Øygarden 31.01 - 03.02.2023 - Glaucous Gull and Eagle Owl

For once it was not work that limited time in the field. I was even social in a work-related way:)

Edda Flora at work in Hjeltefjord. My social life revolved around this vessel during the week:)

A couple of hours out on 31.01 produced Lesser-spotted Woodpecker dvergspett, the first Nuthatch spettmeis of the year and a singing Parrot Crossbill furukorsnebb at Hatten.

A Curlew storspove from the terrace was the first I've seen at Nautnes this year and a flock of four were seen at Breivik.

The Glaucous Gull polarmåke put in an appearance at Dåvøy again but despite almost daily checks was only seen on 31.01.

Glaucous Gull polarmåke at Dåvøy

Great-spotted Woodpecker flaggspett at Hatten

Otter from the terrace - typically for the winter months I have seen Otters almost everywhere on a daily basis of late

On 02.02, one of the calmer days this week I gave Hjelme Vest a go. Once again rather quiet but this is the kind of place where the longer you stay the more you see. Ended up with the first Oystercatcher tjeld of the year, four Turnstone steinvender, several Purple Sands fjæreplytt, a Little Auk alkekonge, two Great Northern Diver islom and very small numbers of seaduck.

Friday 03.02 gave a Peregrine vandrefalk right over the terrace as the best bird. A trip to Skogsøy after work was rather quiet with just four White-tailed Eagle havørn and a couple of Gannets havsule to show for the effort.

Birdwise the highlight of the week was an Eagle Owl hubro which gave cracking views at a location that I have only ever seen occasional traces of (a feather or two and pellets). Nice to see there are still some around after my regulars died due to human activities a few years ago.

Another highlight this week was 10kg Cod torsk - one of the largest I have caught in Øygarden, although many years ago I did manage a 12kg example.