Øygarden 06.11-10.11.2023 - Frustratingly good weather

For yet another week it was calm and sunny with light easterly winds. Very frustrating to not be out and about!

Half an hour at Breivik on 06 November was very pleasant but not much other than a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a few Bullfinch dompap and a Sparrowhawk spurvehauk. The two Scaup bergand were on Rotevatnet along with a couple of Wigeon brunnakke, a Tufted Duck toppand and the usual Mallard stokkand and Goldeneye kvinand. Back in the garden a Crested Tit toppmeis actually came into the garden - a common enough species but not often they come so close to the house, a Carrion Crow svartkråke flew over and several Common Crossbill grankorsnebb paused nearby.

Snipe enkeltbekkasin hiding in plain view at Breivik

The next day was similar with a female Blackcap munk turning up in the garden. Rotevatnet was the same but a family group of Whooper Swans sangsvane were new in - two adults with three young:)

Two Scaup bergand and a Tufted Duck toppand (left hand bird)

On 08 Wednesday I was in a meeting in Bergen most of the day but picked up a Little Auk alkekonge swimming past my house before I left.

On Thursday I stopped for at least 30 seconds at Husvatnet where a late flock of four Teal krikkand were present. I saw some roadside Waxwings sidensvans near Nautnes but didn't have time to stop.

I took a couple of hours free on the 10 November - and there is obviously still plenty to see. First bird I saw from the garden was a Goshawk hønsehauk having a good go at a Herring Gull gråmåke but it decided to call off the attack. Brambling bjørkefink and a Chiff-chaff gransanger that may have been tristis but did not call were also seen in the garden and a Snipe enkeltbekkasin posed nicely also at Nautnes.

I had a quick look at Hellesøy where migrants were a female Blackcap munk and a few Bullfinch dompap. Stopping briefly at Sæle I was rewarded with cracking views of five Waxwing sidensvans. Now all the rowan berries have gone they have moved onto other things. Introduced bushes are the only thing keeping them hanging around now:) The Scaup bergand / Tufty toppand combo remained at Tjeldstø where one young Whooper sangsvane was going it alone. Two Woodpigeon ringdue here too.

Potentially the bird of the day with a very tristis feel to it. Unfortunately no call so difficult to claim

Roadside Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Nautnes. For once a picture that isn't cropped at all:)

And now for a bunch of gratuitous Waxwing sidensvans shots: