Photo: Dánjal Petur Højgaard
It has been a crazy week for migrants. On 2. May Dánjal Petur Højgaard caught a Scops Owl in his fathers garage in Rituvík. It is the 3rd record for the Faroes. Sadly it could not be relocated after being released.
On the same day a male Hen Harrier was photographed at Funningur, Eysturoy. It is the 6th record for the Faroes.
Rodmund á Kelduni and I decided to check Suðuroy during the weekend. Iceland had reported Black-winged Stilt, Avocet and Pallid Harriers. So the hopes were high. But we soon found out how the Icelanders get their birds…
Icelandic Coast Guard guiding the rarities to Iceland
Suðuroy did deliver good birds. Some of the best were Pied Wagtail, 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers, Brambling, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Common Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, Short-eared Owl etc.
Pied Wagtail
Common Whitethroat
Carrion Crow
Razorbill
Short-eared Owl
Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
But the star birds proved to be the long-staying Steller’s Eider, which for once gave supreme views.
Steller’s Eider
Steller’s Eider
Rodmund
The other star bird was a Twite. It is the first record for 30 years. It has been breeding on the Faroes earlier, but no birds have been seen since 1987. So it was nice finally to get one.
Twite
Twite
Silas
Birdingfaroes 