November in Faroe Islands is not as much as the end of autumn, more than it is the beginning of winter. Passerines are disappearing, being replaced by gulls, ducks and alcids, the main staples of winter. The weather is getting harsher and the days shorter, which is why yesterdays Red-flanked Bluetail was an immense surprise! Found in Hvalvík Plantation, it offered absurd views, down to three meters, flickering its azure-blue tail. A nice period for the relatively concise but powerful sentence that this autumn has been birding-wise.
This autumn has been heavily dominated by near constant winds and rain, making birding, especially in september, a very frustrating activity. Though the small breaks in the inclement weather offered some quality birds! Notable self-found highlights being American Golden Plover at Klivaløkshaga, 1st for Faroe Islands, Blackpoll Warbler at Sandavági, 3rd record for Faroe Islands, Snow Goose at Sandsvatn, 3rd catergory A record and yesterdays Red-flanked Bluetail at Hvalvík, 4th record for Faroe Islands. Other scarcities and rarities this autumn were Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Buntings, Pectoral Sandpiper and Citrine Wagtail.
But I haven't been the only one to find rarities this autumn. Other notable highlights have been Red-eyed Vireo at Nólsoy, Radde's Warbler at Lamba, Baird's Sandpiper at Stóravatn, White-rumped Sandpiper at Hvalba, White-tailed Eagle at Sumba, Arctic Warbler sp. at Porkeri and an Oriental Turtle Dove at Viðareiði. Of all the aforementioned birds, I only managed to twitch the Radde's Warbler, but that was a nice lifer! So overall there has been quality birds, but it has been tough in this nigh-constant rain and wind, overall the number of birds has been quite low and we have felt somewhat cheated out of the massive influx of Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Baird's Sandpipers that hit Europe this autumn. But such is life, now it is time to do some gulling, which Faroe Islands excel at immensely. Target-species this winter will be Slaty-backed Gull, Vega Gull and American Herring Gull, maybe even a long-staying, confiding Ross's Gull at a small cozy harbour.
Here are some photos of the birds from this autumn.
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| Citrine Wagtail |
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| Pectoral Sandpiper |
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| Snow Goose |
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| American Golden Plover |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Little Bunting |
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| Radde's Warbler |
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| Blackpoll Warbler |
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| Little Bunting |
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| Red-flanked Bluetail |
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