Citrine Wagtail

Citrine Wagtail

There are days when there is nothing to see at Viðareiði. But today was not one of those days. I went birding there and I went straight to the area called “Eysturi á heygum”. That’s were I found the Buff-breasted Sandpipers (not buff-bellied hehe) and a lot of different cool stuff.

Citrine Wagtail

As soon as I came it was obvious that a lot of pipits were around. 200+ were foraging on the ground. So I started checking them in order to find a Red-throated. But I couldn’t find anything special. So I started to search for shorebirds by walking around the area.

All of a sudden I flushed a large black-and-white wagtail from a ditch. It called so loud with a single-syllabel-call that I almost needed hearing protection. My experience from Turkey tells me that eastern Yellow Wagtails can sound identical to Citrine Wagtails, but this one sounded very convincing for a Citrine.

Northern Wheatear with a Greenlandic appearence

The bird landed a few hundred meters away and after relocating it next to a sheep it could be identified as a 1cy Citrine Wagtail. It’s the 7th for the Faroes and my 4th self-found bird. I’ve actually seen 6 of the 7 birds recorded and it’s quite interesting that for every 1 Yellow Wagtail I’ve seen 3 Citrine Wagtails on the Faroes. I do not know if the reflects actual occurence – but it’s not like I’m closing my eyes when putative Yellow Wagtails fly by.

Whinchat – my first this autumn on the Faroes.

Afterwards I checked some gardens in Hvannasund. In the northernmost garden I got very brief views of a Blyth’s Reed Warbler. It is most likely the same bird as on the 3rd september just one kilometer further south. I used a lot of time trying to get photos, but I didn’t succeed. It is by far the most dense garden in Hvannasund. I hope it sticks around for some proper photo-oppertunities.

Silas Olofson