Autumn is here: A quick overview of the spring

 I have been really busy with work and house-work this spring, but with being busy, there still has been some time for birding, and even with the limited time it still yielded some really good birds! But though the birding has been limited, I have had plenty of time for hoverflies! But let us start with the birds.

Bird Highlights since 19th march:

Solitary Sandpiper, 1st record for Faroe Islands, Tórshavn 27th may

Roseate Tern, 1st record for Faroe Islands, Sumba, 16th July

Western Subalpine Warbler, 7th(?) record for Faroe Islands, Dalur 21st May

American Wigeon, 17th record for Faroe Islands, Gróthúsvatn, 18th May

Long-tailed Skua, very rare spring visitor, Klivaløkshaga, 21st May

European Turtle Dove, rare spring visitor, Tórshavn, 7th June

Honorable mention of birds I didn't manage to see: Caspian Gull, 3rd record for Faroe Islands, Múli, 14th April, Cedar Waxwing, 1st record for Faroe Islands, Vatnsoyrar 4th July

Also the Short-billed Gull was resighted 30th March at Sørvági, where I managed to get some cracking views and photos, which made it feel like finding it anew!

So even though the number of birds hasn't been great, due to almost constant westerlies, the quality of birds has been really awesome.

Hoverflies has also been a quite exciting with four new species for Faroe Islands! Melangyna lasiophtalma, Eupeodes luniger, Eupeodes latifasciatus and Parasyrphus punctulatus, with M. lasiopthalma being a new resident hoverfly species for Faroe Islands. Otherwise I refound Syritta pipiens at Sumba, the last record for Faroe Islands was back in ca. 1915.

Eupeodes latifasciatus female

Eupeodes luniger male

Melangyna lasiopthalma female

Parasyrphus punctulatus male, 1st for Faroe Islands (1st of two records I found in two days, the other one was collected for the national museum collection)

Syrphus vitripennis, rare to uncommon visitor

Syritta pipiens, first record since 1915, but it was surprisingly the most common hoverfly species in Sumba, though I didn't find it anywhere else.

In general it has been interesting Spring and Summer birding and insect-wise. It is now turning autumn and the fun will commence shortly, hopefully tomorrow as I will be heading to Suðuroy for a quick trip.