October week in Lofoten

Last week we left Røst for a trip back to «the main islands» of Lofoten. It started very well, as rumours reached us about a Hoopoe (hærfugl) near the village Sund in Flakstad. After half an hour’s search, the charismatic bird suddenly popped up!

The main purpose of the trip was to guide a group of students on an eagle-safari from Svolvær. We were lucky and hit the only day of the week with nice weather, and the White-tailed Eagles (havørn) didn’t let us down! Some 40 individuals hung around the boat and picked up the herring we served them, most of them non-breeding birds in the very last subadult stage before they reach the fully adult plumage. 

We also had a couple of nice young birds – hatced this summer – in their first plumage.

In Svolvær we also met a very unusual guest: a Rook (kornkråke).

Birding in the woods around Svolvær is quite a contrast to the island life at Røst. Woodland birds are on the move this fall, and especially Two-bared Crossbills where numerous, feeding on spruce cones.

Coal tits (svartmeis) were also present in small flocks.

Northern Hawk Owls (haukugle) seems to be on the move, and quite a few were reported from Lofoten. This one was hunting just outside Svolvær.

Returning to Røst, we stopped in Å, the most southwestern village in Lofoten. To our surprise we found a Tree Sparrow (pilfink) among the regular House sparrows. This is a species expanding its range in the north, but still uncommon in Lofoten.

A Greater Spotted Woodpecker worked hard with the cones from one of the few spruce trees in the village.