Most of the four weeks in the north we spent at our homebase at Røst. Birding at Røst follow one main rule: always expect the unexpected! This period was no exception – a nice selection of rare visitors was seen during our stay.

Ducks were in focus these weeks. A highlight was the splendid drake American Wigeon (amerikablesand) that turned up with two female Eurasian Wigeons (brunnakke).

Another Yankee – a drake Green-winged Teal (amerikakrikkand) – was seen briefly by a couple of occations.

A female Smew (lappfiskand) stayed most of the period, a are visitor at Røst.

Also, Gadwalls (snadderand) and several pairs of Pintails (stjertand) were present. Here a drake Pintail (upper) and a drake Gadwall.

Flocks of geese visited the island, among them a group of Greenland White-fronted Geese (grønlandsk tundragås) that stayed for a couple of weeks.

A Stock Dove (skogdue) was a highly unexpected visitor and a new for the island, the bird species number 319 for Røst!

Another exciting find was a Willow Ptarmigan (lirype), the island’s second record.

A Black Kite (svartglente) showed well one evening in April.

A Jackdaw (kaie) was also seen briefly – another rare visitor on the island.

Four Common Cranes (trane) landed shortly before they took off northwards.

The Litle Gull (dvergmåke) has returned to the island, hanging around the local Black-headed Gulls (hettemåke).

An adult Iceland Gull (grønlandsmåke) were still around the harbour in April, while a juvenile bird showed up in May.

Not a lot of waders around, but flocks of Purple Sandpipers (fjæreplytt) were still around, well camouflaged and easily overseen on the rocky shores.

The Ruddy Turnstones (steinvender) are back, increasing in numbers throughout the period.

At least two Black-tailed Godwits (svarthalespove) were seen in display flight in the wetlands.

The Great Skuas (storjo) are back on the breeding grounds.

A boat-trip out to the bird cliffs revealed a surprisingly high number of Razorbills (alke)

The Shags (toppskarv) were in their best breeding plumage.

The colour-ringed Rock Pipit (skjærpiplerke) ZUC – originally ringed in winter-quarters on the coast of Møre, was back on the same spot breeding for the third consecutive year.

Skylarks (sanglerke) are among the first passerines arriving. The species has a stronghold at Røst, with several pairs breeding.

Snow Buntings (snøspurv) stop over on the island in high number during migration. This female perched on the tail of a stockfish.

Chiffchaffs (gransanger) are also among the early arrivers.

A single Ring Ouzel (ringtrost) was spotted during migration.

A House Martin (taksvale) was hunting insects during harsh conditions early May

Now we look forward to new adventures on the island in June!