Hernar 15 October 2025 - Taking the chances

I rarely have the opportunity to plan birding around the weather and just jump on any and every chance to get out. It had been too long since the last visit to my favourite island - I have in fact spent more time on Gressholmen in Oslo than on Hernar this year. I had the time but the weather was not the best for Hernar (northerly winds and sunny); despite this I went for an all-dayer because I could. 

Things were predictably a bit quiet, but it was still better than sitting in Teams meetings all day:)

A Treecreeper trekryper was the best bird in a Hernar context - a species that has been seen in much higher numbers this autumn out here in Øygarden than normal. A late Common Redstart rødtstjert, several Water Rail vannriske, a Grey Wagtail vintererle, a few Willow Tit granmeis and a couple each of Chiff-chaff gransanger and Blackcap munk  were among the best of the sightings. Well over 40 species as usual.

Good numbers of Blue Tit blåmeis on the move to0.

Lots of tits on the move at the moment: with not many trees the Blue Tits blåmeis often feed in the long grass and other vegetation

Grey Wagtail vintererle - it's been a good autumn for this species so far

Most Redpoll gråsisik have left now but still a few moving through

A few well known offshore vessels passed, inlcuding a rock dumper and the Skandi Iceman. Made me wish for the good old days when there was leave after an offshore trip instead of non-stop office work and meetings. Perhaps the last time I was on the Iceman was at Ekofisk in the autumn of 2015 - good times:)

Skandi Iceman heading out to work