Dotterels

A long, long day. Out at 0430 and back just before 2230. A really good day though!

Started with 5 hours of seawatching at Brentetangen where at most we were six people. The winds had died down since yesterday and there was little moving although we all hoped that the Cory’s Shearwater seen further up the fjord yesterday evening might still be around (which it wasn’t). Highlights were a light phase Pomarine Skua heading north and a Great Skua which took about 2 hours to head south with long periods spent sitting on the sea. Eighty odd Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars and Red-throated Divers were all heading south after having been blown in yesterday. Also a handful of Scaup and Black Guillemots and a single Little Gull. Behind us we had a fine Redstart in song.

At Kurefjorden there were few waders to see from the tower with five Dunlin the highlight. The walk to the tower was good for warblers though with three year ticks in the form of singing Icterine, Marsh and Garden Warbler.

Next on the agenda was to find a Dotterel or two and boy did I have luck! In total 37 Dotterel in flocks of 10,13,8 and 5! I also managed a better picture this time.

Dotterel - one of in total 37 around Kurefjorden

Whilst searching for Dotterel I also had two Hobby, a Merlin, a Rough-legged Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, six Ospreys and a singing Cuckoo. I was joined by Tommy, Per and Steinar to admire the Dotterelæs and we then went upto Ovenbukta. In the wet horse fields here we had 4 Temminck’s Stints, a Blue-headed (flava) Wagtail along side three Grey-headed (Thunbergi). Also many hirundines feeding here low over the fields.

Thouroughly satisfied with how the day had been I decided to head towards Hellesjøvannet. On the way I had two pairs of Buzzards including this pair. He one of the birds looks to be moulting and has a completely different silhouette to the normal bird.

A pair of Common Buzzards showing very different "jizz"

At Kallaksjøen there were 46 Cranes and on Hærsetsjøen five late Pink-footed Geese.

Driving up the east side of Hemnesjøen there were a lot of birds in Kragtorpvika. A flock of 11 Temminck’s Stints was a very good number, 3 Ospreys including this one which flew low over my head,

Osprey

Over 50 Great Crested Grebes with many breeding within a colony of around 100 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Red-throated and 2 Black-throated Divers and good numbers of hirundines and Swifts. A Cuckoo was also singing here.

Getting to Hellesjøvannet at 1915 it was virtually windless and there were around 300 hirundines feeding over the lake alongside eight Common Terns and three Hobbies which were hawking insects amongst the hirundines. At least three Marsh Harriers, the pair of Pochard, male Gadwall, calling Water Rail, two singing Reed Warblers, two calling Buzzards, the nesting Whooper Swans were all quality birds. A single “boom” sounded very much like a Bittern but could also have been a man made sound from a nearby farm. I waited 45 minutes but didn’t hear it again so believe it was a man made noise.

At Haugrim 19 Cranes and at Mellom Hanneborg 3 Cranes.

A great day and now it's time for bed!

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Redstart