Saturday 15 November 2014

Return of the Zak


On the road with Rune Z in Østfold today. Relatively modest hopes of Water Pipit, Black Redstart, Firecrest or Stonechat didn't materialise but we did alright. The reedbeds at Arekilen were enlivened by the sounds if not the sight of calling Bearded Tits (skjeggmeis) and Water Rails (vannrikse). What at first seemed like a birdless sea off Virkekilen eventually offered up 5 Little Auks (alkekonge), 2 Razorbills (alke), 7 Guillemot (lomvi), 2 Black-throated Divers (storlom), 3 Red-throated Divers (smålom) and 4 Long-tailed Duck (havelle). 5 Rock Pipits (skjærpiplerke) were grilled to see if they were damp and a calling Chiffchaff (gransanger) failed to show itself.

Two drive by Great Grey Shrikes (varsler) revealed themselves and at Kurefjorden there were 8 Slavonian Grebes (horndykker) amongst the more numerous Great Crested (toppdykker). A perfectly acceptable days birding for the middle of November aka the worst month for birding ever.

Two not particularly close Little Auks

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