Øygarden 11.12-20.12.2024 - Great to be back!

 After the visit to Northumberland and a few quiet days in Oslo it was back to reality. After the enormous number of birds seen back home I was prepared to find things rather quiet and mundane back home. However, it was only work and the short days that made birding difficult - there was plenty to see whenever I made it out of the house (and even from the house).

On 11th December a nice Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace and my first local Little Grebe dvergdykker of the year at Dåvøy, another Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy and a Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten were the best of the sightings.

Male Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett at Hatten

1cy Great Northern Diver islom at Heggøy

Great Northern Diver islom photographed from my terrace

Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

The following day I didn't really get out but had 20 Goldfinch stillits fly over the terrace, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin at Sture and three Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke at Dåvøy where the Little Grebe dvergdykker was still present.

Great Northern Diver islom from the terrace again

On 13th December I spent a few hours out in a boat covering the area from Tvisloket south to Solberg. The sea was a little on the rough side for optimal birding but at least 10 Black Guillemot teist, a few White-tailed Eagle havørn, about 20 Long-tailed Duck havelle, a couple of Velvet Scoter sjøorre and an Oystercatcher tjeld were among the sightings at Tvisloket. Langøysund produced a few Grey Seal havert, five Oystercatcher tjeld, a couple more eagles and a Red-throated Diver smålom. Solberg held a Little Auk alkekonge, another Oystercatcher tjeld, a Common Gull fiskemåke and a Herring Gull gråmåke that made me look twice.

Common Gull fiskemåke

This Herring Gull gråmåke with "smooth" and rather dark undersides made me look twice. I did not see it in flight but the tail should eliminate a "smith"

Oystercather tjeld at Solberg

The female Scaup bergand remained on Husvatnet, Tjeldstø

On 14th I was not out again other than a couple of short drive-bys whilst picking up packages at the shops. A Great Northern Diver islom at Harkestad and the Little Grebe dverdykker again at Dåvøy. A couple of Starling stær at Breivik were the first for some time.

Little Grebe dvergdykker with Mallard stokkand at Dåvøy

I was out even less on 15th with just the Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy again.

Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy

A Teal krikkand on Blomvatnet and the female Scaup bergand on Husvatnet were the only things of interest during an even briefer foray out of the house.

After that there was even less activity with not much to report.

Fieldfare gråtrost at Hellesøy.

Very few thrushes remain now.

Heron gråhegre at Alvheim.

Northumberland 01.12-05.12.2024 - Why did I ever leave?

 I had a couple of days out in NE England and some incidental birding in Northumberland whilst visiting family. What a place! And what changes since I grew up there!

On 1st December we visited several nature reserves which have come into being as the result of mining - either due to subsidence following traditional coal mining or ponds that have been made following opencast mining. 

I started on the beach at Newbiggin with some Med Gulls svartehavsmåke and a good selection of waders.

Sanderling sandløper

Mediterranean Gull svarthavsmåke

Next up was Cresswell Ponds where good numbers of Lapwing vipe, a good variety of wildfowl, a Little Egret silkehegre. 10 Little Grebe dverdykker, a flock of Pinkfeet kortebbgås and plenty more besides.

Lapwing vipe and Wigeon brunnakke at Cresswell

Druridge held good numbers of wildfowl including a nice female Scaup bergand. A few Buzzard musvåk hunted over the fields here too.

Scaup bergand at Druridge pools

East Chevington produced a surprise for me - two singing Cetti's Warbler sumpsanger. From being an extreme rarity this species is now a resident breeder!

Hauxely was the last stop, more of the same here with plenty of Gadwall snadderand, Shoveler skjeand, Little Grebes dvergdykker and so on. A highlight for me here was getting onto a roosting Tawny Owl kattugle having been alerted to its presence by Blackbirds svarttrost and other birds mobbing it.

Male Gadwall snadderand

Little Grebe dvergdykker

Tawny Owl kattugle

The following day there was not much in the way of birding but a short trip to Holy Island causeway and Budle Bay produced some birds.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese ringgås at Holy Island

Shoveler skjeand at Budle Bay

A day at the RSPB reserve at Salthome, Teeside produced some excellent birds for a Norwegian birder. Highlights here were at least one Water Pipit vannpiplerke, Spoonbill skjestork, Barn Owl tårnugle, Water Rail vannriske, Little Egrets silkehegre, 800 Golden Plover heilo, a few Pochard taffeland, Stock Doves skogdue and much much more (well over 50 species just at this locality!). The challenge here was that were a lot of birders being social so the noise levels in the hides prevented picking up things on call.

Male Gadwall snadderand

Little Egret silkehegre

Moorehen sivhøne

Female Shoveler skjeand

Stock Dove skogdue

Stonechat svartstrupe

Water Pipit vannpiplerke

Water Rail vannrikse

Nice to see the UK version of  Long-tailed Tit stjertmeis here too:)

A short walk on the beach at Stag Rocks on 5th December produced the usual variety of waders, Rock Pipits skjærpiplerke, a couple of Meadow Pipits heipiplerke, a big flock of Common Scoter svartand and a couple of Stonechat svartstrupe were among the sightings here.

Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt

Stonechat svartstrupe

Goodness knows what a week of real birding would have produced!