Øygarden 19.04-24.04.2025 - Another week that never was....

On Saturday 19 April I did my usual round at Herdlevær late and lazy. Nothing special but a few singing Chiff-chaff gransanger, some Wheatear steinskvett, a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin and the usual.

White-tailed Eagle havørn and Raven ravn doing their thing at Breivik

The next morning a quick look at Tjeldstø produced a couple of Golden Plover heilo and five other species of wader. I also heard my first Willow Warbler løvsanger of the year on the way home. In the afternoon we drove to Vinnes to visit friends (and do just a little bit of birding:)) Here the highlights were Parrot Crossbills furukorsnebb with young, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, several singing Blackcap munk and even more spectacular - a species I have never seen or heard in Øygarden - Tawny Owl kattugle.

Female Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb

The morning of 21.04 was also spent in the Vinnes area with highlights being a pair of Grey Wagtail vintererle acting very much like they have a nest close by. Brief views of a Pied Flycatcher svarthvit fluesnapper was another new for the year:)

On 22.04 I barely left the house so the hghlight was a very unseasonal pair of Bullfinch dompap in the garden. Most encouragingly both Curlew storspove and Snipe enkeltbekkasin continue to display close to my house, White-tailed Eagles havørn still showing daily along with the usual suspects. An arrival of thrushes was obvious with 40+ Fieldfare gråtrost and a couple of Redwing rødvingetrost feeding in fields at Tjeldstø.

A trip to the dentist and work on 23.04 saw me do a drive-by past Kollsnes / Breivik on the way home. Best sighting were three Pinkfeet kortnebbgås at Kollsnes. In the evening some herring sild turned up outside my house and I managed to catch one, VERY tasty:)

Pinkfeet kortnebbgås at Kollsnes

A recon for fishing gear ahead of a work related task on 24.04 saw me head to Straumsundet. Not much in the way of fishing gear in the way of the upcoming operation. Just 12 Eider ærfugl feeding around the fish farm and a flock of around 30 Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt on one of the island. I'm pretty sure I saw a tern but too far off and too windy to get an ID.

Øygarden 10-18.04.2025 - All time low

I would be considering giving up birding completely if I a) thought it was possible b) didn't have the last week in April booked as holiday. Heaven help the poor f**cker who tries to contact me regarding work then!

As things stand no time in the field puts birding effort at an all time low for the time being. 

All I managed were a few all-too short drive-bys. A couple of Pinkfeet kortnebbgås at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø on 14.04 along with a couple each of Rook kornkråke and Jackdaw kaie at Breivik the same day, the first Swallow låvesvale of the year heading north over my garden whilst I ate breakfast on 15.04 and a random Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett at Hjelme during a work related photo trip was pretty much what I managed.

Two Pinkfeet kortnebbgås at Tjeldstø

Two Rook kornkråke at Breivik

In the garden HUGE amounts of sunflower seeds are being devoured by a flock of at least 40 Sisikin grønnsisik, 12 Goldfinch stillits, several Greenfinch grønnfink, a couple of Chaffinch bokfink and very small numbers of Great Tit kjøttmeis and Coal Tit svartmeis.

Thankfully WT Eagles havørn and the usual still showing up.

On 16.04 there was  decent arrival of Fieldfare gråtrost and Redwing rødvingetrost.

Skogsøy 06.04.2025 - Seawatching

The week passed in a blur of work, dentist etc. A singing Chiif-chaff gransanger from my terrace on 04.04 was the first I've had locally this year as was a singing male Wheatear steinskvett at Breivik on 05.04.

On 06.04 I headed to Skogsøy which was pretty quiet although the first Twite bergirisk of the year turned up. Small numbers of auks, including a lone Puffin lunde headed north as did several Red-throated Diver smålom. Otherwise just small numbers Common Gull fiskemåke, Cormorant storskarv and Curlew storspove heading north and the usual southbound movement of Shags toppskarv.

Migrating Cormorants storskarv

Gannet havsule

More songbirds in the woods now with Redwing rødvingetrost, Song Thrush måltrost and Dunnock jernspurv numbers all increasing.

An unusual Jay nøtteskrike appearance and  a Goshawk hønsehauk at Tjeldstø on the way home with another Twite bergisk, singing Wheatear steinskvett, a White Wagtail linerle, a few White-tailed Eagles havørn and the usual.

Wheatear steinskvett at Tjeldstø

White-tailed Eagle havørn at Tjeldstø

A Snipe enkeltbekkasin displaying at Nautnes on 07.04 was the last thing of interest before I left for another work trip to the UK

Fusa and Herdla 01-02.04.2025 - Guiding

A drive-by at Tjeldstø on the way to pick up some birders from the USA produced the first Lesser Black-backed Gulls sildmåke of the year. Dunnock jernspurv turned up both here and over my terrace.

A male Stonechat svartstrupe near Røyrevatnet gives hope of more pairs of this species breeding locally.  I slowed down for a few seconds to obtain a couple of record shots...

Male Stonechat svartstrupe near Oen

In the afternoon it was time to do some guiding. Kalandsvatnet was the first stop - rather quiet here but a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom on the lake and a selection of early spring migrants were present. Two adult White-tailed Eagle havørn also showed up here.

Next stop was Vinnesleiren in Fusa. Here there was quite a bit to see including two Great Northern Diver islom, a Velvet Scoter sjøorre, two Marsh Tit løvmeis, a singing Willow Tit granmeis, a pair of Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb and most of the usual suspects. The best thing though was a surprise meet up with my birding friend Jon:)

The following day we did Herdla as the first stop seeing over 50 species just here including a Bar-tailed Godwit småspove, a couple of Red-necked Grebe gråstrupedykker, Wheatear steinskvett, Chiff-chaff gransanger and a decent variety of wildfowl and waders. 

The observation tower at Herdla

Lapwing vipe at Herdla

Skylark sanglerke

Gullfjell was one of the localities visited after this. 21 Tufted Duck toppand, six Goosander laksand, three adult White-tailed Eagle havørn and more were seen here. Dipper fossekall were a no show for the first time but a pair of Grey Wagtail vintererle on the river near Arna were a welcome replacement.

Lots of Toads padde around at Gullfjell

Øygarden 29-30.03.2025 - A weekend "off"

After an even more hectic week than normal which included a few days in Plymouth I was home for the weekend. 

Having arrived home well after midnight on the Friday I took things very easy on 29th March. A short visit to Tjeldstø produced most of the usual early spring stuff. Of little or no interest a Feral Pigeon bydue at Tjeldstø was unringed.

Feral Pigeon bydue at Tjeldstø

A drive-by at Kollsnes produced a female Stonechat svartstrupe gathering nesting material was not unexpected but nice to see anyway.

Female Stonechat svartstrupe

Back home at Nautnes a couple of Curlew storspove were displaying and a two Goldfinch stillits joined the usual suspects at the feeder.

The next day I started at Hjelme where a singing Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett was the highlight and perhaps more unusually a Brambling bjørkefink also sang - the latter normally just a winter visitor and migrant it is not often I hear this species singing in Øygarden.

After this I did my usual stroll at Herdlevør where a couple of Jackdaw kaie were the best bird in a local context. A pair of Curlew storspove had taken up territorty in the usual place and one of the Rock Pipits skæpiplerke on the shore was ringed. At least eight singing Meadow Pipits heipiplerke was an obvious increase since my last visit.

A lunch break of a little over half an hour produced over 200 Common Gull fiskemåke heading north along with a couple of Red-throated Diver smålom. 52 Shag toppskarv headed south.

Øygarden 22-24.03.2025 - Arrivals!

At long last some birding time! It helps to get out of the house and it helps to get out of the car:)

On 22nd March I headed off to Skogsøy bright and early. On the way out the first Dunnock jernspurv and Song Thrusg måltrost of the year showed up along with most of the usual suspects including Goldcrest fuglekonge and Chaffinch bokfink also singing.

I sat for a little under three hours. things were rather quiet in the southerly winds with just the first local Shelduck gravand of the year for me also heading south. A few flocks of unidentified distant geese headed north. Over 40 Gannets havsule headed south and very small numbers of Eider ærfugl and Long-tailed Duck havelle passed. Singing Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, displaying Curlew storspove and flocks of passerines moving up and down the coast added to the spring-like feel.

On the way home I picked up my first White Wagtail linerle of the year at Breivik and a Hawfinch kjernebiter at Hatten aong with several Bullfinch dompap, Goldfinch stillits etc.

The first Dunnock jernspurv of the year

Male White Wagtal linerle - the first alba wagtails are often yarrellii rather than alba

In the evening the northern lights put on quite a show from my terrace.

Northern Lights at Nautnes

The next day I did my usual round at Herdlevær where Redwing rødvingetrost, Curlew storspove, Woodpigeon ringdue and Bullfinch dompap were among the new arrivals. 

A quick look at Tjeldstø on the way home produced another Redwing rødvingetrost, several Fieldfare gråtrost and a Goshawk hønsehauk among other things. The latter almost caught one of the several Teal krikkand present.

Goshawk hønsehauk takes a break after almost catching a Teal krikkand. VERY cropped image

Even this picture is heavily cropped showing the Goshawk to the left with Greylags grågås and Mallard stokkand very much on the alert.

Redwing rødvingetrost at Herdlevær

Probably a newly arrived migrant - I haven't seen one for a few weeks

A Linnet tornirisk flew over as I did a bit of work in the garden at Nautnes and an evening fishing trip produced a roding Woodcock rugde and surprising lots of squid - ultimately forcing me to give up and go home. On the way back home I stopped at Skjold hoping that last night's Tawny Owl kattugle (the first in 20 years here!!) would show. It didn't.

On 24th March a short trip out between meetings gave the first Meadow Pipit heipiplerke of the year singing at Husvatnet along with a couple of newly arrived Common Gulls fiskemåke. A few Linnet tornirisk and four Skylark sanglerke were at Breivik.

Øygarden 18-21.03.2025 - Back in the game

 Work continues to be as relentless as ever, gone it seems are the days of a few hours out midweek:(

Nevertheless this is Øygarden and my home office can produce as does a trip to the shops. I was out each morning briefly before work (thank goodness the days are significantly lighter now!).

I returned home on the afternoon of 18.03 and a grocery run gave several Lapwing vipe at Breivik.

Lapwing vipe at Breivik

On 19.03 a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, a nice flock of Teal krikkand and just being outside listening to displaying Lapwing vipe and Oystercatcher tjeld meant that half an hour at Tjeldstø were absolutely worth it. After work I managed a couple of drive-bys and caught up with two Rook kornkråke and two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik. 

The last two winters have been used to remove the sitka plantation in the middle of the reserve at Tjeldstø. This will undoubtedly benefit waders and wildfowl in the area.

More trees have disappeared at Husvatnet too - as has the bird hide bus stop which vanished during some work on the footpath. This is a shame as this bus stop / hide was better than the one beside Rotevatnet

Teal krikkand at Tjeldstø

Rook kornkråke with two Jackdaw kaie at Breivik

Robin rødstrupe at Dåvey

Lapwing vipe at Kollnes

Jackdaws kaie at Breivik

Up to three Otters and three White-tailed Eagles havørn provided entertainment even when I was stuck at home:)

On 20.03 I checked Hjelme briefly before work, turning up a nice White-tailed Eagle havørn, a pair of Bullfinch dompap, singing Chaffinches bokfink, a couple of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett, Common Crossbills grankorsnebb and more.

Bullfinches dompap 

Although I do like my point and pray it is somewhat slower than the DSLR at getting going. This could have been a good picture if the camera was quicker at starting up.

From the terrace a few Teal krikkand, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn, two Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke, a couple of Gannet havsule and plenty more besides kept interest levels up.

After work I did a quick walk at Breivk which produced a Rook kornkråke, 120 Starling stær, a few Snipe enkeltbakkasin and several Lapwing vipe among other things.

A pre-work check at Tjeldstø on 21.03 gave more views of the Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett. A Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåveøy and a male Stonechat svartstrupe at Kollsnes were among the other sightings.

Little Grebe dvergdykker

Male Stonechat svartstrupe

Oslo 08-16.03.2025 - Urban Birding

Ten days in Oslo during early spring proved quite pleasant despite taking things very easy and missing out on the "incidental" birding available back home in Øygarden where turning my head from the computer or a trip to the shops can produce something.

On 08 March I visited my Oslo favourite of Gressholm where a second year Goshawk hønsehauk, a flock of Ringed Plover sandlo, Skylark sanglerke, 20 Velvet Scoter sjøorre were present. During the boat trip there and back I also picked up some newly arrived Shelduck gravand and Stock Dove skogdue.

2cy Goshawk hønsehauk

Oystercatchers tjeld on Galteskjær

Ringed Plover sandlo at Gressholm

The next day a late and lazy stroll around Østensjøvannet gave the first Reed Bunting sivspurv of the year along with Coot sothøne, a male Wigeon brunnakke, a Pintail stjertand and more - including a few Whooper Swan sangsvane and plenty of newly arrived geese in the fields. The east of Norway is still in the grips of winter and the lake was mostly frozen - we even saw someone pull a nice Pike gjedde out of a hole in the ice - there were a lot of people ice-fishing:)

One of several Coot sothøne at Østensjøvannet

Pintail stjertand

During the week work commitments meant it was impossible to get out but a pair of Woodpigeon ringdue turned up in the back yard where Blackbird svarttrost numbers also increased (along with the level of song).

Next time I was out and about was 15.03 when a late and lazy trip to Gressholm was again on the cards. A couple of Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke were without doubt the highlight in an Oslo context. Ringed Plover sandlo numbers had increased and there were 40 Velvet Scoter sjøorre feeding close by.

Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke on Gressholmen.

The following day in fantastic sunshine we went for a walk at Bygdøy. Here there were obscene numbers of people around which obviously scared most stuff away. We managed to find some trails with fewer people and this resulted in a nice Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett along with Stock Doves skogdue and the usual suspects.

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett on Bygdøy