Øygarden 09-12 July 2025 - Am I even a birder?

OK, a week off which included a trip to Trondheim for the Guns n Roses concert with brother and a couple of daughters during the off-peak season is probably within limits to still come under the term "Birder". However, following this work bit back hard and there was a further hiatus in the world of birding.

During this period I bought a new car, an all electric one rather than the hybrid I was considering. The changeover happened at Geilo with a view to combining this with some birding on the 'vidda. A 10 minute coffee break at Dyranut was what actually happened birding wise. So a Shorelark fjelllerke, some of the usual waders and, unusually, a flyover Woodpigeon ringdue was all that I managed to see. To be fair whilst charging the battery of the new car in Geilo I stumbled across five young Slavonian Grebes horndykker but did not have my camera with me. 

For what must be, in relative terms, a well-watched spot it was strange to see that a colour ringed Ringed Plover sandlo that was ringed as an adult female breeding in the area in 2024 had not been reported until I sent a record in from 09 July 2025. I had not downloaded my camera for around a month and thus had no space left to take pictures of other birds in the area.

Colour ringed Ringed Plover sandlo, Dyranut, 09 July

Back in Øygarden things went back to normal with no real birding opportunities, Common Gull fiskmåke young started to fly away from the breeding areas in this period.

Young Common Gull fiskemåke at Tjeldstø

Crested Tit toppmeis, Common Crossbill grankorsnebb and Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett were seen from my terrace in addition to the usual species. A trip to the shops on 11 July produced a Carrion Crow svartkråke.

Carrion Crow svartkråke, Tjeldstø, 11 July

Following this there was a week at work in the Oslo area with nothing of note to write about.