Monday, September 30, 2013

Øygarden 30 September - Another fantastic day....

Calm and sunny.

Still plenty going on! Started the day with a quick look at Tjeldstø. Highlights here were a Willow Tit granmeis and a few Two-barred Crossbills båndkorsnebb. A Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett, several Ruff brushane, a Swallow låvesvale and over 150 Common Crossbills grankorsnebb were some of the other birds seen here. A Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger was reported from near the quayside.



Record shots of the Rough-legged Buzzard fjellvåk


Next stop was Herdlevær where the bird of the day was seen - a cracking Rough-legged Buzzard fjellvåk heading north being mobbed by Hoodies kråke. Great to finally "unblock" this difficult Øygarden species. Other goodies included a flyover Grey Wagtail vinterle and a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers gulbrynsanger.

A couple of Mealy Redpoll gråsisik


Plenty of other migrants present including a couple of Blackcap munk, Chiff-chaff gransanger and Willow Warbler løvsanger. Large numbers of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and Mealy Redpoll gråsisik in the trees and overhead. Good numbers of Song Thrush måltrost among all the migrant Redwing rødvingetrost, Fieldfare gråtrost and Blackbirds svarttrost.

Another Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett flew over the road at Breivik.

With so much going on there were predictably a few "that got away" - the Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger was almost definitely still present, an interesting pipit or two escaped positive ID, at least one white-rumped Redpoll was seen and a large dumpy snipe that did not fly far.....

Elsewhere in Øygarden another Richard's Pipit tartarpiplerke was seen at Sture and a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett was also seen.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Tjeldstø 29 September 2013 - Richard's Pipit

Mostly clear, light southerlies

A quick walk around the reserve showed that there is obviously still a lot going on. Highlight was a Richard's Pipit tartarpiplerke which was typically flighty but thankfully quite vocal.

Richard's Pipit tartarpiplerke


A small flock of Golden Plover heilo were accompanied by a couple of Ruff brushane.

Still loads of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and Great-spotted Woodpeckers flaggspett about.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Herdlevær 27 September 2013 - Finally!!!!

Calm and sunny.

As soon as I got out of the car it was obvious that there was a lot going on. A fair bit of passage overhead and quite a bit of activity in the trees and bushes. Almost the first bird I got onto was a Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger. A few Willow Warbler løvsanger, Goldcrest fuglekonge and a Garden Warbler hagesanger were in the same garden.


Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger
The evenly coloured wing, short primary projection, no contrast on the tertials, length of P2, the supercillium and not least the sylvia like call all confirm this birds identity







A short distance down the road I got onto the bird of the day - a Blyth's Reed Warbler busksanger - the second for Øygarden and in virtually the same place as the previous one. Today's bird was rather easier to see and photograph and with a bit of patience gave itself up nicely.

Yellow-browed Warbler gulbrynsanger


At least 750 Mealy Redpoll gråsisik flew over with some flocks stopping briefly. Plenty of Common Crossbill granskornebb passing over and Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb were heard occasionally. A Bullfinch dompap was another good species locally and was the first of the year in Øygarden.

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

LOADS of Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett again, a few Skylark sanglerke and plenty more besides.

A Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett drumming on a streetlight at Breivik, normally enough to make a day, was relegated to "also ran" today.

Definitely good to be back......

Breivik 26 September 2013

Fairly quiet but the first Jack Snipe kvartbekkasin of the autumn made the walk worthwhile.

A couple of Ruff brushane, 11 Golden Plover heilo and a Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin were the other waders in the area.

Ruff brushane


A new species for the house list came just before midnight in the form of a vocal Tengmalm's Owl perleugle!

Nautnes 25 September 2013 - Two-barred Crossbill

An abortive 15 search for a Hoopoe hærfugl seen earlier in the day produced nice views of a first year male Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb - keeping itself to itself and not joining the many flocks of Common Crossbills grankorsnebb in the area.

Two-barred Crossbill båndkorsnebb



Great-spotted Woodpeckers flaggspett everywhere. A small flock of Brambling bjørkefink were the first of the autumn for me.


Tjeldstø 24 September 2013 - GSWs

A short stroll in fading light produced large numbers of Great-spotted Woodpeckers flaggspett. We all knew it was going to be a big year for this species and it seems as if this may be the best year ever.

Other stuff seen included several Twite bergirisk, a Ruff brushane and good numbers of Common Crossbill grankorsnebb.

Monday, September 02, 2013

Herdlevær 28 August - Rose-colured Starling

My Øygarden bogeybird which I have missed on three occasions now turned up at Herdlevær today in the form of a Rose-coloured Starling rosenstær.

Trumpeter Finch trompeterfink

One of three very vocal and rather flighty Red-throated Pipit lappiplerke present at Øra


I was "unfortunately" further afield and had a good day out (mildly put) in south east Norway with Simon Rix where we saw the long staying Trumpeter Finch trompeterfink (the first for Norway), three Red-throated Pipits lappiplerke, several Beared Tit skjeggmeis and plenty more besides.

Would I have preferred to see the Rose-coloured Starling on my home patch? Would you?