Well into October, the weather has turned to the worse, and week 41 was basically gales, rain and very little birds. Week 42 started a bit better, and on Wednesday we could note the first real mega for the season!
After a few nice days, this Wednesday came up with the worst weather of the season: a strong gale and heavy rain showers. As a Pied Wheatear (svartstrupesteinskvett) was seen by a colleague birder the day before, we decided to go out by car and look along the roads. First stop was at the very north of the island, where we could sit sheltered in the car with a good overview of a large kelp-bed.
This is a good place for feeding wheatears, but suddenly something else popped up; a tiny thrush, briefly resembling a Song Thrush, but definitively too small. We realized we were facing one of the American species of wood thrushes, and after a few minutes of closer studies and photo documentation, the bird was identified as a Swainson’s Thrush (brunkinnskogtrost). This was the first record for Røst and Nordland County, and only the eight record for Norway!
Later the same day a Pacific Golden Plover (sibirlo) was found on the north beach, making this the best day so far this fall.
A couple of days early in the week also allowed ringing in the garden. Two Little Buntings in the same net was a nice surprise!
Yellow-browed Warblers (gulbrynsanger) also came in a late second wave; one was ringed an at least another two individuals were seen during the week.
A late Common Rosefinch (rosenfink) was also ringed mid-week.
A few Goldcrests (fuglekonge) were still around…
…and quite a few Northern Wheatears (steinskvett), suspected Greenland birds brought in with the westerly winds.
Not many shorebirds left, but a handful of Redshanks (rødstilk) are spread around the island – probably birds settled here for the winter.
Plenty of Northern Pintails (stjertand) around, mostly young birds, but also a good-looking adult male.
The Taiga Bean Geese (taigasædgås) stayed well into week 42….
…and Whooper Swans (sangsvane) have arrived in good numbers.
