Sunday, January 12, 2025

Øygarden 09.01-11.01.2025 - Finches on the move / WB Diver

On 9th January I managed about an hour looking for stuff in the very north of Øygarden. Flocks of Siskin grønnsisik, a few Snipe enkeltbekkasin here and there, a Great Northern Diver islom and of course some White-tailed Eagles havørn were all that I managed to find of any note.

The terrace produced Oystercatcher tjeld, a Great Northern Diver islom in the bay and two more offshore, a distant Peregrine vandrefalk, the Starling stær again and the first House Sparrow gråspurv in the garden for 2025.





Mergansers siland photographed from my terrace

Starling stær visiting my feeders - it has concentrated on my peanut feeder.

The following day 20 minutes at Sæle gave decent telescope views of the first White-billed Diver gulnebblom of the year, a couple of Great Northern Diver islom, two small flocks of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, a few Black Guillemot teist and the usual.

The terrace did quite well again with a couple each of Purple Sandpiper fjæreplytt, Oystercatcher tjeld, a Great Northern Diver islom heading north, a hunting Sparrowawk spurvehauk and all the usual garden visitors.

Oystercatcher tjeld on the shore in front of my house - this has been one of the better winters for overwintering birds.

On 11th January it was time to leave again but I popped in at Dåvøy and Tjeldstø before I left. Actually getting out of the car at Dåvøy produced Redpoll gråsisik, Siskin grønnsisik, Chaffinch bokfink, a Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and all the usual tits including a couple of Crested Tit toppmeis. A look at the sea here also produced a nice Slavonian Grebe horndykker.

Tjeldstø was relatively quiet but Redpoll gråsisik here too, four White-tailed Eagle havørn, Sparrowhawk spurvehauk and the usual.

More Redpoll gråsisik from the terrace along with more Siskins grønnsisik definitely gives the impression that finches are moving down the coast.

There have been two Little Grebe dvergdykker at Dåvøy the last few days


First photo of the day - with settings still on sunny conditions from yesterday. Could have been a decent shot but I didn't hang around



One of last year's youngsters at Tjeldstø where there were two adults and two 2cy birds present















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