird at the dump still present until the 14th.
Two Shorelarks were at various locations on the 3rd, with singles between the 4th and 7th, followed by another on the 17th. Richard’s Pipit were also recorded, with one to two birds at various locations between the 2nd and 8th. Olive-backed Pipit was only noted with a single bird that was caught in the nets in Merkeskogen on the 6th. Red-throated Pipit was noted with a bird at a few localities on the 4th and 5th with a new bird reported on the 8th.
A young Bluethroat was in Herberg on the 1st and was followed by a female in Grotledalen 3rd to the 5th and a male on the 6th. A young Red-flanked Bluetail was briefly seen in Helgesenhagen on the 13th, then when sound was used in Merkeskogen the bird was caught in the nets the same afternoon. The Siberian Stonechat from September was still present at Jupvikshoien until the 10th. One to four Stonechats were noted between the 1st and 13th. A skulky Blyth’s Reed Warbler was seen in Kvalvik on the 6th and in Skarvanesvågen on the 7th. A Marsh Warbler was more stable at Hovland on the 4th. Barred Warblers were noted with one to four birds in various gardens between the 1st and 10th. Yellow-browed Warblers reduced in numbers from September with a maximum during the month of 13 on the 2nd. Between the 6th and 10th there were one to four birds. A Firecrest from September with ring was in Herberg on the 2nd and 3rd and another seen at Austre plantning on the 8th. A new un-ringed bird, a male was in Herberg on the 17th, with two there the next day. A Red-breasted Flycatcher from September was in Austre plantning until the 3rd, and a new bird was in Helgesenhagen on the 5th and 6th.
The influx of land birds from September continued in October with lots of tit flocks and finches. Blue Tit with a record maximum of 1500 on the 3rd. A flock of six roaming Long-tailed Tit arrived from the north at Helganes. A new Nuthatch was ringed on the 1st, such that two different ringed birds were noted at various localities until the 15th. One of the Nuthatch was present at various feeding stations between Hovland and Skare between the 12th and 30th. Great Grey Shrike records came from a bird in Jupvikshaugen on the 3rd and Siradalen on the 8th. A young Rosy Starling was at Bakerijordet on the 11th, and one to two Two-barred Crossbills were in the Varen and Merkeskogen area between the 14th and 19th. Common Rosefinch were noted with singles on the 3rd and two on the 4th. Little Buntings were present with one to five daily at various paces between the 1st and 10th, where three were stable in the Bakerijordet and Beite area.
Ringing:
A total of 2041 of 38 different species were ringed during 19 days of ringing in Merkeskogen. The best day was the 6th when 334 birds were ringed, of which Goldcrest (121), Blackcap (73) and Redstart (46) were the most numerous. This years ringing exceeded the previous year when 1463 birds of 35 species were ringed in 18 days of ringing. A Red-flanked Bluetail, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Little Bunting, six Yellow-browed Warblers, a Hawfinch and a Nuthatch were the most notable ringing records.
Year ticks:
October resulted in nine new birds for the month in the form of; Red-throated Pipit (2nd), Great Grey Shrike, Goshawk and Shoveler (3rd), Red-flanked Bluetail and Rough-legged Buzzard (13th) Parrot Crossbill (15th), Long-tailed Tit (18th) and Long-eared Owl (23rd).
Rarities/local scarcities:
22nd to 24th Firecrest, the last in September 2020
25th record of Shoveler, the last in April 2019
26th record of Red-flanked Bluetail, the last in October 2019
Still the 30th record of Siberian Stonechat from September