Øygarden 07-10 April 2021 - The week that wasn't

 Winter returned big style. Strong northerly winds with frequent snow / hail showers meant that it was ever so slightly easier to spend the week glued to a computer.

I barely left the house other than for various errands and chores but despite this there was obviously stuff going on.

On 07 April a short drive by past Kollsnes gave me a Golden Plover heilo that has been seen on and off for a while and a nice male Pied Wagtail svartryggerle.

Golden Plover heilo at Kollsnes

One of a small flock of Lapwing vipe at Kollsnes

Male Pied Wagtail svartryggerle at Breivik

Two Whoopers sangsvane turned up during a snow storm at Tjeldstø the following day - no doubt driven back from wherever they had been going by the wintery conditions. The first I have seen here for a while and I had assumed that was the last I would see of them before next winter.....

Curlew storspove at Dåvøy - possibly a female judging by the length of it's bill

Some views of the sunset from my terrace taken with a telephoto lens

A Pinkfoot kortnebbgås fed with Greylags grågås at Tjeldstø on 09 April in fading light on the way home from a last minute trip to the shops.

On 09 April I managed a short walk at Breivik where a selection of thrushes and a White Wagtail linerle were among birds that were new in. A male Sparrowhawk spurvehauk hunted in one of the gardens there. 

Best bird of the day was a Rook kornkråke at Skogsøy - I was doing well sneaking up on it for a photograph when it suddenly flew and I knew it hadn't seen me - the culprit was a 3cy White-tailed Eagle havørn which passed low overhead.

Rook kornkråke at Skogsøy, this is a good time of year to see this scarce migrant

Third year White-tailed Eagle havørn - the main reason behind not obtaining better pictures of the Rook:)

Meadow Pipit heipiplerke at Kollsnes - had to photograph something when on the phone to work:)

One of a few Song Thrush måltrost at Breivik. Fieldfares gråtrost and Redwing rødvingetrost were also present.