Desert Wheatear at Jæren

While we were gathered at Sola for the annual meeting of Norway’s bird records committees, a Desert Wheatear turned up a bit further south. After an intense weekend of discussions on Saturday and Sunday, we managed to get down to Kvalbeinsanden in Hå municipality just before dusk. And there it was, the Desert Wheatear, right where it was supposed to be. A long‑awaited addition to my Norway list.

This is the first record of the species in Norway this year, and a classic example in every respect. It also marks the 19th record for Rogaland, which accounts for exactly half of all Norwegian records. Most of these have come from the Jæren coastline, with a clear peak in November.