Saturday, February 20, 2021

Øygarden 19-20 February 2021 - Back West

 Brisk southerly winds with temperatures up to 7-11 degrees.

Although it is now a lot milder and the snow has gone most of the lakes are still pretty much frozen and the ground remains frozen below the surface. Too little too late for many/most of the birds that gave it a go this winter....

Not out much but a quick reccy on 19 saw Whooper Swans sangsvane trying to find suitable fresh water habitat with limited success - two birds on the ice at Tjeldstø whilst three more flew overhead and didn't bother landing.

Raven ravn from the terrace

Whoopers sangsvane looking for some freshwater localities but slightly optimistic regarding the conditions

Solberg held a couple of Curlew storspove, a few White-tailed Eagle havørn and a selection of the usual seaduck including a (the) Velvet Scoter sjøorre that has been there most of the winter.

From the terrace in the afternoon it was more of the same - another Curlew storspove, White-tailed Eagles havørn, an Otter and a few of the usual passserines in the garden - though numbers much reduced since the thaw has started.

Even less time out and about on 20 February - a Black Guillemot teist at Hellesøy. three White-tailed Eagles havørn from the terrace and not much else out of the ordinary. Single Greylags grågås flew over the house both days - no doubt scouting for suitable areas.




Black Guillemot teist at Hellesøy


Mallard stokkand now moving back onto land / fresh water localities now that it possible for them to feed there.


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