Øygarden 22-25.04.2024 - Frustration builds...

Back to the grindstone on Monday.  Didn't get out birding in any meaningful way but did find a new Stonechat svartstrupe locality for the year. This one won't be reported as the photo brigade have been pushing the known pair too far. Thankfully other stuff has turned up which should distract their attention.

Also saw the first Greylag grågås chicks of the year on 22.04, quite an early date, with others turning up over the next few days. I strongly suspect Greylags do well because they get going before the vast majority of people bother spending time outside and thus avoid all the disturbance.

Lapwing vipe at Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

Willow Warblers løvsanger and Chiff-chaff gransanger continue to arrive and are being heard in new places on a daily basis:)

Goldfinch stillits are also becoming more visible with some in the garden and more turning up "everywhere". Looks like the colonisation of Øygarden is picking up pace - when I moved here they were rarely seen in the breeding season:)

Goldinch stillits at my feeder on 23.04

UK9 is back:)

I saw this bird in the same place last year. It was ringed in 2019 and observed in Denmark in September of 2020 and 2021, in Roglaland, Norway in July 2022. Since then only two observations - both mine from Skold in May 2023 and now April 2024.

Tuesday and Wednesday were more of the same, again not really out with work commitments preventing much activity. 

On Thursday 25.04 I did a half day on Hernar without much to show for it. A Greenshank gluttsnipe called several times and Lesser Redpolls brunsisik had arrived on the island. Fewer Wheatear steinskvett this time around and generally fewer birds than the previous visit. Visiting after two days of brisk northerly winds this was perhaps to be expected:)

A very smart male Wheatear steinskvett

After this it was back to work but in the evening I logged off and took a trip to the shops, with Black-tailed Godwit svarthalespove on my mind. Sure enough I quickly found two birds but they were quite flighty. The reason was quicky apparent - the Golden Eagle kongeørn that has been in the area for the last couple of weeks was a bit close for comfort. Ravens ravn were giving it a hard time but it had a go at the geese anyway - scattering everything. Not often Golden Eagle kongeørn shows this well in Øygarden. Should perhaps have had something better than my point and pray:)

The local Raven ravn gave the Golden Eagle kongeørn a hard time

It gave fantastic views after it had enough of the Ravens and decided to move / scare up some wildfowl

I think this is a 3K bird but not certain about this