From Helgeland to Trøndelag

It has been a few days since I last updated this blog. Since that time, I have finished fieldwork on Barnacle geese Branta leucopsis (N=hvitkinngås) in Helgeland. It was another interesting season, and my 23rd consequetive one! Many of the geese in our study area left around the 16th and 17th May, and on 19th a lot were observed on passage over Herøy on their way north, perhaps having come directly from the Solway Firth in the U.K.

A flock of Barnacle geese migrating north

With the Barnacle geese heading north, it was time for me to head south and home. I had a short break at the hide beside the nature reserve at Flakkan in Høylandet municipality (Nord-Trøndelag). The wetland was teeming with waterbirds, both wildfowl and waders. The highlight for me was a pair of wood sandpipers Tringa glareola (N=grønnstilk) only metres away from the hide.

Wood sandpiper

Today (26th May) I spent the evening at Flatholmen, about 15 minutes drive from home. Upon arrival I was greeted by a family of Canada geese Branta canadensis (N=kanadagås) - a pair with 6 small young. As I approached Flatholmskjær - where there are a number of nesting gulls and eiders the noise was deafening. And I soon discovered why - two adult white-tailed eagles Halieetus albicilla (N=havørn) were attempitng to snatch gull chicks from within the colony. The eagles left after around quarter of an hour - I couldn't see whether or not their catching attempts were successful.

A family of Canada geese

White-tailed eagle creating havoc in gull colony