UTSIRA

 Utsira is one of the best rarity spots in northern Europe. It can be compared with Fair Isle, the Scillies, Ouessant, Helgoland and even Vlieland.
It's fame is based on sightings of extreme rare birds, such as Siberian Accentor, Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Thick-billed Warbler, Masked Shrike, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Myrtle Warbler and Chestnut Bunting (all passerines...). Species like Red-flanked Bluetail, Lanceolated Warbler, Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler and Subalpine Warbler (all passerines...) have been seen on several occasions. Richard's Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Little Bunting (all passerines...) are common in some years. I adore passerines!!!

This is probably because Utsira is small, isolated and situated along the southwestern coast of Norway, about 16 kilometers off Haugesund. 
Best time of the year is obviously autumn when thousands of birds pass the island. The first week of october is generally regarded as the best week, but may, august and september can be quite good.
Below an impression of the island.




Herberg with Varden



Footballfield
typical vagrant habitat

garden at Hovden



the ringing station

Truls Andersen showing Lanceolated Warbler

Lanceolated Warbler showing Truls Andersen

Eirik Nydal Adolfsen introduced me to the birding scene

 Some autumn birds

Pechora Pipit

Olive-backed Pipit

Yellow-browed Warbler

Little Bunting

Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-breasted Flycatcher


              Ringing produces a variety of rare species
Radde's Warbler

Lanceolated warbler

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Olive-backed Pipit

Common Kestrel

Weather can be a disadvantage, being often bad with storms and heavy rain


Even the most fanatic twitchers struggle with the bad weather